The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-24
THE PAINTER OF PARMA
OR.
The Magic Of a Masterpiece.
An Italian Story Of Love, Mys-
terry and Adventure.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.
Copyright 1888 by Mary j. Cobb.l
CHAPTER XIV.

motionless limbs, with not even a culver to
tell of life, he knew what he had done.
1.-The father in heaven knows 1 did not
mean to do It'll" he said, in bitterness of
spirit. II would have spared him if |
could"
He had not spoken to the Marquis, yet
the Marquis answered Unanswered quick
" and malevolently:
"Yet heard you declare but moment
since that you would surely kill him"
The painter started. He remembered the
words he had spoken when seeking to per-
suade the Count to desist from his mad on
set He remembered; and he saw what a
use could be made of them against him.
go! Marquis! Will you be SO treacher-
Gus? Will you seek to torture those words
into evidence against me? And but mo-
ment ago you swore that you would help
me to escape.-Ahw
Peace! Mol my dear, inquisitive friend,
Ihave thee on the hipp So spake Steffano
Farnese; and the look upon his dark visage
was one of deep and deadly malignity.
'By Saint Paul." he added, after a brief
pause, the look of hatred changing to one
of triumph, ''you will pry no further into
my affairs! You made a false move when
you sought to gain knowledge of the early
life of the Dukes brotherp
"MarQuisl-aS you are called by those
who know you notn Zanoni retorted, with
bitter contempt in look and tone, you may
have the advantage now; but such basenesS
as believe you have been guilty of, such
gross and impudent-"
"Herel hereln Steffano shouted break
ing in upon the speech he did not like.
Here is your prisoner! He has slain the
noble Count Giuseppe Denaro! SEQ, there
he lies, run through the hearth
Heavy hands were laid upon the painters
arms, and his rapieI, which he had not re-
turned to his scabbard, was taken from
him. Two soldiers had taken him in Gus
tody, and more were coming up.
Garry him awaym ordered the Marquis.
"You know meF
Eyes, Signor Farnese. You are the
brother of our noble Duke"
"Good! You will recognize my authority.
Take him to the prison of the malefactors,
and there let him be confined safely and
alone. Mark that-ctonel Make sure,
further, that he speaks with no one, that he
sees no one, save the officer in charge. I'M
til further order is had either from the Duke
or myself. Away with himl Answer no
questions on the way, and suffer no one to
speak with the prisoner"
At that moment strange light beamed
upon the painters face, and shone out
from his lustrous eyes. Something in
the dark, diabolic features of the Marquis,
while he had been speaking to the soldiers,
had touched a chord of his slumberlng
memory, and awakened recollection that
gave him light.
Steffano met Zanoni's startled gaze; he
marked the wondrous light that shot
forth from his eloquent eyes; and he seemed
to comprehend the meaning. He darted
back a look of mingled feeling--of deadly
hatred, and fendish triumph-tnen turned
and walked swiftly away, without giving a
thought to the care of the body Of his fallen
friend.
"Signor,n ventured our hero, when he saw
the MARQUIS thus coolly desert the office of
friend to the man whom he had doubtless
urged to his death, will you see that the
body of the Count is properly cared for,
since the Marquis appears to have forgotten
it!'
One of the guardsmen who had Zanoni in
charge was sergeant, good-looking in
teligent man, who had evidently seen SER
vice in the field. He was past the middle
age, and bore the scars of battle too plainly
marked to be mistaken. He seemed little
surprised by the prisoners request, but he
attended to it without remark. He turned
to two his squad, who appeared to be free
from present duty, and gave them direc-
tions for guarding the body while another
was sent to procure a conveyance by which
it could be properly removed.
SIS that all, Signorp' the sergeant asked,
with just the faintest approach to smile
Oh his bronzed visage
jocose, as though it had struck him as a
comical thing that man in charge for
homicide should presume to direct his cap
tors about caring for the body of his vic
tim.
'Ihave one favor to ask at your hands, if
you will kindly grant it, sergeant"
"You may tell me what it is"
''You have my rapier. 1t is priceless
weapon. If it is not to be returned to me
would like to have you take the scabbard,
to 60 with it and give it to the Duke l. Will
tell him why l wish him to possess 1t If 1T
must pass from my hands"
well, my friend" returned the old cam
paigner with entire good nature, "consid-
ering that you have slain one of the chief
mobiles of Parma, l think there can be little
question about your possessing the
weapon again"
"Then you will give it to the Duke!"
Don't it strike you. Signor, that his
Grace might take it as rather cool thing
the giving to him of sword that had
killed one Of the wealthiest of his noblesE"
ave. added another of the guards
men, with significant nod, land one, too,
that was about to become the husband of
his excellencys beautiful cousin and
ward"
The prisoner WINGED, but gave no sign Of
feeling, that his guard could see. Presently
he replied to the sergeant:
U0lnH you uooQ nave HU LOhI VI blltiu.
Antonio is a dear lover of art, and that
rapier was once the property of master
whose memory he holds in highest rever-
encer
Well, well, I'll think about it. At all
events the Duke shall know what you have
said.n
That will answer" said Zanoni. But"
he added, after little pause, lit might be
well if you should inform him that the mas
ter who formerly owned the weapon was
Murillo."
"Murillo!" repeated the veteran, his face
the picture of pleased surprise. What did
you know of Bartoloine MurilloW
"Hs favorite pupil and dearest friend
was my friend and tutor" answered Juan,
regarding the old guardsman curiously.
But if his previous exclamation had struck
him as curious, the next was to appear more
80.
"Antonio Velasquez was his best pupil, at
all events Did you know himp
It was now Zanoni's turn to be SURPRISED.
However, he answered promptly:
Antonio Velasquez was the best friend,
save one, that / ever had He was my mas
ter and teacher
''And you are the painter of the battle
piece The visconti,' Signor Zanonip
II am. And, my friend, If may ask,
will you tell me what you know OF Murillo
and Antonio Velasquezp
80, not much, Signor | served ten years