Chapter 23

"Tush, Visconti! Visconti!... I have heard the name enough," returned Count Conrad. "I intend to have my lady's gift--it suits neither my honor nor my affection to leave it there to be some mercenary's plunder; and the chessmen too, boy! The set the Emperor gave--ah! you would love them--silver and ivory--I will bring them too. They will while away more weary hours such as these. What was I thinking of to leave them there so long!" "At any moment Francisco may return, and without thee here time will be lost; moreov…