Barbarossa sprang to his feet, and gazed with surprise upon the Count.
"Cinola taken!" cried he angrily,--"when--by whom?"
"To-day, by the Milanese; but here is a man who will give full details to your Majesty."
And he pointed to a soldier who, until then, had stood at a short distance from the group.
"Ah! is that you, Gero?" said Frederic, whose extraordinary memory never forgot a name or a face. "Tell me at once, everything!"
"The tidings which I bring to your Majesty are most unfortunate. Cinola was, this morning, surrendered to the Milanese."
"Surrendered?" said the Emperor, angrily.
"Yes, Sire,--surrendered by the base Guelph, the traitor Bonello, to whom your Majesty had intrusted the command of the fortress."
The face of the Emperor grew black with rage.
"What is the strength of the Milanese?" he asked.
"I am ignorant of that fact, Sire! As soon as the banner of the Guelphs was hoisted over the citadel, I hastened hither. But some time must elapse before they can sack and burn the place, as their first visit will doubtless be to the wine-cellars."
"How many Germans were with you in the Castle?"
"Three and a half, your Majesty,--for one of them had lost a leg. Poor fellows! they are in a pitiable condition, for their lives are in danger!"
"Gentlemen," said the Emperor to his knights, who were grouped around him, "we must not lose an instant; this new outrage must be punished at once!"
The knights looked at each other with astonishment; and even the daring Otho shook his head.
"Sire!" said he, "the Guelphs are too much our superiors in numbers."
"Since when has the Count Otho learned to count his foes?" inquired the Emperor.
"But," observed the Chancellor, whom the sudden resolution of the Emperor had alarmed, "would it not be more prudent to await the arrival of the German troops?"
"No! the punishment should always follow closely upon the crime. What! these traitors have dared to lay their plans under my very eyes, and yet you speak of waiting!--It would be a public admission of our weakness."
"To accommodate ourselves to circumstances," replied the Chancellor, "is not weakness, but rather wisdom. The Emperor should not expose his person needlessly. Pardon my frankness, Sire; it is your duty not to court unnecessary danger."