San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-30
Ind that is all. Vincenzo?"

huu JudU 10 d-l. NluCClLO9
THAT is all, Eccellenza."
l was silent. There was something in
the simple narration that touched me-,
though | remained as determinately re-
l~entless as ever. After a few moments
l said.
"'You have done well, Vincenzo. You
are aware how grossly this young man
has insulted me-and that his in
furious treatment can only be wiped out
in one way. That way is already arranged.
You can set out those pistols you
cleaned"
Vincenzo obeyed- but as he lifted the
heavy case of weapons and set them on
the table, he ventured to remark
timidly.
THE Eccellenza knows it is now
Christmas-day?"
81 am aware of the fact" l said some
what frigidly.
In no wise daunted, he went on, Com
ing back just o l saw the
big Nicolo-the EccellenZa has doubt
less seen him often?-he is a
vine-grower, and they say he
is the largest man in Naples-three
months since he nearly killed his broth
er.-ebbene! Tonight that same big
Nicolo is drinking Chianti with that
same brother, and both shouted after me
as / passed, 'Holal Vincenzo Flamma!
all is well between us because it is the
? blessed Christ's birthday" VincenZo
stopped and regarded me wistfully.
''Well!" 1 said calmly, what has the
big NicolO or his brother to do with
me?"
Nv xo1nt hnSftotnI 1nnlynl ~ than
down-finally he said simply, MAY the
saints preserve the Eccellenza from all
harm!"
l smiled gravely. "Thank you, my
friendi. | understand what you mean.
Have no fear for me. | am now going
to lie down and rest till five o'clock or
thereabouts-and | advise you to do the
same. At that time you can bring me
some coffee"
And l nodded kindly to him as l left
him and entered my sleeping apartment,
where | threw myself on the bed, dressed
as | was. | had no intention OF sleep
ing-my mind was too deeply en-
crossed by all | had zone through.
| could enter into Guides feel
ings-had l not suffered as he was
now suffering?-nay! more than he
for ne, at any rate, would not be buried
alive! / should take care of that! He
would not have to endure the agony
of breaking loose from the cold grasp
of the grave to come back to life
and find his name siandered and his va
cant place filed up by a uSurper. Do
what / would, l could not torture him as
much as l myself had been tortured.
That was a pity-death, sudden and al
most painless, seemed too good for him.
| held up my hand in the half light and
watched it closely to see if it trembled
ever so slightly. No! it was steady as a
rock-I felt / was sure of my aim |
would not fire at his heart, l thought
just above it-for l had to remember one
thing-he must live long enough to rec
ogniZe me before he died. That was the
sting | reserved for his last moments!
The sick dreams hat had bewildered
my brain when l was taken i'll at the au-
berge required to me. | remembered
the 1.-the figure, so like Guido,
that had glided in the In
dian canoe towards me and had
plunged a dagger three times in my
heart! Had it not been realized? Had
not Guido stabbed me thrice?-in his
theft of my wife's affectiOns-in his con-
tempt for my little dead child-in his
ISLANDERS on my name? Then why such
foolish notions of pity-Of forgiveness,
GnaJ were beginning to steal into my
mind? 1t was too late now for forgive
ness-the very idea of it only arose out
of a silly sentimentalism awakened by
Ferrari's a~llusiOn to our young days
days for which, after all, he really cared
nothing. Meditating on all these things,
| suppose must have fallen by imper-
ceptible degrees into a dose which grad
ually deepened till it became a profound
and refreshing sleep. From this | was
awakened by a knocking at the door.
l arose and admitted VincenzO, who en-
tered bearing a tray of streaming
coffee.
rs it already so late?' l asked him.
ut wants a quarter to five," replied
Vincenzo-then looking at me in some
surprise, he added, "Will not the Eccel-
lenza change his evening dress?"
l nodded in the affirmative-and while
l drank my coffee my valet set out a suit
of rough tweed. such as | was accus-
toned 10 wear every day. He then left
me, and l quickly changed my attire,
and while | did so l considered carefully
i the position of affairs. Neither the
Marquis DAvencourt nor Captain Free
cha had ever known me personally when
| was Fabio Romani-nor was it at all
probable that the two tavern compan-
ions Of Ferrari had ever seen me. A
surgeon would be on the feld-most
probably a stranger. Thinking over
these points, l resolved on a bold stroke
it was this-that when l turned to face
Ferrari in the combat, | would do 20
with uncovered eyes-I would allure
my ~spectacles altogether for the occa-
sion. Vaguely l wondered what the eff
feet would be upon him. l was very
L mmch CHANGED nunn withnnt thnsn d.