The Winslow mail., 1900-05-24
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PAVILION OF TREMoU1L1E.

THE PAVILION OF TREMOUILLE
When | awoke the next morning my head
was still dazed, but | was otherwise strong.
At least felt so, as lay still in my bed, all
sense of fatigue gone, and trying to collect
my thoughts. After awhile | glanced round
the chamber, which was not the room where
/ had taken the potion, but another and
larger apartment. 1t was no fancy, then,
the voices of Jacopo and Bande Mere heard
and the sensation of being lifted and moved,
which l experienced in the night. My re-
moval was doubtless effected whilst | was
under the influence of the drug; but the
voice of madame? The almost certainty
that she was by me through the hours of the
night? | could not account for this, and,
seeing any such effort was useless, ceased to
rack my brain on the subject, putting it
down to mad dream. For some while lay
mastering UP courage to rise, famed by the
mild breeze which played in from the open
window on my right. Outside | could see
the branches of the trees, as they swayed 10
and fro in the wind, and the joyous song
of mavis trilled out sweetly through the
morning from the thorn bushes whence he
piped. In about half hour my head began
to grow clearer; l remembered Angola 5
letter, and thrust my hand under the pillow
TO find it. Of course it was not there, as
had been moved, and a short exclamation of
annoyance broke from me.
"Excellency"
1t was Jacopo's voice, and the good fellow,
who had evidently been watching me, came
forward from behind the head of the bed.
"Ah, Jacopo! Is it you? Here, help me
to rise"
"Signore-but is your worship able--the
chevaier-"
Never mind the chevalier. l am as well
as ever, and there was no need of that to-do
yesterday-diavolo!" and q twinge in my
face brought me up sharply and recalled
Pluto's claws. [ put my hand to my face
and found | was still bandaged.
''It was lucky he only touched your wor-
ship"
"Luclier still your being there with your
arquebus, else st. Peter and | had surely
shaken ds-there-thanks- will sit
here for few minutes" and | sank into an
easy chair, being really weaker than
thought l was, the effects more of the mar
cotic than anything else.
'Will your worship breakfast here?"
'No-but before doing anything go to the
loom where | was last evening and bring
me the letter you will find under the cush-
ions OF the couch there"
"Excellency!" and Jacopo left the room,
| now for the first time observed bou-
quet of red and white roses, whose fragrance
filled the chamber. | had been conscious of
their perfume before, but thought the scent
was borne in by the breeze from the gar
den outside. Whilst / was admiring the
flowers Jacopo returned.
"The letter"
'Is not there, signore; / have searched
carefully"
1t was a disappointment, but said moth
ing, having determined to see for myself. As
Jacopo assisted me to dress l inquired to
whom was indebted for the flowers.
81 cannot say, excellency; they were here
when | came this morning Possibly the
Signor de St. Armande, who was with your
worship all night"
"All night"
"Signore."
1 could not help being touched by this
proof of devotion, and when had dressed
went down, with the intention Of finding
my letter and thanking the chevalier for his
kindness / was, | saw, still little weak,
but few hours rest would make me fit for
action, and | could not help thinking had
been made much over on too small an occa-
sion st. Armande was in the room where
| had lett the letter, and at the first glance
| saw he was haggard and worn, with dark
circles under his eyes, eyes which many a
beauty would have been proud to own. He
seemed SO slim, so small and delicate, as he
came to meet me, that my heart began to
misgive me again as to his powers to endure
the labor involved in the difficult adventure
we had before US. He was much concerned
at my having risen, made many injuries
about my condition, and put aside my
thanks.
"Per Bacco! chevalier," l said, "ycu look
more of an invalid than |. | fear me,
shall have TO be nurse in my turn
ct is but touch of the megrims l have;
but you must not think of doing anything
| for a week"
"Or d month, or a year." l gibed, as
turned over the cushions of the couch, and
in answer to st. Armande's inquiring look,
went on: "The letter | received yesterda y
| i am certain left it here"
He came forward to help me, but with
no avail.
'It must have been blown away he said
"But | put it under the cushions!''
Grue-but you forget you were moved,
and the things were shifted. Come to
breakfast now, and | will have thorough
search made afterwards"
mot yet; / will but step over to the con
vent, and inquire after the Lady Angola
What! With bandaged face?'
at is wound" answered, coldly, and
turning, went out of the villa My lackey
ran forward to inquire if horse should
be made ready; but, thinking the walk
would do me good, l declined. / was right
in this, the fresh air acting as tonic, and
when | reached the gates of the convent all
| the giddiness had passed There, to my dis
may, l heard that Angola was unable to
| leave her room, thing | might have expect
| ed, and, sending civil message, l retraced
my steps, entering the villa by a side gate
and walking towards it through deserted
| portion of the garden. l went feisurely,
stopping every now and again to admire the
| flowers and the trees. In one of these
rests, whilst l idly gazed about me, nv eve
was arrested by number of fragments OF
paper that lay on the green turf at my feet
| Yielding to an impulse l could not control
| stopped and picked up one of the pieces
and saw in a moment it was piece of An
| giola's letter to me. / lost no time in col.
lecting the remaining bits of the paper
and carefully placed them in my vest pocket.
| Then ] retraced my steps to the villa.
| TrN