The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-03
CHAPTER x.
MORE PLOTTTNG.

leaving his ward was the page who had at
tended at the door of the drawing room dur
ing the evening.
"Filippo, do you know if either Henri
Vavallia or Paulo Alavado is in the pal
ace9"
They are both gone, SIRE"
"All the guests are not gomez
GAN except the Count Denaro. He is
with the Marquis"
"What in the world sent them off so
earlya Bless my soull refreshments had
not been served. What was the matterr'
The boy started to speak and stopped.
Finding his master waiting he started again,
but broke down as before.
''Filippo, have ever given you occasion
to fear meP'
80, no, my LordI You have given only
occasion to love you with all my heart"
''Then why do you fear to answer the
question l ask?"
at was, my Lord, because l." he cast a
quick, sweeping glance around the hail.
and presently went on, with fear and
trembling, "because-I was afraid of an
other"
You mean Marquis Steffanol"
Eyes, my Lord"
NOW, boy, tell me plainly what he had to
do with 1t, and in return promise you that
you shall suffer not one atom from him,
either in word or deed
The page had been present and witness of
the passage between the Marquis and the
two young mobiles of whom the Duke had
spoken; he was, moreover, possessed of a
considerable degree of dramatic power I;
and he told the story so faithfully that, had
his hearers been present at the meeting, he
could not have seen it more wildly. He
had not question to add. He simply list.
ened to the end, and, having assured him
once more that he had nothing to fear, dis
missed him.
After that he would have avoided his
brother; and he sought to do so. He did
not wish to see him until he had slept and
had opportunity for thought, and If posi-
BILE he would have held another interview
with his ward before he answered any ques.
lions of Steffano's asking.
But he was not to escape. Being in his
own mind well assured that if the guests
had all departed his brother would have be-
taken himself to the smoking room, he ven
tured to look into the drawing room before
retiring to his private apartments. He en-
tered, finding the lights mostly extin-
guished, but enough had been left burning
to reveal to him the forms of Steffano and
Giuseppe Denaro seated at an open window
Even then he would have passed on, but the
MARQUIS had seen him and came forth to
speak with him
'iWell, Antonio, was I not rightp' he
asked. with intense eagerness. did | make
mistaken
''Steffano, we will not speak Of it tonight.
I have more than care for my ward to
trouble me, and would have rest and quiet.
l wish to think" r
''But you will give me simple word of
answer to my question. Surely that can
not tax you heavily"
xuho could IL.
his true feelings Whatever he felt, especi-
ally if he felt it deeply, appeared on the
surface. The Marquis saw the cloud upon
his brothers brow and the panied look in
his large, expressive eyes, and he burst forth
coarsely:
''Fore heavenl trust have done moth
ing to ruffle the current of your life. If |
have am truly sorry"
''Steffano," returned the Duke, sternly,
but without anger, "what is your own opin-
ion, now that you are sober and rational, Of
your treatment of Signor Zanoni last even
ing" ~
der? Win your Grace kindly inform me
how the story came to your earss Ohoi l
have It'll The Princess told you, and the
painter told her. A most noble and reliable
source of information, truly l can
imagine that the fellow did not spare me in
his pathetic narrativel And did you be-
lieve it ala"
Eyes, Steffano believed every word of
it. You are mistaken, however, if you
think the man you so grossly insulted is the
only person who was witness, with your
self, of the disgraceful scene"
Duke demanded the Marquis, hotly,
"do you say that I-Steffano Farnese-in-
suited low-born, plebeian painterW
81 say the insult was the more gross and
unpardonable in that it was given by a
Farnese. and brother of the reigning
Duke !"
"Per Baccoi l doubt if the mobiles of
Parma would be content to accept your
dictum," the Marquis rejoined, with graf
ing, bitter laugh.
The Duke turned quickly to the Count,
who still sat in the recess OF the window.
"SiCnor Count" he said, looking the man
souarely in the face, ''what is your opin-
ion7 will leave it to you as a man of
sense, of Judgment, and as one possessing a
sense of honor and self respect. You were
witness of the scene. Would you deem
SteGano's treatment of Signor Zanoni an
insultw
"Sire.n returned the poor fellow, tremb-
ling perceptibly, II wish you would excuse
me-"
(which MEANS" retorted the Duke, with
out pausing to reflect, that you shrink from
characterizing the manners Of your friend in
their true light"
Now, this was placing the unfortunate
Count in terrible plight. II he spoke the
simple truth, as he felt it in his heart to be,
he would deeply offend and anger a man
whom he both feared and hated, and yet
whose good offices he very much needed.
Or. at all events he thought he did. If he
refused to speak he would not only offend
the one man of all the world whose favor
he most desired, but be would lower
himself in that mans estimation. He
could only crave forbearance, as he had
done.
And when the retort came, though he
felt it to be harsh and unkind, he dared
not say So He only hung his head and was
silent.
"EnoughI'' said Antonio, after brief,
painful silence. Let us say no more at
present. forgive you, Giuseppe, for your
LOYALTY to your friend, and | ask your par
don for having placed you in such dilem-
ma No! not another word to-nightv he
added, to bis brother, who had started to
speak. And with this he turned and left the
room.
For time after the Duke had gone the
two men regarded one another in silence.
The Marquis was the first TO speak.
"Well, old fellow, what do you think Of
itl"
Upon my word, Steffano, know not
what TO think.
"You know, hope, what to think about
the Princess and the painter"
"She loves himl" was the reply given,
with gasp Of pain and anguish.
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