'Sir, you are resolved, it seems, to try my patience. It requires all my regard and devotion for her highness to teach me to endure it. The messenger shall be brought.' At Valeria's request not only the messenger, but the captains who had voted Bellarion's death were also summoned. Carmagnola demurred at first, but bowed in the end to her stern insistence. They came, and when they were all assembled, they were told by the Princess why they had been summoned as well as what she had that morning learnt from Barbaresco. Then the messenger was brought in between the guards, and it was the Princess herself who questioned him. 'You have nothing to fear, boy,' she assured him gently, as he cowered in terror before her. 'You are required to answer truthfully. When you have done so, and unless I discover that you are lying, you shall be restored to liberty.' Carmagnola, who had come to take his stand at her side, bent over her. 'Is that prudent, madonna?' 'Prudent or not, it is promised.' There was in her tone an asperity that dismayed him. She addressed herself to the clown. 'When you were given this letter you would be given precise instructions for its delivery, were you not?' 'Yes, magnificent madonna.' 'What were those instructions?' 'I was taken to the ramparts by a knight, to join some other knights and soldiers. They pointed to the lines straight ahead. I was to go in that direction with the letter. If taken I was to ask for the Lord Bellarion.' 'Were you bidden to go cautiously? To conceal yourself?' 'No, madonna. On the contrary. My orders were to let myself be seen. I am answering truthfully, madonna.' 'When you were told to go straight ahead into the lines that were pointed out to you, on which side of the ramparts were you standing?' 'On the south side, madonna. By the southern gate. That is truth, as God hears me.' The Princess leaned forward, and she was not the only one to move. 'Were you told or did you know what soldiers occupied the section of the lines to which you were bidden?' 'I just knew that they were soldiers of the besieging army, or the Lord Bellarion's army. I am telling you the truth, madonna. I was told to be careful to go straight, and not to wander into any other part of the line but that.' Ugolino da Tenda made a sharp forward movement. 'What are you saying?' 'The truth! The truth!' cried the lad in terror. 'May God strike me dumb forever if I have uttered a lie.' 'Quiet! Quiet!' the Princess admonished him. 'Be sure we know when you speak the truth. Keep to it and fear nothing. Did you hear mention of any name in connection with that section of the line?' 'Did I?' He searched his mind, and his eyes brightened. 'Aye, aye, I did. They spoke amongst them. They named one Calmaldola, or ... Carmandola ...' 'Or Carmagnola,' da Tenda cut in, and laughed splutteringly in sheer contempt. 'It's clear, I think, that Theodore's letter was intended for just the purpose that it's served.'