The Winslow mail., 1900-03-01


said, with smile:
see, slgnore, you not only carry sharp
sword, but know book as WE'LL"
AS for books, signore," | answered, 81
know but little of them. This one, however,
l thought | had seen BEFORE
Indeed, he said, that is odd, for be-
ileve this is the only rendering of Plutarch
into Italian which is in existence Strange,
too, as for over a week could not find it any.
where"
Very" l answered, shortly, and my host,
| pouring out a glass for me- helped himself,
and, settling comfortably in chair opposite
TO me, slowly removed his mask and laid it
aside l saw before me man in the prime
OF life, of middle height and slender figure,
| with, however, great dignity of carriage.
His head, covered with short dark hair, was
small, but well-shaped, his dark eyes
sparkled with intelligence, and a slightly
| aquilne nose curved over pair of thin, sar-
castle lips, which were, however, now smiling
at me with as much good humor as they
could express.
Books" he said, "are the delight of my
life Without them all would bestale Here
and he held up volume, sis priceless
| treasure. 1t is manuscript copy of Cicero's
DE Gloria. | obtained it from my friend,
| poor Angelo PollZlano.
| He laid down the book "Of a truth,
men were giants in those days-but bark!
| That is too loud for rat" At this mo-
ment we heard distinct rustling behind the
| tapestry, which hung on one side of the
| wall. My host sprang up, and, with drawn
rapler in his hand, lifted the arras. l fol
lowed him; but we observed nothing but
door, which was concealed behind the cur
| tain. This is a private door leading TO the
| corridor, and, confound tit is open. How
the devil did this happen? However, this
will make things sure" He turned the key
which was in the lock, and, removing it.
placed it carefully aside in a drawer, and his
face was shaded little with anxiety. This,
however, he brushed off like fly, and, re-
suming our seats, he poured out some more
| wine for both of us, and said:
| fSignore, now that | observe you closely,
it appears to me that your sword, good as
| it is, has not helped you to fill your purse"
q was able to save your life, Messer-1
| know not your name," | answered, with a
little heat, and rose as if to take my leave.
| He laughed cheerfully, and, putting his
hand on my shoulder, pressed me back into
my chair.
"Sit down, Signore, | meant no Offense,
| you give me yours in return?
was then, before the secretary of the
! Council of Ten, the crafty politician who at
that time held Florence in his hand, and
with whose name all Italy was full. | now
understood Ceci's plot at once, but the
question was, should l give my right name9
| Sooner or later the secretary would find out,
and accordingly answered him as honestly
as possible.
II pass under the name of Donati, your ex-
cellency; will that do?"
| He leaned back refectvely. ~ like con-
fdence when 1 give it," he said, "and yet
| perhaps it does not matter. You had no idea
who | was when you helped me" he added,
| with quick look.
"Not the slightest" did not feel justi
fed in adding more.
"Well, Signore Donati l have work for
which | want a brave man, and if you care
| to accept it l offer it to you."
"Your excellency, will plainly say that
| L hardly know where to turn for employ
| ment; in fact, | am in such straits that | can
not afford to look for hair in any egg that
| may fall my way; at the same time your
| business must be such as / can take with
honor"
with honor, of course" he smiled sar-
castically, and then added: 81 suppose
can trust your
"You need not give me employment, sig
more if you do not thing you can trust me
and pardon met is getting late"
"Sit down, man. | did it but to try you,
and you are the man | want. Where do you
| lodge?"
"In the Albizzi palace, in the street di
Pucci"
"Could you leave Florence at moment's S
notice?"
at is matter of funds"
'They will be provided"
'"Then, yes"
Enough! Tomorrow a man will call on
you, precisely at noontide, with a letter. l
want that letter delivered into the hands of
the cardinal of Rouen at Rome. 1t is a Sc
cret matter, and if you fail in it you may for
felt your life. IF you succeed, his eminence
will give you further occupation. Do you ac-
cept?"
"Yes"
AS | said this we again heard the creaking
noise, and Machiaveii jumped up as agilely
as a panther, and sprung to the door behind
the arras. 1t was open; but no one was
there.
'Maldetto." he exclaimed. "Signore,
there are spies in my own house-help me
to tear down this tapestry"
l did so, and in few minutes we laid bare
the side of the room, and piled the tapestry
In heap against bookshelf.
THAT is BETTER" Machiavelli said "you
see-the spy, whoever he is, must have a
master key. There is no use going into the
passage after him; but for the present |
fancy we are safe. | must have a bolt put
on and keep watch. To resume business,
however. lou say you accept, and only
need funds"
Exactly so.'
He pulled from a drawer a bag which
chinked with pleasant sound to my ears
Here" he said, "are a hundred crowns
1t IS your fee for the task | set you"
''1t is ample"
"And now, NIesser-D -Donati-farewell!
You will always find friend in me. You
know your way-I have left the side door
opcn-and bear loose sword
"A word, your excellency."
"Say on
From what has happened tonight, see
plainly that the plotters against your life
have friends very near you If they failed
this time they may not fail again. One OF
the men who made the attack tonight rec
o9nlZed. lie Is called Brco, formerly an
ancient, perhaps still so, in the army of Ire
mouille'
Il will attend to the Signor Brico'
Yet little more. If your excellency's s
movements are known it is probably from
within your own house. Iwould keep an eye
on your library scribe"
Per Bacco! Signor Donati, but you know
too much. am more and more your
debtor"