The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-10-24
CHAPTER XIV.
THE VENGEANCE OF CORTE.

less grave we raised a rude cross, and after
it was done, Carlton babe me farewell He
was going, he said to bear the story to st.
Armande, and when he reached it, | wit
there was sorrow in the Picard chateau,
whence madame took her name. It was with
a heart of lead that rode into SassOterrato,
and there, as arranged, made over my prize
to Hardwood The tale of the ducats was
complete, and the Englishman, giving me my
Quittance, held out his hand saying bluntly:
Il wronged you, Di Savelli; but know
now. We all know, for Bayard has told us"
| hesitated. Many memories came to me,
and there was bitter resentment in my soul.
They had all been too ready to believe. They
had flung me forth as a thing too vile to
touch, and now-it was an easy matter to
hold out a hand, to say: 81 am sorry" to
think that a civil word would heal a hldeous
wound. The kind world was going to forgive
me, because it had wronged me. Such as it
was, however, it was the world, and things
had made me little humble. After all, if
the positions were reversed; if ] stood in
Hawkwood's place, and he in mine, how
should / have acted? l would not like to
say.
Come" said Hardwood, 'let the past
be covered. Come back-we want you"
CAS- you will and l took his grasp; Il
will come back in a little time. Till then
adeui"
''Good-by!" and we parted.
Five minutes later, | was squirting to
Rome, my following at my heels 1t was, in
a manner, putting my neck on the block, for
Bozardo was probably making his way
thither with all speed, and doubtless D. En-
trangues as well. Recognition was almost
certain; but risk or no risk, was bound to
see the cardinal, and tell him my task was
done. Little did | think, however, as Cos
tor bore me, with his long, easy gallop, across
the oak forests of the Nera, that the face of
affairs in Rome had been changed in an hour,
and that, had | so wished, | might have in
safety, proclaimed what | had done from the
very house tops As we came nearer the
city, it was evident that there was some
great commotion within, for, from every
quarter pillars of dim smoke rose up in
spiral columns and then spreading out like
a fan hung sullenly in the yellow of the sun
set. 1t was clear that houses were burning,
and swords were out. We soon began to
meet parties of fugitives, hurrying from the
city, and making across country in all di
rections. They avoided us like the plague,
and the mere CLINT of our arms was sufficient
to make them scatter to right and left, leav
ing such property as they could not bear
with them to the tender mercies of the
roadside. Some of my men were eager to
ride after the runaways, and question them;
but | forbade this, knowing we should hear
soon enough, and that if there were danger,
it would be best to hold together.
"Per Racco!" and Jacopo, riding up beside
me, pointed TO black cloud, which slowly
rose and settled above the vineyards of the
Pincian hill, I'VE had best go with a leaden
boot, cxcellency. There is a devils carnival
in Rome, or / am fOresworn.'
At this Juncture, we turned an abrupt cor
ner of the road, coming upon a crowd of
fugitives, who seemed to be running for
wards, caring little where they went, so that
they put distance between them and Rome
Amongst the throng was figure l lecog-
nized; and in a mean habit, mounted on
mule, which was seized with an obstinate fit,
and refused to bulge, although soundly
thwacked, l saw the cardinal of Stri2onia
Bidding Jacopo keep the men together,
rode up to him, and asked:
Can | render your eminence any aid?"
His round eyes, starting out of his head
like runaway hare's, glanced at me IN fear
and the stick he bore dropped from his nand
no doubt much to the satisfaction of the
mule. At first he was unable to speak, for
my words seemed to fill the man with terror,
and / had to repeat the question, before he
stammered out:
YOu are mistaken, sir; am no eminence,
but poor brother of Mount Carmel, on my
way to Foligno, out of this hell behind me"
and he glanced over his shoulder towards
Rome.
81 see," l answered with a smile, ''but if
the poor brother of Mount Carmel will look
more closely at me, he will see friend. In
short, your eminence, / am Di Savelli."
''Corpo di Bacco l mean our Lady be
thanked. And so it is you, cavaliere! Take
my advice, and turn your horses head to
Foligno. On BEAST" and he kicked at the
mule, which moved not an inch.
81 am for Rome, your eminence; but what
has happened"
ooh, that l had a horse!" he groaned.
"What has happened? Everything has hap
pened. Alexander is dead or dying. Cesare
dead, they say, and burning in hades by this.
Orsini and Colonna at the old game of ham,
Eler and tongs-"
"And the cardinal-D' Ambo;se?"
"Safe enough, believe, as the Orsini hold
the Borgo, and have declared for France"
Trust me, your reverence, you Will be
safer in Rome than out of it. The whole
country will rise at the news, and the habit
of Mount Carmel will not save the cardinal
&C Strigonia. Turn back with me, and | will
escort you to the Palazzo Corneto."
To make a short story, D Este agreed after
little persuasion, and the mule was kind
enough to amble back very willingly to
Rome We placed his eminence in the cen
ter of our troops, and went EDWARDS, entering
the city by the Porta Pinciana, riding along
! eisurely in the direction of S. Trinita di
Monti, and thence straight on towards the
Ripetta. 1t was work of no little danger
to make this last passage, for everywhere
| bands of plunderers were engaged in quitting
| the houses, many of which were in flames,
| and we continually came across dead bodies,
or passed houses from which we heard
shrieks of agony. We could help no one