Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-08

fairly well mounted, and, what was bet.
ter, all of them trained soldiers. I had
them lodged near the Ripetta, and the car.
dinal's table afforded them free dinner,
Of which they were not slow to take advan.
tage. In order to keep them employed,
took them out with me every afternoon, dis.
missing them upon my return, with orders
to Join the nightly escort of the cardinal
and Bayard, to and from the vatican.
saw good deal of Bayard, and at times ex.
pressed myself with impotence at being
kept TO cool my heels. He told me that
he was not at liberty to mention the de-
tails of the business on which was to be
employed, and advised me to bide my time
with patient heart. Amongst other mat.
tiers we spoke of was the murder of Pierrot,
and Bayard told me that Cesare Borgia had
left Rome the next day without seeing hi.
father, the pope, and that he was crushing
out completely the stand made against him
by ny old chief Vitelli of Citta del Castillo,
and others.
took Bayard's advice and held patience
by the tail, although longed for work
to begin. My men were in good fettle. They
had enough work to keep them out of mis-.
chief, the pay was good, they had suffi
eient leisure for amusement, and there was
therefore no grumbling.
used to sup alone in my rooms, occasicn.
ally asking st. Armande to Join me; and
after supper we diced together for an hour
or 20, for very small points, He was IN
infant at the game, and taught him good
deal, 80 much 80 that after little prac-
tice, for he was very quick with his wrist,
he mastered my favorite throw, and ono
evening after returning from the vatican
he knocked me up in my rooms, and flung
on the table bag of gold pieces.
"Three hundred of them, cavaliere!" he
said; II won them from Fabrizio Colonna,
who is looking green with rage. If your
purse is running short, they are at your
service. Ha! see flask of Orvieto-may
II" and he poured himself out goblet,
at which he began to sip, in apparent de-
fiance of his vow.
''The DEVIL" I exclaimed, "but you are
flying at high stakes, cnevalier. Your
Picard estates must be broad. Thanks all
the same for your offer, but my purse is as
full Us want it at present"
He leaned back in his chair, with pink
flush on his delicate features.
II meant no offense, oavaliere; but what
10 the use of money unless one can share
it with friend?"
"Therc was no offense taken, st. Ar.
mande," I replied; land if you will take
none, I would like to have my say at YOU"
He looped one finger in his golden mus
tache, and showed his even teeth in his
smile, as he said:
"Speak on"
"Then, chevalier, it seems to me thou
sand pities that young man like you
would waste your time here, as you appear
to be doing, | understood you to say you
had never seen sword drawn in earnest
as yet-and your mustache is grown! Take
my advice. Play no more for gold pieces
with Colonna or anyone else. Mount your
horse, and join Tremouille at once"
"Ah! that is good" he said, "and why
does the grave and reverend Cavaliers
ponati waste his time here, hanging at the
heels Of churchman, and moping O. nights
like an owl on ruined wall, instead Of stir
ring the times himself with the point Of his
sword3"
With any other would have been an
noyed; with the youth before me was
slightly amused, and at the same time a
trife surprised, Hitherto he had appeared
80 shy aud reserved, and now, Of sud,
on an air which had not noticed before,
Ivy WhtEN opSpmp AAl VoSFiyt Hek "
down to the fact that perhaps be was
slightly warmed with wine, having ap,
parently absolved himself from his vow; al.
though OF course ! did not appear to notice
this last, as he was in a manner my guest.
therefore made reply:
my reasons for my action, chevalier, are
good, and when the time comes promise
you / shall not be found sleeping"
The gentle reproof in my words seemed
to bring him back to his old self, for by the
| light of the candlesI observed him flush scar.
let, and that curious look which recalled
a strange resemblance to some one / knew,
but could not remember, came oyer his fea.
lures l began to relent as 1 saw his con
fusion, almost as soon as had spoken; and
added, II may say that the time is not ia,
distant-that it is matter of days only"
Take me with you"
He asked this almost in tone Of en-
treaty, keeping his eyes away from me,
however. and nsrvously twisting d hi
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