The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-10
Copyright. 1895. by Anthony Hope.
Author of " A Prisoner of zenda.-
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
Antonio and the Lady of RiIano.
From the lips Of Tommasino himself,
who was cousin to Count Antonio.
greatly loved by him, and partaker in
all ila5S~enterprises during the time Of
his Ijourn as an outlaw in the hills,
this, the story OK the lady of Rilano,
came to nay venerable brother in
Christ, Niccolo; and the same Niccolo,
being very old man, told it to me, so
that L know that the story is true and
every part of it, and tread here not the
doubtful ground of legend, but on the
firm rock of the word of honest men.
And there is but one thing doubtful;
Fommasipo himself being unable to
know the verify of It; yet that one
thing Is Of small moment, for it Is no
more than whether the lady came first
TO luke Valentine, offering her aid, or
whether the duke. who since the affair
OF the sacred bones had been ever ac-
tive in laying schemes against Anto-
MO, cast his eyes upon the lady, and
perceiVtng that she was very fair and
LIKELY to serve his turn, sent for her
and persuaded her by gifts and by
the promise of great marriage TO
talse in hand the task
Be that as it may it is certain that
IN the fourth year Of Count Antonio's
outiaTry the Lady Venusta came from
Ion, with The duke in his cabinet, SO
that rNan and women with greater
urgency asked what his highness did
to take such a one into his coun5elS,
for he himself had forbidden her to
live in the city, and constrained her
to abide in her house at Rilano, by
reason of reports touching her fair
fame. Nor did she then stay in For
niola, but, having had audience of the
duke, &Wturned straightWay to Rtlano,
and ~ the space Of three weeks rest
ed there, and the duke told nothing to
his lords Of what had passed between
him and the lady, while the Count An
tonic and his friends knew not so
much as that the duke had held con-
ference with the lady, for great pen
altieS had been decreed against any
man who sent word to Antonio Of
what passed il the city, and thu pike
men kept strict guard on all Who left
or entered the city, in that it was
rather like a town besieged than the
chief place Of a peaceful realm.
his hiding place was too well known
TO The Lord Lorenzo and certain of
the dukes guard, Count Antonio de-
scended from the hills by night and
having crossed the plains, carrying all
his equipment with him, mounted
again into the heights Of Mont A6nino
and pitched his camp in and about
certain cave, Which Is sheltered on two
sides by high rocks and on the third
by the steep bank of q river, and can
be approached by one path only. This
cave was known to the duke, but he
could not force it without great loss,
SO that Antonio was well nigh as safe
as when his hiding place had been TN
known; ana yet he was nearer by half
to the city, and but seven miles as a
bird flies from the village of Rilano.
where the Lady Tenusta dWelt, al
though to one who travelled by the
only. path that man could go upright
on lis feet, the distance was hard on
eleven miles But no other place was
so near. and from Rilano Antonio
drew the better part of his provisions
andeAnres of which he had need. pro-
curi&t them secretly from the people,
who we're very strictly enjoined by
the duke to furnish MIN nothing IN
der pain of forfeiture of ali their goods,
YET one day, when the nan they called
Bena and a dozen more rode in the
evening through Rilano, returning to-
ward the cave. the maid servant of
Venusta met them, and with her men
bearing great cask of fine wine, and
the maid servant said TO Bena:
'fAfy mistress bids you drink; for
good men should not suffer thirst
do you know whom we are?"
4Aye, [ know, and nay lady knows"
said the girl. But my lady says that
s. she must I've in Rilano, then she
viii do what she ple2ses in Rflano."
Bena and his men looked at one an
s5ther, for they knew of his highness's
proclamatfonS. but the day having
been hot, they being weary, the wine
seeming good, and q woman knowing
her own business best. at last they
drank heartily, and rendering much
thanks. rode on and told TomaSsIno
what had been done. And Tommasino
having told Antonio, the count was
angry with Bend, saying that his glut-
tony would bring trouble on the Lady
Venusta.
she should not tempt a man." said
Bena, su!Ienly.
All these things happened in the
second day Of the week, and on the
fourth, towards evening, as Antonio
and Tommasino sat in front Of the
cave, LDey saw SOilllhS loWrhA Si'SIn
one Of the band named Luigi, q big
fellow. who had done good service. and
was ralso a merry, Jovial man, that
tooE the lead in good fellowship. And
in eAs arms Luigi bore the Lady Ven
,s<f% Her gown was disheVeled and
ana the velvet shoes on her feet
re cpt almost to shreds; and she
iay back in Luigrs arms pale and eX-
hausted. Luigi came and set her down
gently before Antonio, saying:
MY lord. three miles from here. in
the steeDest and toughest part of my
way, [ found this lady sunk on the
e-ro1nd and half sWooning; when I
raised her and asked her how she
came where she was and in such a
plight she could answer nothing save.
zc.o1,pt Antonioi Carry me to Count
AntonfoI SO 1 have brought her, in
obedience to her request"
- Luigi ended, VenuSta opened her
AVG ana raising to her knees. held out
her hand IN supplication, saying: Pro
test me, my lord, protect me- For the
duke has sent me word that tomorrow
NIGHT ne viii burn my house and all
that Il holds, and VIII take me and
lodge me in prison, and so use me there
Thai I may know what Details those
Who give aid 10 traitors. And all this
comes upon me, my lord, because
gave a draught Of wine to your men
Wfen they were thirsty"
u feared this thing" said Antonio,
nand deeply L grfeVe at ii. But / am
lati1e to go in open war against the
d,,lze. and in the plain: he would also
he Zoo strong for me. What. then.
can / do? For here IS no place in
1yaich a lady, the more if she be alone
'sksd unattended. can be lodged with
eeenFliness."