"Quick!" gasped Valentine. "I thought I had been years." She unclasped her mantle and gave it to the boy. "Take that back to my room--say I was too hot--give it to Costanza--she alone is in my confidence, as thou knowest; let no one stop thee--and listen--by to-morrow we shall be outside the gates." The page turned away with her mantle on his arm, and Valentine leaned against the wall, and with her hand upon her heart, took a moment to steady herself; then with excited eyes, but even steps, she too walked slowly along the balcony toward the banqueting hall. * * * * * "The Duke has not returned," said de Lana. He spoke a little anxiously, and looked around at the others who filled the council chamber, a few nobles, and the principal captains of the army and the mercenaries who defended Milan. "Meanwhile, from whom do I take my orders? Who commands in Milan?" "I cannot answer you, my lord," said Giannotto. "The Duke left no orders, at least with me." "The Duke expected not to be gone so long," said Martin della Torre. "And ill it will be for him if he stays _too_ long." "Meanwhile," cried de Lana again, "to whom are we to look?" The two pages announced the Lady Valentine. The men glanced at one another. "The Lady Valentine," repeated Giannotto to de Lana. "She may tell us what to do." Not that he did not well know what terms of jeopardy she stood on with the Duke--but it was a shifting of responsibility that he welcomed. All in the room rose to their feet to greet Valentine. She was leaning on d'Orleans' arm, Adrian and her women following. She looked regal, glorious. There was a fine color in her cheeks. De Lana kissed her hand. She did not wait for him to speak, her eyes wandered over the assembled faces. "I have not come before, my lords," she said, "because I thought the Duke might at any moment be again among us; but now, hearing you were gathered here and that there was some question of the Duke's pleasure in his absence as to who should issue orders for him, I am come to answer it in person." She drew nearer the head of the table, d'Orleans dropping a step behind. "My lords, the Duke left me in power; in any absence he may make, enforced or at his pleasure, I rule in Milan." "You, lady!" cried Giannotto, the words forced from him in his great surprise. "I," answered Valentine. "Though I am no man--I am a Visconti. Has not the Duke left me in charge before, de Lana?" She turned to the captain as she spoke. "In the late war with Florence--yes, lady." Valentine smiled. "Still, I need not ask you to believe me on that only--lest any should be doubtful, I have proofs." "Methinks they are needed before we take the law from thee, lady," said Martin della Torre, roughly. Valentine looked at him. "What is this, Lord della Torre?" she replied. And she laid Visconti's signet ring and seal upon the table. Giannotto choked his wonder back.