Mondolfo was his home. The Anguissola were his family, and their honour
was his honour, since as a villein he had no honour of his own. To cast
him out thus!

All this flashed through my anguished mind in one brief throb of time, as I
waited, marvelling what he would do, what say, in answer to that dismissal.

He would not plead, or else I did not know him; and I was sure of that,
without knowing what else there was that must make it impossible for old
Falcone to stoop to ask a favour of my mother.

Awhile he just stood there, his wits overthrown by sheer surprise. And
then, when at last he moved, the thing he did was the last thing that I had
looked for. Not to her did he turn; not to her, but to me, and he dropped
on one knee before me.

"My lord!" he cried, and before he added another word I knew already what
else he was about to say. For never yet had I been so addressed in my
lordship of Mondolfo. To all there I was just the Madonnino. But to
Falcone, in that supreme hour of his need, I was become his lord.

"My lord," he said, then. "Is it your wish that I should go?"

I drew back, still wrought upon by my surprise; and then my mother's voice
came cold and acid.

"The Madonnino's wish is not concerned in this, Mester Falcone. It is I
who order your departure."

Falcone did not answer her; he affected not to hear her, and continued to