a cold douche upon Gian Maria. It was borne to him in a letter from
Fabrizio da Lodi, imploring his immediate return to treat with this
plenipotentiary of Valentino's.

No longer did he disregard the peril that threatened him from the all-
conquering Borgia, no longer deem exaggerated by his advisers the cause
for fear. This sudden presence of Valentino's messenger, coming, too, at
a time when it would almost seem as if the impending union with Urbino
had spurred the Borgia to act before the alliance was established, filled
him with apprehension.

In one of the princely chambers that had been set aside for his use
during his visit to Urbino he discussed the tragic news with the two
nobles who had accompanied him--Alvaro de Alvari and Gismondo Santi--and
both of them, whilst urging him to take the advice of Lodi and return at
once, urged him, too, to establish his betrothal ere he left.

"Bring the matter to an issue at once, your Highness," said Santi, "and
thus you will go back to Babbiano well-armed to meet the Duca Valentino's
messenger."

Readily accepting this advice, Gian Maria went in quest of Guidobaldo,
and laid before him his proposals, together with the news which had
arrived and which was the cause of the haste he now manifested.
Guidobaldo listened gravely. In its way the news affected him as well,
for he feared the might of Caesar Borgia as much as any man in Italy, and
he was, by virtue of it, the readier to hasten forward an alliance which
should bring another of the neighbouring states into the powerful
coalition he was forming.