The Winslow mail., 1900-02-22
CHAPTER TX.
THE MARzOCCO INN.

I tried every available means | could think
of to obtain employment, to no avail, and, in
the intervals of my fruitless search for work,
haunted the streets and gardens, with the
hope of obtaining another glimpse of An
giola, but without success. Inch by inch
my resources diminished, until they be-
became so small that blind beggar would
have hardly thanked for the gift of
them. l lived in constant dread of Ceci re-
appearing to demand the sum | owed for
my rent but he did not come. He was evil
IDENTITY giving me time, starving me out to
surrenderto his terms. used to see him as
went in and out, sitting in his Office like a
spider, yet he never even lifted his head as
l passed. l hated, almost feared, going by
that door. Bitterly did I regret not having
left Florence when was able. 1t was now
impossible to do so, unless as defauiter, and
the weight of my paltry debt oppressed me.
as if a cannon ball were slung around my
neck l could not leave until paid it, and
of doing this there seemed no prospect.
had parted with my cloak for money to buy
food, but The last copper Of that was gone
and 1 was now penniless. For two days
had not eaten anything but morsel oil
bread, and on the morning of the third day
L IOSC QSopSlOCS Will tIllQ pI0Ddl GU
to go to any lengths to satisfy it. l ate my
self-esteem and made another attempt to
see La Paiisse, but was denied admittance
and when l came back I actually hesitated
before the door of Ceci's office, and almost
made up my mind to yield, and say l would
do his business for him. 1t required an eff
fort, so low had sunk, to rouse my pride.
At last it fared up, and, with cheek hot
at my weakness, | sought my chamber and
there passed the day. The pigeons that
lived under the caves opposite my window,
and to whose soft cooing l so often listened
with pleasure before, now aroused other
thoughts within me- If l could only lure
one within reach! But it was impossible,
and | glared at them, as they fluttered and
hirted with each other, with the hungry
eyes of cat baked of her prey. At last
gave it up and with a curse flung myself OIL
my bed. Fool that l was! Five-and thirty
years should have brought me wisdom. had
stayed on in Florence, allowed my chances CT
revenge to get more distant, in fact, reached
a stage of mind when was doubtful if !
could rightly exact vengeance, drifted into
abject poverty, and, worse than that, was
continually thinking of woman, who, when
/ had rendered her a service, treated me with
contempt, who had no doubt forgotten me
by this time, amidst her duties, if she had
any, and her pleasures, of which doubt not
she had store. So the evening came amidst
my reflections and self-reproaches, and, it
being dusk, decided to go forth again, and
snatch purse, if necessary, to obtain food.
As / rose an impulse | could not control
made me unfasten my money-belt, and
search if by chance there was coin within
it. OF course there was not brown copper,
but my fingers, in running up the belt,
touched something hard, and I pulled forth,
attached to its tag of red ribbon, my cross
Of St. Lazare, which, 1t will be remem-
bered, J had placed therein for safety the
night was imprisoned in the Villa Accolti.
| had clean forgot it in my troubles, and now
it lay in my open palm, with the diamonds in
it winking in my face. My whole frame
trembled with excitement. Here was the
means of freeing myself from debt at once,
and of obtaining funds to quit Florence, nay,
Europe. At the lowest computation its
worth could not have been less than forty
crowns, and this at present was wealth to
me. What with the effects of the want of
food, and the sudden discovery Of the cross,
| began to feel weak all over, and, flinging
the badge on the table, sank down into
chair before it TO compose myself. The
room was almost dark, and | sat staring at
the jewels and at the diamonds on it, which
sparlled through the gloom That little
trinket was linked with the one great event
cf my life All the past came vividly before
my excited brain. l was again in that des-
perate retreat of Charles of France I'D the
valley Of the faro, with the army of the
League in full cry behind us. The old boar
Trevulzio commanded the rear guard, dis
puted every inch of the road, and now and
again stood boldly at bay, and gave taste of
his tus!ls to the duke of Bari, and the fine
gentlemen of Venice. 1t was at this moment
that Roderigo Gonsaga made his dash for
the height above the junction of the Ceno
and the Taro. Trevulzio saw the movement:
he was powerless to help, and knew that if
it succeeded all was lost All the time | was
al his bride hand.
ride for your life" he said, "and tell the
king-that." He pointed to the black line
Of the infantry of Spain moving towards the
heights. l was of at once waiting no Sec
ond bidding.
ITO BE Continued