"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?"
"In the late war with Florence--yes, lady."
"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.
"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.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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.