I'll have you deprived of it."

Peppe's face turned grey at the threat, as well it might--for what should
such a one as he do in the world without a tongue?

Seeing him dumb and stricken, the Duke continued:

"Now, for all that you deserve a hanging for your insolence, I am willing
that you should come by no hurt so that you answer truthfully such
questions as I have for you."

Peppino's grotesque figure was doubled in a bow.

"I await your questions, glorious lord," he answered.

"You spoke----" the Duke hesitated a moment, writhing inwardly at the
memory of the exact words in which the fool had spoken. "You spoke this
morning of one whom the Lady Valentina had met."

The fear seemed to increase on the jester's face. "Yes," he answered, in
a choking voice.

"Where did she meet this knight you spoke of, and in such wondrous words
of praise described to me?"

"In the woods at Acquasparta, where the river Metauro is no better than a
brook. Some two leagues this side of Sant' Angelo."

"Sant' Angelo!" echoed Gian Maria, starting at the very mention of the
place where the late conspiracy against him had been hatched. "And when