The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16

or no, thou shalt have the lantern"
He stepped across the threshold as
he spoke. a little fearfully. and placed
the lantern in the niche cut to receive
Il in the wall.
Thou wilt be getting it down and
firing thyself with it," he remarked.
For thou art clean distraught. me-
thinks"
Visconti made no reply He had no
ticed that both the inner doors were
shut.
And as / must answer for thee"
continued the soldier, Il will secure
thee with this" and slipping back into
the passage he returned with a rope
and advanced toward the prisoner
The duke rose with flashing eyes.
Remember thou art the devil.
messer," said the soldier soothingly.
and naught can really hold thee"
Visconti felt for the dagger that no
longer hung by his side. then showed
the soldier his fingers. red and still
bleeding.
The teeth that met there can meet
IN thine" he snarled, and his eyes were
ike a VOLTS.
The soldier stepped back, then with a
sudden thought pointed to the light.
Stay Unbound then and I will take
that away again" he said. and again
advanced.
Visconti suffered his arms to be
bound together at the elboVs. nor did
lie seem TO heed when the soldier left
him, and the great door fell to once
more IN silence.
The storm had sobbed itself away.
l.
rain The chamber had light and the
sight Of a human face had restored
Eisconti.
once more he felt his hold on life
and on reality. and he turned from that
closed door with its superstitious hor-
ror to face real terror and a staggering
mischanee.
Milan, He had left Milan in an hour
Of need-and with no one TO check
Valentine Only within the last few
weeks had he known what she was
capable Of. What might she not at
tempt once she realized his absence?
Giannotto, too. and the Duke
dOrlesns, What OF their sincerity
He had left not one man within the
city whom he could trust implicitly.
Then he considered his own plight.
Clearly they did not know him; none
the less they had him. He ground his
teeth at the thought Of Della Scala's
triHmph.
His art OF bribery occurred to him.
and he remembered with q savage
veNation how he had flung jewel to
his 5ailer for a light--a jewel that
might have purchased freedom. Still,
II was IN his madness; he might
be thankful he had not shouted
aloud his name-and his crimes
Suddeniy. with q start Of recollection,
it occurred TO him anew that he had
been placed apart Then carrara had
recognized him. The cords around
NiscontTs arms began now to torture
him-he was weak from lack of fooS
and mad excitement Thoughts OF Car
nara vanished. He saw thu face of the
girl on whose account ne had risked
his dukedom.
'Graziosa"' he cried but the face
looked at Kim qnseeingly. You know
me- as IL I'm appeal '-Grazioss, YOU
know me- The face suddenly dis
tortco. as II with horror Visconti
shrSnk from it-and she was gone.
what frightened her2 Those other
faces" Nisconti whispered TO himself,
then reused himself with harsh laugh.
viii Carrara Gomez" He fixed mis-
eyes on the lamp. then on the door.
And presently he heard the subdued
hustle Of arrival. the great door cianc:
the ringing answers OF the soldiers:
then outside his own door hushed and
respectful notes.-the door opened. shut
and Nlsconti saw his visitor.
man, black eyed, forid, richly
dressed in velvet. well armed. unat-
tended and carrying the castle keys
Giacomo Carrara. He stood in amaze
ment and shrsnk back half afraid,
though the guard had warned him.
"Niscont!" he cried. What has hap
pened?
The sickIy light OF the lantern
showed him a white. haggsrd face.
nil ISL hnf H.
hanging iank and damp about its fore
head. the plain doubiet gashed and
torn. hands and face smeared with
blood.
But at sight OF the man he hoped
to buy, Niseontfs face took on a more
human look.
You have seen my messenger
Hush and Giaconlo looked around
caztiously. Yes, ] have seen him ana
dispatched my answer"
Ny offer suits you?" said visconti
grimly.
1T suited ne Visconti. till Just now.
returned the other. 1t suited me Ia
such purpose that my men even now
await my orders TO desert TO Milan"
"Ah:" Visconti said. And what OF
II now?" he added. looking around
again, the old subduing spirit in his
glance.
what Of it? It shall stiil be done.
only" Csrrara smiled, there is an
unforeseen addition to the bargain
Not only do you need my men,. Wis
cont: I think. well. you need your
liberty"
And so the price is higher Is that
what you would say? Unloose my arm.
II shall not be forgotten in the bribe,v
he sneered-
Carrara advanced and undid The rope
in silence He knew Visconti was un-
armed
VIscont gasped with relief as tho
torture was removed
And now" he said. taking at once
the mastery, how 90 matters stand
between us2 Be wary: be brief"
Rapidly Ciacon7o told him how with
the desertion, half Mastino's army
would be gone; how Padua was to De
given into the hands OF Visconti's gen
erals. and how Count Conrad played at
chess.
Viscontf hated the smooth traitor
who was waiting 10 drive q hard bar
gain with his necessity-and his freed
hand went TO his doublet-the tur-
ouoise gloves had not been lost.
And now your terms 81 he said