The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-11-29

bridge, was a guardhouse, occupied at the
time by a detachment Of Spanish infantry,
| and to these men addressed myself inquir.
| ing where the cardinal Of Rouen was staying
| | was told, al once, that his eminence was
| lodging in the new palace Of Cardinal Cor
! Heto, opposite the Scorsa Cavalli, and that
my best way was to turn TO the left on cross
ing the bridge. and then TO the right at the
| junction Of the Borgo San Sprito aud the
Borgo san Michele.
Bcstowing my thanks and a largcsse on
the men tor their kindness, ] went on at a
| gallop, congratulatins myself on the ease
with WHICH the difficulty was solved. and in
few minutes had crossed the Piazza Scorsa
| Cavalli, and was before the residence Of the
cardinal. At the time ! speak Of II was not
quite finished, but still habitable, aud had
been rented by Monsignore d'Amboise, as
beng conveniently near the VATICAN.
On entering the courtyard dismounted,
| and, giving my horse to Jacopo to hold, as.
! ccnded the steps and boldly announced my.
sell a. an urgent messenger who had busi.
ness with his eminencc ! was ushered by
page into o reccption.room, and, early as the
hour was, there were a considerable number
OF people already in attendance, awaiting
the morning levce. Here was left to cool
my heels tor a little time. the spruce page
informing me that the cardinal was engaged
at breakfast, but that he would tell him Of
my coming. and asked my name. hesitated
Tor a moment, but decided to keep the name
Of Donati which ! had assumed, and gave
that, adding that | was the bearer of an
urgent dispatch to the cardinal, which |
must deliver with my own hands. The
young man then left me, as have said, and,
gYE 81
door to the adjoining room. leaned back
against the wall and awaited my summons
The reception room was Of noble proper.
tons, oblong in shape, the ceiling being sup.
ported by two pillars Of veined marble,
which. although they diminished the size
OF the chamber. had good effect. The mar.
BILE flooring, arranged in patchwork of
black and white. was bare of all furniture,
and, as the room gradually filled, the con.
slant moving of feet. the sound Of which
rang sharply on the stone, made il appear
rs ii a lot OF masons hammers were at work
| let my eyes wander over the groups as
they stood or moved about, wondering II by
chance ! should see anyone ! knew; but
they were all strangers to me, mostly French
men, with a tar sprinkling of priests
amongst them. They were one and all try
ing 10 jostlc past each other, as 10 gain
as close position ~ possible to the entrance
door, near to which ! stood; and as !
watched this with some little amusement
] heard a whisper in my ear, and. glancing
round, beheld a man standing near me in a
doctors robe, holding a heavily bound mis-
sal in his hand. ] saw in a moment il was
Corte, and he whispered in a low voice.
do not look round at present, but near
the pillar to your right are two men, one
dressed half in cloth OF gold, and they are
more interested in you than you think.
overheard a snatch Of conversation they
are moving this way. BY your leave, sig
more, raising his voice, he attempted to
push by me. and, catching the hint his last
words had thrown out, answered. loudly:
First come, first served, learned doctor,
8nd you must bIde your turn"
II am a man Of peace, and therefore
yield" Corte moved off, and was free to
look around me. ! saw that Corte's little
piece of acting, to which had risen, was
due to the fact that the man in the cloth
of gold and his companion were edging near
er to us, and at the time were barely six feet
off. Resting my hand lightly on the hilt Of
my sword looked the two full in the face,
but could make nothing Of them. The one
who wore jerkin Of gold cloth met my look
for an instant, and then dropped his eyes, a
faint flush rising TO his cheek. saw that he
was a young man of a singularly handsome
countenance. a short, neatly-curled mus
tache fell over his upper lip and mouth, but
there was no sign Of beard on the small
and rounded chin, which was clearly shaw en-
On his right cheek he wore a black patch
placed as il to hide the scar Of a wound, al
though his complexion was as delicate as u
the sun had never touched il. In his ears
he wore earrings, an aifectation Of female !
adornment hateful to me, and the fingers Of |
his small right hand, which he held un.
goyed, were covered with rings. The hit |
OF his rapler, too, peeplng from under the |
folds Of his gay cloak, was crested with jew
els, and altogether it seemed as II could |
have nothing to fear from this painted lily, |
who looAed more fitted to thrum a lutte in |
lady's bower than have aught to do with the |
stir of the times. therefore loosed my |
glance from him with some contempt and |
turned to his companion, who was robed al
an able, and evidently in a sour middle age. |
His features were holder than those of his |
companion, but distinctly those Of the |
canaille, and there was nothing in them in
any way remarkable.
Nevertheless, thought it well to be on
the watch, knowing that dagger thrust ID
easily sent home, and there was the Ger
tainty, too, that the fact Of my coming TO
Rome with a letter was known 10 the Medici
plotters la Florence, and evidently il was
their object to Illustrate its delivery. What
puzzled me, however, was that the look the
young man directed to me was not unfriend-
ly, and It struck me that If could only hear
his voice il might give me some clew to a rec
ignition. The two had come little between
me and the door, and | was Just about 10
contest the place with a view Of forcing their
hands ii possible, when the door was flung
open and the same page who had taken my
name appeared and called out:
"Signor Donati, his eminence awaits you"
As the door opened there was a general
towards il. But the cry of the
page in a moment arrested the crowd, turn.
ing the look Of anticipation on the faces Of
all to one Of disappointment, and a loud
arose against my being so fla
'ored. lost not a second IN stepping for
ward, and in doing so puTposely brushed
against the young man near TO me, turning
'oGnd as | did 50 with a somewh hat brusque
by your leave, sir" fully expected that
he would resent my rudeness and make
some speech, but he merely bowed his head
with a courteous inclination, showing a set
II small and even teeth as he smiled under