The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

272 THE SIX SISTERS OF THE VALLEIS.
" "We pledge with pleasure/' responded
Bianquis.
" Loyalty to our sovereign hath
been ever one of our glories, and did he
bid us lay down our bodies as the ramparts
of his throne we would obey him."
" I regret," continued the Marquis,
" that any misunderstanding has arisen
between us. As the Duke's representa-
tive, I have his Royal Highness' s sanc-
tion for assuring you that our disposition
is friendly, and that we do not wish to
disquiet nor molest you."
"We, on our part," replied the elder
deputies, " are not aware that we have
done aught to provoke his Royal Highness ;
we have only presented our humble peti-
tion for the withdrawal of the edict of
January 25th, and for the maintenance of
our immemorial concessions."
" Gastaldo's edict," replied the Mar-
quis, " has reference only to those who
dwell in the plains at the entrance of the
valleys. These, I fear, must now be con-