The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22

a moments notice, from hairplnS and
nat mirrors TO fine linen pillow cases,
sweetmeats and a lapdog- Zenos Ideas
of a woman's requirements were a
trifie vague, but he determined that
Zoe should want nothing. and he
charged Omobono with the minute exc
cution of his smallest commands
He himself lived simply and almost
rudely. He slept on small, hard dl-
van with a little, hard cushion under
his head and a cloak to cover him in
cold weather He hated hot water.
scented soap. and all the soft luxuries
of the Roman bath He liked good
dinner when he was hungry. good wine
when he was thirsty. and wide easy
chair when he had worked all day; but
it never had cost him a moments dis
comfort to exchange such home as
he now lived in for the camp or sea.
Women were different beings, how
ever, so he made all allowances for
them and went to extreme lengths IN
estimating their necessities, as ONO
bono found to his cost Yet with all
his preoccupation for details, Zeno for
got that Zoe must have a woman to
wait on her at once, and when he real
lied the omission, almost IN the last
minute, the future conqueror or the
Genoese, the terror of the Medtterran-
can, the victorious general of the Pad
uan campaign. the hero of 80 pitched
his heart sink with something like
fear What would have happened If
he had not remembered just in time
that Marco Pesaro's slave must have a
maid? She should have two, or three,
or as many as she needed
."Omobono, he said. as the little
secretary came up the stairs for the
twentieth time, 'go out quickly and
buy two maids. They must be young,
healthy. clean. clever and silent Lose
no time"
Two maidsy' the secretary's jaw
dropped.
yes. Is there anything wonderful in
that? Did you expect to walt on the
lady yourself?"
'The lady?" omobono opened his
little eyes very wide.
II mean" answered Zeno. correcting
himself, "ths-the young person who Is
going TO be lodged here. Lose no time,
i say, Go as fast as you cam!
Omobono turned ard went, not hav-
Ing the least idea where to go. Before
he had reached the outer door Zeno
called after him down the stairs
stop" cried the merchant 1T is
too late. You must go and get the
Iady-the young person Take two
palanquins instead Of one, and tell Gull
labi to let her choose her own slaves
You can put the two into one litter and
bring them all together"
But the price, sir?'' inquired ONO
bono, who was man of business
"Gullabi will ask what he pleases IL
take him such a messa ge
Tell him that if he is not reason
able he shall do no more business with
venetians," answered Zeno from the
head of the marble stairs.
Omobono nodded obediently and fol-
lowed his Instructions So it came to
pass that before long he found himself
~ I1oI xrrff
palanquins and eight bearers, besides a
couple of Zenos trusty men servants,
well armed, for he carried a large sum
OF money in gold. The Armenian and
the secretary went into an inner room
TO count and weigh the ducats, but be-
fore this began Omobono delivered his
message in full.
II have the very thing" said Gull
benkjan. There are two girls who
have waited on her and with whom she
is much pleased AS for asking too
high price, 40 ducats for the two is
nothing. They are gift at that"
Forty ducatsi" said OmObono, cast
ing up his eyes and preparing TO bar
gain for at least half an hour.
IF it is dear said Gullabi. his face
becoming like stone. may my tongue
never speak the truth again,'
Omobono hesitated. Before he could
answer a door opened and Gullabi's
VI,
cred in Zoe, closely yelled and wrapped
in the cloak she had worn on the pre-
vious night. 1t was. in fact. necessary
that she should be delivered up in re-
turn for the gold, and the negress had
supposed that the counting was almost
over.
my turtle dove" said GuIlabi in
dulcet tones. fetch those two girls who
have waited on Kokona Arethusa. The
Venetian merchant will buy them foI
her"
The negress grinned and went out
BY this time Omobono had made up his
mind what to say.
MY dear sir" he began. in a concil-
iatory tone, consider that we are
friends and do not ask an exorbitant
price. beseech you to be obliging. by
four toes and FIVE toes"
Omobono wondered what would hap
pen after he had pronounced the mys-
terious words. Gullabi looked keenly
at him and was silent for a moment
Neither of them noticed that Zoe made
a quick movement as she stood by the
table between them. The Armenian
rose suddenly and wetn TO shut this
doors.
It .swhere?" he asked as he crossed tn.
small room.
!. Omobono's face fell at the unexpected
I and apparently irrelevant question. In
t three words. in his ear. Before Gul
Z, labi turned back to hear the clerk an
I swer she was standing erect and mo
n tionless again and he did not suspec
a that she had moved
i "Over the water" answered Omobonl
o with perfect confidence.
you may have the two for four an,
u twenty ducats." said Gullabi "But yo,
cannot expect me to take anything OF
o the price of the Kokona," he added "a
I bargained with your master and h
: agreed"
e NO. no. Certainly. And I thanl
T you. sir.
e Il suppose" said Gullabi. that yol
/ would do as much for me-
II .Of course, of course answers
Q Omobono. shall we count the dueats
. When the operation was almost I'm
ished the negress returned with th
two slave girls, whose commonplace
features were wreathed in smiles an
they began TO kiss the hem of Zoe
cloak. Omobono inspected them crit
ically and really thought them cheap a
= IL ducats each. as indeed they were
- He was paying 400 for Zoe. but Gullat
lI dill NOT mean her GOLD an