With his glance upon that craft, his voice subdued, Bellarion spoke, and the close-set eyes of the tall, elegant Regent strained to pierce the shadows about the young condottiero's face. 'This is a very noble offer, Lord Prince ...' 'I hope I shall never begrudge a man his worth.' It was a speech true to the character he loved to assume. 'You are a great soldier, Bellarion. That fact is now established and admitted.' Bellarion did not contradict him. 'I do not perceive at present your need for a great soldier, highness. True, your proposal seems to argue plans already formed. But unless I know something of them, unless I may judge for myself the likely extent of the service you require, these generous terms may in effect prove an illusion.' Theodore resumed his momentarily suspended breath. He even laughed a little, now that the venal reason for Bellarion's curiosity was supplied. But he deemed it wise to probe a little further. 'You are, as I understand, under no present engagement to the Count of Biandrate?' Bellarion's answer was very prompt. 'Under none. In discharge of past favours I engaged to assist him in the campaign against the Marshal Boucicault. That campaign is now ended, and with it my engagement. I am in the market, as it were, my lord.' 'That is what I assumed. Else, of course, I should not have come to you with my offer. I lose no time because soon you will be receiving other proposals. That is inevitable. For the same reason I name a stipend which I believe is higher than any condottiero has ever yet commanded.' 'But you have not named a term. That was why I desired to know your plans so that for myself I might judge the term.' 'I will make the engagement to endure for three years,' said Theodore. 'The proposal becomes generous, indeed.' 'Is it acceptable?' Bellarion laughed softly. 'I should be greedy if it were not.' 'It will carry the usual condition that you engage for such service as I may require and against any whom circumstances may make my enemy.' 'Naturally,' said Bellarion. But he seemed to falter a little. 'Naturally,' he repeated. 'And yet ...' He paused, and Theodore waited, craftily refraining from any word that should curb him in opening his mind. 'And yet I should prefer that service against my Lord Facino be excepted.' 'You would prefer it?' said Theodore. 'But do you make it a condition?' Bellarion's hesitation revealed him to the Regent for a man torn between interest and scruples. Weakly, at last, he said: 'I would not willingly go in arms against him.' 'Not willingly? That I can understand. But you do not answer my question. Do you make it a condition?' Still Bellarion avoided answering.