'Messer Bellarion! Is it yourself?'
'Myself.' He came to the ground. 'To command.'
'But ... why this? Why thus?' Her eyes were wide, she was a little breathless.
'I have had a busy day, madonna, and a busy night, and I have more to report than may hurriedly be muttered behind a hedge.'
'You bring messages?'
'The message amounts to nothing. It is only to say that Messer Giuffredo, fancying himself followed and watched on the last occasion, is not to be induced to come again. And in the meanwhile nothing has happened of which it was worth while to inform you. Messer Barbaresco desires me further to say that everything progresses satisfactorily, which I interpret to mean that no progress whatever is being made.'
'You interpret ...'
'And I venture to add, having been entertained at length, not only by Messer Barbaresco, but also by the other out-at-elbow nobles in this foolish venture, that it never will progress in the sense you wish, nor to any end but disaster.'
He saw the scarlet flame of indignation overspread her face, he saw the anger kindle in her great dark eyes, and he waited calmly for the explosion. But the Lady Valeria was not explosive. Her rebuke was cold.
'Sir, you presume upon a messenger's office. You meddle in affairs that are not your concern.'