He was turning away to seek enlightenment, when a dark form he had passed unnoticed in the distant shadows of the great room rose, and he recognized, as it advanced, the secretary's stooping figure.

'What has happened here?' demanded the soldier.

'Is there need to ask?' answered Giannotto. 'The Duke has had the room cleared. He will see no one.' Alberic half-laughed, and shrugged his shoulders.

'The madness is on him at Count von Schulembourg's escape. Is that it?' he asked. 'But art even thou excluded?' he continued in surprise, for Giannotto was the one man who could come and go unannounced, unbidden, the one man who knew Visconti's secrets.

The secretary smiled, the slow smile that men's lips learned in the Visconti palace.

'It is best for the Duke to be alone, and for me that he should be,' he said. 'The news that Count Conrad has escaped hath galled him much; it came at a bad moment too, following on those parchments twice found within the grounds'—he paused. 'Thou wert sent to find the writer, or the one who put them there; art thou successful?'

Alberic shook his head. 'I return as I went. Beyond finding that doorway forced in the wall, messer secretary, there is no token whatsoever of how the Count escaped. But after so long a fast, messer,' Alberic showed his teeth, 'it is not likely that it was alone.'

'The one who aided him is he who inscribed those parchments?'

''Twould seem so,' answered Alberic. 'We have searched anew among the huts from which we drove Count Conrad's German dogs; on the threshold of the largest there was—this.'

He drew out of his breast a parchment, a long narrow strip, scrawled across in irregular writing, and handed it to Giannotto.

'What does it say?' he asked.

Giannotto glanced at it hastily, his eyes on the Duke's door. He read, 'Della Scala lives!'

The captain whistled softly. 'Now, thou may'st hand that to the Duke instead of me,' he said.

Giannotto searched the writing keenly. 'Della Scala cannot live; 'tis some trick of the Torriani.'

Alberic laughed harshly. Whate'er it be, I say thou shalt have the pleasure of showing it the Duke!'

'Nay, thou must speak of thy own failures, friend. Besides, the Duke will need thee for his further orders. Count Conrad must be found, alive or dead!'

Was it his ghost attacked the walls last night?' asked Alberic; and not wholly did he speak in jest.

The secretary cast uneasy looks across his shoulder at the ominously shut door.

'It angered Visconti strangely,' he whispered. 'But it was a handful of madmen. Wandering robbers from the hills! They were four at most, and they tried to scale the walls of Milan!' He smiled in scorn.

'And yet,' said Alberic, 'they were almost on the ramparts ere they were discovered, and when they were pursued fled back into the night silently, nor could we find whence they came, nor any trace of them.'

'However that may be,' said Giannotto, 'the Duke hath dismissed even me, and the delivery of this parchment had best wait till his black fit has left him.'

He raised the arras from the entrance that opened on the stairway, and passed out of sight along the corridor, leaving Alberic standing in the unguarded entrance of the deserted audience-room, undecided, the parchment in his hand.

But he did not stand there long alone. One or two servants stole back to their places, afraid to stay away; and presently, with slow steps and vacant smile, there passed by him Tisio Visconti, followed by the page who never left him.

'Thou, my lord?' cried Alberic. 'Now, how would it be if I ask him to hand this parchment over?' and he turned with a swaggering laugh to the page.

The page shook his head, not comprehending. Tisio, unheeding, seated himself in one of the great chairs, Graziosa's bracelet still between his fingers.

'I will wait no longer,' cried Alberic suddenly; 'let the Duke summon me.'

But the next moment Alberic's swagger dropped, and he swung his plumed hat low to the lady who, unattended, stole across the threshold.

It was Valentine Visconti.

Her breast was heaving; suppressed excitement showed in every movement; it was not difficult for Alberic to read she had heard of Count Conrad's rescue.

With a motion of the hand she bade him wait, and turned to her brother, huddled in his chair, gazing blankly at the floor.

'Tisio!' she said, and her tone was very gentle. 'What dost thou here?'

He looked up, and his dull face lit at sight of her.

'I wait for Gian,' he said simply.

Valentine shuddered. 'What wouldst thou see him for, Tisio?'

He smiled, and held out the bracelet. 'To show him this' The tears rushed to Valentine's eyes but she remembered the captain and turned to him.

'Thou carryest something here to give the Duke?' she asked. 'Another parchment, lady,' said the captain. 'But I fear my lord is in no humour for its contents'

Valentine's eyes sparkled brightly. 'Thou has not the courage to present it?'

'I confess, lady, I am waiting till I am obliged to,' answered Alberic.

Valentine held out her hand. 'Give me the paper; I will give it to my brother!'

The captain hesitated.

'Since thou hast not the courage,' she added almost with a laugh. All Gian's orders had not availed to prevent some whisper reaching Valentine of his evil humour and the cause of it: Conrad's escape, the threatening parchments; the hint that della Scala lived.