hopes run when he was chosen to escort the lovely Valentina della Rovere
from the Convent of Santa Sofia to her uncle's court. But of late they
had withered, since he had learnt what were her uncle's plans for this
lady's future. And now, by her own action, and by the plot into which
she had entered with him, they rose once more.

To thwart Guidobaldo might prove a dangerous thing, and his life might
pay the forfeit if his schemes miscarried--clement and merciful though
Guidobaldo was. But if they succeeded, and if by love or by force he
could bring Valentina to wed him, he was tolerably confident that
Guidobaldo, seeing matters had gone too far--since Gian Maria would
certainly refuse to wed Gonzaga's widow--would let them be. To this end
no plan could be more propitious than that into which he had lured her.
Guidobaldo might besiege them in Roccaleone and might eventually reduce
them by force of arms--a circumstance, however, which, despite his words,
he deemed extremely remote. But if only he could wed Valentina before
they capitulated, he thought that he would have little cause to fear any
consequences of Guidobaldo's wrath. After all, in so far as birth and
family were concerned, Romeo Gonzaga was nowise the inferior of his
Highness of Urbino. Guidobaldo had yet another niece, and he might
cement with her the desired alliance with Babbiano.

Alone in the gardens of the Palace, Gonzaga paced after night had fallen,
and with his eyes to the stars that began to fleck the violet sky, he
smiled a smile of cunning gratification. He bethought him how well
advised had been his suggestion that they should take a priest to
Roccaleone. Unless his prophetic sense led him deeply into error, they
would find work for that priest before the castle was surrendered.