“The duchess is powerful!” “The duke is death.” “Now who shall conquer?” “We will see.” A sharp, yet low whistle, from the lips of this last speaker, who stood beside the duke, when he watched his duchess away there in Venice, and watched her from a gondola. Barely had the whistle whispered through the air, than a score of soft-footed men, each like each, enveloped in a shroud-like cloak, surrounded him who had spoken by the duchess. “Beware--the duchess.” “Be silent, and depart. This youth hath offended the duke. Be silent, and fear not.” They carried him away with them, and in the wide square only stood the duke’s servant, watching Gennaro’s house. CHAPTER III. Go we now to the grand palace, where the husband and wife watched each other ceaselessly, each ever fearing death at the hands of the other. A happy palace, truly. See, standing there, in that splendid royal room, are the duke and Rustighello, who had stood watching Gennaro’s house. “Well?” “All is done, sire. The prisoner is now within the palace.” Keeping his eyes fixed upon the other’s face, the duke drew from his waist a small golden key. “‘Tis to unlock the hidden door of a hidden staircase, to be crept up, till a little chamber is reached. Then there are two vases, one of gold, and one of silver, each filled with wine, to be brought down, carried to the next room, and there be ready. Let not the golden vase tempt him, for it holds the wine of the Borgias. Then, if he be called, let him bring the vases; but if there be no call, then, good Rustighello, thy sword.” Then this mighty duke starts as a servant at the door announces “the Duchess.” Forward she comes, sparkling with rage and diamonds; no longer dressed in heavy black, but in rich rustling brocade, a sweeping coronet of jewels round her head. “The duchess seems unquiet.” “Enraged. I come here to call for justice. A shameful crime hath been committed, the name of thy duchess has been degraded.” “Softly, duchess, I know it.” “And thou dost not punish the offender; doth he still live?” “Live? Yes. That thou mayest destroy him, duchess. Nay, he will be before thee in another minute.” “Let him be whom he may, I demand his life, and in my presence, duke. Thou wilt give me thy word for this, my lord?” “I do, most heartily, dear duchess. I give thee my sacred word.” Then, to a page, who has entered after the duchess: “Let the prisoner be brought forward.” “Duchess, thou tremblest, thou dost know this man.” This man is Gennaro, brought in before the angry duke and duchess, and standing fearlessly. “I--I do not know him.” “Pray, may I ask the duke why I am here--why I have been torn from my house? May I dare to ask the meaning of such rigor?” “Good captain--draw near. Some coward wretch has dared to touch the noble name of Borgia written on this palace door, nay, to destroy the name. The duchess, even as I speak, trembles with anger at the act. We seek the guilty one; perhaps thou knowest him?”