Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-22

more. after last night" he said, as he took
my hand.
'1hanks." replied, offering him scat,
I've are all quite safe. Nothing happened.
The don was not there. Either he had
changed his mind, or we were too strong
in force"
"A little of both, I should think, " he said,
with thin smile, as he placed his book on
the table. "Signore," he went on, ARE you
not little surprised and curious to see me
as amp"
"Well, Messer Corte, will own to it.
But 1 am honestly glad that fortune has
given the wheel right turn for you"
"It is not fortune" he said, at is some
thing greater. It is fate. No chance turn
OF the wheel of a sleeping goddess. When
fled from you, signore, on that day." his
voice cholled little, 'I came to Rome.
Never mind how. Here a great man found
me. Great men pick up little things for
Corte, who is but little man, knows
things the great man does not know. 10!
hoi" and he laughed mirthlessly.
Eyes, crowns in my purse, crowns in my
purse" he repeated, and then the old mad
ness came upon him, and he rose and paced
the room. II could have done it last night,
made the hilt of my dagger ring against
his heart-the devil-the devil. But he is
not to die this way-not thus-not thus.
He will die as no other man has died, and
it will come soon, very soon-Mathew
Corte swears this"
He stopped suddenly, and turned to me
with the question:
Have you ever seen mad dog dep
NO" answered, wondering what would
come next.
"Well, my dog is dead"
II am sorry" began, but he interrupted.
dead, say. Life went from it in writh-
ings and twistings, in screams of agony
the little beast, poor little beast! would
have ended its misery, but wanted to sec.
l wanted to find some death SO horrible that
| it would pass the invention of man. And
have found it, signore. See this toy Of
knife! This fairy's dagger!" and he held
| up a tiny lancet, "only touch of it, and
man would die as that dog did, in with
| lngs, in twistings, in screams"
rose and put my hand on his arm, keep
ing my eyes steadily on his face.
"Corte," said, "this is not like you You
are not well. Here is some wine" and I
poured him out goblet of Orvieto. He
drained it at gulp, and sat with his head
buried in his hands.
As he sat there, the scene in the lonely
hut, when I went forth an outcast from
Arezzo, came back to me, and there rose
before me the dim light of the torch, the
mad figure of my host, md could almost
hear the pattering of t, rain and the dy-
ing Kisses Of the log fire without. Then
saw other things as well, and pity came
| on me for the man before me. A sudden
thought struck me, and, acting on the i'm
pulse of the moment, spoke:
"See here, Corte! You are i'll, you want
rest, quiet. Throw off these dark thoughts,
and do what I say. Two miles from Cola,
in the Bergamasque, lies small farm. II
is mine. Mine still, though mortgaged. Go
there. Ask for the Casino Savelli, and say
you have come from me-from Ugo di Sa-
velli. You know my name now, and they
will want nothing more from you. Live
there until you are better, or as long as
you like. The air il pure, in the hills there
is the boqueton for you to hunt; Tie Ms
is good. viii you do this?"
He lifted his head, and looked ct me.
Then, rising, he placed one hand on each
of my shoulders, thin hands they were, with
long bony fingers that held like claws.
"Signore," he said, with emotion, "DonaN
OF Savelli-whoever you ars-you are .
good man. thank you, but it cannot be.
Good-by!" And, lifting up his book, he
turned and strobe out of the room, leaving
me little chilled.
After that waited for my meeting with
D'Amboise. saw to the packing of a
valise, went down and looked at the horses,
closely inspected the arms and mounts of
my men, who looked capable of anything,
and, in one way and another, managed to
get through the time, until about the sixth
hour, when his eminence supped. present
ed myself punctually, and was ushered into
an inner apartment which had not hith-
erto seen, and where the supper was evil
IDENTIFY to be held, for the table was set out
there. was alone at first, and, seating my
self on lounge, looked about me. The
room was small, but beautifully fitted up,
and had all the appearance of being the
cardinals private study. By my side WAS
table on which was spread map, with
various crosses marked on it in red chalk,
the chalk itself lying on the map. where
It had been carelessly flung. In front Of
AAAS "esc 1A oASoA1 buAAAOuAGCo ny . bAt6E
cruciix, bearing an exquisitely-carved
Christ. Near it, in corner, leaned . long
straight sword, from whose cross handle
hung pair of fine steel gauntlets. Rest
ing on cushion, placed on stand, was
the cardinals hat, and behind the stand
, / could see the brown outline of pair of
riding boots and the glitter of FURNISHED
spurs. In a corner of the room was a
large table, set out with writing materials
and covered with papers. Running my eyes
over these idly, finally let them rest on
| the supper table, which was arranged with
| lavish profusion. The curtains of the win
| dows were drawn, and the light from eight
tall candles, in jeweled holders, fell on the
rose and amber of the wine in the quaint
| TASKS, on the cheerful brown crusts of the
pasties, on the gay enameling of the com.
| futures, and on the red gold of the plate.
noticed, too, that the table was set fol
three only. 1t was evidently private sup
| per, where things were to be discussed, and
/ became glad, for felt already step on
wards towards winning back my name, and
Il seemed to see in the mirror on the wal
to my left, vision of woman with darl
hair, and dark eyes
"Your eminence!" fairly started up.
had not observed the entrance of Dam
boise until he stood beside me and touched
me lightly on the shoulder.
Dreaming, cavaliere I did not thinl
| you were SO given. ] am afraid that, late a,
am, I must still keep you from your sup
per, for expect another guest. Hal thers
he isl"
4 Indeed, as he spoke, the door swung oper
noiselessly, and Machiavelli entered. b,
was plainly and simply dressed, and wor.
no sword, merely dagger at his side.
thought, however, I caught the gleam of .
steel corselet under his vest, as he greeted
the cardinal, and D'Amboise's own sap
phire was not more brilliant than the singl,
opal which blazed in the secretary's hand.
This is the Cavaliere Donati, your excel
lency," said the cardinal, "but I think 20,
know each other"
Machiavelli extended his hand to me will
his inscrutable smile; but as / met his eye
saw that they were troubled and anxious
He, however, spoke with easy unconcern.