The Winslow mail., 1900-04-26

and then cavaliere, would you mind hand
ing me those glasses"
Three pcculiar-shaped, straw-colored We
4letian glasses were close to me; these l
passed onwards mechanically to D'Amboise,
and he went on, filling the glasses to the
brim with wine from the fagon, as he spoke.
"1 admired the rare workmanship of this
aagon last night, and his holiness sent it
home with me, full to the brim with this
Falernian; which Giulia Bella herself poured
into il. The wine is of a priceless brand,
and our lord was good enough to say that if
/ liked it he would send me all in his eel
lars if l only let him know"
eve will drink this, then, with your emf
nence's permission, to the success of the un-
dertaking," said the secretary, poising his
glass in the air.
Fright" said D'Amboise. Gentlemen,
success to our venture!"
He raised the wine to his lips l silently
did the same.
"Hold on!"
We stopped in amaze, and Machiavelli,
who had spoken, quietly emptied his glass
into bowl beside him.
"What does this mean?" said the cardinal
t"This. your eminence," and Machiavell
held out his hand, on which "a an opal opal was
still there, in the gold band on his finger;
but it no longer an opal, but something
~ IHtjj ,1tE'U 1tl'@
Du0 10 NG3 no I0Hsor ON .F"') zee "OnIO0ulnS
BLACK as iet devoid of all 1uster-
Startled by the movement, D'Amboise
bent over the extended fingers, and fol
lowed his example. The red on the cardl-
NAILS cheek went out, and his lips paled as he
looked at the ring.
"Poison! Heart Of jesus" he muttered
through pale lips.
Eyes" said Machiavelli, slowly, with
drawing his hand, 1.-THE ring tells no lies
Diavolo! Was ever SO grim jest? Asking
you to tell him if your eminence liked the
wine!"
1t was too near a matter to be pleasant,
and the hideous jest, and the treachery of
Alexander, filled me with hot anger. 1t
had the effect, however, of pulling me to-
gether at once, the sudden presence of death,
and the danger, recalling me to myself, for
all my thoughts of Angola. l breathed a
prayer of thanks for our escape. 1t Was
good omeD Ny luck was not yet run out.
D'Ambose sprang to his feet. "By G-i"
he said, bringing his clenched fist into the
palm Of his hand, "the Borgia will rue this
day; here, give me those glasses" He seized
them, and, drawing back the curtain, flung
them out of the window, where they fell
into the court outside, breaking to splinters
with little tinkling crash. Then he
emptied out the contents of the fagon, and
hurled it into the CRATE, where it lay, its
fne work crushed and dented, the two en-
erald eyes Of the dragon on the stopper
blinking at us wickedly. This outburst
made D'Amboise calmer, and it was with
more composure that he struck small gong,
and reseated himself at the table. AS he
did so BURN entered the room.
eve want clear table, said the cardi-
nal; remove these things and hand me that
map"
By the time Burin had done this, his emil
nence showed no further trace of excite
ment, except that his lips were very firmly
set, and there was slight frown on his fore
head as he smoothed out the roll of the map.
One corner kept obstinately turning dpj and
as Machiavelli quietly put his hand on it to
keep it in position. he said: "See! The
ring is as it was bef6re."
We looked at the OPAL and, sure enough,
the poison-tint was gone, and under the
pale, semiopaque blue of it's surface lights
of red, of green, and of orange. fitted to and
fro
''It is wonderful" said, and D'Amboise
smiled ,grimly to himself The cardinal
placed his finger on the map, where the port
of Sinigaglia was marked.
"Is it here he lands?"
eyes," replied Machiavelli, "and then
straight to Rome"
"You have sure information"
eyes"
"Then will your excellency instruct M.
Donati? AS arranged, l pledge an imme-
diate movement on the part of Tremouille,
at the first sign Of success"
"I ou have agreed, cavalierej to undertake
the task" and the secretary turned to me.
II have, your eXcellency."
Machavelli then went on, speaking ihcis-
lively, wasting no words. I'm ten days or
thereabouts from now Monslgnore Bozardo,
the Papal envoy to the Grand Turk, will
land at Sinigaglia and start for Rome. He
brings with him letter and sum of money,
10000 ducats. These are for his holiness.
Bozardo and the letter may reach, If you
like; the ducats must not"
"Where are they to go?'
''To the Duke de la Tremouille."
81 follow"
Understand that you take this venture
at your own risk"
I saw what he meant; if | failed l was to
be sacrificed, and my mind was made up.
/ would accept, with condition.
81 quite understandable is one thing.
"What"
"Ten days is a wide margin. will stop
Bozardo or die; but propose efecting the
release of the Lady Angola as well"
A glad look came into Machavelli's eyes;
but the cardinal flashed out:
"Nom du Diabe! What grasshopper have
you got in your head? Leave the demoiselle
to us. You cannot do two things at once. -
"Then, with respect to your eminence, |
decline the affair of the ducats."
"You decline-you dare;" but Machiavelli
interposed.
"a moment, your eminence. Can we get
another agent?"
''Not now; it is too late now"
"And we have no money for active meas
ures?"
"Not livre."
'1t seems to me that the cavaliere has us
in his hands, and we had better agree. After
all, he only risks his head twice, instead OF
once"
D'Amboise bit his lips, and with frown
began to drum on the table with his fingers.
l sat silent but resolved, and Machiavelli,
rising, went to the writing table, pulling
out from his vest a parchment. In this he
rapidly wrote something, and, busting it
over with drying powder, held it to the flame
of a candle. Then he turned back leisurely,
and, as ne resumed his seat, handed me the
paper
81 have just filed in your name on this
blank safe-conduct through the Papal
States. l took the precaution of obtaining
h 1
start?"
"Nou vour ovoolIoncv" and 7 mt the