The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-09-22

seek the cardinal, and l returning to my
chamber, where l found Jacopo, who had
just come back. He had been to the stables
on his way up, and was loud in his praise of
Castor.
"They say he is fleet as the wind, excel
Iency, and he is as gentle as a lambkin. 1t is
glorious steed, and princely gift"
1t is so; but what success have you had?'
None as yet about the swords signore;
there has not been time; but have engaged
couple of grooms and lackey, and or
dered plain hveries for them. The grooms
are even now with the horses, and the lackey
will DE here tomorrow"
very well, there is time enough Basta!
There go the trumpets. His eminence must
be served"
We made our way to the dining-hall, en-
tering it almost at the same time as the car
dinal, his guests, and the rest of the suite.
AT the high table on the dais sat the cardi-
nal, with Bayard, another prince of the
church whom I afterwards found out was
the Cardinal of StrigOnia, a scion of the
house of Este, and tall, somber looking
man, with high aquiline features and a COM
pleXion almost as dark as a AoOr's. He was
plainly and simply dressed wearing a light
steel corset over his jerkin, and round his
neck the ribbon of st. James of Compostella,
whilst the order itself, a red enamel sword
with a heur-de-lis hilt, set in an oval white
enamel medallion with red border, studded
with brilliants, flashed at his throat His
short, closely-cropped hair was white as
snow, but the long mustache which dropped
over his mouth and short, pointed beard,
was untouched by a streak of gray. Alto
gether a remarkable man, one whom no one
could pass by without looking at twice; and
in me he excited the greatest interest, for
he was none other than Ganalvo de Cordova,
the Great Captain" and the most skillful
general of the age. He had only a few weeks
before driven Marshal d 'Aubigny out of Ca
labria, and was marching straight on against
Tremouille, when the cessation of hOstilities
stopped mis- plans, and suddenly resigning
his command he had come to Rome, for
what purpose 10 one knew, although it was
said that his resignation and difference with
the Spanish court was but a blind.
Be that as it may, [ had now an oppor-
tunity of seeing together, seated side by side,
the dark and stern grandee of Spain, as able
as he was cruel. as vindictive as he was
brave; and the brilliant and polished Bay
ard, who seemed to have gathered in his per-
son ali the noblest qualities of llnighthood,
and on the white shield of whose honor
there was never d stain. And how different
was the fate of these two men! De Cordova,
after holding the highest offices, after be-
ing practically a king, after shedding'an i'm
perishable glory on his country by his vic
tories, and staining her memory indelbly
by his perfidy, died at last, with all his fine
spun webs broken. And Bayard-old as |
am, my eyes grow moist when | think of that
glorious day at the passage of the Sesia,
when, covered with wounds, overborne by
numbers, and fighting to the last against
hopeless odds, Pierre du Terrail gave back
his soul to God. But long years were to
pass before this happened, and Bayard was
at present in the hey-dey of his career.
The table for the gentlemen of the suite
was placed just below the dais, and extend
ing further down the room were other
tables, for all who could obtain seats there
at, whilst at the extreme end of the room
was high stand, whence anyone was at lib
erty to bear away as much of a meal as he
| could carry off on the point of his dagger.
Estimating roughly, | should say that fully
800 persons dined daily in this manner, with
D'Amboise, and this hospitality, which he
exercised in the manner of French feudal
noble, was the subject of much amusement
selves on a more refined and delicate style
of living. At any rate, all that was here
was safe TO touch and no one had need to
| fear that dinner at the Palazzo Corneto
with the Cardinal of Rouen was a prelude to
a supper with st. Peter in Heaven. His
! eminence, who was notable trencherman,
| beamed down from his high scat on US all,
and tried valiantly to assay conclusions with
| the Cardinal of Strigonia but was compelled
at last to own himself beaten, for Ippolyte
| d'Este was one in a thousand at table; in
| fact, this jovial prelate ended his days sud
denly, after prodigiOus dinner, which be
! gan at IL in the morning and ended at four
in the afternoon, concluding with so light
q dainty as a dish of roasted crayish, washed
| down with bottle of vernaccia, a wine of
which he was inordinately fond. At our
own table there were about dozen CT more,
and found myself seated next st. Arnande,
| whilst opposite to ne was lie Cierc, the car
dinaPs chaplain, and next to him an officer
of the papl guards Spaniard who spoke
little and ate much. st. Armande passed
by the wine, drinking only water, and in re-
| ply to a question of mine answered that he
was under Il vow.
1--WE can absolve you here easily, cheva-
lier," said lie Clerc, who overheard the re-
mark, F'here is some Orvieto which l can
recommend" and he pushed the flask to-
wards st. Armande.
The latter, however, would not be tempt
ed, and lie Clerc shook his head.
"A wiilful man must have his own way
chevalier; but that Orvieto was a present
from Pierrot, our lords most favored serv
ant"
Indeed" said the Spaniard; 'then car
safely say it is the last present you will re-
ceive from Don Perrot."
"How so?'
"Cesare arrived last night, very suddenly
with two men only, they say. He has not
however yet seen his holiness - although
he is in the vatican"
lie Clerc remained silent, but St Ar
mande asked in his low voice:
Il do not follow, sir. Could you not ex
plain? Unless l ask too much. You SEE
] am a stranger in Rome"
The Spaniard smiled grimly.
at means, chevalier, that Pierrot wa.
found this morning with dagger sticking
up to the hilt in his heart"
l. ] / Z