The San Francisco call., 1907-06-23


less haste; she found Visconti 50 seal
and one of his signet rings, and slipped
them both into her gown-still she
could not find the keys. The duke 8
pass keys that unlocked every door,
The seal and the parchment were
much--but the keys would be every
thing. They were not within the
bureau; she rified them once again-no,
they were not there.
She turned away in yeXation, and
stod a second irresolute.
Z These rooms deserted, yet so full of
their owner, were terrifying. Valen-
tine was sick with fear-still, she must
have those keys.
Hastily she turned over every article
in the room, left as Eisconti had left
them-books. papers. ornaments.
There were no keys there.
She looked into the antechamber. that
was bare and empty; she knew it too
well 20 suppose what she sought could
be hidden there.
In desperation she retraced her steps
and stood again within the second
room. An impulse made her lift the
arras, and she beheld another door. and
another still; they were either side Wis.,
contfs empty seat. She. tried one; 1t
opened Immediately on black marble
stairway, and she closed it again with
a thrill.
Desperately. she opened the other
door: held to her courage desperately,
and crossed the threshold. The room
was paneled in black and scarlet, floor
and ceiling ;nlaid with gold and black.
great mirror hung opposite the
door: either side a table. covered with
a collection Of articles left in utter con-
fusion.
Valentine turned them over in frantic
haste: there were laces and rings.
Jewels and curios, gloves. and strangely
carved bottles. She handled the last
carefully-she knew not what they
might contain.
Still there were no keys.
Valentine. fast losing nerve. felt that
she had been in these rooms for hours
the silence and suggestion oppressed
her till she could have med-but
She had risl1ed too much to retreat.
There was an iniaid bureau, and q
Golfer beneath it; she opened the bureau
and sought again; rings, daggers, treas
ures from Della Scala's collections, un-
cut gems, powders, scents, rosaries
charms, missals--only no hint of what
she looked for.
On top of. the Golfer was roll OF
drawings. the plans of the new church.
several parchments,. petitions, speci-
mems of marble from the new quarries
carvings mail gauntlets--Vaientine
swept them off on the floor. and then
threw the Golfer open.
1t was full of ciothes-upon the vel
vet of the topmost mantle lay the small
bunch of master keys.
Valentine grasped 1t, and hid it in the
little pocket at her side.
She had all she needed now. and was
turning in relief to go. when. struck
by another thought, she bent again over
the Golfer, lifted the contents out on to
the floor.
Visconti's doublets were mostly toe
splendid for her purpose, but she seized
the plainest, wrapped 1t in her mantle
snatched one of the daggers from the
table. Then making rapidly through
the rified room, with breathless
prayer of gratitude for safety, she
stealthily pushed opened the door on Ia
the balcony, and saw the sunlight and
her pages eager face.
Shut the door, she whispered
Climb up and shut the top bolt
The boy obeyed.
No one has been?H
No, lady; you have been quick"
Quick" gasped Valentine u
thought / had been years"
She unclasped her mantle and gave
1t to the boy. Take that back to my
room-say I was too hot-give IL
to Costanza-slle alone is in my conf
dence, as thou knowest; let no one stop
thee-and 1isten-by tomorrow we shall
be outside the gates