The San Francisco call., 1908-03-29

In the direction of the palace. She
wondered where he went
He had not been gone 10 minutes
when man came to the gate OF the
fore court on the other side OF tho
house, and asked to see the secretary
He was simply dressed In a clean
brown wooden tunic. that hung almost
to the ground. On his head he wore q
tall felt cap. such as dervishes now
wear
The slave at the door looked at him
attentively before admitting him. His
eyes were perhaps little longer and
more almond shaped than those OF the
average Greek or Armenian. and hs
kept them half closed His scanty
black beard had a few gray hairs In
IT, His nostrils curved sharply. but the
nose was neither very large nor mark
edly aquiline. commonplace face
enough In Constantinople; but there
was something oddly fixed In It's AK
preston that made the slave feel un-
comfortable and vet submissive. Many
persons of all conditions came TO the
merchants house business during
the day. and II was the rule to sand
them to Omobono. The slaves bust
ness was to keep out thieves. beggars
and suspicious characters He stood
aside. admitted the visitor to the court
which separated the house from tho
street. and shut the gate again.
One OF the free house servants. OF
whom two or three were always wait
ing, came forward He inquired the
strangers name and business.
II am Gorlias Pietroglisnt," was the
answer. My business with the secre-
tary is private"
The servingman disappeared. and re-
turned a moment later 10 conduct the
visitor to the private room of the count
Ing house on the ground floor. where
Omobono sat behind a high desk COW
cred with papers and slips Of parch-
ment.
Omobono Strengthened himself on his
stool and eyed the newcomer with
look of inquiry. till he suddenly be-
came aware that his scrutiny was re-
turned with a rather disauieting fixed
ness.
II am GorIias PietrogIiant. an sstrol-
oger.' said the visitor. seating himself
on high stool at Omobono's elbow,
and relapsing into silence
There was something so oddly dxed
in his look and so dull in his voice that
Omobono began to fear that he might
be a lunatic. which was indeed. In the
secretary's opinion. much the same as
an astrologer. for the Venetians were
never great believers in the influence
OF the stars.
The matter which brings me to you
is OF a very delicate nature" said Cor
lias, oil at once speaking huently and
in a low voice. Il have reason to be-
lieve that we are interested In the san,s
business"
Are WEI" asked the secretary In
some surprise.
II think we are. I think We are. by
four toes and by FIVE toes"
over the water. answered OmObono
promptly and hoping to learn more.
Both salt and fresh.'' returned Cor
lias. BY these tokens shall trust to
your fidelity and discretion"
Implicitly" replied the Venetian.
who was sure OF being discreet, but
wondered what the matter might be to
which his fdelity was pledged before
hand
.Messer Carlo is gone out" said Cor
lias. by this time he is In the house
of Messer Sebastian Polo. who wishes
to marry him to his daughter. He viii
not come home till after dinner"
Omobono stared at the speaker.
You know more than I do. he OBJ
served.
"Of course. / am an astrologer. You
are in charge Of the house and all Il
contains. and the servants and slaves
are afraid Of you because you have the
masters ear. but they love you because
you are kind to them Therefore what
ever you do is right in their eyes Up
stairs there are three female slaves;
one is Arethusa. the other two are
called Yulia and Lucilla. and wait on
her. You see. I know everything Now.
for the sake OF that business in which
we are both interested. you must take
me up to their apartment, for I must
speak with the one called Arethusa.
Omobono wished that Gorlias had
asked him for his coat or his money,
or anything that was his, rather than
for such favor; and he was about to
risk refusing it. whatever the penalty
might be- when luminous idea re-
vealed itself to him.
There Is only one condition, he an
swered. after a moments thought. II
must be present while you talk with
her.
'sFhat need not disturb you.' said
Gorlias calmly. II have seen the room
where she is by virtue OF my knowledge
of the stars. 1t has small covered
balcony with an outer lattice against
the SUM- on the south side. There 1
win talk with Arethusa. while you
stand by the door and watch u.s. Even
Messer Carlo could not object to that.
and Arethusa can veil herself. so that
shall not be able to see her face
Omobono rejected a moment but
could now see no good reason for re-
fusing the request. whereas ne saw
prospect OF learning something more
Zoe herself had prompted him with the
second password OF the chain in Guila-
BIS house, and he was almost sure that
In some way she knew the rest and the
meaning Of them ALL
The two went up the marble stairs to
the second story. and Omobono tapped
at the entrance to the women's apart
ment There came little patterfng OF
slippered feet and Lucilla opened the
door Just enough to put her head out
for it was not yet time for the midday
meal and she wondered what was
wanted.
IBID your mistress veil herself. my
child said Omobono. Here Is ia
nous astrologer come to tell the fu-
ture, which will help her to pass the
time"
LucilIa glanced at Gorlias with curl
osity. smiled. and disappeared, shutting
the door behind her
While the two men waited Garlian
produced from the folds OF his wide
tunic a big roll OF parchment. which he
unrolled a foot or two. displaying q
multitude of incomprehensible sign=
and figures. he also took out large
brass compass. a sheet OF cotton paper