"I love not to play with you," he cried. "I would Count Conrad were here, he was the one to play with." D'Orleans laughed. "Because he always let you win, M'sieu?" he said. Tisio began to whimper with annoyance, calling loudly on Valentine. Visconti, aroused, drew the curtains aside, and stepped forward. D'Orleans was, at his appearance, a little flurried. It was impossible for his weak brain to meet those eyes and not feel flurried. "Tisio and I are fallen out again," he said feebly. Visconti looked at him coldly. "I would remind you, my lord, Tisio, though an infant, is my brother." "Gian!" cried Tisio, suddenly noticing him. "Gian! it was my move!" "Whether it was thy move or no, it does not please me thou shouldst be annoyed--remember it, my Lord Duke"; and he turned into his inner room. As he closed the door, his long brooding showed in his face. It was lined and anxious. The position was a dizzy one: a perilous one: his dark dress concealed the gleam of chain armor. His enemies were many, and some powerful, and Visconti took no chances. At his side hung a dagger, long and sharp, and his fingers were often on the hilt in readiness. At his old place sat Giannotto. "I have decided," said Visconti. "I will attempt Carrara." "You think he is to be bought, my lord?" "I think he is to be bought," responded Visconti. "At any rate we will try. He and his force are with Della Scala?" "And fifteen miles outside our walls," said Giannotto; then at the look on the Duke's face, he was sorry he had spoken, and shrank together. "Read what is on the parchment," said Visconti; and the secretary, glad to have been let off so easily, unwrapt the roll. Therein Visconti's bribe was plainly set forth: The town of Cologna, near to Padua, and well fortified, the protection and close alliance of Milan, and the service of ten thousand trained mercenaries, together with the right to trade free of toll in Visconti's dominions---- "And a pair of turquoise gloves," added Visconti, with a change of tone. Giannotto glanced up. "Are they not worth three hundred ducats?" said Visconti, smiling. "Did not the Pope and Emperor both wish to buy them, and fail?" Giannotto bowed his head over again and studied the scrip in silence. Visconti watched him keenly. He thought, "I know he would betray me for a ducat!--if I were not Visconti." He turned to the narrow window, and looked out onto the city spreading beneath him. "The Empire," he muttered to himself. "The Empire and the French--I will awe them and humor them while I must--but let me once gain Carrara--as I shall--I can dispense with them and deal with Della Scala as I list." He turned from the window to Giannotto, and his face had lost its lines. "Well?" he asked. "What think you?" "This is a master-stroke of temptation, my lord. You have always found craft a good servant."