The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-10-03

well, my dog is dead"
Il am sorry" l began, but he interrupted.
Dead, l say. Life went from it in with
ings and twistings, in screams of agony
the little beast, poor little BEAST / would
have ended iis misery, but wanted to sec
l wanted to find some death so horrible that
it would pass the invention of man. And
have found it, signore. See this toy of
knife! This fairy's dagger!" and he held
up tiny lancet, ''only touch of it, and
man would die as that dog did, in with
ings III twistings, in screams"
l rose and put my hand on his arm, keep
ing my eyes steadily on his face.
"Corte," / said, "this is not like you. You
arc not we'll. Here is some wine," and
poured him out a goblet of Orvieto. He
drained it at gulp, and sat with his head
buried in his hands.
AS he sat there, the scene in the lonely
hut, when ] went forth an outcast from
Arezzo, came back to me, and there rose
before me the dim light of the torch, the
mad figure of my host, and l could almost
hear the pattering of the rain and the dy
ing Kisses Of the log fire without. Then l
saw other things as we'll, and a pity came
on ME for the man before me. a sudden
thought struck me, and, acting on the i'm
| pulse or the moment, L spoke:
''See here, Corte! You are i'll, you want
rest, quiet Throw off these dark thoughts,
and do what l say. Two miles from Cola,
in the Bergamasque, lies a small farm. 1t
is mine Mine still, though mortgaged. Go
there. Ask for the Casino Savelh, and say
you have come from me-from Ugo di Sa-
velli. You know my name now, and they
will want nothing more from you. Live
Z hot
you like. The air is pure in the hills there
is the boqueton for you to hunt; the life
is good VIII you do this?"
He lifted his head, and looked at me.
| Then, rising, he placed one hand on each
| of my shoulders, thin hands they were, with
| long bony fingers that held like claws.
''Signore," he said, with emOtiOnj "Donati
or Saveili-whoever You are-you are
good man. thank you, but it cannot be.
| Good-by!" And, lifting up his book, he
! turned and strobe out Of the room, leaving
me little chilled.
! After that | waited Tor my meeting with
| D Amboise. l saw to the packing of
valise, went down and looked at the horses,
| closely inspected the arms and mounts of
my men, who looked capable of anything,
and, in one way and another, managed to
get through the time, until about the sixth
! hour, when his eminence supped. present
ed myself punctually, and was ushered into
! an inner apartment which l had not hith-
/ eIto seen, and where the supper was evil
IDENTIFY to be held, for the table was set out
! there. | was alone at first, and seating my
self on a lounge, looked about me- The
room was small but beautifully fitted up,
and had all the appearance Of being the
cardinals private study. By my side was
4 table on which was spread map, with
various crosses marked on it in red chalk,
| the chalk itself lying on the map, where
! it had been carelessly flung. In front of
me was an altar, suTmounted by silver
| crucihX, bearing an eXqulsitely-carved
| Christ. Near it, in a corner, leaned a long
straight sword, from whose cross handle
| hung a pair of fine steel gauntlets. Rest
! ing on a cushion, placed on a stand, was
the cardinals hat, and behind the stand
| could see the brown outline of a pair of
riding boots and the glitter of FURNISHED
spurs. In a corner of the room was
large table, set out with writing materials
and covered with papers. Running my eyes
over these idly, l finally let them rest OH
| the supper table, which was arranged with
lavish profusion. The curtains of the win
dows were drawn, and the light from eight
| ~
rose and amber of the wine in the quaint
TASKS, on the cheerful brown crusts of the
pasties, on the gay enameling Of the COM
futures, and on the red gold of the plate.
noticed, too, that the table was set for
three only. 1t was evidently private sup
per, where things were to be discussed, and
[ became glad, fer | felt already a step on
wards towards winning back my name, and
I seemed to see in the mirror on the wall
to my left, vision of a woman with dark
hair, and dark eyes
Your eminence!" l fairly started up.
lad not observed the entrance of DAM
boise until he stood beside Inc and touched
me lightly on the shoulder.
Dreaming, cavaliere! l did not think
you were SO given. l am afraid that, late as
l am, | must still keep you from your sup
per, for ] expect another guest. Ha! there
he ISL
Indeed, as he spoke, the door swung open
noiselessly, and Nachiavelli entered. He
was plainly and simply dressed, and wore
no sword, merely a dagger at his side.
thought, however, | caught the CLEAN of a
steel corselet under his vest, as he greeted
the cardinal, and D'Amboise's own sap
phire was not more brilliant than the single
opal which blazed in the secretary's hand.
This is the Cavaliere Donati, your excel
lency," said the cardinal, "but think you
know each other"
Machiaveli extended his hand to me with
his inscrutable smile; but as | met his eyes
| saw that they were troubled and anxious.
He, however, spoke with easy unconcern.
well met, Messer Donati. can emily say
l am sorry we parted so soon. l would have
given much to have had you in Florence for
few days more
Your eXcellency is most kind"
est. Dennis!" said the cardinal, "but are
you gentlemen going to exchange compli-
ments, and starve instead of sitting down to
supper. BURN, are we not ready? and he
turned to his gray-haired major-domo, who
had entered the room.
Your eminence is served" replied the
man, and we took our seats on each side
of the table, D Amboise between us.
You need not wait, BURN, but remain in
the passage" BURN stepped out silently,
and the cardinal said, with an air of apol-
ogy: You must not mind so informal re-
past, gentlemen; but we have much to dis