The Winslow mail., 1900-01-25
ICopyright. 1895. by D. Appleton & Co.
AL rights reserved.l
CHAPTER III.
NINE. D'ENTRANGUES.

turned to the right by the Borgo di San
Vito, and here was recognized and hooted.
Pressing hurriedly forwards, and aided op-
cortuney by the passage OF body OF men
at arms, coming through the street in d.
rection opposite to that of my followers, |
succeeded in shaking off my tormentors,
and turning again to the right up narrow
street, entered BARRIERS shop to have my
beard removed in order to disguise myself
as far as possible. The barber, fussy little
fellow, placed before me mirror of polished
steel, and as he set to work stropping a
razor on the palm of his hand, l removed
my cap, and for the first time observed that
the hair of my head was thickly streaked
with gray.
Your excellency has doubtless come to
Join the army" said the barber, in tone
of inquiry, as he drew his razor across my
face.
"Ah, yes, yes; l have just come, replied,
and the little man went on:
''There have been great doings to-day.
'Tis said the duke has ordered the Count di
Savelli to be executed for having in his pos
session a favor of madame. They say the
count stole it, but we know better, don't
we, your excellency% and the little fool
chuckled to himself He went on without
waiting for an answer. "Ah, yes; the ladies
can never resist us soldiers. | may tell you
that | served with Don Carlo Bagiioni, and
can bear my pike-there now, think that
side is clean shaven-as | was saying before,
it was hard on the Marquis di Savelli, gal
liant noble whom frequently saw-pardon,
your excellency, it is but a scratch after all
had you not moved so suddenly, still only
a scratch, nothing for a soldier. The Mar
quis di Savelli, as / said, was regular GUS
toner of mine, and he had lovely head of
hair, your excellency. 1t was not so much
before | took him in hand. Ecco! but in
month you should have seen! He came in
here in his free, easy way, and flung me ten
crowns. Buy a ribbon for Madonna Giulia
with that, Messer Pazz,' says he; and
harkee, send me over six more bottles of
your elixir of st. Symmachus. Maldcttop
he exclaimed, twisting his curls between his
fingers, but she adOres me now. Now
who, | say, could she have been but-tchick? ?
Diavolo? it is done; never cleaner shave in
Rome itself. If your excellency's fortune
grows as well as your hair, l could wish you
no better luck"
rose in silence, and, hinging him crown,
bade him pay himself, and receiving my
change, hurried out, declining all Messer
Pazzi's entreaties to bear with me bottle Of
his precious elixir of st. Symmachus or any
other aecursed balsam. saw at glance
that the removal of my beard caused a con-
siderable alteration in my appearance, and
imagined if l could but change my attire my
most intimate friends would not know me
unless they observed closely; and even then
might perhaps fail to recognize me. This
view, as it turned out, was not quite cor
rect, and | had yet to learn how difficult a
thing It is to arrange a complete disguise.
A few doors further on laid out some of
my money in the purchase of stout leather
buff coat, long, dark mantle, and cap to
match. The cap was ornamented with a
single black feather; and when had donned
these garments | felt that, wrapped in the
cloak, with the cap pulled well over my eyes,
and the feather standing defiantly out to the
side, l wanted but fathom of sword
TO make myself as rufianly-looklng bravo
as ever trod the purleus of Naples OF Rome
But the sword was some difficulty, for my
crowns had dwindled to l6. Fortunately /
had on my finger sapphire ring, and this l
pledged for 20 crowns, and made my way to
tho armorer's. | there selected a strong,
straight weapon, with plain cross handle
and a cutting blade, such as would be useful
for rough work, and, after some haggling
got it for ten pieces. The armorer assured
rue that it was a sound blade, and | may say
it did me good service 1t now hangs in my
bedchamber, little Clipped, it is true, but
as bright and as fit for use as the day paid
for it, with heavy heart, in Don Piero's
shop, near the gate of st. Lawrence in
Arezzo.
/ began now to feel the want of food for
beyond the cup of Chiant brought to me
by the under officer l had tasted nothing
since yesterday evening, and therefore step
ping into an ordinary called for 1agon of
wine and a pasty. Whilst engaged in as
saulting these, half dozen men, whom
recognized as belonging to the garrison, en-
tered the hostel, but to my JOY saw | was
hot known to them, and after a casual glance
al me they fell to eating their meal.
was, however, perforce compelled to lis
ten to their conversation, which was carried
on in the loud tone men of their class affect,
and found TO my annoyance that they were
discussing ME, and the events of the day.
In order TO escape this | was about to rise,
when l heard one of them mention ID En-
trangues' name, and stopped to listen.
'IIe has left for Florence, and, it is said,
intends to offer his sword to the Signory,"
said one.
"And the other?"
Heaven knowsl Perhaps Braccio's arm
has reached him, poor devil!"
'Well, he was good soldier and stout
lance"
"Basta!" said the first speaker. "What
does little lightness of finger matter? p?
Play 1t in small way, you're a thief, and
food for Messer Braccio, curse him! Play
it on a big scale and you're prince. l for
one don't think the less of Di Savelli because
perhaps his hand at cards was always too
good, and he made that little error in the
matter of the rubics A gentleman is some
times driven to hard straits. | was gem
tleman once and ought to know give you
a toast-llere's to a long sword and light
Eandt''
They drank with zccIlr1atIor,, and then
set to a-dIe1ns- had. however, heard
DSSBBI Da 1l{llDg Dl BSGODDI Zip lbe
enough and settling my with the
host, stepped forth INTO the street, intend
ing 10 depart from the town by the Porta
San Spirito or Roman gate, leaving the
camp over my shoulder, and to make my way
to Florence as soon as possible There
would meet D Entrangues, and kill him like
Il mad dog | ground my teeth with rage
when l thought | had no horse, nor even
the means to purchase one, and must trudge
it like any contadino. But, if had to crawl
on my hands and knees, was determined to
reach Florence and d D'Entrangues.
1t was, however, not yet sundown, and my
idea was to leave the city when it was well
dusk to avoid all possible chance OF recogni-
tion. meant to have passed the interval
in the inn; but, as felt this was impos-
Sible il was necessary tn find apof her c1,O+