The San Francisco call., 1908-05-10
q COPYRIGHT. .1oO6BI PHHdIPJ PUB. co
CHAPTER xIv-COntinued

n ROSGOSSC01
determined to meet the tremen-
dous difficulty in a way that should
elicit Zeno's admiration. He would
receive the ladies and gentlemen
as majordomo. he would make an ex-
cuse for his master. he would install
them in their places at table, and
would direct the service. OF the cook
and the cellar the little man felt quite
sure. and that was a great consola-
tion in his extremity. If he gave zeno's
friends OF the best. and made a polite
apology, and saw that nothing went
wrong, IL would be impossible to ask
more OF him or 10 suggest that he had
failed in his duty. When the guests
were gone he would go to bed and have
an attack Of fever; OF that he felt quite
sure. but then the terrible ordeal would
be over. and il would be a relief to lie
on his back and feel very i'll
Now, in all this trouble it never oc-
CURED TO him that his master was in
any great danger or trouble, much less
that he might have been killed in some
mad adventure. Carlo zeno had lived
through such desperate perils again
and again. so that Omobono had formed
the habit OF believing him to be inde-
Structible. If not inyulnerable, and sure
70 fall on his feet whatever happened.
q OmobOno stood in his fine clean shirt
and his wine colored hose. combing and
smoothing his beard carefully with the
help OF a little mirror. While he was
thus engaged some one tapped at his
door and a small voice informed him
that Kokona Arethusa was now awake
and wished to see him instantly.
Though the door was not opened by
the speaker, Omobono hastily laid down
his glass and his comb and struggled
into his tunic as If his life depended
on his getting ii on before he an
swered
Tell the Kokona that am at her
service" he said. and that I shall be
with her Immediately"
Yes. sir" said the small voice. and
he heard the girls retreating footsteps
Immediately after she had spoken.
A few moments later he was going
I'D the stairs as fast as the tremen-
dous tension OF his hose would allow,
and as he went he reflected with sat
isfaction that as majordomo he could
not by any possibility be called upon
TO sit down in the presence Of his mas
ter's guests.
One OF the slave girls ushered him
into Zoe's presence. The latter was
seated on the edge of the divan, look
ing anXiously toward the door when he
entered, and for the first time since she
had been in the house he saw her face
uncovered 1t was very pale, and there
were deep shadows under her eyes,
Her beautiful brown hair was in wild
disorder. too. and fell in a loosened
tress upon one shoulder. The hand
that rested on the edge Of the diven
strained upon fold OF the delicate
silk carpet that covered the couch. She
spoke as soon as Or1obono appeared.
Have you hea from him2" she
asked anxiously. rs he coming?"
II did not seem strange to the secre-
tary that she should already know OF
Zeno's absence, since no one in the
house could think or talk of anything
else. On his part he was resolved to
maintain the calm dignity becoming to
the ma5ordOn1o Of q noble house.
The master will doubtless come
home when he has finished the urgent
business that called him away" he
my duty to make excuses to his
guests"
Are they coming? Have you not
sent them word TO stay awayg'
OnobonO smiled in sort OF superb
orly humble way.
And what IL the master should re-
turn just at that hour OF dinner" he
asked. What would he say II I had
ventured 10 take upon myself such a
responsibility The Kokona does not
know the master. Happily have been
in his service too long not to under
stand my duty. II it pleases him to
come home he viii find that his friends
have been entertained as he desired
II he does not come he will be glad
20 learn sfterward' that the proper ex-
cuses were offered to them for his un-
avoidable absence. and that they were
treated with the honor due to their
station"
Zoe stared az the secretary. really
amazed by his calmness and almost
treasured by his evident belief in Zeno's
safety. II was true that he knew
nothing OF the facts and had not seen
his master hanging by the end of a
rope. so feet above the ground, within
II hours. II would have been hard to
imagine Omobono's state OF mind If he
had spent the night as Zoe had. But,
nevertheless, his assurance rested her
and restored a little confidence in
Zenos good fortune. OF his courage
and his strength she needed not to be
reminded; but she knew well enough
that unless chance were in his favor
he could never leave Blachernae ex-
oept 10 die.
DO you really think he is safer" Zoe
asked, glad 70 hear the resssuring
words even in her own voice.
'Of course. Kokona-
But at THIS moment the sound or oars
in the water and OF several voices talk
ing together came up through the open
window from the landing below.
Omobono's excitement returned at the
thought that he might not get down the
stairs in time to receive the guests at
the marble steps just as the boats came
alongside without another word he
turned and fed precipitately.
Zoe had heard the voices. too, and
had understood. and in spite of her
anxiety a gentle smile at the secre-
tary's nervousness fitted across her
tired face. The two slave girls had run
10 the window to see who was coming,
and as they had always been told not
TO show themselves at windows they
crouched down IN the balcony and
looked through the openwork Of marble
which formed the parapet.
Zoe rose to cross the room In the
first rush OF memory that came With
waking she had almost forgotten that
She had been hurt, and now she bit her
lip as the pain shot down her right
side. She would rather have been hurt
unawares by the man she loved than
that he should not have touched her at
the very moment Of going into danger.
The memory of this crushing weight
upon her for that instant was some
thing she would not part with. Women
In what that fe bo 49,