Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-03-29

During my illness had frequently thought
Of madame, and with the thoughts of her
there mingled recollectiona of the dark eyes
of the lady who had looked at me through
her mask, on the night was stabbed. I
could think of madame in no way but with a
kindly feeling: but, strange as it may seem,
any recollection of the other made my heart
beat, and ! would have given much even to
have obtained another glance at her. In
the meantime, however, my first business
was to try aud replenish my funds, for my
supplies were almost exhausted by the drain
made upon them during my illness.
Old Ceci, the intendant, had in his way
formed sort of attachment for me, and
now that | was better generally spent an
hour or so with me daily in converse. One
day let out some hint of my condition, and
Ceci, after little beating about the bush,
approached me with proposal.
'Signore,' be said, there are those in
Florence who would like things changed.
We want our Medici back; but we want
also few good swords, and could tell you
OF way to ill your purse"
"Say on l replied, and the old man, hav.
ing first bound me to secrecy. informed me
that certain mobiles in Florence wanted a
good sword or two, to rid them of great
political opponent, in order to pave the way
for the return of the Medici; and without
mentioning names in any way, which, he
said, would be given to me later, proposed
that | should undertake the task.
/ realized at once that his suggestion
meant nothing short of assassination, and
saw that my old acquaintance was apparent
ly up 10 the ears in political plot My first
idea was to spurn the suggestion with indig-
ration; but rejecting that it would be bet
ter to know more, and by this means, if pos
sible, save man from being murdered in
cold blood, affected to treat the matter
seriously, and replied that | was as yet unfit
for active work, but that as soon as ! was
better would discuss the subject again. He
then departed.
Perhaps the time will come when the
minds of men will shrink with horror from
crime, even for the sake of good object,
and however much | loathed the proposal
made to me, could not but recollect that
the nobiest names of Milan were concerned
in the Olgiati conspiracy, and that pontiff
had supported the Pazzi attempt on the
Medici. This being so, there was excuse for
Ceci and his leaders, whoever they were;
but my whole soul was wroth in me at the
thought that l had been deemed capable of
doing the business of common bravo, and
if it were not for the reason stated above,
would have flung the old conspirator out
of the room. This insult also had to 20 down
indirectly to D'Entrangues, and as grew
better my desire to settle with him rose to
fever heat. The question, however, was my
resources. Turn which way l would, there
seemed to be no way of replenishing them.
The idea presented itself to me to join the
Borgia, who with all his faults was ever
ready to take long sword into his pay.
After all, it would perhaps be better to seek
to fill my purse in Florence, and let my ven
geance sleep for awhile. 1t would be all the
sweeter when it came.
With these ideas in my head, I was sitting
one afternoon at the little window of my