'I'll take ten ducats to convince you of my humility. I may yet need the other five in the service of your highness.'
'That service, sir, is at an end, or will be when you have conveyed my message to the Lord Barbaresco.'
Bellarion accepted his dismissal in the settled conviction that her highness was mistaken and would presently be glad to admit it.
She was right, you see, touching that vanity of his.
CHAPTER VIII
STALEMATE
Bellarion and Barbaresco sat at supper, waited upon by an untidy and unclean old man who afforded all the service of that decayed establishment. The fare was frugal, more frugal far than the Convent of Cigliano had afforded out of Lent, and the wine was thin and sharp.
When the repast was done and the old servant, having lighted candles, had retired, Bellarion startled his host by the portentous gravity of his tone.
'My lord, you and I must talk. I told you that her highness sends no answer to your message, which is the truth, and all that you could expect, since there was no message and consequently could be no answer. I did not tell you, however, that she sends you a message which is in some sense an answer to certain suspicions that I voiced to her.'
Barbaresco's mouth fell open, and the stare of his blue eyes grew fixed. Clearly he was startled, and clearly paused to command himself before asking: