'I have no need of you,' she said;
'but where is Marc'antonio? And the young Englishman--is he yet
alive?' 'O Princess,' I answered again, 'I did not go all the way to
the old camp, but only so far that the man Priske could not mistake
his road to it. Then, having put him in the way, I turned back and
have travelled night and day. Of the young Englishman I can tell you
nothing; but of Marc'antonio I can promise that he will be on the
road and not far behind me.'"
"_Grazie_," muttered Marc'antonio; "but how could you be sure I had
received the message?"
"Because the Princess had charged you to be at that post until
released. Therefore I knew you would not have quitted it, if alive;
and if you were dead--" Stephanu shrugged his shoulders. "I was in
a hurry, you understand; and in a hurry a man must take a few risks."
"I am not saying you did ill," growled Marc'antonio, slightly
mollified.
"The Princess said so, however. 'You are a fool, O Stephanu,' she
told me; 'and as for needing you or Marc'antonio, on the contrary, I
forbid you both to join the camp for a while.
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