Chapter 43

"To the death!" cried Conrad. "Prince, I will be faithful to the death!" "Count," said Mastino earnestly, "I return from Brescia to-morrow, bringing d'Este up with me to join in an assault on Milan that will make the city ours, I trust, within a week. Of necessity I leave Carrara for these hours in command--almost all the men are his providing--but," his voice sank still lower, "I do not completely trust him--I doubt his loyalty. I have misgivings as to the use he may make of my absence, therefore," he paused and l…