The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-03

the attendants, like their masters only waited the
"'Tis strange" muttered the Governor. 81
should have thought
At least" interposed Olvares, If you will
not delay, do not anticipate" And Monsignor
resumed his hasty walk between the door and
window, listening for the fatal sound which the
faithful tongue of the clock still refused to utter
Despite the delay, however, the fatal hour ap-
preached. Ten minutes, and Ranuccio's fate
would be sealed.
Meanwhile the Cardinal repaired to the Pope.
As he entered, Sixtus drew out his watch, and his
eyes sparkled with revengefu Joy. On the testi-
mony of that unerringtims- piece Ranuccio was al.
ready executed.
"What seek you ?" asked his holiness.
!" The body Of my nephew, that may convey it
to Parma. At least let the unhappy boy repose in
the tomb of his ancestors"
"Did he die like christian ?"
Like saint" cried the Cardinal trembling at a
moments delay. Sixtus v. traced the following
words: "We order our Governor of Fort St
Angelo to deliver up to his eminence the body Of
Ranuccio Farnese" Having sealed it with the
pontifcal signet, he gave it to the Cardinal.
between fear and hope, hastened to demand an
entrance. A profound silence reigned within,
broken only by the distant note of the Dc pro-
funds" He rushed towards the court. Was he
too late ?-had his stratagem succeeded? One look
would decide. He raised his eyes-hs nephew
knelt beside the block, between priest and the
executioner, family uttering the words Of his last
prayer. Suddenly the chanting ceased the Car
dinal few towards the Governor. Ere he could
speak, his gestures and his eountenance lied for him.
"a pardon Ia pardon ~ exclaimed Olivares.
The soldiers shouted. The executoner began to
unoose his victim, when sign from Angel made
him pause. The Governor read and re-read the
missve.
"The body of Ranuccio Farnese !" he repeated
"the criminals name would suffice. Why these
words, The body of!'
"What stops you Z" cried the Cardinal, at that
perilous moment looking paler than his nephew.
"Readn' replied Angel, handing him the
Pope's letter.
''Is that all % said his eminence, forcing a
smile and pointing to the clock. Look at the
hour: it still wants two minutes of the time, and
received that paper from his holiness more than a
quarter of an hour since"
The Governor bowed the argument was ire.
sistibe. Ranuccio was given up 10 his dsliverers
A carriage, with four fleet horses, waited outside
the prison, and in few moments the Cardinal and
the young Prince were galloping the road to Parma
Just then the clocks of Rome pealed forth in unison
if rejoicing that by their judicous silence they
had gained their masters cause Ii might be vel
il lawyers in our day would sometimes follow theil
example.
Monsignor Angeli, as the chronicle relates, was
rather astonisbed at the fapd flight of time afteI
his prisoners departure. In fact, the next houI
seemed 10 him as short as its predecessor was long
This phenomena, due to the simple system Of com
pensation, was ascribed by him to the peaceful
state of his conscience. Although infexible in the
discharge of what he esteemed his duty, he was in
reality knd-heared man, and felt sincere pleas
ure at what he honestly believed TO be Ranucco's
pardon.
On the morrow the Spanish ambassador was
the first to congratulate Sixtus ", with admirable
sang froid, on his truly pous clemency Olivarei
was only diplomatist, but he played hi. part as
well as if he had been Cardinal and made every
believe that he had been the dupe of his accom-.
pce. He had good reasons for SO acting. Hi.
| master, Philip H., seldom jested, more especially
when the subject Of the joke was the infallible
head of the church and he strongly suspected tina,
the clocks of Madrid might prove less complaisan
i than those at Rome.
Poor Angeli was the only sufferer. For NO othe
| crime than that of not wearing watch, the Pope
| deprived him Of his office, and imprisoned hin
| for some time in Fort St. Angelo. As to Car
dnal Farnese, renouncing all the praises and con
gratulations Of his friends at Rome, he pIudently
I'remaned an absentee.