The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07
CHAPTER LII.
Trevanion in the rolls.

CHAPTER LII.
Trevanion in the Tolls.
In sending Trevanion that day to the
barracks on the Lung Arno-whose
door Cassidy had once seen him enter
and in whose vicinity the naval sur
geon, following this clue. had posted
his squad of tars-luck had fallen oddly.
The coursed hare has small choice OF
burrow. The Lanfranchi entrance was
the quarry's only loophole and he
took it.
As the hunted man sprang across the
threshold he snatched the great iron
key from the lock and swung it on
the head of his pursuer. The marine
dropped with cut forehead. falling
full in the doorway of the room where
the service was in progress.
Instantly the gathering was in con-
fusion. The sermon ceased. women
screamed and their escorts poured into
the hall to meet Cassidy, entering from
the street, flushed and exultant. with
half-dozen more bluejackets.
r His foremost pursuer fallen. Trevan4
ion leaped like stag for the stair.'
But halfway up he stopped at sight of
figure from whom he could hope no
grace. Gordon had heard the signal
shot, armed himself and hastened to
the stairway.
For once in his life Cassidy was obli-
vious of things religious. He had for
got the afternoons service. He scarce
ly saw DR.. Motifs horror Lifted hands
as his cassock futtered between
frightened worshipers to the door, His
look did not travel to Gordon or be-
yond, where Teresa's agitated face
watched palely: His ,rpund. peering
on the lowering figure midway OF the
marble. ascent
Now, my fine ensign" he said with
exultation, what have you to say to
a trip to the Pylades?"
Trevanion's dark face whitened. But
his hand still gripped the key.
Il had enough of your cursed ship!''
he flung in surly defiance. "and you'll
not take me, either
Cassidy laughed and turned to the
seamen at his back. They stepped for
. ward.
In Gordcssss mind, in that moment of
tensiSSs Nruclal forces were weirdly
contend3ng. Over the heads of the
group hsiaw, through the open door.
he saw ships jolly boat, pulling along
the Arno bank Leghorn-the Pylades
and years in a military fortress That
was what it meant to Trevanion. And
what for him? The peace he coveted,
respite of persecution. for him and
for Teresa-the right to live and work
unmolested
1t was a lawless act-seizure unwar-
! ranted and on a foreign soil: an at
tempt, daring but not courageous-they
were ten against one. 1t was deed
or personal and private revenge on the
part of Cassidy And the man had
taken refuge under his roof. For anx
other he would have interposed from a
sheer sense of s3ustfce and hatred of
hypocrisy. But for him-a poltroon, a
skulker, and-his enemy?
What right had he to interfere?
The manner was high-handed, but the
penalty owed to British admiralty was
just. It was not his affair The hour
he had sat in the moonlight near the
Ravenna osteria, when his conscience
had accepted this Nemesis, he had put
away the temptation to harm him;
though the others weapon had struck,
he had lifted no hand. He had left
all to fate. And fate was arranging
now. He had not summoned those
marines!
But through these strident voices
sounded a clearer one in his soul. 1t
was not for that long-buried shame
and cowardice in Greece-not for the
attempting on his life in BagnacavaIlo
nor for anything belonging to the pres
ent-that Trevanfon stood now in this
plight. It was ostensibly for an act
antedating either, one he himself had
known and mentally condoned years
ago-a boys desertion from hateful
routine. If he let him be taken now,
was he not party to Cassfdy's re-
venge? Would he be any better than
Cassidy? Would 1t be in him also any
less than an ignoble and personal re-
taliation-what he had promised him
self. come what might he would not
seek?
He strobe down the stair, past Tre-
,sN,. Fr< ~ y
rines.
Pardon he.' he said. 'This man is
in my house. BY what right do you
pursue him ?" aE
The bluejackets stopped. A blotch
of red sprang in Cassidy's straw-col-
ored cheeks.
He is a deserter; from kings ship.
The marines are under orders. Hinder
them at your. peril!'
This is Italy, not the high seas
rejoined Gordon, calmly. British law
does not reach here. You may say
thatfto the captain Of the Pylades''
Cassidy turned furiously to his men.
go on and take him!" he commanded.
Again they advanced, but they
looked full into Gordon's pistol. and
the voice behind it said.
That, under this roof, no man shall
do! On my word as a peer of Eng
land!''
A few moments later Cassidy. his
face purpled with disappointment. had
led his marines into the street, the
agitated clergyman had gathered his
flock again, and the hall was clear.
A postern gate opened from the
Lanfranchi garden, and to this Gordon
led Trevanion without a word. The
latter passed out with eyes that did
not meet his i-eliverer.s.
AS Gordon climbed the stairway to
where Teresa waited, shaken with the
occurrence. the Rev. DR.. Mott was
rounding the services so abruptly ter.
minated with the shorter benediction:
The grace OF our Lord Jesus Christ
and the love Of God and the fellow
ship of the Holy Ghost be with us all
evermore. Amen"
CHAPTER LII.