The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-12-20

there are few men who eau st horse
a. he can, even now.
THAT Is true" remarked, and gave the
story Of my meeting with the Borgia on
the day OF my arrival in Rome.
Shortly after this our dinner. where
speech had been so free, broke up, and, fnd
ing out ,hc hour at which the cardinal
would require my attendance, ! took my
book on falconry, and repaired to the gar
den. intending TO pass the afternoon in its
pcrusal. | made frr the Lemon walk. and
found a companion in Iran, who was wan.
dering there in a d.sconsolatc manner, evi.
IDENTIFY missing his master. ! sat myself
down on a sheltered seat, Bran stretching
out his length at my feet, his muzzle rest
ing between his paws, and so we remained
in quiet, the dog absolutely motionlcss. and
l engaged in my book.
In this manner passed my time until my
lackey called me. in order to lie ready to
accompany the cardinal to the vatican
After dressing. ! descended the stairs and
mounting Castor placed myself at the head
OF my men, and joined DE Bficonnct at the
grand entrance OF the palace. The captain
OF the cardinals guard had his iull force
OF 20 swords out, It bei5g a reception
| night OF some Importance. and with greet
courtesy allowed me 10 place Jacopo and
my six men in front Of his troop. drawing
his own horse alongside Of mine, and ds-
cussing. with much cunning OF falconry. in
which he was more than an adept
| We had to wait some little time for the
| cardinal, but at length he came. accom-.
panied rs usual by Bayard. and with him
| all the gentlemen of his suite. including
| st. Arnlande. On reaching the foot Of the
stairs, D'Amboise inquired somewhat sharp.
~ for me; but changed his tone TO one Of
| pleasant greeting when he saw was IN
waiting.
st. Dennis!" ne exclaimed, Il thought
you were not coming after ALL"
We had but a few yards TO ride. and our
passage along the Via Alessandrina to the
lortone Bronse took but few minutes
| As we rode up there. we Kept the obclish
in the center Of the Piazza Ill ). pictro to
our left, and saw before US the walls of the
new cathedral OF 1T. Peter. then about
| four or five feet high, the ruins OF the old
| church still standing around Il. At the
time ! speak of, nothing had b"cn done
| for about 50 years towards advancing the
work. be.ua 10y Nicholas V, and the great
| design, afterwards altered and put into cN.
eCution by Giulano della Revere, when he
became pope as julius H.. was then IN a
| skeleton fern. looking more like the re-
mains of some sacred shrine than the be-.
| ginning of II new work, the 20 years Of
/ neglect having the effect OF making The new
| work almost Is ru,nous as the old church
| founded by Constantine.
| ALTHOUGH, as have mentioned. there
were to he great doings az the vatican that
evening. there was no crowd assembled IN
| the Piazza OF ST Peter. II was full OF
soldiers, hut the people Of Rome who
might have been expected 20 be there m
! numbers, TO see the procession OF noblcs
/ and their followers. were conspicuous by
thsr absence. Mcn.at-arms there were
in score, iostling crowd Of the commons,
! Tor a terror was on Rome. and men kept as
far as possible from the BoAso. The piazza
was, however. brilliantly III m. and the
| bodyguards ~ the various notablcs we've
strictly confined to the places assigned to
them, order beng maintained by about
thousand men OF tie Spanish guards Of the
pope under the immediate command Of De
Leyva. The light from the lamps was re-
hectcd back by the gh'tering arms Of the
men. and the various ehSigns Of the great
houses were distinctly visible. The single
column of Colonna rose site by side with
the eagle and griffin Of Boz ghcse the Sly
lilies Of Farnese trcmbled in tre wind near
Collconi's two-headcd lion, and little n
the background was drawn up sold.look
ing body of cavalry. over whom FILTERED the
standard of the lorga; these were Ccsare's
own lambs a. lac called them, veterans OF
many hard-fought field.
At the entrance steps we hated. and
we're met by two chambcrlains. who. with
their stalls Of Office in their hands, ushered
us to the bronze gates. 10y which VIC were
TO enter the vatican. We passed through
amidst a bare OF trumpets. each side OF
the passage being lined with pihcmen,
standing stiff and motionless as statues
Our way led TO the Tore Eorgia. the por
ton of the vatican occupied by Alexander,
and the distant strains OF music caught our
ears rs we went on. and shortly entered
the noble reception rooms, which were
crowded with people
The pope himself stood at the extreme
end OF the apartment, surrounded by bril-.
liant group OF ladies and gentlemen. and
as we came up TO make our duty ! had good
opportunity OF observing him. Alexander
was fully 20 years OF age, but so hale,
hearty and strengthening that he nigh!
easily nave passed for a man OF middle age.
lie was dressed as private gentleman. IN
Spanish costume. with high boots. a Jew.
elcd dagger at his side aud a smart velvet
cap on his head. But the face itself struck me
as remarkable TO a degree. lie was clean
shaver, 80 that all the features were clearly
discernible, the heavy, sensual chin. the
vide, cruel mouth, surmounted by nose
almost Jewish in its curve. the retTcatIug |
forehead bulsins over the eyes, and the |
eyes themselves, in which there seemed TO !
burn the fires OF Unsuitable appetite and pas.
sion without end all these combined to-
gether To make up a countcnance which was |
a fitting mask Tor the evil soul within. ] |
made my obesdnce with all the others, |
sitting with difficulty a sudden desire to |
fling aside the hand ! touched and walk |
out Of the room.
moved slightly aside. and watched the |
various groups as they wandered to and |
fro. or stood together conversing; aud the
hum of voices. the gay strain OF music and |
the brilliant dresses made up together a
scene well worth the looking at
The Florentine ambassador was talking /
to the cardinal OF Santa Susanna. a few /
feet from me. | caught the tones OF his
voice. and as he turned round our eyes met.
Machaveli, for Il was be. glanced at me
as at a perfect stranger, and then, slightly |
adjusting his purple lined robe. moved slow
ly EDWARDS with his companion.
I'VE mount yet higher, slgnore-excel'