The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-01-18
N asrcc-one glass cad n this al round,
and ltr~rL- eavaIiere. wouV you mind hand


passed onwards mechanically to DAmboisc,
and he went on, filling the glasses to the
brim with wine from the llagon, NJ he spoke.
81 admired thS rare workmanship Of this
fason last nigly, and his holiness sent u |
home with MOI full to the brim with this |
Falernian, wbJh Giulia Bella herself poured |
into IL. The fwinc Ia Of a priceless brand, |
and our lord WAS good enough 10 say that u |
I liked IL he would send me all in his eel |
lars II I only let him know"
I've will drink this, then, with your emf
ncnce's permission, TO the success Of the un.
dertaking," said the secretary. poisins his
glass in the air.
Right" said DAmboi.e. Gentlemen, |
success to our vcnturc!"
He raised the wine to his lips. silently
did the same.
'IIold on!"
We stopped in amaze, and Machiavelli.
who had spoken, quietly empticd his glass
into bowl beside him.
What does this rncany' said the cardinal.
"This, your cmincnce," and Machiavelli
held out his hand, on which an opal wns
flashing a moment before. The stone was
still there. in the gold band on his finger;
but II was no longer an opal, but something
black as iet, devoid Of all lustcr.
Startled by the movement. DAmboisc
bent over the extended fingers. and fol.
lowed his example. The red on the cardi.
nails check went out, and his lips paled as he
looked at the ring.
poison! Heart Of Jesus" he muttered
through pale lips.
YES" said Machiavelli, slowly. with.
drawing his hand, "the ring tells no lies
Diavolo! Was ever 80 grim jest? Asking
you to tell him II your eminence liked the
wine!'
Il was too near q matter to be pleasant,
and the hideous Jest, and the treachery OF
| Alexander, filled me with hot anger. IL
had the effect, however, Of pulling me to.
gether at once, the sudden presence Of death,
ard the danger, recalling me TO myself, for
all my thoughts OF Angola. ! breathed u
prayer Of thanks for our escape. II was a
good omen. My luck was not yet run out.
D'Amboisc sprang to his feet. by G-!"
he said, bringing his clcnchcd fist into the
palm Of his hand, "the Borgia will rue this
day; here, give me those glasses" lie seized
them, and, drawing back the curtain, flung
them out OF the window, where they fell
into the court outside, breaking to splnters
with little tinkling crash. Then he
cmpticd out the contents OF the hagon, and
hurled it into the crate, where 1t lay, its
fine work crushed and dentcd, the two en-
erald eyes Of the dragon on the stopper
blinking at us wickcdly. This outburst
made D'Amboise calmcr, and il was with
more composure that he struck small gong,
and rescated himself at the table. AS he
did so Burin entered the room.
1--WE want clear table," said the cardi.
nal; remove these things aud hand the that
map"
By the time Burin had done this, his cini.
a E.... IL II "a
mont. eSccpt that his lips were very firmly
set, and there was slight frown on his fore.
head as he smoothed out the roll Of the map.
One corner kept obstinatcly turning up. ant!
as MacLiavelli quietly put his hand on II to
keep IL ia position, he said: See! The
ring is as il was before"
We looked at the opal, and, sure enough
the poson.tin. was gone. and under the
pale, semopaque blue of it's surface light.
Of red, OF green. and OF orange, fitted to and
fro.
"It il wonderful" said, and D'Amboiss
smiled grmly to himself. The cardinal
placed his finger on the map. where the por,
Of Sinigaglia was marked.
SIS 1t here he lands?"
"Yc.," replied Machiavell. "and then
straight to Rome"
"you have sure information"
"Yes."
"Then will your cxcelicncy instruct NJ
Donati. As arranged, ! pledge AN imme
date movement on the part Of Tremouillc
ut the first sign Of success"
You have agreed. cavalicrc. to undertake
the taskg' and the secretary turned to me
II have. your cNcellency."
Machiavclli then went on, speaking incis
lively, wasting no words. I'm ten days o.
| Al La