# The Crimes of Alexander Borgia/Book 4

BOOK FOURTH.
I.
DARK PLOTTINGS.
It was two weeks later. Among the events of this period, Cæsar Borgia had become a cardinal. He was seated alone in his room, engaged in earnest thoughts.
"Some means must be employed, and speedily, to replenish the treasury of the church and the pockets of the Borgias," he observed, in a musing manner. "My troops are clamorous for money, and many of the late expenses they have incurred remain unliquidated. From whence is this money to come? This is the question to be seriously asked and quickly answered; from whence is the required amount to come?"
He rested his elbows upon his knees, and his chin upon his hands, and gave himself up to reflection. He was soon disturbed, however; for a door of the apartment was opened, and Alexander Borgia entered.
"Ah,” said Cæsar, as he beheld his father, "I am devilish glad to see you."
The Pope did not reply. He was evidently in no pleasant mood. A sullen, half-angry look was upon his features. He threw himself dejectedly into a chair, and ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/128 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/129 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/130 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/131 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/132 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/133 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/134 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/135 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/136 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/137 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/138 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/139 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/140 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/141 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/142 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/143 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/144 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/145 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/146 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/147 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/148 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/149 ​Page:One Link in the Chain of Apostolic Succesion; or, The Crimes of Alexander Borgia (1854).djvu/150 ​"But I will not stir one step. I desire to die with my comrades!"
"Then, if you are so obstinate, we will depart with your friends here, and you may remain alone in these vaults," was the reply, and the intimation was acted upon as soon as possible. The hall was soon cleared,—Zinna was left alone.
"Alone!" He uttered the word, and it rang throughout the hall like a knell. "Alone!" Again he repeated it, as he thought of La Belle Floretta; and he threw himself upon his knees beside the table, weeping and praying.
It was midnight ere he arose and went forth, and when he finally sought the open air he was still frenziedly muttering that word, "Alone, alone!"
For the light of reason had left his soul forever. Hernaldo Zinna was a maniac!
And not the first or the last that has been driven insane by the horrors of the church of Rome!