Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-01

ATTENTION, was surrounded py INC gentlemen
OF the suite, who asked the last news oil the
court, and the last scandal OF Macon, where
Louis was, holding high rcve'ry, instead of
marching, as lie SHOULD have done, at once
to Italy, after the defeat of Ccsa:'e at Fcs-
sombrone The result of his action being y
further truce that much delayed his success.
and indeed very nearly ruined lis chances.
which were great at the time. AZ fer me,
was left to myself, no one coming near ne
except the huge hound. which rose slowly,
and, approaching, surveyed me with grave
interest. Then, apparently satisfied. he
wagged his tail in approval and touched my
hand with his grim muzzle. ran my fin
gers over his shaggy coat with oaressing
motion, and, observing Defaurc, the page
whom / had first addressed OH arriving,
begged him to show me ms apartments, IN
curing at the same time of JGcopo and the
horses.
1.-The house is full, signore," he replied,
''but we have done what we could for your
accommodation. The horses have been at
tended to, and the Sergt. Jacopo awaits you
in your rooms"
.'Thanks, FRIEND" and / followed him,
smiling little to myself at the French rank
which Jacopo had assumed, no doubt out OF
compliment TO our host, my new employer.
| We passed out by the same entrance by
which 1 had come i'll, and, crossing court
yard, the page ushered me to set of apart
| mcnts in an outbuilding, and lett Inc with
| the information that dinner would be served
at noon for the cardinal as well as the gen
tlcmen of the suite.
found Jacopo in high glee He had set
out all my apparel, and was engaged in bur.
nshing his sword. This lie put down as
came in. and burst into speech.
Blood of st. John Excellency, but did
/ not say luck would turn? Yesterday we
were anywhere" and he held up both hands
with the fingers outstrctched, to-day, be
hold" and lie waved his arms around the
room, which was certainly fitted with lux
ury, and struck me as all the more luxurious
after my past privations.
"Ihe horses, Jacopo?"
"Are well as might be, signore, and munich
ing their corn as il they were never to have
another iced. Does your eXccllency mean to
stay long in this land of plenty?
Not for long, Jacopo. And harkee! Kc-
member not TO address me by any other
name than that of Donati. DO not let hint
OF my real name escape you, and avoid bab-
bling over the wine cup"
81 will be dumb, excellency."
"a good deal depends on your prudence
in this, and you must take care not to fail.
Now to business, and keep your ears open
and your head clear. How do we stand as
regards funds?"
Jacopo, to whom l had intrustcd my
money, pulled out leather purse and count
ed the contents.
"There are fve-and-thirty crowns with
nc, signore, and five gave your worship
this morning, making 10 in ALL" and he re
stored the purse to its hiding place under his
belt.
Enough for our needs at present, and
more will be Forthcoming soon, for there is
business in hand"
81 said that luck would turn" repeated
Jacopo, his face showing joy at the news.
Never mind the luck, but attend to me
want TO enlist half dozen good men, mer
who will go anywhere and do anything
and will engage them for month, and pay
each man five crowns"
"Ihat is at the rate of 60 crowns veal
for each man. We could enlist half Rome
for that"
Probably, but it isn't half Rome, only
half a dozen men want
Very true, your worship, and / vii
doubtless be able to find them; but, excel
lency-"
"What is it,"
"Six men at five crowns each makes 81
crowns, and"
did not say more will be Forthcoming
You need not pay them in advance. Tw'
crowns each on enlisting, and the remainde
on completion of the task. Will that do%
1T is enough, surely"
Very well, then you may set about thi
, at once, and remember that they should b
lodged close at hand, and be ready to so any
where at Il moments notice"
"Exccllency"
Whilst this conversation was going on
Ind effected such change in my attire a
was possible, resolving to take the first or
portunity the following day to summon
, tailor and give him orders for things 70
which / stood in need. Jacopo was jus
/ about to depart when Defaure, the page
) appeared, bearing with him a note and
, rouieau, which he said was from his EN-
hence. These he left with me and retired
saying there was no answer. The note wa
, brief, merely hoping l was in comfort, an
. sending me in the rou!eau hundred crown
with the intimation that if needed thel
another hundred was ready for me. Th
{ sum, however, was more than ample, ant
= giving Jacopo further directions to engae
n couple of lackeys, sent him away. i;
, 3oicing at my good fortune, with present c
ten crowns for himself, which the honest fc
low at first refused to take, and only al
r ceptel on my pressing the sum on him.
!, This being done there was nothing lei
c for me but to await the dinner hour, and
: strolled down to the stables to look mt tn
e horses, which were in truth in such luxur
as perhaps the poor beasts had never Ell
joyed. a groom OF the cardinals establish
, lncnt had attended TO them, and slippc
c piece of silver into his hand for his troub
4 He bit this to test whether it was genuii
!. or not, and then settled himself on heap
o hay to mend some saddlery.
left him to his occupation, and, with
parting carcss to my beasts, moved furth,
: on to lool, at the other animals. And her
c meeting the head groom, had some conve
sation with him, admiring the cardinal
C stud.
$ "Yes, exccllcncy," he said, .'they are goc
e horses, notably the two barbs which IL
Sedan Diem presented to his eminence, hi
i, there are other two now in our stables, /
longing to the Sieur dc Bayard, the like
i which | have never seen. They are tn
. way, excelleney, if you will but accompar
o ra."
e TO BE Continued.
" Give the Children Drink.
called Grain-o. 1t is delicious, app
t. tizirg. neu,ishing food drink to take Il
4 L.