The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-02-23
CHAPTER XIV.
THE VENGEANCE OF CORTE.

We buried our dead; and madame slept
beneath the lex, in he'courtyard at the
castle, below the north wall. Over her name
less grave we raised rude cross, and after
it was done, Carlton babe me farewell. He
was going, he said, to bear the story to St.
Armande, and when he reached it, wit
there was sorrow in the Picard chateau,
whence madame took her name. It was with
q heart of lead that / rode into Sassoferrato,
and there, as arranged, made over my prize
TO Hardwood. The tale of the ducats was
complete, and the Englishman, giving Inc my
qu.ttance, held out his hand, saying bluntly:
81 wronged you, Di Savelli; but know
now. We all know, for Bayard has told U.S."
l hesitated. Many memories came to me,
md 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
torch, and now-it was an easy matter to
held out a hand, to say: "1 am sorry" to
think that 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 1 stood in
Hawkwood's place, and he in mine, how
should ! have acted? I would not like to
say.
Come" said Hardwood, '1et the past
be covered Come back-we want you"
Gas you WILL" and took his grasp; '1
will come back in little time. Till then
adieu!'
"Good-by!" and we parted.
Five minutes later, / was squirting to
Rome, my following at my heels. 1t was, in
a manner, putting my neck on the block, for
Bozardo was probably making his way
thither with all speed, and doubtless Den
trangues as well. Recognition was almost
certain; but risk or no risk, 1 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 1 SO wished, 1 might have, in
safety, proclaimed what I 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 left, leav-
ing such property as they could not bear
with them to the tender mercies of the
roadside. Some of my men were eager t.
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 Jacopo, 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 devils carnival
in Rome, or am foresworn."
At this juncture, we turned an abrupt cor
ner of the road, coming upon 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 a figure l lecog-
nized; and in a mean habit, mounted on a
mule, which was seized with an obstinate fit,
and refused to bulge, although soundly
thwacked, 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 a runaway hare's, glanced at me IN fear,
and the stick he bore dropped from his nand,
no doubt much to the satisfaction of the
mule. At first he was unable to speak, for
my words seemed to fill the man with terror,
and had to repeat the question, before he
stammered out:
You are mistaken, SIR; am no eminence,
but poor brother of Mount Carmel, ON my
way to Foligno, out of this hell behind M"