The herald., 1898-11-06

lilouSn ne IAN would nave QlneQ OIL
the calves of my legs, while all the
time he was bayirg and yelping vocif-
erously. I drew my rapier in order to
spit him, the next time he came near
enough, for the beast made me exceed
ingly nervous, but Ippolita held me
from it and cried out joyously:
Now. by all the saints at once, it is
none other than my valiant, good and
trusty Nero. How he hath found me-
1 know not, but in sooth, he must have
sought me long, for it is the faithful
nature of the beast. Fair Prince, harm
him not, for he is my treasure, my pet,
and my darling"
per Messer Domeneddio," Ippolita
now exclaimed, as we pursued our way
with light hearts toward the Palace
What will the duke, my reverend
father say anent my having quit the
house last eve and having stayed out
all the night and day? Marry, 1 fear
that he will chide me sore, and will
deem this tale of robbers is much too
| fanciful."
But Fiorella will have told him of
thy abduction" said l.
Nay, not so. fair prince, for he
would have had the ears cut from the
jade, upon the very hearing of the
matter Rather hath she told him
some fairy narrative to excuse her
conduct and account for my absence.
| Would that it were so, that I might
see her lying tongue grow black with
the strangling of the bow string which
1 shall presently provide for her"
l noticed as we went along, that all
the streets We're filled with people, who
We're talking excitedly and hurrying
here and there in much perturbation
and confusion. I also perceived not Il
| few men-at-arms in the crowd, and
some there were who looked much bat
tered and tattered, as though they had
engaged in a melee or riot. / thought
it was a strange thing, but still l did
not attach great Importance to it, and
| it was only when we approached near
to the palace and the crowd became
| denser, and the excitement and din
more pronounced, that I began to
think that some momentous thing had
| happened.
When we arrived at the great porch
of the dukes mansion, we found a
score of saddled and armored war
steeds standing there, some of them
being haltered to the pillars of the
porch and others held by lackeys or
squires; and the immense building was
lighted up from top to bottom, and
there was much noise of singing and
shouting within, as if a great orgie
were in progress. To know what was
going on, l bade Ippolta take the
bride while I got down and went to
one Of the squires who were holding
| the horses.
"Prythee fellow" said I, tell me
what unusual thing is toward, upon
this night, that the dukes palace
should contain such sounds of wassail
and such brilliancy of illumination,
and that so vast a multitude should
throng the streets of the city,"
"Perdio, go to. Thou hast, in sooth,
come from the provinces, that thou
knowest not about the thing Marry,
tale my advice and return straight
way to thy sheep and bullocks in the
place whence thou hast come, for
these matters do not concern thee, and
thou wilt do we'll not to mix thyself up
with them.''
| l had my hand upon my sword hilt,
but a somewhat older and more sedate
looking lackey, who stood near him,
now interfered and gave me the in
formation which I sought.
"Thou hast the appearance, friend,
of having lately come into the town,
and it may well be, therefore, that
thou hast not yet heard the news.
Know, then, that the elevationists
have arisen, it is now these two hours
since; and that they have overthrown
the government, vanquished the duke s
guards, and put the duke himself to