"Does the Duke give these to any save those he trusts--and these?" She showed the keys lying on her open hand: the key of the armory, the treasury, the prisons: the master-keys of the whole palace. "He gave them to me--when, Adrian?" "Yesterday morning, lady." "Yesterday morning. Had he not left too hastily even for speech, he would have made it public; doubtless he thought you would accept my word--and these proofs." There was silence. "Are you convinced, lords?" asked Valentine. "I am," said Giannotto, bowing to hide the twinkle in his ugly eyes; and the others, each according to his fashion, murmured an assent. "And now I will take upon me my brother's duties," continued Valentine. "For you, de Lana, I have no commands; only look well to the arming of the walls, let not my brother say we were idle in his absence; I would have the soldiers in readiness to guard against a surprise--and meanwhile I ask your company." De Lana bowed. "On a visit to Della Scala's wife. She is a priceless hostage, and ill would it suit with our safety even if aught befell her." "You would visit her yourself, lady?" "Aye, myself, since with me lies the power and so the responsibility, and I would not shirk it. Lords," she continued generally, "we can do little else but wait--only hold yourselves in readiness--for the Duke's sake and the honor and security of Milan!" She put her hand on d'Orleans' arm again and left the room, followed by de Lana and Giannotto. "Now, I had almost forgot, my lord," she said, pausing with a smile. "My page, his sister and his brother, would leave Milan to-morrow for Brescia--what for, Adrian? Indeed, I have forgot--but I have the Duke's permission, and would only ask your countersign upon this passport." She spread before the captain a parchment bearing Visconti's signature. "This is no time to be leaving Milan, boy," said de Lana. "Our father is sore sick at Brescia," returned Adrian. "Dying, my lord." De Lana smiled. "A long and dangerous journey to make for a sick father." "There is money in the matter for these children, and it is my pleasure," said Valentine. De Lana bent over the parchment, and affixed his name, and in that second, Valentine glancing at Giannotto, their eyes met, and the secretary understood. He had meant to hasten to Visconti's rooms; he meant now not to. De Lana gave the parchment back, and Valentine handed it to Adrian. "And now, Lord d'Orleans, will you come with us to Isotta's prison?" "Truly," said de Lana, "the lady is as firmly guarded as at any time. I have looked to that." "Desperation is a great sharpener of the wits, my lord," smiled Valentine Visconti. "When life and liberty are at stake, the weakest will venture--and accomplish much." "Indeed, I think with the lady," put in Giannotto, "that too much zeal cannot be shown for anything so near to the Duke's heart as this." De Lana shrugged. "We will go, lady."