Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-11-09
TIfE NAN AND TTE NOUSE

IIfE MAN AM JIfE HDtS SE.
Through the streets Of Genoa moved a
band Of five men. He in the midst had hi
arms bound fast behind him, and his heac
50 muffled in cloths that no sound could es
cape. Outside the city the splendors o
the full moon silvered the bay the air wa,
soft, and perfumed with the scent of lat,
blossoms and the breath of the tideless sea
but these men threaded their way betweer
high buildings where no ray of moonlight
fell, and whore the stagnant air hung heav
ily Swiftly they mounted the hilly street
and when their mute prisoner stumbled
they dragged him to his feet by chains fast
ened TO his iron wristlets As they ad
vanced there appeared before them a black
er blot upon the darkness here was an
open gateway, and into it they turned, en-.
counterng a troop of soldiers, who came
threateningly toward them But the lead
er displayed badge beneath his cloak, at
sight Of which the guards drew back. The
new comers pressed forward between high
walls Of stone, where rows of flaming
torches shed an uncertain light 10 a second
gate, which denied them further passage.
whistle from the leader and this unclosed.
admitting them by corridor TO a bare and
lofty chamber. Here sat grave gray
bearded man debating to two youths The
newcomers paused till he turned about a
dull sparkle lit his eye as it fell on the
group.
80 you have him :" he said, as his look
fastened upon the central figure, so envel-
oped in its wrappings that no feature could
be discerned
Yes, Excellency,' replied the leader.
bending low. He has led US a hard chase,
but we have him We took him as he was
mounting the side Of the galley"
Has he said aught p
81 Judged it best to have no speech with
him, answered the other, but to leave
him for your Excellency to deal with. Your
Excellency should hear, though, that he
caught sight Of us ere we seized him. and
as we laid hold on him a paper dropped
from his hand into the sea, and was gone
before we could even see properly what it
was. -
The old man frowned "You have been
careless servants, he calculated, and for a
moment sat in silence Then he spoke
Remove the cloths from his head. but
leave his arms bound. Wait without"
The cloths when stripped away exposed
the head and face of young man Of thir
ty, with bold and swarthy features and
eyes of flashing blackness. He gazed stead
ily at the mau before him
"Well Ser Luigi, if that be the name
you favor, cried the latter. Eve have Sc
cured you at last. For humble man. he
continued with sneer you have given
much trouble to your betters And now
you are in our hands, do you care to earn
our farther enmity From more sides
than one there have reached us rumors Of
the conspiracy. Ser Luigi, whatever pow
er your friends may hold, they cannot reach
you here. You have no hope save in as.
To plot against our admiral, the well spring
Of our glory, deserves the blackest death.
Therefore reflect well upon his mercy and
his majesty, when he offers YOU freedom,
full forgiveness for all past offences, even
the enduring friendship of the Dorias, for
one small favor. Give me the names of
your fellows in this evil league, and you
shall find how nobly Doria can reward
those who have rendered him service"
The speaker ceased. The other, looking
at him with face devoid of all expression
answered Il am a simple merchant. come
to Genoa to buy goods which hope to sell
again at a profit in Rome You will find
them in the galley whence | was torn.
know nothing Of such a conspiracy as you
speak of. ~
The eyes of his questioner CLEANED. BE
ware ~ he cried. Il tell you we kiotc
who you are, and what brings you here.
Lying will be vain. Will you tell me the
names Of your fellows or not =
Il have no fellows, answered the young
man. II cannot tell you that which |
know not myself. "
I'VE have no time to throw away cried
the other, rising and ringing bell which
stood upon the table before him "Mercy
is wasted on obstinacy. The rack shall
make you speak,
Can the rack teach me that which do
not know = retorted the prisoner.
The older man, without replying, signal
led to two tall and powerful men clad in
black, who had silently entered the hall
Take =" prisoner he said, "and bind
him on the rack. Let me be summoned
when all is in readiness.
The young man, who did not bench, was
seized 10y the executioners, and hurried
through devious passages to the great tor
ture chamber where the silence seemed
still to preserve an echo of all the shrieks
and groans that had rung through those
dim arches. Stripped and laid ON the rack
he preserved the same conposure, and
sttlnttl even lhulntItill 70 lIt dhNtHL Ol
the two noble lords whose entrance must
give the signal for his sutferings to begin.
One was the same to whose examination
he had already been subjected in the audi
ence hall the other-Doria himself-a tall
white haired old man, gazed at him eager
ly, as if to extract from his face the infor.
nation which his lips refused to give. But
there was nothing 10 be gained by inquisi-
tiNa trIanpas niri'a aprrnfauau,a il,
ed as inexpensive as his words and when
the attendants, at the signal, began theiI
torments, they were powerless to drag
treachery from his lips.
The torture was applied again the neXt
day, and the next, and yet again. As tn,
prisoner became weaker, his self contro
gave way in his pain he sobbed auC
moaned and shrieked, but he never spoke
Each day he smiled anew before they laiC
him ON the rack and repeated his old form
ula How can the torture make me re
veal " hat | am ignorant of know of II,
conspiracy, signori have no fellows
There are other ways than the rack t,
make you reveal your evil knowledge" re
sponded the prince on one occasion, when
pale, exhausted, almost dying, the misera
BILE sufferer was carried past him But il
an instant the white face lighted up.
81 have no knowledge, signori, he pant
ed and smiled again.
The next morning Luigi awaited in vair
the appearance of the two executioners
| Instead, late in the day his door was un
locked by cripple who, standing on tn,
threshold, beckOned him to come Bruise,
and faint, Luigi staggered to his feet an,
| followed the guide, who led him down
succession of short stairways to marrow
door. Two men at arms followed close he
! hind, but the prisoner, had he been alon
! with his companion, was too weak to thinl
of resistance or escape. The guide threw
the door open with a clang. The dungeon
which they entered was small, and diml,
| lighted from an opening high above thei
| heads, 1t was evident that thoy stood fa
below the level of the earth The guild
once more beckoned Luigi and led him t
the corner of the cell, where ON rougl
stone lay tablet, bronze cup filled wit
black liquid, and feather trimmed 70
writing. The cripple's voice, hoarse am
cracked broke the silence
''When you weary of solitude, he said
"or wish for the sunshine, or perchance de
sire nothing more than mouthful of fruit
or a swallow of fresh spring water, yo
have but to write the names our maste
asked upon this tablet, and place it in tn
shaft You will receive your freedom an
all that the heart of man can desire otl
erwise your imprisonment is ifelong"
In moment more the prisoner hear
the jar Of the closing door, and the heay
bolts were drawn. Footsteps resounde
through the oavernous halls and died away
He was alone. Exhausted, faint an
throbbing with pain in every muscle, IA
sole feeling was delight at having escape
the torture. He sank upon the cold stou
floor, and lay motionless for hour aft'