The Winslow mail., 1900-06-14

OIoDlC' HS SACldlul6O, Win an DpdllcuC
gesture, from my lord cardinal, no doubt?"
And he glanced at me.
Your majesty, and of the most vital i'm
port" and | rose.
Il must read them, I suppose. A plague
on the cardinal! We were just going to the
mnuet-"
81 will deal with the matter. sire. The pa.
pers should have come to me-" and De Vesci,
saying this in his harsh, grating voice,
reached forth his hand. Usually perfect
master of his temper, he had somehow, for
once, let it get the better of him; and his
closing words and manner were almost those
OF command. Louis, though brave man,
had weak nature and hasty temper.
temper that was often aroused to fits of OBJ
stinacy, little short of mulish. He caught
the seneschal's tone, and perhaps also the
suppressed smile that hickered OF the faces
of his courtiers. His forehead darkened
ou mistake, my lord, these papers come
rightly to me, and, turning his back on the
seneschal, he tore open the packet
DE Vesci stepped back, white to the lips,
and the court gathered round the king in 81
lence. Seeing Tremouille at hand, made
bold to step up to him and give him D. Am
| boise's note. He glanced at it, and, turning
to me, said: 81 gave my word, and it shall
be kept. The honor of Tremouille is
pledged"
was at loss to understand, but he had
no time to think, for Louis suddenly called
out: "Iremouille - Bayard - gentlemeni
| The Borgia is taken Rome is ours!"
AT once there was buzz and a murmur
| OF voices, IN eager congratulaton at the
| glad tldings. Standing alone and apart
from all, | could barely see Louis, so close
ly did the court press around him; but it
seemed that Tremouille was urging some
thing on him, and the duchess too, for
caught the flash of jewels on her fingers,
as in her eagerness she laid them on the
kings arm. Then Bayard's deep voice came
to me clearly: ''If done, 'twere we'll done
quickly, sire"
l do not exactly know how it happened; !;
but found myself kneeling before the king,
who stood above me, his drawn sword in
his hand.
IN. di Savelli," he said, zone king of
| France owed you his life, another all but
owes you kingdom Wear again your
cross. 1t was nobly won. Take back your
knghthood." He laid the blade gently on
my shoulder, ''for God, for your king, for
your lady. Arise, sir knight" He
stretched forth his hand to aid me to my
feet, and | stood up again, with my honor
white, in the very hall, almost on the very
| spot, whence had been cast out in igno-
miny and shame.
| could not speak, was choked-my eyes
were wet with tears. Seeing my emotion,
| Louis placed his hand kindly on my shoul-
| der.
Remember, Di Saveli," he said, France
needs you yet. To the minuet, my lords
and Iadies-to the minuet"
And he turned down the hall, not wait
| ing for my thanks But friends sprang up
everywhere. The first to give me her good
wishes was Duchess de la Tremoulle, then
came the duke, old Ives d'Alegres, and
others can scarcely name. 1t was whilst
in their midst that | saw face l knew
well, and Machiaveli came up.
Late, but not the less warm in my con-
gratulations," he said; so the good ship
is safe in port at last! We owe you too
much for speech, and can never thank you
enough"
"Your excellency is most kind. Is Lady
Angola well?'
He was silent for moment, and laughed
to himself, as if something stirred him.
CAS- well as ever she was, he answered at
length, and added: You must sup with
us this evening. We lodge in the Borgo di
San Vito, and never mind your attire. My
wife longs to see you, and thank you in
person"
Other friends coming up, our converse was
brought to an end, and managed to effect
my escape, and take refuge in the pavilion
Of Bayard, who insisted on my being his
| guest. | would have willingly foregone the
supper at the Borgo di San Vito, as was
weary; but having promised, borrowed a
| horse from my host, and set out. | reached
the secretary's lodging punctually to the
hour, and was received by Clan, who, after
a respectful inquiry concerning my health,
ushered me into an apartment, where, on
| entering, | found myself alone. had to
wait some little time, and wondering at
the strangeness of my reception, | walked
| towards a window overlooking the private
| gardens of the house. AS | reached it,
heard the rustic of trailing garments, and
| turning round behed Angola before me
She came up with outstretched hands, and
/ took them in mine and looked into her
eyes. Then l found words; they come to
every man at the right time, and | spoke
She made no answer as pleaded my cause
and, fearing the worst, dropped her hands,
with bitter reproach against my age and
my SCdlIe lace. w u0H 1du uOUe she re-
mained still, with her eyes down, and there
was a silence. Then she looked up again.
"Di Savelli," and her voice was very low
"you say your face is SCARED by wounds. Dc
you know, cavaliere, | would were a man.
| that | too might bear wounds on my face
and looking in my mirror, see how they be-
came me-" And the rest concerns not any
one.
We were married before the end of the
truce, and on my wedding day | received
from his majesty the king the patents oi
the county of Fresnoy, in Guienne, dis
tinction that was extended to me in Italy
| by his holiness Pope Plus I'LL, who, on
my purchasing a portion of my ancestral
estates back from Amilcar Chigi, confirmed
to me the title in my native land. But the
| gift | valued most of all was a tari OF
Amalf, to which still clung a shred of the
gold link, by which it had been attached
| to bracelet. And this was from my wife
CHAPTER XVII.
MY LORD, THE COUNT.
Portion of a letter from the Countless di