The Winslow mail., 1900-03-08

OGnIZeQ IN nlIE NeC1 hNPAN''' -, -
shadow of last night. He gave me no friend
ly look as he went out; perhaps ne was sore
,y;tb the memory of the end of my boot, and
! had a mind to give him the day, but pru-
Teci yeas looking much disturbed and an
moved. and | laughed secretly to myself as !
tbongbt That. after all, had been the IN
s+r,,ment of upsetting the political plot to
-o,,rder in which the old conspirator had
share.
"a good day to you, Messer Ceci," said.
'1 have come to settle my account.
"It is Of long standing, ne replied, some
what brusquely; but / was not going to lose
my temper, as had things TO lnd ous. !.
and placing a couple Of gold pieces on the
table, received my quittance and change.
"Messer Cecil" | went on, Il leave Flor
once to-da1 and there has been Ill blood be-
tween us-your making entirely. l cannot
forget, however, that when l was i'll you
helped me much, and that in other ways you
were kind Let US part friends-and, Messer
Ceci. YOU are old. 1 would advise you to let
matters of state alone.
He looked at me, and the corners Of his
mouth hardened, as he said: Leave me
and nv age alone, Messer Donati. If it was
not for YOU there would have been a deed
done last night at which all Florence would
have rung again.
$50 your precious nephew brought the
news to YOU this morning?" l answered,
with question, hazarding a shot
Ceci remained silent, and, drawing my
conclusions, went on: 'Had what you
plotted succeeded you would have been in a
fair way to taste the arms OF the rack. Even
now you are not safe. You see; Ceci; know
too much, and it would be wise to be civil"
"Not safe," and he laughed scornfully-
"who says am not safer ,..
"T do-remember the secretary has long
arms"
"There are others who have longer, Messer
Donati, and dead tongue can tell no tales" !"
'I take your warning l replied, and,
turning on my heel, sought my chamber to
await Machiavellis messenger. | could not
help thinking l had been wise to force the
conversation with the intendant as l had
done, and was sure, now that Ceci and the
other conspirators were aware. who had
spoiled their soup, they would devote lit
tie attention to me. 1t beho6ved me; there
fore, ID wear loose sword. for the future
and look well into corners before passed
H..
should still consider myself bound by my
promise Of secrecy, now that had been as
much as told that the conspirators were like
ly TO include me in their plans, and turn
their knives on me. could well see that the
secretary would not be able to retaliate by
the open process OF the law against the at
tack made on him, considering the eircun-
stances Under which 1t took place. That he
would do so, however; Under the mask, l
felt sure, and he had received sufficient
warning. Whilst thus rejecting. heard the
gong in the yard below me strike II; and
shortly after heavy steps ascended the stairs,
with the sound of much putting and blowing.
The new arrival stopped at my landing, and
knocked firmly at my door. Thinking it best
to be careful, | unsheathed my sword, and,
letting down the bolt, stepped back pace
before 1 called out: Come in" The door
opened, and in walked my stout friend, who
had retreated SO rapidly from the bravos at
the NIarzocco.
"Messer Donati?' he said, with an inquir-
ing look.
"The same;" bowed and offered him a
chait.
"The DEVIL" he exclaimed, sinking into
it, "but it is like an ascent to Heaven for a
sinner to reach you," and he mopped his
face with large handkerchief, chat cur
mudgeon downstairs, the intendant, fatty
refused to inform me where you were, until
I mentioned / came from the secretary"
"You mentioned that!"
"Yes-ot diavolo!-how was / to find
you? Let me tell you, sir; your consequence
was much increased thereby" he puffed
rather than spoke.
ri do not doubt it" and marveled al
Machiavelli having selected this garrulous
fool to be the bearer of his letter.
Subsequently l discovered that the secre-
tary did this deliberately, in order, if com
plications arose, to be able to deny that he
had any hand in a transaction in which al
obscure soldier like myself and q notoriou;
old scamp like Buonoccorsi had borne part
In fact, he very often adopted an artifict
such as this, namely, first sending public
dispatches solemnly by a known official Of
state, and following them up at once by 6
secret letter, which either confirmed them
or put quite different complexion on thell
meaning; taking care to choose his messen
gers in such a manner that he would have
nothing to fear from failure of theirs.
"I have come with letter for you,' Blu
onoccorsi continued, and, pulling from ;
breast pocket a sealed but unaddresset
packet, he handed it to me-. His excel
lency," he said, "teils me you know what t.
do with this"
"I do" gave answer, and, examining the
seals carefully, put the letter in the pocke
of vest, which l wore under my buff coat
"Then that is DONE" he replied, "and now
signore, have you anything to drlnk-m!
throat is like limekiln?"
81 am sorry 1 have not, but if you will ac
company me to the Marzocco."
"The Mdrzocco. Blood of St. John! NJ
more Marzoccos for me-" he burst in, as thu
red went out of his cheek at the very though
of last nights affair. MAN alivel if Flor
ence only knew what happened last nigh
the whole place would be in an uproar- L
was lucky for the secretary that you came
to his aid, as l had to protect La Sirani-
ladies first, you know-and could not hell
his excellency in any way"
"Quitc so,' and 1 rose with smile, "bu
you must allow me to see that you cool tha
| lime-kiln of yours am only sorry | mus
ask you to come little way with me-.
''Ohl 1 would go a long way for can
Signor Donati, and will drink one gladly tt
your health"
So saying he got up, and we went down
| and out into the street. L took MN TO IN.
ordinary, 'The Double Florin," and he tool
long time in quenching his thirst. Whel
at last he had done, he wished me good day
and we parted, not deeming 1t desirable t.
be seen too much together in the streets
and besides l had much to do to get off b,
the evening. l made up my mind to recove
the gold tari l had pledged, and after tina
to buy horse and quit Florence at once
The tari itself l should have liked t.
return, as 1 had promised, OF rather sait
-, L. 4Eot | IUO1Id L. b11t