Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-17
however, and it was with hopeful mind
that trotted up the Lungo Taverc.

L was told, at once, that his emlnence was
lodging in the new palace Of Cardinal Cor
neto, opposite the Scorsa Cavalli, and that
my best way was to turn to the left on cross
ing the bridge, and then to the right at the
junction of the Borgo San Spirito and the
Borgo Saa Michele.
Bestowing my thanks and largesse on
the men for their kindness, I went on at
gallop, congratulating myself on the case
with which the difficulty was solved, and in
a few minutes had crossed the Piazza Scorsa
Cavalli, and was before the residence of the
cardinal. At the time I speak of it was not
quite finished, but still habitable, and had
been rented by Monsignore d'Amboisc, as
being conveniently near the Vatican.
On entering the courtyard dismounted,
and, giving my horse to Jacopo to hold, as
ccnded the steps and boldly announced my
self as an urgent messenger who had bust
ness with his eminence. l was ushered by a
page into reception-room, and, early as the
hour was, there were considerable number
Of people already in attendance, awaiting
the morning levee. Here l was left to cool
my heels for little time, the spruce page
informing me that the cardinal was engaged
at breakfast, but that he would tell him of
my coming, and asked my name. hesitated
for moment, but decided to keep the name
of Donati which | had assumed, and gave
that, adding that I was the bearer of an
urgent dispatch to the cardinal, which I
must deliver with my own hands. The
young man then left me, as / have said, and,
taking a good position near the entrance
door to the adjoining room, leaned back
against the wall and awaited my summons
The reception-room was Of noble proper
lions, oblong in shape, the ceiling being sup
ported by two pillars of veined marble,
which, although they diminished The size
of the chamber, had good effect. The mar
BILE flooring, arranged in a patchwork of
black and white, was bare of all furniture,
and, as the room gradually filled, the con-
slant moving of feet, the sound of which
rang sharply on the stone, made it appear
as if lot of masons' hammers were at work.
| let my eyes wander over the groups as
they stood or moved about, wondering if by
chance [ should see anyone l knew; but
they were all strangers to me, mostly French
men, with fair sprinkling of priests
amongst them. They were one and all try
ing to jostlc past each other, so as TO gain
as close position as possible to the entrance
door, near to which / stood; and as I
l heard whisper in my ear, and, glancing
round, beheld man standing near me in a
doctors robe, holding a heavily bound mis-
sal in his hand. l saw in moment it was
Corte, and he whispered in low voice:
"Do not look round at present, but near
the pillar to your right are two men, one
dressed half in cloth Of gold, and they are
more interested in you than you think I
overheard snatch of conversation-they
are moving this way. BY your leave, sig
norc,'' raising his voice, he attempted to
push by me, and, catching the hint his last
words had thrown out, I answered. loudly:
First come, first served, learned doctor,
and you must bide your turn
IT am man Of peace, and therefore
yield" Corte moved off, and was free to
look around me. 1 saw that Corte's little
piece Of acting, to which I had risen, was
due to the fact that the man in the cloth
of gold and his companion were edging near
er to us, and at the time were barely six feet
off. Resting my hand lightly on the hilt of
my sword looked the two full in the face,
but could make nothing Of them. The one
who wore jerkin of gold cloth met my look
for an instant, and then dropped his eyes, a
faint flush rising to his cheek. I saw that he
was a young man of singularly handsome
countenance. A short, neatly-curled mus
tache fell over his upper lip and mouth, but
there was no sign of a beard on the small
and rounded chin, which was clearly shaven.
On his right cheek he wore black patch,
placed as if to hide the scar of wound, al
though his complexion was as delicate as if
the sun had never touched it. In his ears
he wore earrings, an affectation of female
adornment hateful to me, and the fingers of
his small right hand, which he held un-
gloved, were covered with rings. The hilt
of his rapier, too, peeping from under the
folds of his gay cloak, was crested with jew
els, and altogether it seemed as if I could
have nothing to fear from this painted lily,
who looked more fitted to thrum lutte in a
lady's bower than have aught to do with the
stir of the times. therefore loosed my
glance from him with some contempt and
turned to his companion, who was robed as
an able, and evidently in sour middle age
His features were holder than those of his
companion, but distinctly those of the
canaille, and there was nothing in them in
any way remarkable.
Nevertheless, thought it we'll to be on
the watch, knowing that dagger thrust is
easily sent home, and there was the GER
tainty, too, that the fact of my coming to
Rome with letter was known to the Medici
plotters in Florence, and evidently it was
their object to Illustrate it's delivery What
puzzled ME, however, was that the look the
young man directed to me was not unfriend-
ly, and it struck me that If could only hear
his voice it might give me some clew to rec
ignition. The two had come little between
me and the door, and was just about to
contest the place with view of forcing their
hands if possible, when the door was flung
open and the same page who had taken my
name appeared and called out:
"Signor Donati, his eminence awaits you. -
AS the door opened there was general
movement towards it. But the cry of the
page in moment arrested the crowd, turn
ing the look of anticipation on the faces OF
all to one of disappointment, and a loud
murmuring arose against my being so ia
vored. lost not second in stepping for.
ward, and in doing so purposely brushed
against the young man near to me, turning
round as I did so with somewhat brusque
"By your leave, SIR" I fully expected that
he would resent my rudeness and make
some speech, but he merely bowed his head
with courteous inclination, showing set
Of small and even teeth as he smiled under
his blond mustache. I was little put out