The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-27

truth C0o0, WQe0 replied IN Inc R1ufm0L1v
Here then is your money-one thousar
and paid. according to your demand, in q,
vance. Now followu u.s."
He handed me Q we'll filed purse, al
started towards the Grand Canal, waikiki
srm.in-srm with the Monk.
followed-then might have fed.
At the waters edge was . small gondol
into which We entered, and then the gond,
lier sent his light craft swiftly over the inb
direction ONO matter where. Suffice it
say that We did mot pause until we ha
reached the side entrance to certain one
the many palace-like mansions which. even
this day, adorn the "mermaid city,"
Here, leaping from the gondola. Satan, fo
as such was the Monks companion habiteG
and by that name shall he be known, place
his lips close to the door and initiated the 10,
whistle of canary bird. pause, and b
was answered from within by like sound
Then turning to me he babe me leave tn
gondola and ascend the steps where he stood
l obeyed.
Again he placed his lips to the door, an,
again whistled. This time he was answered
l
Heaven and He'll"
sFor Satan and the Monk r. rejoined Satan
and after pause the door cautiously opened
by Q man, masked, who bowed very low t.
him, and slightly to me.
'.Pietro, follow this guide. Ask him M
question, but do thy duty and quickly"
eyes, signor," 1 replied.
The masker led the way and followed,
now, more than ever, fearful of being dis
covered. and yetnot daring to ask my guide
for Instructions, as TO what my duty was, lest
my ignorancs might betray me.
Through ~ long hall-up q wide stair
then up another flight, then along q corridor
Into another long hall, and then to the end
Of it. I followed my silent guide.
Here hostopped before door which, after
began to slowly open. Presently when ajar
enough to admit of ones entering, yet not
wide open, he entered the room.
Alter short absence he returned, and,
throwing the door wide open, motioned to me
to follow him in. l obeyed, and-paused at
the scene which met my view.
The room was q large one and exquisitely
furnished as q sleeping apartment Nothing
Of the kind that I had ever seen seemed to
equal its richness and taste. The very walls
hung az they were with works
from the hands Of masters-not of one age,
but all-were beyond my feeble imagining;
and, wrapt as l always am in the contempa.
ton of works of art. my eyes did not discover
that which held them most entranced when
my attention had been called to it by the
masker ct my side.
It was ths couch, upon which lay the fair
sst woman it had ever been my lot to behold.
Suddenly q sense of "my duty" fa.hed
upon me, and my suspicion was confirmed by
my companion remarking in soto uoce, that if /
lid not proceed quickly the effect of the
potion which had been secretly given to her
hat evening, and which was only intended to
fleet her for certain number of hours,
night wear off, and in that event he would
lot be ans werable for my safety.
What could do?
II did what nv feelings most prompted
efused to abduct the girl, for such was "my |
10 almost certain death for me, for there stood |
he maskxWho had led me hither, his dagger |
lrawn anu already measuring his distance, ss
he had already began to fear might prove |
slse. Besides. should 1 escape him, what |
certainty had that would not be killed BY
he other inmates of the house, who finding |
ne, stranger, in place where I surely had /
% right to be, would naturally suspect me of
oul Intentions, and, reader, Italians under
uch circumstances, seldom indulge in long
vestigations-quick work pleases them bet
sE
Again, how did I know but that this was
OF all prearranged-a second Romeo and
uliet affair? And, if it was, would not be
DING . terrible thing, in the eyes of Love, to
Q the means of spelling it all No ! had
one too far forward to retfact without any
danger, and so resolved to do
IMPLY what was expected of me in the charsc-
" Of Pietro, and, IN the character of Pietro,
y nothing.
I approached the couch, bent over the
vely creature, and raised her up gently in
y arms.
The mask was ready at my elbow. with !
rye cloak, which he threw around her, and ,
en leaving the room, he motioned me to
How. y
Spite the impotence which my companion
Ihibited to get me safely out OF the house, I q
IS as slow as possible in doing SO; for was {
uly loa,h to have to deliver my fair burden
any one, and most Of all to those without, Z
no knew were anxiously waiting for me to {
At the door stood Satan. who seeing me. j
lrriedly exclaimed 'sQaick, Pietro Into \
9 gondola, safely. So" =
Then turning to the mask who still stood in 4
Q doorway: Here, fellow this purse
ntains your seward. Take it." The mask
Ok il, bowed his thanks and closed the
or. :
Satan sprang into the gondola. I
50 Alvey now to the Piombii," be cried; i
d again the light craft shot swiftly over i
> waters. p
". Al
!. The Piombir' n
THAT reader does not know of them? The
son of which Byron spoke, in his memora-
lines fl
81 stood in Venice on the Bridge Of Signs, q
A palace and prison ON each hand" 9
These prisons. of which Silvo Pellico gives Il
h graphic description 10 the account Of Q