The Winslow mail., 1900-03-29

easily sent home, and there was the GER
tainty, too, that the fact of my coming to
Rome with a letter was known to the Medici
plotters III Florence, and evidently it was
their object to frustrate its delivery. What
puzzled me, however, was that the look the
young man directed to me was not unfriend-
lv, and it struck me that if | could only hear
his voice it might give me some clew to rec
ognition The two had come little between
me and the door, and | was just about to
contest the place with view OF forcing their
hands if possible, when the door was flung
open and the same page who had taken my
name appeared and called out:
"Signor Donati, his eminence awaits you"
As the door opened there was a general
movement towards it. But the cry OF the
page in moment arrested the crowd, turn
ing the look of anticipation on the faces of
all to one of disappointment, and loud
murmuring arose against my being so IA
vored. / lost not a second IN stepping for
ward, and in doing so purposely brushed
against the young man near to me, turning
round as | did so with a somewhat brusque
''Bv YOUR leave, sir" l fully expected that
he would resent my rudeness and make
some speech, but he merely bowed his head
with a courteous inclination, showing a set
of small and even teeth as he smiled under
his blond mustache. ] was little put out
by the failure of my plan, but the next in
slant the door closed behind me, and at any
rate the letter to the cardinal was safe, and
my task was as good as accomplished.
| followed the page, therefore, with an
equal mind, and, lifting a curtain, which fell
in heavy folds at the end of the passage,
where couple of gorgeous lacleys stood, he
called out "MIesser Donati," and then
stepped aside to let me pass. | entered the
room with firm step and saw before me d
large, but plainly furnished apartment. In
a lounge chair near a small table, on which
was set out light repast, was man whom
at once guessed to be the cardinal. He
wore a purple robe, and the barettina or
small skull cap, which covered the tonsure
on his head, allowed his short gray hair,
which curled naturally, to be seen around it.
Under the cap saw square, resolute face
with keen black eyes, and full but kindly
mouth He was just putting down glass
of vernaccia as came in, and | caught the
purple glitter of the sapphire ring he wore
in token of his rank, as be set down the glass.
He was not alone, for, leaning against the
window and caressing the head of an enor-
nous wolf hound, was a splendidly-dressed
cavalier, who looked up as came in, and
saw at once it was Bayard. kept my eyes
away from him, however, and advancing
straight towards the cardinal placed the let
ter before him without a word.
D'Ambose looked at the seals carefully,
and then taking a small jade-hilted knife
from the table ripped open the envelope and
ran his eve quickly over the letter. AS he
did so not muscle of his face moved to show
how the contents stirred him, and when he
had finished he held it out at arms length,
saying:
my dear Bayard, what do you think of
this?"
Bayard made step forward to take the
letter, and in doing this our eyes met, and
he frankly held out his hand | could hard
ly believe it when | saw it extended towards
me. My breath came thick and fast, and the
whole room swan around. The man WAS the
soul of honor, the noblest knight in Cbristen
dom; he had seen my trial, nay, he had been
one of my judges, and he offered me his
hand! He must hold me guiltless, | felt.
My lord!" | rather gasped than spoke as
took his grasp, but. seeing my emotion, he
put in: