The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24

tally, but sword and block for one or
other of you, and that before fifteen hours
pass and he laughed again, slanting
his glass in his swaying hand so that this
time the liquor fell from ii 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 other?"
Pedro Martoval set down his empty
glass by the table end, and thrusting his
hand into his bosom drew out parch-
ment.
Neither drunk nor fool" he said,
"and civility would come better from a
man who has but handful OF hours to
his name.
Number Eight drew a long breath.
so. There is something behind all
this? And I'm your mani?
How do / 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 a flourish.
Doublet and hose rose to his feet and
thrust a broad hand in front of the goal
NO names yet awhile" he said. I'VE
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
Enrfco Number Nine and | may have
somewhat to say to one another first"
"Bluntly, the truth is this, answered
Pedro Martoyal. After ten years one of
you goes free tomorrow. and one to the
block seeing that such worshipful gentle
men as you are not hanged. when 10
which know not, but here are the parch-
ments, and they are both for Don Enricos.
Now Los Perdido hath no Don EnricoS
saving yourselves.
But said he of the cassock.
But" said Number Eight. why spoil
our hour, and my tale not yet told, tale.
i give fair warning. worth the telling. ana
with its best kept to the last? Put up
the parchments. 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 warm vengeance on a cold hope
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, hold
ing his chin in his hand and speaking
slowly, like one dragging up Thought 10
the surface; two who were like broth
erS. Men much as ourselves, nat with the
fire in their blood uuchilled by ten years
of Los Perdido. The one. how shall we
call him? You know we have had no
names as yet, senior; why. Number Elght
is as good a name as any other, ana
brings an air of life into the tale. The
other: would it presume oyermuch II Tor
the sake of clearnesS We called him Num-
Der Nine2 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 brOtlerS DS tndI great DioOu-DrOlu-
erhood of a life risked for a life saved.
But Don Enrico Eight as we call him
did l say Don Enrico Eight? Well, let
it stand-he had a love greater than that
of friend or brother; it was the love of
a man to a woman. of a husband to
wife.
He paused and. leaning across the table,
touched the others shoulder
IF you have tasted such love, III you
know its heat and fierce passion, how that
it is deeper and broader and fuller than
other loves-if you know its tenderness.
its sweetness, its greatness-if you have
tasted that subtle quality wherein ii diff
fers from all other loves and which hath
no name in words, then the love or the
man to the woman may be Iert to mem
DRY. If you know il not, II were waste
of words to speak, and so we may pass
OIL"
Again he paused as if for an answer
and though he Of the cassock spoke roth,
ing the lines were deeper on his forehead
and his eyes wistfui as he nodded his
head and gu!ped down his wine with
throat that quiVered, so that palmer than
any words he said: L know; let the
memory rest"
The hand upon his shoulder pressed the
harder.
Strange" said Number Eight, that
love and infamy can go hand in hand.
Where the one is. where is room for the
other? And yet, as the tale shapes. senior
whose throat is ripest for the pressing.
that of the Cardinal or the brother who
betrays his brother? As for Carlotta.
God rest her: and l pray she hath not had
sore need of rest these ten years
Number Nine flung off the others press
ure with wrench OF his shoulder and sat
up.
"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 it. A woman S weakness:
vanity and the thought of greatness.
There was some scheme afoot. The Kings
crown would be tumbled in the mud that
a 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 the floor
Saints he cried, you arc
But the other was as quick on his feet
and reader with his wit.
.'Fiendsi" he Numbered back. mo
names: the tales not told as yet, nor
the game played out"
Pedro Martoval stopped and picked up
the fallen chair.