Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-09-23

descend into the tunnel. Considera'
tions of my own safety showed me that
not a moment was to be lost. | grasped
the old servant by the arm and sprang
with him to the opening, and we were
Just in time to force our way in after
the villain and to prevent him from
closing the stone and locking 1t In Its
place. How he had ever become ac'
auainted with the existence of the pas.
sageway I could not imagine, for Clan
Jacopo informed me that the secret had
been known only to the members of my
own family. But evidently he was full.
ly cognizant of it and had intended not
only to utilize it for his own escape,
but to bar us out that we might be de-
livered over to the mercies Of the mob,
who, by the bye. broke down the door
and rushed into the house at the very
moment when Jacopo locked the stone
into it's receptacle.
| now commanded the apostate rogue
to deliver up the lamp to Jacopo, which
he did without objecting thereto. and,
my faithful retainer going first and
bringing up the rear that I might keep
an eye upon the monk. we proceeded
along the underground gallery and in
q few moments found ourselves In the
old castle or palace Of the Pazzi. Here
| Brother Ambrose. acting for all the
world as IL the house belonged to him,
threw himself into large chair. cast
his hat upon the floor. put his feet up
on an oaken table in front of him and
gazed at me with an expression OF
knavish effrontery.
"Sirrah! knave." said l, 81 cannot de-
eide at this moment whether to let thee
90 in peace or to give thee the beating
which thou dost so richly merit and
cast thee out bodily. What hast thou
to say that may influence my de-
| cision"
"Nay, good sir" he replied, with great
coolness. Neither Of thy propositions
seemeth good to me. 1t rather pleaseth
| me to remain here at mine ease fol
| awhile than to go forth into the city
during these present disorders. II
| ,avs said or done aught to offend thee,
I crave thy pardon and ask that thou
shouldst not lay it up against me, but
rather that thou shouldst impute 1t to
| the narrowing of my nerves and the
ruiIling of my temper by the untoward
| incidents Of the day. Therefore, my
good signor, sit thee down and cause
yonder graybeard driveler Of thine to
bring us q flason Of the strong old red
wine for which the PaZzi cellars have
been for these four centuries so IA
NOUS"
The words of Brother Ambrose sof-
tened my wrath considerably. | made
all due allowance for the fear and ex-
| citement under which he labored at the
moment when | rescued him, and his
subsequent insolence, ingratitude and
yillainous endcavor to shut us out OF
| the underground gallery seemed less
heinous when looked at in that pal
| liating light. | drew up chair and
sat down opposite him. at the same
time giving Jacopo the wink to bring
the wine. The menial departed and re-
| turned Immediately with Il tiagon and
some glasses, having placed which he
stood regarding the monk with per
tinacity and attention which seemed
extraordinary.
"And now. most worthy signor." said
| Brother Ambrose. "prithee tell me thy
name that may know to whom | am
| indebted for my escape from those hyp
| ocrite Dominicans. Thou art doubtless
of noble lineage. Thy dress and man
ners bespeak it. 1t is strange that ]
have not before taken notice of thee In
land where every person doth know
all other persons. at least by sight"
Inform the gentleman Of my name
and family" commanded Jacopo.
Marry. sir monk. thou seest before
thee his excellency Prince Timoteo. the
present head of the house Of the Paz
| zi."
1.-THE devil dow exclaimed Brother
Ambrose, bounding in his chair. But
how may this fair sir be the head OF
the house OF PaZzi when there is but
one head the noble Prince Arnolfo?'
"Alas sir monk, the venerable ArnoE
| 10 is no more He breathed his last 1T
noontide Of this very day. He there
fore who sits before thee, Prince Timo.
teo, is the head Of the house Of pazzi
and the heir to the throne Of FirenZa.
| lino."
"Now, by our Lady Of the Lily, this
IS strange news that thou brinsest
me-" said Brother Ambrose. "And. fair
| Prince Timoteo, II seemeth that the
death of thy father, the venerable Ar
nolfo, was not more sudden than is Thy
own recovery from the long and griev,
GUS illness which hath veXed thee.
| Fediddio, but thou art u lucky man. to
recover thy health at the same time
| when thou dost succeed to thine In
heritance"
did not like the expression of coun-
tenance with which he accompanied
| these words. That he was deep and
cunning rascal his look and manner
both bespoke and, not knowing how
well he might be informed concerning
my family. felt exceedingly uneasy
and at once strove to turn the discourse
into another channel.
"Prithee, good sir" said l, Inform
me Of the circumstances which brought
thee to this most unfortunate pass. II
would nightly divert me to know the
matters with which thou hast been
charged, for cannot believe that they
could have been such as to justify the
authorities in roasting thee"
"Truly. thou sayest well. twas but
trifing thing of which they accused
me, and it sits but lightly upon my con
science. Had it not been for Duke Cas-.
| truccio do believe that | should have
had mercy. But the election is toward
and cometh off in matter of ten days
or so. He therefore interested himself
| I'm the business and caused the sentence
| to be brought about that he might oc
casion q pleasing pageant and make
himself popular with the people. They
have no longer any will of their own
| Castruccio has enervated them with
luxury and has blinded them with his
Journeys and pageants and ceremonies
At the same time he puts himself up
on level with them by singing in the
public streets ditties Of his own com
| position, after the manner Of Lorenzo
| - L,ioroooo on1 hot wpan thee and