Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-04-26
"You mentioned that!''

"You mentioned that!"
"1es-or d:svc!o!-how Vas I to find
you? Let me tell you, sir, your consequence
Was much increased thereby he putfed
rather than spoke.
IL do not doubt it, and marveled at
Machiavelh having selected this garruIous
fool to be the bearer of his letter.
Subsequently | discovered that the secre.
tary did this deliberately, in order, if com.
plications arose, to be able to deny that be
had any hand ina transaction in which an
obscure soldier like myself and a notorious
old scamp like Buonoccors had borne part.
In fact, he very often adopted an artifice
such as this, namely, first sending public
dispatches solemnly by known official OF
state, and following them up at once by a
secret letter, which either confirmed them,
or put quite different complexion on theil
meaning; taking care to choose his rcessen.
gers in such a manner that be would have
nothing to fear from failure of theirs.
Il have come with letter for you," Blu.
cnoccors continued, AMI. pulling from a
breast pocket a sealed but unaddressed
packet, he handed it tt, me- Ellis excel
lency," he said, "tells me you know what tc
do with this"
Il do" gave answer, and, examining the
seals carefully, put the letter in the pocket
OF vest, which l wore under my buff coat.
'Then that is done," he replied, land now,
signore, have you anything to drink-,n,
throat is like limekiln?''
81 am sorry have not, but if you will &C.
company Inc to the Marzocco.''
''The Marzocco! Blood of St. John! NJ
more Marzoccos for me-" be burst in, as the
rod &c L ~ H., l. [ a. l..
of last nights affair. "Man alive! if Flor.
ence only knew what happened last night
the whole place would be in an uproar 1t
was lucky for the secretary that you came
to his aid, as | had to protect La Sirar,:~-
ladies first, you know-and could not ha>p
his excellency in any way:.'
"Quitc So" and rose with smile, Out
you must allow me to see that you cool that
lme-kiln of yours. am only sorry must
ask you to come little way with me-"
ooh! | would go long way for can,
Signor Donati, and will drink one gladly tc
your health"
So saying he got up, and we went down
and out into the street. l took him to my
ordinary, "The Double Florn," and he took
long time in quenching his thirst When
at last he had done, he wished me good day
and we parted, not deeming it desirable tc
be seen too much together in the Streets
and besides l had much to do to get off by
the evening. l made up my mind to recover
the gold tart l had pledged, and after that
to buy horse and quit Florence at once
The tart itself l should have liked to
return, as l had promised, or rather said
in my anger last night that would; but
could see no way of doing this without at
tracing too much attention. On my way
to the pawnbroker's kept my eyes well
open, and caught glimpse Of the library
scribe, walking on the other side Of the
road, engaged in conversation with man
who, despite his common dress, had an all
of rank. The latter parted from Ceci's
nephew almost as soon as | saw them, anc
the scribe kept on in my direction. | saw
he was again following me, and regretted
the mercy had shown last night, resolving
if opportunity afforded again, to quiet hi!
curiosity for some time to come. duly re
deemed the tart, somewhat to the surprise
of the pawnbroker, whose pledges did moi
as rule pass so swiftly back into the hands
of their rightful owners. On coming out
of the shop, my follower was nowhere to b.
seen at first; but he soon appeared, Away.
keeping on the opposite side of the road.
[TO BE Continued