The Winslow mail., 1900-05-17
CHAPTER XXI.

bells OF the town changed forth the time, five
horsemen rode through the gate of st. An
gelo, whose doors were spread wide open.
The single sentry on duty paced sleepily up
and down; he was longing for his noontide
| siesta, and the guard of half-score of Bag
| iionIs lances lay with their armor off, bask-
ing in the mellow sun. A subaltern officer,
who had evidently dined to some purpose,
| reclined on his back, half in, half out of the
shade OF few olive trees that grew to the
left of the gate, and the ruby on his cheeks
showed up all the brighter against the green
of the grass which he was stretched. The
horsemen were myself and my four follow
ers. We had taken the route went the day
before with Clan, and the plan had formed
was this: On my gaining admittance to the
house Jacopo and Bande Mere were to put
themselves at the door and engage the guard
| there in conversation. Clan and the lackey
were to hold the horses. As soon as l ascer-
tanned the position of Angiola's room l
would blow shrilly on a whistle had pur-
| chased for the purpose. My men at the
door, who were armed with arquebuses as
we'll as their swords, would hold the passage,
and l should try and account for the Cava-
liere Paolo and bear off the prize. If we
succeeded, we could easily make the gate,
and then, the road to St. Jerome lay open
| before The fact that the attempt was
to be made in broad daylight, too, would be
a safeguard, as no one would deem that
such deed, usually done under cover of
night, was to be adventured at this hour.
| had partly paved the way for my entrance
| by my call of yesterday, and was provided
with sufficiently plausible story to keep
the cavaliere engaged, whilst took stock
or his surroundings Jacopo, too, had been
carefully drilled as to how he was to an
nounce me, and the question resolved itself
| into hard hitting, and little luck. | had
dressed myself with particular care, wearing
| my buff coat under gay jerkin, and short
velvet cloak hung from my shoulders. This
! almost gala attire was to act as a further
blind, and give all the appearance of mere
visit of ceremony. There was, of course, the
possibility of my being refused admittance,
and of the Cavaliere Paolo declining to see
me; but this was not probable, and if it did
| happen | was ready for bold stroke, and
| for this Bande Mere carried with him d
grenade with which to blow open the door.
| As it turned out, however, we had no diff
Guilty on this score. On reaching the house
| glanced up, and saw face peering at us
through the caging of one of the windows
above, but it was almost Immediately with
drawn. Jacopo dismounted and knocked
firmly. The same performance, have de-
scribed, of opening a grating was gone
| through, but on my name being mentioned
the porter shut his peep-hole, there was the
| sound of the removal of bar, the clank of
| chains, and the door swung open with a
sullen groan, disclosing hall, in which stood
two men, completely armed, their argue
buses at the ready in their hands, whilst the
| 6OOr<paIlpI himself
full in the entrance, swinging bunch of
keys.
"Is the Cavaliere Paolo Baglioni within!"
asked, as l dismounted, taking it for
granted was to be received, from the prepa-
ration | saw was made.
He is, signore-be pleased to follow"
With warning glance to Jacopo | stepped
| in, finding myself in hall of middle size, the
walls discolored with age, and Clipped and
| cracked in many places-clearly the Casino
| Baglioni needed repairs. At the end of the
| hall was a spiral staircase, whose stone
| steps, worn to a hollow in the middle by the
| passing and repassing of feet, marked its
| great age. Up this narrow stairway | fol-
| lowed the man, until we reached a corridor,
hung on each side with rusty suits of ar
NOR and old and tattered banners. The
place was very damp, and there was musty
smell about it, as if no pure air ever came
| that way. 1t was evident that the cavaliere
was on the alert, for man was on guard
| here, armed lfke those below, with sword
and arquebus. TO him my guide addressed
himself.
"He has come," he said, jerking his thumb
backwards at me.
"Well, announce him." said the sentinel
"'That is for you," answered the janitor,
81 had enough of Pluto this morning" With
this he turned on his heel and ran back
downstairs, jingling his keys.
The sentry stood still, however, and after
waiting for half minute | spoke, my blood
rising little. within me.
''Will you be good enough tc announce
the Cavaliere di Savelli-on an urgent af-
fair2"
The man turned round to closed door be-
hind him, rapping at it with his mailed hand
From inside l heard a shuffiing noise,
heavy body lurched against the door, and
there was a scratching at the wood. No an
swer, however, came to the knock.
KNOCK again." l said, little inpatient
ly, and this time deep voice called OUT
Enter"
| placed my hand on the door to open it,
when the sentry spoke with unexpected civ
ility:
'Tale care of the beast, signore!'
"The beast-what beast?" | asked, pre-
tending not to know anything of Pluto's eX-
istence.
"His excellency's bear-do not fear it
else it might injure you--cospetto! But it is
perfect fiend if you run from it. 1t killed
poor woman the other day."
Thanks, friend, l will beware" l an
Sxverad and DuShe1 oman tho door Sorino
ing back yard as / did so, for with short
roar that echoed through the house a huge
bear rose on his hind legs and struck out at
my face with his claws.
'Diavolo! go back" shouted the sentry
to the brute, and 1 whipped out my sword ;
but the animal merely stood in the open
/ doorway, making no further advance, his
great jaws open and putting like black
smiths bellows.
"Cospetto! excellency, call off the BEAR"
shouted the sentry again; indeed he seemed
! positively to hate the animal, and from in
side came a low, deep-toned but mocking
laugh. Come back, Pluto-down, you
brute-down!" then there was a heavy
"thud," the tinkling of shivered glass, and
the bear, dropping on its fore feet, shambled
back INTO the room. l was considerably
startled and not "a little angry, but, conceal
ing these feelings, stepped boldly into the
room, keeping my drawn sword still in my
hand.
1.-The Cavaliere d Baglioni?' inquired
"At the Cavaliere di Savelli's service"
and a tall figure rose from lounge chair
and surveyed me. | confess that my heart
began to beat little fast when | saw the
man against whom was to pit myself. He
v-aS far sbove the middle heiobt and Dro