The times., 1901-03-24

tally, but sword and block for one or
other of you. and that before fifteen hours
pass" and he laughed again, slantlng
his glass in his swaying hand so that this
time the liquor fell from it in stream.
The fool is drunk" said Number Eight,
frowning. What the pest do you mean
with thy drivel of sword and block, and
one or Other2"
Pedro MartovaI set down his empty
glass by the table end, and thrusting his
hand into his bosom drew out a paTch-
Neither drunk nor fool" he said,
land civility would come better from
man who has but handful of hours to
his name.
Number Eight drew a long breath.
'Soi There is something behind all
| this? And I'm your MANI?
How do l know" answered the gaoler.
Have / not told you dozen times L
don't know one from the other, only -
and he opened the parchment with rus
tie and flourish.
Douhlet and hose rose to his feet and
thrust a brosd hand in front of the goal
ers eyes.
are neither of us towards, and SO can
wait without fear of the unknown. Speak
out the truth in few words, but leave
names alone until we ask for them Don
Enrico Number Nine and | may nave
somewhat to say to one another nTSt.
"BluntIy, the truth IS this" answered
Pedro Martoval After ten years one of
you goes free tomorrow, and one 10 the
block, seeing that such worshIpful genie
men as you are not hanged Which 70
which | know not but here are the parch-
rnents, and they are both for Don Enr1coS
Now, Los Perdido hath no Don Enrlcos
! saving yourselves.
''But-'' said he of the cassock.
But said Number Eight. why spoil
our hour, and my tale net yet to!d, tale
l give fair warning. worth the telIllSs anu
with its best kept to the last? Put up
the parcbments. Master Pedro; one or
other of US will have enough of them
presently. God send him good end The
dice-bOx? We may have heart for game
shortly Now, that toast of yours, Don
Enrico hath fallen fat; take mine in its
place A warm vengeance on a cold nope,
and God defend the right, and so on to
my tale.
There were two men," and Don Enrico
Number Eight sat back in his chair, mold
ing his chin in his hand and speaking
slowly, like one dragging up thought TO
the surface; two who were like broth
ers Men much as ourselves. Dat with the
fire in their blood unchilled by ten years
of Los Perddo. The one, how shall We
call him2 You know We have had no
names as yet, senior: why, Number E1ght
is as good a name as any other ana
brings an air of life into the tale Inc
other. would il presume OFermuch II Tor
( the sake of clearnesS we called him Num-
Der Nine? No possible offence, seeing
that in the time we speak of he was
Roland for honor and courage. sworn
friends they were in field and camp. Aye,
blood brothers by that great blood-broth-
erhood of q life risked for life saved.
/ But Don Enrico Eight. as we call him
did | say Don Enrico Eight? Well let
it stand-he had a love greater than that
of friend or brother. 1t was the love or
a man to a woman, of husband to a
| wife
He paused and, leaning across the table,
touched the others shoulder.
''If Won have tasted such a love. If YOU
know its heat and fierce passion, how that
it is deeper and broader and fuller than
other IOVeS-if YOU know its tenderness,
its sweetness. its greatneSS-f you nave
tasted that subtle quality wherein II dlt-
fers from all other loves and which hath
no name in words. then the love of the
man to the woman may be left TO mem
ory. If you know il not, 1t were a waste
of words 70 speak, and so we may pass
on
Again he paused as if for an answer,
and though he Of the cassock spoke Eoth-
ing the lines were deeper on his forehead
and his eyes wistful as he nodded ms
head and guped down his wine with
throat that quivered so that palmer than
any words he said: Il know; let the
memory rest
The hand upon his shoulder pressed the
harder.
love and infamy can go hand IN hdnd-
Where the one is. where IS room for the
other2 And vet. as the tale shapes, senior.
whose throat is rpest for the pressing.
that of the Cardinal or the brother who
betravs his brother As for CarlOtTa,
God rest her: and 1 pray she hath not had
sore need of rest these ten years
Number Nine flung off the others press
ure with a wrench of his shoulder and sat
up.
"Carlotta?"
"Why. aye" answered the other. Car
lotta-what of that?
The man of the cassock sank slowly
back
True" he said there are five hundred
Carlottas.
FOR you. perhaps, said Number Eight;
"but for me, one-not perfect since he
whom we call Nine found her weakness
and played on il. A woman 5 weakness;
vanity and the thought of greatness.
There was some scheme afoot- The Kings
crown would be tumbled in the mud that
n certain Lord Cardinal might rise upon
il TO the tiara: such things may be, you
know by the help Of
Number Nine sprang to his feet with
force. that drove his wooden chair clang
ing backward on tho floor.
Saints" he cried, you are"
But the other was as quick on his feet
and reader with his wit.
'.Fiendsi" he thundered back. mo
names: the tales not told as yet, nor
the game played out.
Pedro Martoval stopped and picked up
the fallen chair.