Chapter 31

Vincenzo blushed under his father's rebuke and sat silent. But Giacomo, always ready to smooth things over, turned to the Duchess of Mantua. "And you," he said. "You, lady, what think you of trusting Della Scala with an army?" Julia Gonzaga smiled a little wearily. "Where is he, to speak for himself?" she asked. "We are waiting for him," Ippolito replied. "He said he would be with us. He is late," he added testily. "Doubtless the hour has escaped him," put in Giacomo pleasantly. "The Duke of Verona will not fail us…