The wageworker., 1910-05-27

brought me left, one of them first say
ing to me:
"Senore Dottori. we are very glad to
hear you say that the patient has SO
good chance, for his life. When you
leave here be discreet and all will be
we'll with you. but If you talk-well.
all l have to say Is you will not talk
very long"
/ remained u week at the palace. the
name of which l did not know. In
deed. was not permitted to leave the
room Of the patient. my meals all be
ing served there. My mail was
brought me. and it was amusing for
the first day or two to read the mes
sages of my patients with reference to
my sudden disappearance Then l ask
ed those who had kidnapped me to
leave word at my apartments that
had been called to Sienna on very
important case. This had the effect to
quiet those who sought me-
My patient turned out to be as en-
gaging a man US had deemed him to
be when he passed me in the Pitti
palace.
"Your effort" said to him one day
ITO keep your drama-it came very
near being a tragedy-from me would
possibly have been successful had 1t
not been that l was ut the ball at the
Petit palace the night you were stab
bed. l saw you pass me with the man
who stabbed you and the lady for
whom you were stabbed. So you see
it WOW y" safer for you to tell me
the ~. since l have q part
Of 1t. ling myself to secrecy.
rather /. ~ 20 permit me to go away
with what already have unpledged."
He was not only very much aston
ished. but saw the reasonableness Of
what said.
II did not notice you" he replied.
''at the ball and supposed that you had
no position in court society. An Ital-
Ian surgeon would have been unavail
able for u.s. We are all so interlaced
socially. those below constantly watch
ing those above and all watching one
another. that we dare not trust any
one of our own number. You. as an
American. are not mixed in our jeal-
ousies. our disputes. our
''Assassinations."
You are wrong there. There are
no assassinations in modern Italy
fought with the Duke But l will
tell you the story and have every con-
fdence that you will not reveal it.
II am Count Raradini. and my an
cestors have lived in this palace since
the twelfth century. The man you
saw on the other side of the senorina
at the ball was the Duke of Abolino
relative of the king. The senorina
herself is the daughter of the Countess
Francoccio. an old family that sprang
Medici. commonly called Lorenzo the
Magnificent. Senorina Blanca Fran
coccio and myself have been lovers
ever since was sixteen and she four
teen years old. Upon her entrance into
society lately CT her eighteenth birth
day the duke saw her and became de-
sirous Of possessing her. He is a
widower. very rich and has great in
fuence with the king. Soon after see
ing Senorina Blanca he made a formal
application for her hand. Her mother
-her father is dead-urged her to ac-
cept what is to be considered in
worldly point of view better position
than could give her. To be duchess
and rich is higher In the worldly scale
than to be a countess and with no pos
sessions except this old palace. AS for
Blanca. her heart is all mine. as mine
is hers. and If left to her own will
she would refuse the duke to marry
me. Indeed, rather than wed With
him she declares she will go into q
convent.
1.-The duke was expecting to have
his own way in the matter when at
the recent ball at the Pftti he discov-
cred that I was his rival. l was with
Senorina Blanca a few minutes before
we passed you. when the duke Joined
her and by look bade me give way
to him. l asked the lady to go with
me into another apartment. She as
sented, whereupon the duke went with
US. On reaching the other room Bian-
ca showed the duke SO plainly that his
presence was not desirable that he left
us, giving me malignant look as he
did <" That plainly meant I am a
man much Importance to be in
terfe ih by such as you
"On leaving the palace the duke, who
took ocasi0n to 60 out at the same
time as /. jostled me. Seeing that
must have 1t out with him. sent him
q challenge.
"Just at present the king would be
furious II he knew that members Of
the nobility to whom he looks for sup
port. especially his relative. had fought
a duel. If l were known to have sent
challenge to the Duke of AbolinO
should in some way be made to suffer.
l met him within an hour after we
left the Petit: but. realizing my posi-
ton. l did not dare even pink him.
He came very near killing me. as you
| see. and doubt not will be disappoint-
| ed II i recover.
The duke and my second Joined in
| spropco 40 tO how to koon tho ma f.