The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-18

nsho possesses me treasured hle!celyph.cs 9; &!
Nehos s Sd f Soy dsM ne = da s
learned Hobrew. Mecubals-who can search the
ancient Uhaldean saees for genius ts II the ssys
snS sSs Sf sst spsn which IL Il ssr%ssd nssd
q he Ss e ss DsSssse DsSss hs ana
voked without due preparation. like the extrac-
ton by yon athannr Of the argentvif u which
mg BRING % destruction Neverthaess II your majesty
desires T. viii q 70 lS,ss i HDo
fonious. TriphonIus. Albertus and Raimundus
| TuIIius and shall make use Of the signs given
by the wise Porphyrius In his occult 'rea''se'
II do dc hot desire such evidence Of thy skill. =
returned Catherine, coldly. choose some
with the powers Of darkness I would not have
my own soul placed in Jeopardy by snch unhai-
To saI serves thea he should have
guarded thee against thine enemy. Crichton
should never have found entrance here.
| gracious madam. was vt the moment enRaged
Ia tending the wounds Of tho Gelosa, and X III
berich for the rst time neglected hi, his trust The
| Scot had seized the image and the scroll ere
could prevent him. or destroy them;
And by his acquaintance with the character
ha ths sefS & hs ans q ths
munIcation with his holiness. and, above all, o.
the hidden purport OF our mission to Mantua-
and he is aware Of this masks connection
with our plot-of the part which nc was destined !.
to play in aiding our son, the DUO dAiencon i to
the throne of his BROTHER Henri--all this thou
haist set down N thy accursed document
1T were vain to attempt to Disguise my mad
i yertence from your maiesty-l had done so.'
And by consequence. he is acquainted with
the name and rank OF this mask.
..Unquestonaby madame
answer and equvocate not--does my name. ]
say appear In connection with that OF the Due
d'Alencon, in the plot for Henris detllrone-
siis, sHo, madame" returned Rugeieri, boldly.
/ Art thou sure Of this Z"
/ "Cosmo Ruagieri, thou hast sealed thine own
fate;"
'The king requires victim. | must make a
virtue Of necessity, Justice must take its course
upon the morrow. -, . a.
IND your majesty will surrender me TO th'
III III Henri demand it, cannot offer resist.
ance" a.. ao,sonnoos n
such M step. madam returned Ruggieri. will
sullen audacity. 80,
The conseguences-ahl
THE question may enforce strange truths
WHO viii credit an accusation p, from theesnd
against me-if written proc, ehiss nosi ea, hro,
were wrinkled into bitter smile.
But If written proof should exist madam.,-ll
can produce your own ispatcbes-subscribeC
with Your own hand. sealed with your own
siRnsts,,, iRnsl,,
I'll can exhibit your own confessions thai
you have poisoned two of your sons. and are
now conspiring to dethrone 10 thIrd-what ap-
pearance will the charge assume then, madam ,i
Hast thou not destroyed my leHersF do
manded Catherine, trembling with wrath-but
no-no-'tis false--thou tritiest with me"
Behold themf' cried Rnggleri drawing
"Traitori' exclaimed Catherine. thou has
preserved those papers To betray me;
tect m self 1 have served your majesty faith
fully have betrayed no trust conhded In me
and the rack shal! tear me limb from limb ere e \
snail wrest word from me to your dishonOr. De-
liver me 10 Henris tribunal. Surrender me tc
the Charnbre Ardente-and do so fearlessly
II was indeed mistaken in thee. .Ruggieri,
rejoined the Queen Mother. moved. While
aught Of power remains to me. not hair OF thy
II have ever found you noble and generous
mistress" cried the crafty astrologcr. respect;
fully kissing hehand which Catherine extended
Commit this packet to the flames, my loya
and less loyal hands than thine"
examine its eontentsps returned Rnegieri
There are certain sapssrs which you may moi
Il know Of nothing should care to preserve.
said Catherine, musinR. Speak II there Dt
aught cali not TO mind. good father. ;.
the proofs Of Esclairmondes birth, which ma,
be needtul, should your majesty ever rcinstatt
the fortunes Of her house. or use her as host
ETrue-true." replied Catherine, give then
} to me--these proofs are needed now must lay
before henE must reveal t9 hiT * T..
looked with eyes OF devotion upon the demo
selle. Thy entertainments have wrought upor
him in a quarter least expected. l must caution
him against further advances
"Ahreman grant your caution come not tor
late. madam, said Ruggierti; + his I'm majesty I
Q err to give spur to his passion
."Indeedr' exclaimed the Queen Mother: who
has dared to approach my protegee in thu
character OF a loverY"
He who dares everything.
Thou eanst not alude to Crichtony
|. Il have his majestys assurance tnat the az
cursed Scot is her favored suitor. returned
"fnsoent2" exclaimed Catherine; and yet !
might have guessed as much from Margnerite's
yindictive rawlings with which Thought Esclair
mondes name was strangely coupled"
His majesty has, no doubt, carried his design
into execution, and reused the suspicious OF the
Queen of Navarro" returned the astrologer: he
threatened as much in my hearing
Doubtless he hath dene So" answered
guerite, little more is to be feared from Crichton
On that score we need entertain no. further ap.
pre.henson .. s Thy phial was entrusted to her
easily.
Upon solemn pledge which she dares no
disobey. Be Tranquil; Crichton will trouble us
no more"
"A woman's will may waver." muttered Rug
gieri; 'of all your sex. your majesty is the only
one have met with possessing infies ibility O
purpose"
At this instant sound was heard within tn,
walls of the apartment, as il a key were turned
within the wards Of a lock.
He comesw calculated Catherine, joyfully-
'all Is WE'LL"
And the next moment door, so carefully con
cealed within the masonry of the turret as to bt
wholly undistinguishable, was thrown open ant
the masked cavalier stood before them Druit
J followed at his heels.
4 CHAPTER XVIII -
THE INCANTATION
A courteous greeting passed between the cav
Rler and the Queen Mother; but unequivoca
LsYmntoms OF DISSATISFACTION were exhibited by