The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-08-19

I'D 81
"Listen!" she pursued. "You
shall do as l bid you. You shall
! go as my envoy to Cesare Borgia
/ You shall offer him the surrender
of San Leo in my name, stipulat-
! ing only for the honors of war
land the safe-conduct of my gar
rison."
mo. mol" he protested still, and
honestly, his villainy grown repug-
nant. Besides, how shall that
serve me?'
| "You shall say that you knew
a way to win into San Leo and
accomplish this which," she add
ed, smiling wistfully, "is. after all,
the truth. The duke will be too
well content with the result to
quarrel with the means employed
He averted his face. ooh, But
it is Shameful he cried out. and
meant not what she supposed him
to mean.
Gin few days-in a few weeks,
at most-it will become newt
able" she reminded him. "After
all. what do I sacrifice? A little
pride, no more than that. And shall
that weigh against your life with
me? Better surrender now, when
L have something to gain from
surrender. than later. when 1 shall
have all to lose."
He considered. Indeed. it was
the only way. And, after all, he
was robbing her of nothing that
she must not yield in time-of no.
thing. after all. that it might not
be his to restore her very soon, in
part at least.
BE it so, my Bianca,0 he said;
"but upon terms more generous
than you have named. You shall
not quit your dwelling here. Let
your garrison depart, but you re-
MAN."
aHow is that possible ?' she
asked.
ut shall be-" he assured her
confidently. the promised govern
orship in his mind.
CHAPTER
That evening. with letters ap-
pointing him her plenipotentiary,
he rode out of San Leo alone, and
made his way down into the val
ley by the bride path. At the foot
OF this he came upon Della Volpe's
pickets, who bore him off to their
captain, refusing to believe his
statement that he was Lorenzo
Castrocaro.
!. When Della Volpe beheld him
the warriors single eye expressed
at once suspicion and satisfaction
Where have you been" he de-
manded harshly.
In San Leo yonder," said Cas-
trocaro simply.
Della Volpe swore picturesuuely.
We had accounted You dead. NV
men have been searching for YOUR
body all day at the foot of the
rock.
Il deplore your disappointment |
and the wasted labor" said Loren
20. smiling; and Della Volpe swore
again.
How come you to fail, and, hav- |
ng failed, how come you out |
alive 2"
81 have not failed,'' was the an
'wer. II am riding to the duke
With the garrison's terms of capt. |
llation."
Della Volpe very rudely refused
@ believe him. where upon Messer
Lorenzo thrust under the condot-
;iero's single eye Madonna Bian-
as letters. At that the veteran
unpleasantly.
'Ha. By the horns of Satan! 1 /
see! You ever had a way with the
Lorenzo. see."
For a one-eyed man you see
90 much" said Messer Lorenzo,
and turned away. 1--WE will speak
If this again-when l am wed. /
Good night"
It was very late when he reached
Urbino. But late as it was-long
after nidnight-the duke was not
abed. Indeed. Cesare Borgia never
seemed to sleep. At any hour of |
The day or night he was to be
found by those who business was
# import.
His highness was working in the
library with Agabito, preparing
dispatches for Rome, when Messer
Lorenzo was ushered into his pres
ence.
He looked up as the young cap
ain entered. "Well," quoth he
sharply. "Do you bring me news
If the capture of San Leo.
"Not exactly, highness," replied
he condottiero. "But / bring you
! proposal of surrender, and the !
articles of capitulation. If your
lighness will sign them, I shall
AXE possession Of San Leo in your
name tomorrow"
4 The dukes fine eyes scanned the Il
young face very search
ngly. He smiled quietly.
You will take possession 2" he
aid.
Gas the governor appointed by
your highness," Messer Lorenzo Is
dandy explained. He laid his let
ers before the Duke, who scanned Ii
hem with swift eye, then tossed
hem to Agabito that the latter
night con them more infinitely.
There is a provision that the
lady Blanca de Fioravanti is to
emain in San Leo" said the sec
etary, marveling.
Why that?" quoth Cesare of Is
lesser Lorenzo. "Why, indeed, any ]
onditions %
"Matters have put on curious
Qr1 n1oyin,, - L