Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-09-30

| a tender farewell OF the ingenious and
fascinating Ippolita and wended my
way through the still hilarious and
numerous company toward the en-
trance of the palace.
In the arched and stately entrance |
was joined, to my great annoyance. by
the ubiquitous Brother Ambrose, Was
I then, thought |, never to get rid OF
this pestifer0us fellow? We were pre-
pairing to 60 forth upon the street when
felt my cloak lightly pulled from be
hind. Iiurned back and, behold. who
should stand before me but the comely
maid who had summoned Castruccio'S s
daughter from me after the saraband.
who art thou" said in some as
tonishment. land what dost thou wish
with me?"
81 am Fiorella, attendant to her lady.
ship the countess. and ii please your
worship" she answered, with courte-
sy.
She then dypw closer to me and spoke
in lower tore:
"My lady bids thee attend her, hard
upon the midnight hour at the postern
gate of the palace garden. An unto
ward thing has happened Of the which.
it having much TO do with thy safety,
she is much minded to acquaint thee"
"And how shall know. my comely
maiden" said l. at the same time
chucking her under the chin. that
thou speakest sooth? The thing which
thou sayest has much the appearance
Of rigmaroIe Tell me further that !
may judge whether to believe thee
"Knowest thou this?" she asked. pro-
ducing and handing me Il costly ring
set with emeralds and diamonds which
had that night admired upon the ia.
per finger of Ippol;ta. This Is the
token which she bade me give thee 1t
lacks but half hour Of the time ap
pointed. Fail not to be upon the spot
where she commands thee, as the gen
tie lady will be exceeding wroth an
she finds thee not"
A diaboical chuckle from the escaped
monk at this moment interrupted my
cogitations. and | now realized for the
first time the very disagreeable and
veyatious fact that he had overheard
every word Of my interview with Flo
rella and that now the rogue was I'D
full possession Of the secret of my reia
tions with lppolita.
"Ha, ha" he exclaimed. Thou art a
shrewd youth and hast played thy part
well. If thou shouldst ask my present
advice. should say to thee. Marry the
noble lady at once After having done
which and after having put the old
| man out Of the way in some quick and
convenient manner thou wilt Of neces
| sity be heir to the dukedom without
any further trouble about the bust
| ness"
"But I have not asked thy advice" |
answered hotly. land it will be time to
give it when do so."
"Or. haply. thou couldst seize the
damizella and convey her to some
strong and secret place. there to detain
her until thou couldst make profitable
| terms with Castruccio."
81 tell thee. base churl." said in
great anger. that thy advice is often
sive to me and that will have none of
| It. And now get thee hence. as ] have
business toward which brooks not de-
lay"
"Nay. good prince; thou shouldst not
take so unkindly the prudent counsel
which | have offered. And as to this
business of thine. myself will attend
thee to the postern gate whereof the
maid spoke, as the night Is somewhat
dark. and l trow that thou art not IA
miliar with the way"
I was aggravated beyond endurance
by his impudent persecution. He was
as hard to get rid Of as Sindbad's old
man Of the sea.
Look here. knave." said l. placing
my hand upon my sword hilt. 81 will
! speak plainly to thee. l have seen
enough of thee. and IL thou dost not
presently leave me / will make thee re-
pent Of it."
He looked at me for a moment in sur
prise, gave me Mephistophelian leer
and went Off whistling and with a
staggering stride into the darkness.
now sent Clan Jacopo to my castle
with directions to expect me within an
hour or two and then vet out to find my
way to the rear of the dukes grounds.
II was rather murky, but the D,oon was
at that moment rising. and | had just
enough light to get my bearings with.
passed on beyond the palace, to the
left, until l came to small street,
which | afterward found was called
the Via de- Ginori, running at right an
giles with the one which l was on. Here
| bore to the right along the side of the
brilliantly Illuminated editice until
came to q high stone wall with spikes
at the top. Following this for a furlong
or more, arrived at great open field
or meadow which lay behind the wall
ed garden of the Albizzi. followed
the masonry along the whole width
of the field and found but one door or
gate in the entire extent Of 1t. 1t was a
heavy. solid. oaken portal, and l came
to the conclusion presently that 1t was
the place | sought.
Fifty feet from the doorway and just
outside of the wall there was round
cistern about fifteen feet In diameter
and with a stone coping two feet or SC
In height It was probably a public
well, where the inhabitants Of the
quarter obtained their water. 1t lacked
by my watch ten minutes of midnight
and I commenced to while away the
time until Ippolita should come by
casting pebbles down and listening FOL
them to strike the water, which was al
of twenty feet below the rim. Sudden
" 1 heard footsteps close behind me
and even before l could turn my heat
I got a terrible thrust or poke In the
very middle of my back which seIit me
headlong over the stone coping into the
cistern.
Fortunately struck the water a
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