The Winslow mail., 1900-06-07
complete. and the Enelishman. giving me my

complete, and the Englishman, giving me my
quSttance, held out his hand, saying bluntly:
Il wronged you, Di Savelli; but l know
now. We all know, for Bayard has told u.s."
l hesitated. Many memories came to me,
and there was bitter resentment in my soul.
They had all been too ready to believe. They
had flung me forth as a thing too vile to
touch, and now-it was an easy matter to
hold out hand, to say: 81 am sorry" to
think that a civil word would heal hideous
wound. The kind world was going to forgive
me, because it had wronged me. Such as it
was, however, it was the world, and things
had made me little humble. After all, if
the positions were reversed; if l stood in
Hawkwood's place, and he in mine, how
should | have acted? l would not like to
say.
"Come," said Hardwood, 'let the past
be covered. Come back-we want you"
Gas you WILL" and 1 took his grasp; "I
will come back in a little time. Till then
adieu!"
'Good-byl" and we parted.
Five minutes later, l was squirting to
Rome, my following at my heels. 1t was, in
manner, putting my neck on the block, for
Bozardo was probably making his way
thither with all speed, and doubtless d En-
trangues as well. Recognition was almost
certain; but risk or no risk, | was bound to
see the cardinal, and tell him my task was
done. Little did | think, however, as Cos
tor bore me, with his long, easy gallop, across
the oak forests of the Nera, that the face of
affairs in Rome had been changed in an hour,
and that, had so wished, l might have, in
safety, proclaimed what had done from the
very house tops As we came nearer the
city, it was evident that there was some
great commotion within, for, from every
quarter pillars of dim smoke rose up in
spiral columns, and then spreading out like
a fan hung sullenly in the yellow of the sun
set. 1t was clear that houses were burning,
and swords were out. We soon began to
meet parties of fugitives, hurrying from the
city, and making across country in all di-
rections. They avoided us like the plague,
and the mere CLINT of our arms was sufficient
to make them scatter to right and lett, leav-
ing such property as they could not bear
with them to the tender mercies of the
roadside. Some of my men were eager to
ride after the runaways, and question them;
but l forbade this, knowing we should hear
soon enough, and that if there were danger,
it would be best to hold together.
"Per Racco!" and J,acopo, riding up beside
me, pointed to black cloud, Which slowly
rose and settled above the vineyards of the
Pincian hill, eve had best go with leaden
boot, excellency. There is a devils carnival
in Rome, or l am foresworn."
At this Juncture, we turned an abrupt cor
ner of the road, coming upon a crowd of
fugitives, who seemed to be running for
wards, caring little where they went, so that
they put distance between them and Rome.
Amongst the throng was figure 1 1ecog-
nized; and in a mean habit, mounted on
mule, which was-seized with an obstinate fit,
and refused to bulge, although soundly
thwacked, l saw the cardinal of Stri2onia.
Bidding Jacopo keep the men together,
rode up to him, and asked:
"Can / render your eminence any aid?"
His round eyes, starting out of his head
like runaway hare's, glanced at me IN fear,