The next instant he had passed into the shadow again, and Ligozzi leaned from where he sat and shook the covering into place. Twice Mastino had passed, twice he had seen the look on his face, and he did not care to see it again. The tent was hot. Tomaso and the page laid the armor down in silence, overawed by the silent figure pacing to and fro. Outside it was quiet too, only now and then the gallop past of horses or the tramp of men as they moved from one part of the field to another. At last Mastino spoke, stopping before Ligozzi suddenly. "I have not told thee yet," he said, "but a messenger has arrived from d'Este. There have been some slight successes with his army, and he thinks that I should join him." "And leave Milan?" "And leave Milan. He thinks it is hopeless, now Rome leagues with Visconti--he thinks it better to hold what we have nor risk it all by careless daring--but I--I shall stay here, Ligozzi." Ligozzi was silent; he knew d'Este's words were true; he knew Mastino knew it also. There was nothing to be said. "I shall advance on Milan," continued Della Scala. "If the d'Estes' troops care not to join me, I will advance alone with my Veronese." He sat down on the wooden bench, fingering with nervous hands his gold belt and the dagger that hung there. "Why dost thou not speak?" he said, after a moment's pause, suddenly turning to Ligozzi. "Dost thou too think it hopeless?" There was a wistful eagerness in his voice that struck to Ligozzi's heart; he could not utter his thought. "With waiting, my lord," he replied. "With new allies----" But Della Scala cut him short. "I see, Ligozzi, I see. I am a man wanting to be persuaded against himself; yet do I still hope--against myself----" "To rescue----" "To rescue my wife, wouldst thou say?" flashed Mastino. "No, I do not _hope_ that: that I _will_ do--in my soul I know it; but I still hope to conquer in fair fight. What did the attempt at guile avail us? We were betrayed; open force were better." Ligozzi's anger rose at the thought of that betrayal. "I would I had the slaying of the traitors!" he cried. Mastino smiled sadly. "What were we to her? She loved, perchance. I should have done the same--for Isotta." "Thou wert ever too gentle, my lord," returned Ligozzi. "Could woman love _Visconti_?" "She loved some one of her own creating, I trow," said Della Scala. "Poor lady! the awakening will be her punishment." Ligozzi made no reply. Mastino's point of view was not his: in his eyes Graziosa was a hussy he would have liked to have the hanging of. "In two days or a little more, when I have had my answer from the Estes," said Mastino, rising, "I march on Milan." "But in those two days?" questioned Ligozzi. "Visconti seems to have ceased all sallies," said Della Scala; "and yet I know not what this quiet means." "It means his policy was ever caution," returned Ligozzi. "Of a sudden he may----"