been idle to have appealed to him as we have appealed to you, we have
shown him yet another way by which Babbiano might be saved and
Valentino's onslaught averted."

"Ah! And this other way?" inquired the Count, his glance wandering back
to Fabrizio.

"An alliance with the house of Urbino," answered Lodi. "Guidobaldo has
two nieces. We have sounded him, and we have found him well disposed
towards such a marriage as we suggested. Allied thus to the house of
Montefeltro, we should receive not only assistance from Guidobaldo, but
also from the lords of Bologna, Perugia, Camerino, and some smaller
states whose fortunes are linked already to that of Urbino. Thus we
should present to Cesar Borgia a coalition so strong that he would never
dare to bring a lance into our territory."

"I heard some talk of it," said Paolo. "It would have been a wise step
indeed. Pity that the negotiations came to naught!"

"But why did they come to naught? Body of Satan!--why?" roared the
impetuous Ferrabraccio, as with his mighty fist he smote the table a blow
that well-nigh shattered it. "Because Gian Maria was not in a marrying
mood! The girl we proposed to him was beautiful as an angel; but he
would not so much as look. There was a woman in Babbiano who----"

"My lord," cut in Fabrizio hastily, fearing the lengths to which the
other might go, "it is as Ferrabraccio says. His Highness would not
marry. And this it is has led us to invite you to meet us here to-night.
His Highness will do nothing to save the Duchy, and so we turn to you.
The people are with us; in every street of Babbiano are you spoken of