The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-14

Of 1harles % i TX. < '''' - P''9'' = ~ '''' -
Cosmo Ruggeri, the forbidding parsonage
described-by birth Florentine by vocation
mathematician, aehemist. nay. even bard. as
may be gathered from the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
of Nicolas Clement Treleau. Secretary TO- the
Florentinum, mathematician, ut poetain, tectls-
simum' -of1riated rs chief astrologer to Cathe-
rine dc Mcdcis, by whom he was brought to
Paris 1t was to the influence Of the Queen
Mother that he owed his deiverance from tho
rack and the dungeon his escape with lie: his
subsequent advancement to court favor under
her third son Henri for whose accession tC the
throne it was said, indeed. he had paved tnp
way BY the removnl of his brothers. =, rancls =
and Charles IX., and by whom. latitudinar1an
and hereticll II not wholly heathenish anu
xbs xbbe of Saint Hahe @ Of Brittany It was to the
pro ection % GATHERINGS powerful arm that.
although surrounded by open and secret Toes.
mnmolested; ,iu and i was to her ne was indebted
for the wonderful state Of information he pos
Resscd. -. LII
nightly consulted for her by him, ana on AL
emergencies Catherine had recourse To his coun-
sci. Ruggieri was bindly devoted To- nor VIII.
and mainly instrumental In tho execution OF her
hidden projects and mhchinttions
RugRieri. however, did not stand alone I9
such M extent dd tho prsetl9ieh ih Of nhh,cla ~
professors in the ienee was estimated at thirty
thousand: acalculation almost incredible. y the
number Of dnpes necessarily required torthelr
support b6 taken into consideration.
BE this IA 1t may Ku2gierl fiourshed. But
then it was Whspered thai he had a. another ana
more terrible source Of luere. Tho slow ana
subtle poisons of Florentine origin whose
trearherous effect was manifested in tho gradual
decay OF tho victim. were said to be brew q ny
him Tie blood that nightly bathe the couch of
Charles * was supposed to be tho consequence
OF ono or those diabolica potions; and such was
the dread entertained OF his viIla,nous "ruHs.
that cup Of wine would nave fallen IRON the
grasp Of the boldeet bncchannl. II II hao been
Thought to he meiicated by Cosno Ruggieri
ns ssvs sie Of pt tho .ng most Gnas size and
fantastic configuration. who had tho reputation
OF being his familiar; and strange, ~ was the
many many degrees more grotssSuo. Hideousiy dc,
formed and bunchbached. Elberich was 80 short
In comparison with his width and girth, that.
looked like rolling ball Of soot. In which. in
place Of eyes. two flaming carbuncle" had been
Set; and when .motionless. he appeared Ikea
aid AIDED BIZ his dwarf, from whose contact all 70
oo!led with DISGUST, Rr gieri had but i,tte am,
Guilty in making good his retreat: ana having
gained the shelter OF flying bnttress Of the col.
lege wall. In the angle Of which he was s.cure ,I
from interruption. he turned his attention TO the
As be- removed Tl 's ths black and clustering
ringlets fallen in disorder over the feat res OF
the Geloso. Ruggieri could not help being struck
Indeed lost the warm suffuson that lik, a glow
Of sunshine on a snowy peak. had lit up its
bright southern complexion but thu face was
not less beautiful: AMI Ruggieri Derused rs
iineaments with tho rapture Of q vlrtuoso. He
peered into every line with increasing wonder.
1t was not SO mucn the harmony and regularity
aston lshment "a the softnfss OF the skin. ana
the polished whiteness Of tho throat. on which
thef fazur6 veins were traced like WANDERING
threads These we're what chiefly excited his
| admiration. He grew 80 much absorbed In con
temptation Of tbs conntenance. that he wholly
negle tod to apply the pnlal OF pungent spirit
Throwing back the hair as far IA 1t would ad-
nit Kuggleri examined moro narrowly the
snowy forehead OF the Gei9so. Thence ms
| prise The eyes were closed: but the dark nrbs
| could almost be seen through the thin iid-;
| Then those long silken lashes-that dark and
| pencilled brow-those nostrils. fine and thin
| those lips 50 delicately caIvedl The astrologer
was lost IN amazement, TAX ing the small whit,
hand that hung listlcssly mt the youths side. he
opened i. and intently perused its Inns. A
| sha 10 came over his countenance as he pursued
"Spirit of sambethel" he exclaimed. "can this
be? Can 1havs been so long in error? Can the
| h .avonly Influences have 30 'ng deceived their
votary?- impossible! True the planets have of
| late assumed maevolent aspects menacing me
with i'll. sa urn hath rule within the Chamber
of Death. The Lord Of the Third H,nse was
combnst az fetrograds iS wna hund u ,ne esensh
! This day,this hour rs pregnant with calamity
| | foresaw my danger. but foresaw likewise the
| means whereby it might be averted. Within my
/ path stands Crlchten. He is tAe foe by whom
am ,hreatonrd This dav links bis fate with
mine. and with that OF another. Tint other is
NV safe9uard-that other iS within my arms
| One Of us must y ri Ia. A Thick curtain h inAs
| between M and The event Curses ON my own
imperfect * H. which will only enlble mo To see
40 lar. and 40 further But ] may ward oil The
And he again returned 70 tho scrutiuy Of tbs
Gelo-ps cpuntenance. Wherefore is II. h'
beautiful feat res a thou and forgotten fancies
should be awakenol within my bosom? This
iaco. thoush loyeller iar reals 70 me ne mag.
! dreams of youth of passion, fever. delrium; o
a deed Of which will not even think. Vino II
! this youth? or rather. unless mine eyes art
wholly si:htlos. or dim to aught save the mid
| night glories Of the heavens. who Is this-
The revcric Of the astroloser was here inter
ruut.,d by slight convulsIye attempt at respirH
ton on the part of the Geioso. kuegieri appliet
the phial and with IL trembling hand proceeded
70 unclAsp the youths doub,et to give hin
greater freedom In breathing. In removing the
folds Of the Blood stained linen. the heavine
bosom Of n young and lovely female was re.
vealed His eye g glstened THROUGH it's film. II
| Is as | suspected, he mutored-a a girl in mas
uuerade attire. Most probably the fool hath lost
her heart to Crichton--if 50, shc will be usefu
agent | have no9d OF such an one IN my de
amulet no. by Hermes. small key OF gold, o.
antique flshioning. attached 10 u chain # tht
same metal, which. from its EXQUISITE workman
ID,
have here. no doubt. n clue to your history. o
| winch | may avail myself hereafter! by youl
| leave this key IL mine. ..&.Iss
And lit gcrupulous as 10 the means Of ac
comDlislIing any object, Ruggieri, wi hout heS
tat on naf;l, nod the chain. and was about t.
| commit IT to the custody Ot nl5 pouch. when hf
was alarmed by-a noni ory signal from his
| sah, attendant
The sound uttered by the dwarf rosembled the
kissing OF a startled snake. Indeed. the voca
powers OF the wretched creature only range
between gibbering and sibllation. BY the
former he expressed his rejoicing. by the latter
his fears. The astrooycr well knew how to in
terpret the present bodng ise; Following thu
dlretion Of the dwarf's red and glowing orbs
he caught sight OF figure. upon which thu
angry manikiu was glow"rlng. putting. ant
splitting like an owl DISTURBED by some pr ,wlinl
4 masked, and mu fled within the folds of larg'
sable cloak; and ore kuggieri could thrust th
chain Of gold into his srdle, the intruder wa
by his side.
CHAPTER VI
The MASK.
Dos GAECIA.-Qu eSt-ce alors
Que co masque?-Tenez. 10 VOLTA.