The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-12-15


paid my account, that the love of horsehesh
frequently brought people into trouble. He
did not seem to appreciate the remark, and
ecowled at me, at which babe him BECOME.
and to thank his stars that his house was
not pulled about his ears. He did not at
tempt any reply, but skunk off, and, inward
ly resolving to clear out this nest of scor-
pions from Rome at the first chance, / rode
ont OF the gate, followed by Jacopo, and we
directed our way towards the Ponte S. An
gelo. / had not the least idea where his
eminence OF Rouen was staying, but made
certain it would be somewhere in the Borgo,
and that once had reached the papal quar-
ter l should find no difficulty in my search
for D'Amboise and in delivering to him
Machiavelli's letter.
As went on began to feel nervous, in
spite of myself, as to what the results of my
interview with the cardinal would be, and
whether it would end in the further employ
ment, which the secretary had distinctly
said it would. had no reason to doubt,
however, and it was with hopeful mind
that l trotted up the Lungo Tavere.
Near the statues of Peter and Paul, on the
bridge, was a guardhouse, occupied at the
time by detachment of Spanish infantry,
and to these men l addressed myself inquir-
ing where the cardinal of Rouen was staying
l was told, at once, that his eminence was
lodging in the new palace of Cardinal Cor
neto, 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 Spirito and the
Borgo San Michele.
Bestowing my thanks and largesse on
the men for their kindness, went on at a
gallop, congratulating 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 l speak of it was not
quite finished, but still habitable, and had
been rented by Monsignore d'Amboise, as
being conveniently near the Vatican.
On entering the courtyard dismounted,
and, giving my horse to Jacopo to hold, as
cended the steps and boldly announced my
self as an urgent messenger who had bust
ness with his eminence. was ushered by a
page into reception-room, and, early as the
hour was, there were considerable number
of people already in attendance, awaiting
the morning levee. Here was left to cool
my heels for 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. hesiiated
Tor 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,
taking good position near the entrance
door to the adjoining room, l leaned back
against the wall and awaited my summons
The reception-room was of noble proper
tions, 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
bic flooring, arranged in a 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 it appear
as if lot of masons' hammers were at work.
l let my eyes wander over the groups as
they stood or moved about, wondering if by
chance | should see anyone l knew; but
they were all strangers to me, mostly French
men, with fair sprinkling of priests
amongst them. They were one and all try
ing to jostle past each other, so as TO gain
as close a position as possible to the entrance
door, near to which l stood; and as /
watched this with some little amusement
l heard whisper in my ear, and, glancing
round, beheld man standing near me in
doctors robe, holding heavily-bound mis-
sal in his hand. ! saw in moment it was
Corte, and he whispered in 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
nore," 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,
and you must bide your turn"
II am 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 l 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 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 shaver.
On his right cheek he wore black patch,
placed as if to hide the scar of a wound, al
though his complexion was rs delicate as if
the sun had never touched it. In his ears
he wore earrings, an affectation of female
adornment hateful to me, and the fingers of
gloved, were covered with rings. The hilt
k~o l.. 4 l.