The Winslow mail., 1900-06-07

and pushing lt, lounu IL 10 open easily. IL
led into a narrow, vaulted passage, where
the darkness was as if velvet curtain of
black hung before us. "I do not like the
look of this, excellency," said Jacopo, as we
halted in front Of the door.
"Keep a drawn sword, answered, "and
follow me"
We could only go in single file, and picked
our way with the greatest care, our feet ring
ing on the stone floor. Except for this, the
silence was intense, and we could hear no
sound of the deviltry outside. The passage
continued, until we almost began to think
it had no end, but at last the darkness gave
way to a semgloom, and faint bar of light
cleaned ahead of us. At this we increased
our pace, finding sharp corner, Little be-
yond which rose a winding flight Of stairs,
ending before a half-open door, through
which the dim light came. put my foot on
the first of the steps, and was about to as
cend. when we were startled by hearing a
moan of mortal agony, followed by laugh
so wild and shrill, SO exultant, and vet so
full of malice, that it chilled us to the bone
II pealed through the door, and echoed down
the passage behind us, until the borrid
cadence became fainter and fainter, finally
diving away into the black darkness.
"God save us!' exclaimed Jacopo, "it is a
fend laughing its way to hell"
He went on, with chattering teeth, to
adiure me to go no further; but crossing my
self, babe him be silent, and stepped for.
wards Since that moan of agony, and ter
rible laugh of triumph, there was no sound,
and | could almost hear my heart beating, as
| reached the door. Jacopo had nerved him
self to follow me, and stood pale and trem-
bling at my shoulder, his sword quivering in
his shaking hand. / was myself not free
from fear, for no man may combat with
spirits, but after moments hesitation, !
looked cautiously in / saw before me a room
of great size, dimly lighted by two tall can
dies, burning on each side of massive bed
stead, on which lay man bound, and with
ing in the throes of death. The light, though
faint around the room, fell full on the face
OF the man, and horribly as the features were
changed, distorted as they were, saw they
were those of Alexander, and that he was
in his last agony, alone and friendless in his
splendid palace. Yet not alone, there was
another figure in the room. As looked, it
stepped out of the gloom of the rich curtains
at the window, and standing over the bed,
laughed again, that terrible laugh of devilish
Joy. At the sound, the dying man moaned
through his black, foam-clothed lips, and
Corte, for it was he, bent over the body and
Knocked him.
"Roderigo Borgia, Vicar of Christ, hell
yawns for you; but few moments, Borgia
but few moments of life; think you, that
you suffer now? There is more coming
things | even cannot dream Of" In the face
of Alexander came so awful look of en-
treaty that could bear it no longer. !
stepped INTO the room, and putting my hand
on Corte's shoulder, said:
"Come, let him die in peace"
He turned on me with a snarl, but recog-
nizing me, laughed again.
'IIa! ha! Let him die in peace. Why,
man, you saw her die, and can say this?
Butheis going too. 1t is week since his doc
tor, Matthew Corte, bled him for an ague
and touched him with little knife, just
little pin prick. He began to die then; but
hell is not yet hot enough for him. He dies
in too much peace. Why, my dog died in
more agony! But he has felt something
See those torn curtains! See this disordered
room! He tore those curtains in his mad
ness. He bit at the wood of the chairs, he
howlcd like dog at the moon, and they
tied him here, and left him. l alone watch.
l will let him die in peace. Ha ha! 1t is
good. / DO not want him to die yet | give
him food, and he lives. In little while per-
haps he will die But in peace! ha! ha!
could almost die with laughter, when hear
that 1t is too good! Ha! hal"
| saw it was hopeless to do anything with
Corte, and the pope was beyond repair. ]
might have cut down the madman, but it
would have served no purpose. For a mo
ment l thought l would pass my sword
through the Borgia, and free him from pain
1t would have been a mercy, but | luckily
had the sense to restrain myself. Again,
Alexander deserved his fate, and few min
utes more or less would make no difference.
So | left the wretch to die the death of a
dog, that beftted his life, and turning on my
heel, went back through the passage.
Jacopo heaved sigh of relief as VIC came
out, and l felt different man as ran down
the steps of the Scala Regia Here met
with De Leyva again, and told him what
had seen.
''The Camerlcngo has just gone to him.,
he answered, referring to the pope, "and you
have missed D'Amboise He has returned
to the Palazzo Corneto. can do nothing
here, and am going myself. Do you walk or
ride? l have no horse"
walk" | answered, and the Spaniard
linked his arm in mine, as, followed by
dinal's house.
On reaching there l sought D'Am0oise at
once He had heard of my arrival, and was
awaitingme. After a briefgreeting, ] told him
his business was done, and handed him the
quittance | had received from Hardwood.
He was nightly pleased, as NAV be i'm
agined. 1 felt it my duty to inform him of
the death of st. Armande, telling him how
it occurred, without in any way disclosing
my knowledge of the secret. He was much
affected.
at is sad business" )" he said, "but we
have other things to think of now. Mon
Deul mon Dieul" And to this dav | am
unaware if he knew or not
But the night was not yet over, and late
as 1t was, there were yet things to be done.
About midnight we heard that Alexander
was dead, and few minutes later Genti
Orsini hurried to the cardinal. They held
hasty council, and De Briconnet and were
summoned. News had come that Cesare had
not yet left Ostia, that he was too IN to
travel, and D'Amboise and Orsini resolved
on bold stroke. 1t was nothing less than
the capture of Borgia. Orsini offered to lend
200 lances Tor the purpose, but leader was
wanted. He could not go himself. as his
arch enemy, Fabrizio Colonna. held all Reme
On the left bank of the 1iber. and was in
sufficient force to make dash for the Borro
at any moment. The short of it was. that
at the cardinal recommendation. received
the command, and about two in the mornino
set out for Ostia. If the ships Cesa1e had
hired had arrived the matter was ended. and
we could do nothing; but if not. there was
every chance of his surrendering without
bloIv nc altho1oh ba bod ,bo,,4 FoO