The Winslow mail., 1900-04-12
CHAPTER XVI.
FRIEND OR FOE

FRIEND OR FOE.
/ used to sup alone in my rooms, occasion
lily asking st. Armande to join Inc; and
Ifter supper we diced together for an hour
or so, for very small points. He was an
infant at the game, and taught him good
deal, so much so that after little prac-
tice, for he was very quick with his wrist,
he mastered my favorite throw, and one
evening after returning from the vatican
he knocked me up in my rooms, and flung
On the table bag of gold pieces.
Three hundred of them, cavaliere!" he
said; 81 won them from Fabrizio Colonna,
who is looking green with rage. If your
purse is running short, they are at your
service. Hal l see flask of Orvieto-may
II" and he poured himself out a goblet,
at which he began to sip, in apparent de-
6ance of his vow.
s'The DEVIL" / exclaimed, 'fbut you are
flying at high stakes, cnevalier. Your
picard estates must be broad Thanks all
the same for your offer, but my purse is as
full as l want it at present"
He leaned back in his chair, with pink
flush on his delicate features
81 meant no offense, cavaliere; but what
is the use of money unless one can share
1t with a friend?"
mande," l replied; "and if you will take
none, would like to have my say at YOU"
lie looped one finger in his golden mus
tache, and showed his even teeth in his
smile, as he said:
Speak on"
''Then, chevalier, it seems to me thou
sand pities that a young man like you
would waste your time here, as you appear
to be doing l understood you to say you
bad never seen sword drawn in earnest
as yet-and your mustache is grown! Take
my advice. Play no more for gold pieces
with Colonna or anyone else. Mount your
horse, and join Tremouille at once"
"Ahl that is good" he said; "and why
does the grave and reverend Cavaliere
Donati waste his time here, hanging at the
heels OF q churchman, and moping O. nights
like an owl on ruined wall, instead of stir
ring the times himself with the point of his
sword?"
With any other / would have been an
noyed; with the youth before me 1 was
slightly amused, and at the same time a
trifle surprised. Hitherto he had appeared
so shy aud reserved, and now, of a sud-
den, he had thrown this off, and had put
on an air which l had not noticed before,
but which became him vastly. | set it
down to the fact that perhaps he was
slightly warmed with wine, having ap-
parently absolved himself from his vow; al
though OF course l did not appear to notice
this last, as he was in a manner my guest
therefore made reply:
My reasons for my action, chevalier, are
good, and when the time comes promise
you / shall not be found sleeping"
The gentle reproof in my words seemed
f0 hrlv1 l,aol - i, ..Ie 1.
light of the candlesI observed him flush scar
let, and that curious look which recalled
a strange resemblance to some one knew,
but could not remember, came over his fea-
lures. l began to relent as l saw his con-
fusion, almost as soon as had spoken; and
added, Il may say that the time is not far
dlstant-that IT is matter of days only
Take me with YOU
He asked this almost in a tone of en-
treaty, keeping his eyes away from me,
however, and nervously twisting at his
mustache.
"And your secretary, as you call him, the
abbe!"
"Oh, he will come, too, and we could con-
fess to him.
1 hcsitated for a second, and then made
answer:
Every well. Only you must be prepared
to start at a moments notice, and there
will probably be hard riding and hard fight
ing, and there is yet another thing"
What is that?"
You must come as simple volunteer.
and must make no inquiry as to what the
business is on which l am engaged. / risk
my life for my own purposes; if you wish
to do likewise you are welcome to join me,
on the condition have stated"
Il accept with pleasure"
"Then that is settled, and have new
comrade."
"Hurrah!" and he raised his glass to his
lips.
After that he retired, it being late. 1 saw
him across the courtyard as far as his apart
ments, and then, returning to my rooms
unconsciously took the chair st. Armande
had vacated. The goblet of wine he had
filled was before me, and l idly lifted it in
my hand. 1t was barely touched. In fact
ne could but have tasted few drops only
Like lightning a suspicion of trcachery
came on me. The man had been pretending
to drink. With what object? l could not
make out. Was the offer of the money
blind! Perhaps so, and if then? l had
been TOOL to agree to his joining me, with
that sour-looking able of his Yes, l had
been fool, but it was lucky | discovered
my own folly in time l should keep nv
eyes on this silken diplomat, and if neces-
sary pick a. quarrel with him, and run him
through. Somehow l did not like the idea
of this, however; but determined to get
rid of him in one way or the other. Iwould
allow nothing to stand between me and the
road back to honor. So musng, 1 sat for
half-hour or SO, and was startled by Ja-
copo'ssudden entry, so lost was l in thought
He came and stood, bolt upright, next to
my chair, without saying a word. l knew
from this that he had some request to
: make, some favor to ask, as otherwise he
~would not have hesitated to make play with
bis tongue at once.