The Winslow mail., 1900-04-12
MAN SAID. "have YOU not heards An,

to think you coward as we'll as a liar?
GLOW dare you say that!" he burst out
"Y ou-you of all men-Oh what am say
ing? Yes, l did not play with Colonna;
but 1 thought you were hard pressed for
money, and-and invented the fiction, think
ing that perhaps"
THAT perhaps l would accept your win.
nings over the gambling table, rather than
the offer of friend. You do me much
honor, chevalier."
"You wrong me, Savelli-nay, start not.
l know your name and story, and, before
heaven, say am your friend"
''You know ne!"
eyes, l am working for you; come, put
by your sword. Look at me! Do look
like an enemy?"
He had recovered himself, and met my
gaze fearlessly. Where could / have seen
that face before? drew my hand over my
forehead as if to sweep the cobwebs from
my memory, but with no avail
"Well," he went on, with a smile, "do
I look like an enemy? If do, your sword
is ready. Strike now, it will be quick rid
dance; come!"
l put back my sword with snap.
81 do not understand, but | accept your
explanation"
He held out his hand frankly.
f'That is right, and you will still let me
be your comrade?"
| took his grasp.
"Ies, if you wish it."
We walked back together in silence, and
on reaching the courtyard St. Armande
said:
81 am afraid 1 have fallen much in your
esteem"
MY esteem, chevalier, is at present Of
no value TO man or woman"
"Do you think so?" he said, and then,
rapidly: "Adeu for the present; remem,
Der, | hold you to your word that you think
me friend"
l made no answer, and he ran lightly up
the steps of the principal entrance.
l supped that evening for change with
the gentlemen of the suite; but st. Ar
mande was not there, and there were
few free remarks made concerning the man.
nef in which he was supposed to have been
received at the vatican by Giulia Orsini and
Lucrezia Borgia.
"If it goes on like this" said LIE Clerc
1--WE will have to drag the Tiber for his
body, and say masses for his soul, unless
he puts the seas between himself and the
Borgia."
"He never struck me as man to run after
the ladies'" l said.
NO." replied the abbe, "but it is the
other way. You would stand no chance
against him, cavalier, for all your long mus
tache--a thousand thanks" and the genial
LIE Clerc seized the hagon of Orvieto |
passed to him, and filled his goblet.
After this the conversation changed, and
l shortly retired to my apartments and, dis
missing my lackey, sat down to read book
on falconry that the cardinal had lent me-
l had not been occupied thus for an hour
when the door opened, and Jacopo eau.
tiously peeped in. He withdrew his head
on catching my eye, and / heard him shut
fling outside.
"Come in"
"Excellency," and the sound of further
shuffling, but no Jacopo. l lost patience
at this, and fearing at the same time that
there had been trouble, repeated my order
to come in sharply. This had the desired
effect; but as soon as my henchman ap,
peared in view | made certain there had
been brawl. He was very red in the
face, and from under the helmet he wore
I could see white bandage
"What the devil does this mean, Jacopo?"
l asked, sternly.
81 have come to report, excellency."
"You hardly appear in fit state to do
So"
Perfectly fit, excellency," and Jacopo
drew himself up to attention and saluted.
''Is the matter of Importance? For, if
not, you had better come tomorrow"
eyes, your excelency-matter of i'm.
portance. By your worship's leave, as you
q a 6inpor to-1au ooI
had"
Never mind what you had; to the
point"
Boiled meat with sauce, sausages with
garlic, risotto ALA Milanese-"
81 do not care what you had-go on,
fool"
II am going on, excellency Where was
"a risotto did / say? And bread made
with yeast. And for drink, signore-"
81 doubt not you had store of that, ia.
copo."
"Eut a dozen fagons or so of wine, your
worship-all rosso."
"Jacopo-you will be good enough to re-
tire at once"
Il am retiring, excelency; but my re-
port"
"Will do for tomorrow"
AS yOul Woloul.1 ueSlISS, DuC we nave
burnt the inn
WHAT"
''The inn, where we rested the day of our
arrival in Rome, your worship. What with
one thing and another, the landlord footed
up his bill to four crowns. And | said to
my friends: What! are honest soldiers
to pay like this? Whereat there was
trouble, excellency; but we came off best" !"
l rose without word, and seizing ia
copo by the neck, elected him from the
room, with, l am sorry to say, very consider
able violence.
Cursing myself for my folly in having
been SO generous, banged the door after
him, and returned to my book. l could
not, however, read, for my mind was full
Of the consequences that might arise from
this mad freak of my followers, and | de
termined to seek out the cardinal the next
day, and obtain his permission to move
out of Rene to some quieter spot, and there
await his instructions. Amidst it all, how
ever, could not help being pleased at the
thought that retributive justice had over
taken the scoundrel tavern-keeper, the
memory of whose bed made me shudder. ]
had no doubt that Jacopo was speaking the
TRUTH and that, even as he spoke, the
flames were sputtering merrily above that
den of thieves.
[To BE Continued