To the Duchess's surprise, when Cynthia was brought to the bar of justice, and accused of _lèse-majesté_, she at once pleaded guilty, saying her proud heart sometimes got the better of her; and kneeling down, kissed the hem of her mistress's garment, in token of submission. This appeased the placable Giulia, who contented herself with asking what business she had with pride. "You doubted my fidelity, Leila," said Cynthia. "No one must doubt the fidelity of an Abencerrage." "Tut! how do I know that you are an Abencerrage?" said the Duchess lightly. "And what are the Abencerrages, or any other Moors, in the eyes of Christians?" "They may be nothing now, but they were something once," said Cynthia proudly; without rising, however, from her knees; or rather, sitting upon her heels. "While the western Caliphate lasted, the Christians were few and straggling in the land; and the mountains of Spain echoed back the cry of the muezzins: 'There is no God but God, and Mahomet is his prophet!'" "Ah, profanity!" exclaimed the Duchess, in disgust; and at the same instant, her seneschal, bowing low, announced to her the arrival of Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici. The Cardinal was already standing in the doorway, noting at his leisure, and with admiration, the contrast between Giulia's high-born beauty and that of the dusky Moorish girl at her feet. He then advanced, with the mien of a prince and the tread of a soldier, and said: "Your peril compelled me to fly to your succour. I have brought a troop of horse, and will not leave you till danger and alarm be past." "How very good of you!" said the Duchess. "I was, indeed, sorely scared--" "Fear no more," said he. "No harm shall reach you but through myself." "How very good of you," repeated the Duchess. "I was, indeed, as I said, sorely scared; but all danger, and even the fear of it, is now over--" "That is more than you can tell," interrupted the Cardinal, "and since you, the noblest and fairest lady in Italy, are so utterly unprotected, I shall make your safety my care as long as Barbarossa is off the coast." "Though I hope to have no need of you as a guard, you are most welcome as a guest," said the Duchess. Then, addressing her seneschal, she said, "Let suitable apartments be instantly prepared for his Eminence and also for his suite, and provide good quarters for his Eminence's troops and good stabling for their horses--" "I lodge with the Dominicans," interrupted the Cardinal, "and the Prior will tell me where to bestow my men--" "Nay, then," said the Duchess, "direct immediate refection to be served for his Eminence, and bid the Prior and a few select friends to supper; to wit, Sertorio Pepe and his sister, Madonna Bianca, the Abate Siffredi and the Abate Vincenzo." The seneschal bowed low and withdrew. "Giulia," said the Cardinal, reproachfully, "I am unwelcome."