The question troubled her. She looked at her brother, and her brother answered for her.
'My sister remembers that the Prince of Valsassina was once the Marquis Theodore's friend.'
'Was he so? When was that?' The Duke looked at Bellarion, but it was Gian Giacomo who answered the question.
'When, in alliance with him, he placed him in possession of Vercelli and Genoa.'
'The alliance was the Lord Facino's, not Valsassina's. Bellarion served under him. But so also did Carmagnola. Where is the difference between them?'
'My Lord of Carmagnola acted then with a view to my brother's ultimate service,' the Princess answered. 'If he was a party to the Marquis Theodore's occupation of Vercelli, it was only so that in that act the Marquis might provide a cause for the action that is now proposed against him by the Duke of Milan.'
Bellarion laughed softly at the light he suddenly perceived.
'Do you mock that statement, sir?' Carmagnola challenged him. 'Do you dare to say what was in my mind at the time?'
'I have honoured you for directness, Carmagnola. But it seems you can be subtle too.'
'Subtle!' Carmagnola flushed indignantly. 'In what have I been subtle?'