Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-05-24

BY this time it was almost approaching the
dinner hour, and we separated, Bayard, fol-
lowed close at bis heels by Bran, going to
seek the cardinal, and l returning to my
chamber, where 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
1ency, and he is as gentle as ]ambkin. It is
glorious steed, and princely gift.'
ut is so; but what success have you had?'
None as yet about the swords, signore;
there has not been time; but I have engaged
couple of grooms and lackey, and Or
dered plain iveries for them. The grooms
are even now with the horses, and the lacl1ey
will ne 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 l afterwards found out was
the Cardinal of Strigonia, a scion of the
house of Este, and tall, somber looking
man, with high aquilinc features and COM
plexion almost as dark as Moor's. He was
plainly and simply dressed, wearing light
steel corset over his jerkin, and round his
neck the ribbon of St. James Of Compostella,
whilst the order itself, red enamel sword
with tleur-delis 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 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. lie had only few weeks
labria, and was marching straight on against
Tremouille, when the cessation of hostilties
stopped mis- plans, and suddenly resignng
what purpose no one knew, although it was
said that his resignation and difference with
the Spanish court was but blind.
Be that as it may, I had now an oppor-
tunity of seeing together, seated side by side,
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 knighthood,
and on the white shield of whose honor
there was never stain. And how different
was the fate of these two men! De Cordova,
after holding the highest Offices, after be-
ing practically king, after shedding an i'm
perishable glory on his country by his vic
tories, and staining her memory indelbly
by his perfdy, died at last, with all his fine
spun webs broken. And Bayard-old as I
| an 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 Tor 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 meal as he
could carry off on the point of his dagger.
Estimating roughly, should say that fully
800 persons dincd 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
| at the papal court, where they prided them
! selves on 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
cminence, who was a 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 thousand at table; in
fact, this jovial prelate ended his days sud
denly, after a prodigious dinner, which be-
gan at II in the morning and ended st four
in the afternoon, concluding with so light
a dainty as dish Of roasted cray fish, washed
! down with bottle of vernaccia, wine Of
which he was inordinately fond. At our
own table there were about dozen Or 1nore,
| and found myself seated next St. Armande,
| whilst opposite to NE was LIE Clerc, the car
| dinal's 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 a VOW.
eve can absolve you here easily, cheva-
| Her." said LIE Clerc, who overheard the re-
| mark, *'here is some Orvieto which 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 willful man must have his own way,
chevalier; but that Orvieto was present
from Picrrot, our lords most favored serv-
ant"
Indeed" said the Spaniard; "then I can
safely say it is the last present you will re-
| ceive from Don Pierrot"
GLOW 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:
II do not follow, sir. Could you not ex-
plain? Unless I ask too much. You see