cut your milk-teeth, boy, and meddle not with men if you would live to be
a man yourself some day."

Valentina smiled, Peppe laughed outright, whilst even Beltrame and his
followers grinned, all of which added not a little to Gonzaga's choler.
But scant though his wisdom might be, it was yet enough to dictate
prudence.

"The presence of Madonna here restrains me," he answered, with elaborate
dignity. "But should we meet again, I shall make bold to show you what
manhood means."

"Perhaps--if by then you shall have come to it." And with a shrug
Fanfulla turned to give his attention to the Count, whom Fra Domenico was
already tending.

Valentina, to relieve the awkwardness of the moment, proposed to Gonzaga
that he should get his escort to horse, and have her litter in readiness,
so that they might resume their journey as soon as Fra Domenico should
have concluded his ministrations.

Gonzaga bowed, and with a vicious glance at the strangers and an angry
"Follow me!" to Beltrame and the others, he departed with the men-at-arms
at his heels.

Valentina remained with Fanfulla and Peppe, whilst Fra Domenico dressed
Francesco's wound, and, presently, when the task was accomplished, they
departed, leaving Fanfulla amid the Count alone. But ere she went she
listened to Francesco's thanks, and suffered him to touch her ivory
fingers with his lips.