Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-04-12

kept running his hand up and down its
shaggy coat, whilst he asked, in his measured
voice:
.Well, and to what do owe the honor of
this visit?"
"You would prefer no beating about the
bush?"
ut is my way"
well, then, cavaliere, have come from
Rome with special object, and that is to
ask you to change sides and to use your in
fluence with your cousin, Count Carlo, to do
likewise"
II follow the head of my house."
'Exactly. You are aware that His Holt
ness is now over 20 years of age"
"Ihe lambkin of God, Alexander-yes."
Well, he cannot go on forever, and if he
were to die it is an end to the Borgia."
"Ho! ho!" he laughed, at is an end to
the Borgia-Cavaliere, your employers are
mad. 1t will take not little to break Ce-
sare-Cesare Borgia, Duke of Romagna,
Imola and Faenza, Marquis OF Rimini, Count
OF Forli, Lord of Pesaro and Fano, Gonfal.
oniere of the Church-good for low-born
bastard-eh? Flo! no! break Cesare! Not
you"
Stronger trees have fallen, signore-re-
member, we have France and the Floren-
tines on our side, and 20, 900 men, under Ire
mouille and Trevul7io, are not 20 miles from
you"
I was playing risky game. If did sue
coed in inducing this man to listen to my
proposals, and he actually persuaded his
cousin to do likewise, it would be terrible
blow to the Borgia. On the other hand, I
ran the immediate risk of being arrested and
kept prisoner or killed outright. But it
was the only way to gain time and look
about ME; and whilst Baglioni reaectively
stroked his strange pet, making no reply to
my last speech, glanced cautiously but
carefully around the room. Like the passage
outside, the walls were hung with old armor
and old flags. Time had defaced the pic
lures on the ceiling, and such furniture as
there was was old, and the coverings of the
chairs and tables moth-eaten and wine
stained. The stale odor of wine mingled
with the must of long untouched room, and
everywhere, on the tables, on the chairs,
and strewn here and there on the floor, were
cards. Evidently the cavaliere had weak
ness in this direction, and like lightning it
flashed upon me that if he were gambler
the game was probably in my hands, and
would drop policy and turn to the cards
My thoughts were interrupted by Baglioni,
who broke the silence. "What evidence
have you to show you are the person you
represent yourself to be?"
1 can offer you none. In matters like
these one does not carry evidence about
but if you like to send trusted messenger
to Rome, to the Cardinal d. Amboise the
reception he will get-or, nearer still, to Ire
mouilie?"
"And why come to me?"
Because of your influence with your
cousin, and because you are man who will
play for big stake" and I risked the shot.
His eyes flashed and his hand stopped in its
movement through the fur of the bear.
My influence with my cousin is-that,"
he snapped his fingers, ''but big stake
yes-I like playing for big stakes
I stopped and picked up card, holding
it idly up between my finger and thumb.
This, what I propose, is bigger stake
than you could ever get on the king, cava-
liere,' and with twist Of my wrist sent
the card from me; it hit the wall opposite
with smart tap, and then foated slowly
and noiselessly down to the floor of the
room.
The mans eyes followed the card, and he
muttered as if to himself:
"a big stake-yes-C Carlo gives me nothing
~ am his jailer-I, who in single night
have lost two lordships to Riario, have now
not ducat to fling in the air, except Whist
the niggard allows me-"
did not like the part was playing, but
l knew enough Of the state of affairs to be
certain that D'Amboise would richly reward
the person who could detach Baglioni from
the Borgla. / said no more than the truth,
therefore, when added, quietly:
You would have another lordship, or two
maybe, to stake if my proposal were carried
OUT
"Cospetto!" he said, cit is useless"
"Then am sorry" replied, rising as il
to depart, t'but must wish you good day"
.'Diavolol Cavaliere, you are not going
without some refreshment. Ho! without
there" and his deep voice pealed out like 9
great bell.
The bear, which had stretched itself or
the floor, rose with grunt, but Baglion
pressed its head down, and it sank back anc
began to hum itself between its paws, like
an enormous bee, or rather with the sounc
q thousand bees might make.
After little delay there was knock a
the door, but apparently, az usual, the per
son outside, whoever he was, did not fee
disposed to come in. My host rose in ange
and stepped across the room, followed b!
his beast, the latter passing unpleasant!
close to me.
There was an alteration at the door; m.
host went out with his pet, and for min
ute or two was left alone. / moved m.
seat nearer to the small table beside Bagli
oni's lounge, and, taking up the pack o
cards, began to shuttle and cut them.
The cavaliere came back very soon, a flasl
in one hand and glass in the other.
"Blood of st. john" he exclaimed, as b
set them down with clink on the table
chose rascals-I will have their ears Gu
off-they fear this poor lamb" and b
fondled the great bear, which rose on it
hind feet and began muzzling its master.
ri am not surprised. Corpo di Bacco
| The king again!" and / flung down the pac
in apparent disgust.
| Down, Pluto!" and Baglioni turned I
me: t"The king again. What was that 20
said?"
Cutting left hand against the right.
lost three times"
IT lost ten thousand one night over cut
tjng-hut help yourself" and he pushed tn
1 flask towards me, and then filed his OWL
which he drained at gulp.
Come, cavaliere-you are in no hurry-cu
me through the pack"
with pleasure, but my purse-bearer
downstairs you permit me to see him ?
BY all means-the heavier the purse th
better for me-"
"a favor-I cannot play with that beai
near me-could you not send him away?"
"Send him away-my familiar" he sale
with an awful smile. mo, no, Di Savelli-
he is my luck; but shall keep him at di
lance if you like"
1 rose and went down to Jacopo, an
found him and Bande Mere already o
friendly terms with the guard. took m
purse from him and found time to whispe
warning to strike the moment he hear
my whistle. When came back was r
lieved to find the bear fastened by chat
to ring in the wall. The chain itself we
| weak and could have been snapped wit
ease, but the animal made no effort to strai
at it, and lay down as contentedly as do
Baglioni had pulled table into the cent,
of the room and was seated at it, inpatient
rufiing the cards.
Back at last" he said, and his voice ha
lost its measured cadence; heavens, ha,
not spread the cards for whole year-whI