The herald., 1898-10-09


banquet Of yesterday, Of five golden
ewers, six silver platters and eight
golden goblets. When the rogue was
comprehended, he had them not with
him, but, by our Lady, think that he
knoweth right well where to come by
them"
Have We searched him?" demanded
the magistrate.
The idea of this old wiseacre having
a suspicion that I might carry con-
cealed about my person such a guam
tity of tableware was so ridiculous that
burst into roar of laughter.
"Gadzooks," shouted he, shall we
be bearded thus within our very court?
Away with the scof1ing reprobate to the
dungeon! I will myself acquaint the
duke Of this affair, and what with the
rack and the thumb screws. it will go
hard, but we will get his confession and
have him burned by eventide."
When I was once more in my dark
and narrow cell, I began to think that
the matter was much more serious
than had at first supposed. I could
not very we'll escape from the hands
of the law without giving some kind
Of an account Of myself. If gave an
dSSOuil VI lily SELL anu SlAOWSu ludt i
was Prince Timothy of the Pazzi,
threw myself into the power of the
duke, who. according to all accounts,
was extremely eager, for most sinister
purposes, to get his hands upon that
gentleman. "No, that will not do"
thought I; II must conceal my iden-
tity, trust to luck, and get out Of it the
best way can"
$50, this is the Bargello," unused I.
I remembered at that moment having
read in Hans Breitman's book upon the
legends Of Florence, that the old Bar
CELLO or prison of that city was haunt
ed by a red goblin, who visited every
prisoner in his cell and foretold to him
his sentence in good Dantesque terra
rima; and I wondered if I should re-
ceive any such visit. I also thought
of the thorough way that kind, human
old Cosimo de Medici had of testing his
poisons on what prisoners CHANGED to
be in the Bargello. before he tried
them upon his enemies.
In about half an hour these pleas
ant reveries We're interrupted by the
turning Of the key in the lock. I ex-
pected to see the red goblin, or at
least a turnkey with cup Of cold
poison, but instead. the door revolv-
ing upon it's hinges, I beheld
friar standing upon the threshold.
He handed me a voluminous black
robe, and a square, pyramdal hood,
such as he himself wore. He then
spoke in a sepulchral voice:
Invest thyself straightway. fair
prince, in these priestly garments, and
follow me-
1 clothed myself quickly in the
monks garb, at the same time wonder
ing how it was that he knew me for
the prince. / then followed my ghostly
guide along narrow and crooked pas
sage, and up a stairway, which I knew
was not the one l had taken before.
We now traversed two or three cham
bers and went along a gallery or cor
rider until we arrived at a door. open
ing which we found ourselves upon a
harrow street which separated the
Bargello from the Badia or ancient
Abbey. We crossed the street and en-
tered the monastery church, and, as
here were several worshipers present,
Ne ourselves dropped upon our knees
or a few moments in order to avoid
|mspicion.
How didst thou know that I was
|Hince Timoteo Of the Pazzi?" I asked
Nm in an undertone. And what
btought thee to seek me?"
Marry, did not hear thy name yes
ten, at the banquet of the duke, and
ala I not see thee, as thou safest with
thosfair Ippolita in the arched transept
hehlnd the palms? Go to, thou art
CIV and forward youth and wouldst
make an excellent friar."
But, good father" said I, where we
sat none but the musicians from their
hiKhsbalcony could behold us"
by my faith, thou speakest sooth.
Natheless, / saw thee, for l was even
one Of those same musicians. There
fore, my fair son. continued he.
when I did see thee in the hall of JUS
tice OF the Bargello this morning, l
laid the matter before my superiors,
and eteps were taken to convey thee
here"
1 naturally felt much beholden to
these people, and l asked the monk to
introduce me to his superiors that l
might. hank them for this present SER
vice He rose and whispered me to
follow him, and did so. We went out
of the church on the opposite side to
that which we had entered, and now
found ourselves in large, open place,
which my guide said was the monas-
terry court. We entered the cloisters at
one end of this enclosure, and passing
along beneath an arcade, came to
descending stairway. AT the bottom
of this. we followed a dark and vault
ed gallery. which ended abruptly with
a stout. oaken door, Here my con-
ductor raped smartly three times. and
straiehtway a small round hole opened
in the panel, and a solitary eye looked
out at us. The friar muttered some
unintellie ible password, and the orif1ce
closed. W
The door at that moment opened, the
monk pushed me before him, and 7
found myself in q low but exceedingly
snacious Hall. which was indilferently
lighted by a number of wax candles.
1t was a regular barracks INTO which
l had been brought, for there were at
least two hundred soldiers in the apart
ment some\ of them stretched out upon
the pavement, others conversing to-
gether in small groups, and still others
leaning against the walls or within the
corners. A lew of them were in full ar
NOR of MALL or plate, and scarcely one
there was who had not q corselet or
correct or ctiirass or bassnet or SOL
leret or morton, or some such matter,
riyeted or bolted to his person. Many
of them had on. over their armor,
sort of smock frock or shirt, called a
tabard, upon which We're worked in
brilliant colors the heraldic devices OF