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"Certainly; and when the question is serious, I will show you I

am not a boy. Shall I tell you what I will do for you? I will go

in person to make the podestà a visit; do you not think he will

be pleased with the honour? And I will let him talk by the half

hour of the count duke, and the Spanish keeper of the castle, and

then I will throw in some remarks about the signor count of the

secret council, my uncle; you know what effect this will have.

Finally, he has more need of our protection, than you have of his

condescension. He knows this well enough, and I shall leave him

better disposed than I find him, that you may depend upon." So

saying, he took his departure, leaving Don Roderick alone to wait

the return of Griso, who had been, in obedience to his orders,

reconnoitring the ground, and ascertaining the state of the

public mind with regard to the events of the preceding night. He

came at last, at the hour of dinner, to give in his relation.