The herald., 1898-10-09
'. "what became of her? Was she

". "What became Of her? Was she
alive or dead?"
"She was alive. Eccelenzxa, when
last was within hearing Of the poor
lamb. They had shut her within the
upper room of the square tower, and
her signing and moaning did reach me
where / lay, so that l fain would have
gone to her succor had I dared. May
haps. though, it was but the ghost of
the damigella which heard"
"Jacopo." exclaimed, SELLING him
by the arm and hurrying him along IN
the direction of my palace. I'VE must
go at once to the lady's assistance. l
will have reason of these cowardly
rogues, or my name Is not Timoteo."
But whist thou not first summon
strong body of the watch to thine
aid?" asked Clan Jacopo anxiously.
May, thou palsied and fearsome
gray beard" / replied; Il need them
not, and I will cen play the game alone
and by myself Thou shalt assist me,
however in the matter Of getting into
the house. What Is thy present ad-
vice upon this subject?" -
Come with me-" he answered,
"straightway, and thou shalt enter
the castle easily and unseen by Its
present occupants"
I now asked my old retainer to de-
scribe the situation Of the upper roor,
o. the tower, where they had impris-
ored the lady whom they had brought
with them; and 1 learned that the
chamber was four flights up from the
that
only entrance to the tower stairway
was through the banquet hall, the very
place where the whole cutthroat sans,
was assembled. I felt that my nrit
duty was to reach the side OF the lovely
and unfortunate countess, and as !
could not very well cut my way
through a whole score of braves. some
other way must be found to come to
her I asked Clan Jacopo II there was
such another way.
ALAS, no, fair son. I bethink me OF
none indeed"
"Pestilenza, could we not ascend to
the roof Of the palace, and thence en-
ter the tower through its windows?'
NAY, that couldst thou not, for the
easements be uncommon high from the
leads, and beside. they be that mar
row that thou couldst not squeeze the
half Of thy body through them"
"Thou dotard without IDEAS" ex'
claimed I, in my excitement. "Canst
thou, then, think of nothing
THAT can I not, fair prince. From
my youth upward, have been some
what slow in thinking. and my
thoughts crowd not one upon the other
through the brain as do thine own. !
will take thee, presently, by devious
way to the top of another tower, which
is yclept the round keep of the castle,
from the which. it being several yards
removed and of greater height. thou
mayst look down upon the square tower
and the apartment where they have
immured the lady,
At that moment I heard steps imme-
dietely above our heads, and the door
which led down into the cellar was
opened. I dragged my old servitor, just
in the nick of time. behind row OF
great wine casks, myself taking a po-
sition where I could witness whatever
was about to happen.
Two men now came down the STAIR
way. The first of these was a common
Misunderstanding rogue. He bore q
lighted lamp, and seemed to act In a
mental capacity to the man who fol-
lowed him. The second individual was
more splendidly dressed and had more
of the mien and aspect of a cavalier
My eyes followed this last parsonage
with staring and devouring intensity
1t appeared to me that 1 dreamed OF
that my eyesight was defective. for
saw before me the arch-rascal an6
hypocritical Brother Ambrose.
My first thought was to rush forth
and throttle him. but I at once saw
the folly of it. The two were talking
together as they descended, and wher
they reached the floor of the cellar
they passed along in the direction OF
the trap door Of the secret passage
The ex-monk now addressed his com
panion thus:
Saint Peters wounds, Pippo, let me
have no more of thy objections anc
difficulties. AS told we all, l have
much business toward, which will
keep me well into the night. Do thor
and the rest of the band. therefore
remain here until l come"
AYE, master" replied the other, "bu,
what If the lord of the palace should