The herald., 1898-10-09

Brother Ambrose, 'if she make an up
roar and a loud clamor, pay no heed
to 1t. for the walls be thick, and II.
peradventure. the passers-by should
take note Of It, they will deem that It
Ii but a damigella, who practiseth the
vocal scales"
The two villains now disappeared
within the stairway of the subter-
ranean gallery. The whole thing was
now as plain as pikestaff. Brother
Ambrose was the fitting leader of
company OF as arrant thieves and
rogues as existed in the duchy OF
Flrenzalino. They. had come to Cas-
truccio's banquet solely for plumber.
and had succeeded in secreting and
carrying away beneath their cloaks the
greater part of the dukes housekeep-
ing outfit. The renegade friar had then
overheard the appointment made with
me by the countess. through Fiorella,
and had put the browning sheaf to his
achievements Of the night by pushing
me into the well, abducting my in
comparable mistress and making my
own house the place of her duress and
the headquarters of his diabolical
crew. Truly, 1t was the most daring.
complete. cold-blooded. able and i'm
pudent piece of wickedness ever per-
petrated, and Brother Ambrose was
without rival in his art, and the
very prince of evil doors. I could have
pardoned him his ingratitude, and his
attempt to murder me, but the out
rage which he had inflicted upon Ip-
polita, never! 1 took an oath upon the
spot. that he should die for it by my
own hand.
now babe my ancient adherent
conduct me to the top OF the round
keep or donjon. whence, according to
his assurance I could look down upon
the square tower and windows Of the
fair captive's prison. He had lighted
Pippo's lamp. which had fallen and
gone out, and we now passed up the
stairs to the kitchen or scullery,
know not which, Of the palace. We
soon found ourselves in the round
chamber of the keep. Here there was
a spiral staircase, taking which we
went up and up and up and up, till we
got to the fifth and top story. where
there was a round window Of about
two feet in diameter.
Upon the roof Of the tower there was
some kind Of hatch or scuttle.
Outside of the window where
leaned. there hung motionless a great
windmill. with arms some twenty-five
feet in length, bare and denuded OF
their canvas, the shaft of which passed
in across the sill to the center Of the
chamber, where 1t engaged with q
vertical shaft. which went down
through the floor. By the power Of this
Anticipated machine the wine presses
Of the Pazzi family had been once
operated. 1 made mental calculation
as to the arms or wings Of 1t, and de-
cided that 1t should now be put to
much different and more worthy use.
first turned the horizontal shaft to
the left, until one Of the arms stood
very nearly perpendicular. Bidding
Jacopo hold the shaft from revolving.
which he could do very easily by
means Of lever which was fixed to 1t.
got out of the window, and, climbing
to the very top Of the perpendicular
arm, sang out to him to let go. He
did so, and commenced to move. very
slowly at first, towards the right. Then
I began to rush through the air like a
comet, but I kept my wits about me
md let go just at the right time, and
the impetus Of the thing carried me q
few feet further than the point reached
by the end Of the arm, and I landed
safely upon the roof Of the square
tower.
/ tore of the hatch or scuttle and
found that there was loft, of q few
feet in height, Immediately under the
leads. Down into this loft I lowered
myself, and at one side of it saw an
open stairway leading to the room be-
meath. I crept softly down. and my
eyes becoming accustomed to the semi
obscurity Of the apartment. I made out
the graceful and perfect figure of Ip-
polita. as she knelt. grief-stricken and
all absorbed, at q prie-dieu, in one cor
ner. In ectasy I contemplated the d.
vine creature for q moment, then l
went toward her. and she. hearing my
footsteps, turned and saw me and
sprang to her feet. and with one great
sob of woe and relief and delight,
flung herself into my arms.
and have 1 found thee, sweetest Ip-
polita?" said I.
II knew that thou wouldst come"