Carmagnola looked at him suspiciously. 'Why do you not send that message, yourself?' Bellarion shrugged and spread his hands a little. 'I have not the confidence of the Princess. A message from me might be mistrusted.' Carmagnola's fine blue eyes pondered him still with that suspicious glance. 'What game do you play?' he asked. 'I see that you mistrust me, too.' 'I ever have done.' 'It's a compliment,' said Bellarion. 'If it is, I don't perceive it.' 'If you did, you wouldn't pay it. You are direct, Carmagnola; and for that I honour you. I am not direct, and yet you may come to honour me for that too when you understand it, if you ever do. You ask what game I play. A game which began long ago, in which this is the last move. The alliance I brought about between Facino and Theodore was a move in this game; the securing of the person of Gian Giacomo of Montferrat as a hostage was another; to make it possible for Theodore to occupy Vercelli and make himself Lord of Genoa, yet another. My only aim was to unbridle his greed so that he should become a menace to the duchy, against such a day as this, when on the Duke's side it is my duty to advise his definite destruction.' Carmagnola's eyes were wide, amazement overspread his florid handsome face. 'By the bones of Saint Ambrose, you play mighty deep!' Bellarion smiled. 'I am frank with you. I explain myself. It is tedious but necessary so as to conquer your mistrust and procure your cooperation.' 'To make me a pawn in this game of yours?' 'That is to describe yourself unflatteringly. Francesco Busone of Carmagnola is no man's pawn.' 'No, by God! I am glad you perceive that.' 'Should I have explained myself if I did not?' said Bellarion to assure him of a fact of which clearly he was far from sure. 'Tell me why you so schemed and plotted?' Bellarion sighed. 'To amuse myself, perhaps. It interests me. Facino said of me that I was a natural strategist. This broader strategy upon the great field of life gives scope to my inclinations.' He was thoughtful, chin in hand. 'I do not think there is more in it than that.' And abruptly he asked: 'You'll send that message?' Carmagnola too considered. There was a dream that he had dreamed, a game that he could play, making in his turn a pawn of this crafty brother captain who sought to make a pawn of him. 'I'll go to Melegnano in person,' he announced. He went, and there dispelled the fretful suspense in which the Princess Valeria waited for a justice of which she almost despaired. He dealt in that directness which was the only thing Bellarion found to honour in him. But the directness now was in his manner only. 'Lady, I come to bid you take a hand in your own and your brother's reinstatement. Your petition to the Duke is all that is needed now to persuade him to the step which I have urged; to march against the usurper Theodore and cast him out.