Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-08

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mouille, who denied all knowledge of her
movements, and the matter stood there.
By this time it was almost approaching the
dinner hour, and we separated, Bayard, fol-
lowed close at his heels by Bran, going to
seek the cardinal, and returning to my
chamber, where found Jacopo, who had
just come back. He had been to the stables
on his way up, and was'loud in his praise of
Castor.
"They say he is fleet as the wind, excel
lency, and he is as gentle as lambkin. 1t il
glorious steed, and princely gift"
ut is so; but what success have you had"
"None as yet about the swords, signore;
there has not been time; but have engaged
a couple of grooms and a lackey, and Or
dered plain liveries for them. The grooms
are even now with the horses, and the lackey
will be here tomorrow"
Every we'll, there is time enough. Basta!
There go the trumpets. His eminence must
be served"
We made our way to the dining-hall, en-
tering it almost at the same time as the car
dinal, his guests, and the rest of the suite.
At the high table on the dais sat the cardi-
nal, with Bayard, another prince of the
church whom afterwards found out was
the Cardinal of Strigonia, scion of the
house of Este, and tall, somber looking
man, with high aquiline features and COM
plexion almost as dark as Moor's. He was
plainly and simply dressed, wearing light
steel corset over his jerkin, and round his
neck the ribbon of St. James of Compostella,
whilst the order itself, red enamel sword
with feur-de-lis hilt, set in On oval white
enamel medallion with a red border, studded
with brilliants, flashed at his throat. His
short, closely-cropped hair was white as
snow, but the long mustache which dropped
over his mouth and short, pointed beard,
was untouched by streak Of gray. Alto
gether remarkable man, one whom no one
could pass by without looking at twice; and
he was none other than Ganalvo de Cordova,
the "Great Captain" and the most skillful
general of the age. He had only few weeks
before driven Marshal d'Aubigny out of Ca.
labria, and was marching straight on against
Tremouille, when the cessation of hostilities
stopped mis- plans, and suddenly resigning
his command he had come to Rome, for
what purpose no one knew, although it was
said that his resignation and difference with
the Spanish court was but q blind.
Be that as it may, had now an oppor-
tunity of seeing together, seated side by side,
the dark and stern grandee of Spain, az able
as he was cruel, as vindictive as he was
brave; and the brilliant and polished Bay
ard, who seemed to have gathered in his per-
son all the noblest qualities of knighthood,
and on the white shield of whose honor
there was never a stain. And how different
was the fate of these two men! De Cordova,
after holding the highest offices, after be.
ing practically king, after shedding an i'm.
perishable glory on his country by his vic.
tories, and staining her memory indelibly
by his perfdy, died at last, with all his fine
epun webs broken. And Bayard-old as /
am, my eyes grow moist when think of that
glorious day at the passage of the Sesia,
when, covered with wounds, overcome by
numbers, and fighting to the last against
hopeless odds, Pierre du Terrail gave back
his soul to God. But long years were to
pass before this happened, and Bayard was
at present in the hey-dey of his career.
The table for the gentlemen Of the suite
was placed just below the dais, and extend
ing further down the room were other
tables, for all who could obtain seats there
at, whilst at the extreme end of the room
was high stand, whence anyone was at lib
erty to bear away as much of meal as he
could carry off on the point of his dagger.
Estimating roughly, ! should say that fully
CuV pclSOub uiucu Ohily III tIllb IllhuuSIp WIFI
D'Amboise, and this hospitality, which he
noble, was the subject of much amusement
.elyes on more refined and delicate style
of living. At any rate, all that was here
was safe to touch, and no one had need to
fear that dinner at the Palazzo Corneto
with the Cardinal of Rouen was prelude to
supper with st. Peter in Heaven. His
eminence, who was notable trencherman,
beamed down from his high seat on us all,
and tried valiantly to assay conclusions with
the Cardinal of Strigonia, but was compelled
at last to own himself beaten, for Ippolyte
d'Este was one in a thousand at table; in
fact, this jovial prelste ended his days sud.
denly, after prodigious dinner, which be-
gan at II in the morning and ended at four
IN the afternoon, concluding with 30 light
dainty as dish Of roasted crayfsh, washed
which he was inordinately fond. At our
and found myself seated next st. Armande,
whilst opposite to me was lie Clerc, the car
dinaIs chaplain, and next to him an officer
Of the papl guards, Spaniard who spoke
little and ate much. st. Armande passed
by the wine, drinking only water, and in re.
| ply TO q question Of mine answered that he
was under vow.
eve can absolvs you here easily, cheva-
lier," said lie Clerc, who overheard the re-
mark, "here IL some Orvieto which can
recommend" and he pushed the flask to-
wards st. Armande.
The latter, however, would not be tempt
ed, and LIE Clerc shook his head.
"a willful man must have his own way,
chevalier; but that Oryieto was q present
from Pierrot, our lords most favored serv.
ant"
Indeed" said the Epaniard; "then ] can
safely say it is the last present you will re-
ceive from Don Pierrot."
How 500"
"Cesare arrived last night, very suddenly,
with two men only. they say. He has not,
however, yet seen his holiness = although
he is in the vatican"
LIE Clerc remained silent, but st. Ar.
mande asked in his low voice:
81 do not follow, sir. Could you not ex.
plain? Unless ask too much. You see
] am stranger in Rome"
The Spaniard smiled grimly.
at means, chevalier, that Pierrot wai
found this morning with dagger sticking
up to the hilt in his heart"
st. Armande turned pale, and LIE Clerc
asked in low tone:
care you sure Of thiss When did it hap
psnr
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