"If he takes to coming nearer," smiled Visconti, "I shall be obliged to--kill him." "We parted for a silken knot, White feather and purple cloak: Whose fault it was I have forgot, His the flame and mine the smoke!" The last words were lost in a burst of laughter, as Conrad and Vincenzo, each mounted on a white horse, and attended by an escort with torches, rode past, back to their tents. So close they came, that Visconti, with gleaming eyes, leaned forward, longing to strangle the singer with one of those long curls that hung around his laughing, careless face. But Carrara was relieved. "As long as he does not inquire for me," he said. "But even then my officers understand." Visconti smiled grimly; he was to pay for that. "Now!" he said, and as Conrad's German song and Vincenzo's wild laughter passed, Visconti and Giacomo stepped out from behind the bushes and looked after them, the freedom of one secured, the treachery of the other well-nigh accomplished. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN GIACOMO CARRARA'S REWARD The dawn was breaking, the sky streaked and barred with cold gray light, and along the winding road to Milan rode the Visconti and Carrara, the army before them. It had been accomplished, without demur, openly and completely; behind them they left the Veronese and Mantuan troops, over whom Giacomo had no command--and Count Conrad, laughing in his folly. Quite near to them lay Milan--and Visconti rode in silence, wondering what had befallen in the city; wondering, and fearing Valentine had revealed too much of his own spirit; he was afraid of her. Along the distant horizon the gray walls of the city began to be visible across the flat plain, and Visconti's eyes lit at sight of his city, and he turned to Carrara impulsively. "Give me a sword, Carrara," he said. "'Tis not fitting I should enter Milan weaponless." "The Milanese will so rejoice to see you, my lord," returned Padua, "they will never notice----" "That I come as a prisoner?" flashed Visconti, but the next moment he laughed and urged on his horse. "But what care I how, so long as I do re-enter Milan? Now, with you as my ally, Carrara, I can crush Della Scala without France or the Empire; and together, as ye say, we will rule Lombardy." Carrara rode abreast of him, glancing at him keenly. "Even now he will try to outwit me," he thought, and resolved he would not be outdone in cunning for the lack of care. "How came it you were captured?" he added, "and in this guise?" "The chances of war," laughed Visconti. "Foolishly I went myself to defend the gates, and pursued Della Scala's men too far." But this candor did not deceive Carrara. "Foolish indeed!" he smiled. "Your hurry excelled your prudence, lord." And he wondered what was the truth. "You have cause to thank heaven no one knew you," he continued.