me. They know I am Milanese and despise me, but they believe me bought
with gold and with the wine which is my besetting sin."

Giovanni was silent for very amazement. The fool mistook his attitude.

"See," he pleaded, tearing open his tunic, "here on my heart are the arms
of Milan. I kept the badge hidden here under the floor for years, for fear
that when I was whipt they would find it. But since I have the Emperor's
favor none dare touch me.

"Do you need money? Are you a spy? But nay--tell me not your errand. I
might--I might babble in the wine-shop, and then they would torture me to
find out the truth, and I might betray you as I betrayed your father. But
if you need money--look!"

He knelt above a corner of the hearth and raised a stone, thrusting his
hand into the deep hollow under it. He threw out handful after handful of
rich gold pieces that winked and gleamed in the pale sunlight. "They are
yours--all yours--for Milan."

Giovanni found his tongue. "When I was but a child," he said slowly,
weighing his words, "my mother taught me to hate and fear Stefano Baldi.
Yet in truth I neither hate nor fear you, Stefano, and I will trust you in
this matter. I have an errand at the court of Henry the Lion in Saxony,
and it was my hope that the Emperor, should he be pleased with our
marionettes, might give me safe-conduct that my journey be the sooner
ended. Then I shall go southward to fight for Milan."

Stefano pushed the gold back into the hole and replaced the stone. "I
see," he said. "The Emperor is as easily diverted by shows as the Brocken