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diff --git a/40570-8.txt b/40570-0.txt index c9721ac..f92f079 100644 --- a/40570-8.txt +++ b/40570-0.txt @@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Chronicles of Count Antonio, by Anthony -Hope - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Chronicles of Count Antonio - - -Author: Anthony Hope - - - -Release Date: August 23, 2012 [eBook #40570] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO*** - - -E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40570 *** Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. @@ -2779,7 +2744,7 @@ his knees quite close to the Duke, and looked up in his face with a foolish empty smile. And the Duke, laughing, buffeted him again. Then, with a sudden spring, like the spring of that Indian tiger which the Mogul of Delhi sent lately as a gift to the Most Christian King, and the -king, for his diversion, made to slay deer before him at the _château_ +king, for his diversion, made to slay deer before him at the _ch√¢teau_ of Blois (which I myself saw, being there on a certain mission, and wonderful was the sight), Count Antonio, leaping, was upon the Duke; and he snatched the philtre from the Duke's hand and seized the Duke's head @@ -6262,362 +6227,4 @@ since strife must needs come until God's pleasure bring peace to reign on earth, able, when occasion calls, to give and take good blows. Aye, never laugh. I have said it. A Churchman is a man. - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO*** - - -******* This file should be named 40570-8.txt or 40570-8.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/0/5/7/40570 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> -<p>Title: The Chronicles of Count Antonio</p> -<p>Author: Anthony Hope</p> -<p>Release Date: August 23, 2012 [eBook #40570]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO***</p> <p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> - (<a href="http://archive.org/details/americana">http://archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> <p> </p> <table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> <tr> @@ -2952,7 +2936,7 @@ his knees quite close to the Duke, and looked up in his face with a foolish empty smile. And the Duke, laughing, buffeted him again. Then, with a sudden spring, like the spring of that Indian tiger which the Mogul of Delhi sent lately as a gift to the Most Christian King, and the -king, for his diversion, made to slay deer before him at the <i>château</i> +king, for his diversion, made to slay deer before him at the <i>château</i> of Blois (which I myself saw, being there on a certain mission, and wonderful was the sight), Count Antonio, leaping, was upon the Duke; and he snatched the philtre from the Duke's hand and seized the Duke's head @@ -6437,360 +6421,6 @@ never laugh. I have said it. A Churchman is a man.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 40570-h.txt or 40570-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/0/5/7/40570">http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/5/7/40570</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed.</p> - -<p> -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.</p> - -<p>Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> - -<p>This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.</p> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40570 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/40570.txt b/40570.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 94836e5..0000000 --- a/40570.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6623 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Chronicles of Count Antonio, by Anthony -Hope - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: The Chronicles of Count Antonio - - -Author: Anthony Hope - - - -Release Date: August 23, 2012 [eBook #40570] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO*** - - -E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 40570-h.htm or 40570-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40570/40570-h/40570-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40570/40570-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive/American Libraries. See - http://archive.org/details/chroniclesofcoun00hope - - - - - -THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO - -by - -ANTHONY HOPE - -Author of The Prisoner of Zenda, etc. - -With Photogravure Frontispiece by S. W. Van Schaick - - - - - - - -New York -D. Appleton and Company -1895 - -Copyright, 1895, -By Anthony Hope. - -Copyright, 1895, -By D. Appleton and Company. - - - - - _TO THE HONOURABLE SIR HENRY HAWKINS._ - - - _MY DEAR SIR HENRY_: - - _It gives me very great pleasure to be allowed to dedicate this book - to you. I hope you will accept it as a token of thanks for much - kindness, of your former Marshal's pleasant memory of his service, - and of sincere respect for a clear-sighted, firm, and compassionate - Judge._ - - _Your affectionate cousin,_ - - _A. H. H._ - -_London, August, 1895._ - - - - -[Illustration: _Behold! She is free._ (Chapter V.)] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I.--HOW COUNT ANTONIO TOOK TO THE HILLS 1 - - II.--COUNT ANTONIO AND THE TRAITOR PRINCE 39 - - III.--COUNT ANTONIO AND THE PRINCE OF MANTIVOGLIA 71 - - IV.--COUNT ANTONIO AND THE WIZARD'S DRUG 116 - - V.--COUNT ANTONIO AND THE SACRED BONES 158 - - VI.--COUNT ANTONIO AND THE HERMIT OF THE VAULT 202 - - VII.--COUNT ANTONIO AND THE LADY OF RILANO 245 - - VIII.--THE MANNER OF COUNT ANTONIO'S RETURN 290 - - - - -THE CHRONICLES OF COUNT ANTONIO. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -HOW COUNT ANTONIO TOOK TO THE HILLS. - - -Countless are the stories told of the sayings that Count Antonio spoke -and of the deeds that he did when he dwelt an outlaw in the hills. For -tales and legends gather round his name thick as the berries hang on a -bush, and with the passage of every succeeding year it grows harder to -discern where truth lies and where the love of wonder, working together -with the sway of a great man's memory, has wrought the embroidery of its -fancy on the plain robe of fact. Yet, amid all that is of uncertain -knowledge and so must rest, this much at least should be known and -remembered for the honour of a noble family, how it fell out that Count -Antonio, a man of high lineage, forsook the service of his Prince, -disdained the obligation of his rank, set law at naught, and did what -seemed indeed in his own eyes to be good but was held by many to be -nothing other than the work of a rebel and a brigand. Yet, although it -is by these names that men often speak of him, they love his memory; and -I also, Ambrose the Franciscan, having gathered diligently all that I -could come by in the archives of the city or from the lips of aged folk, -have learned to love it in some sort. Thus I am minded to write, before -the time that I must carry what I know with me to the grave, the full -and whole truth concerning Antonio's flight from the city and the Court, -seeking in my heart, as I write, excuse for him, and finding in the -record, if little else, yet a tale that lovers must read in pride and -sorrow, and, if this be not too high a hope, that princes may study for -profit and for warning. - -Now it was in the tenth year of the reign of Duke Valentine over the -city of Firmola, its territories and dependent towns, that Count Antonio -of Monte Velluto--having with him a youthful cousin of his, whom he -loved greatly, and whom, by reason of his small stature and of a boyish -gaiety he had, men called Tommasino--came from his own house on the hill -that fronts the great gate of the city, to the palace of the Duke, with -intent to ask His Highness's sanction for his marriage with the Lady -Lucia. This lady, being then seventeen years of age, loved Antonio, and -he her, and troth had been privily plighted between them for many -months; and such was the strength and power of the love they bore the -one to the other, that even to this day the old mock at young lovers who -show themselves overfond, crying, "'Tis Lucia and Antonio!" - -But since the Lady Lucia was an orphan, Antonio came now to the Duke, -who enjoyed ward-ship over her, and setting out his passion and how that -his estate was sufficient and his family such as the Duke knew, prayed -leave of His Highness to wed her. But the Duke, a crafty and subtle -prince, knowing Antonio's temper and the favour in which he was held by -the people, counted not to augment his state and revenues by the gift of -a bride so richly dowered, but chose rather to give her to a favourite -of his, a man in whose devotion he could surely trust and whose -disposition was to serve his master in all things fair and foul, open or -secret. Such an one the Duke found in the Lord Robert de Beauregard, a -gentleman of Provence, who had quitted his own country, having been -drawn into some tumult there, and, having taken service with the Duke, -had risen to a great place in his esteem and confidence. Therefore, when -Antonio preferred his request, the Duke, with many a courteous regretful -phrase, made him aware that the lady stood promised to Robert by the -irrevocable sanctity of his princely pledge. - -"So forget, I pray you, my good cousin Antonio," said he, "forget, as -young men lightly can, this desire of yours, and it shall be my charge -to find you a bride full as fair as the Lady Lucia." - -But Antonio's face went red from brow to chin, as he answered: "My -gracious lord, I love the lady, and she me, and neither can wed another. -As for my Lord Robert, your Highness knows well that she loves him not." - -"A girl's love!" smiled the Duke. "A girl's love! It rains and shines, -and shines and rains, Antonio." - -"It has shone on me since she knew a man when she looked on him," said -Antonio. - -And Tommasino, who stood by, recking as little of the Duke as of the -Duke's deerhound which he was patting the while, broke in, saying -carelessly, "And this Robert, my lord, is not the man for a pretty girl -to love. He is a sour fellow." - -"I thank you for your counsel, my lord Tommasino," smiled the Duke. "Yet -I love him." Whereat Tommasino lifted his brows and patted the hound -again. "It is enough," added the Duke. "I have promised, Antonio. It is -enough." - -"Yes, it is enough," said Antonio; and he and Tommasino, having bowed -low, withdrew from the presence of the Duke. But when he got clear -outside of the Duke's cabinet, Antonio laid his hand on Tommasino's -shoulder, saying, "It is not well that Robert have her." - -"It is mighty ill," said Tommasino. - -And then they walked in silence to the city gate, and, in silence -still, climbed the rugged hill where Antonio's house stood. - -But the Duke sent for Robert de Beauregard into his cabinet and said to -him: "If you be wise, friend Robert, little grass shall grow under your -feet this side your marriage. This Antonio says not much; but I have -known him outrun his tongue with deeds." - -"If the lady were as eager as I, the matter would not halt," said Robert -with a laugh. "But she weeps and spits fire at me, and cries for -Antonio." - -"She will be cured after the wedding," said the Duke. "But see that she -be well guarded, Robert; let a company of your men watch her. I have -known the bride to be missing on a marriage day ere now." - -"If he can touch her, he may wed her," cried Robert. "The pikemen are -close about her house, and she can neither go in nor come forth without -their knowledge." - -"It is well," said the Duke. "Yet delay not. They are stubborn men, -these Counts of Monte Velluto." - -Now had the Lady Lucia been of a spirit as haughty as her lover's, it -may be that she would have refused to wed Robert de Beauregard. But she -was afraid. When Antonio was with her, she had clung to him, and he -loved her the more for her timidity. With him gone and forbidden to come -near her, she dared not resist the Duke's will nor brave his -displeasure; so that a week before the day which the Duke had appointed -for the wedding, she sent to Antonio, bidding him abandon a hope that -was vain and set himself to forget a most unhappy lady. - -"Robert shall not have her," said Antonio, putting the letter in his -belt. - -"Then the time is short," said Tommasino. - -They were walking together on the terrace before Antonio's house, whence -they looked on the city across the river. Antonio cast his eye on the -river and on the wall of the Duke's garden that ran along it; fair -trees, shrubs, and flowers lined the top of the wall, and the water -gleamed in the sunshine. - -"It is strange," said Antonio, musing, "that one maiden can darken for a -man all the world that God lights with his sun. Yet since so it is, -Tommasino, a man can be but a man; and being a man, he is a poor man, if -he stand by while another takes his love." - -"And that other a stranger, and, as I swear, a cut-throat," added -Tommasino. - -When they had dined and evening began to come on, Antonio made his -servants saddle the best horses in his stable--though, indeed, the -choice was small, for Antonio was not rich as a man of his rank counts -riches--and the two rode down the hill towards the city. But, as they -went, Antonio turned once and again in his saddle and gazed long at the -old gray house, the round tower, and the narrow gate. - -"Why look behind, and not forward?" asked Tommasino. - -"Because there is a foreboding in me," answered Antonio, "that it will -be long before that gate again I pass through. Were there a hope of -persuading you, Tommasino, I would bid you turn back, and leave me to go -alone on this errand." - -"Keep your breath against when you have to run," laughed Tommasino, -pricking his horse and tossing his hair, dark as Antonio's was fair, -back from his neck. - -Across the bridge they rode and through the gates, and having traversed -the great square, came to the door of Lucia's house, where it rose -fronting the Duke's palace. Here Antonio dismounted, giving his bridle -into Tommasino's hand, and bade the servants carry his name to the Lady -Lucia. A stir arose among them and much whispering, till an old man, -head of the servingmen, came forward, saying: "Pardon, my lord, but we -are commanded not to admit you to the Lady Lucia;" and he waved his hand -towards the inner part of the porch, where Antonio saw a dozen or more -pikemen of the Duke's Guard drawn across the passage to the house; and -their pikes flashed in the rays of the setting sun as they levelled them -in front of their rank. - -Some of the townsmen and apprentice lads, stout fellows, each with a -staff, had gathered now around Antonio, whom they loved for his feats of -strength and his liberal gifts to the poor, and, understanding what was -afoot, one came to him, saying: "There are some, my lord, who would -enter with you if you are set on entering," and the fellow's eyes -sparkled; for there was a great enmity in the town against the pikemen, -and a lusty youth with a stick in his hand is never loth to find a use -for it. - -For a moment Count Antonio hesitated; for they flocked closer to him, -and Tommasino threw him a glance of appeal and touched the hilt of his -sword. But he would not that the blood of men who were themselves loved -by mothers, wives, and maids, should be shed in his quarrel, and he -raised his hand, bidding them be still. - -"I have no quarrel with the pikeman," said he, "and we must not fight -against His Highness's servants." - -The faces of the townsmen grew long in disappointment. Tommasino alone -laughed low, recognising in Antonio's gentleness the lull that heralds a -storm. The Count was never more dangerous than when he praised -submission. - -"But," continued Antonio, "I would fain see the Lady Lucia." And with -this he stepped inside the porch, signing to Tommasino to stay where he -was; but the lad would not, and, leaping down, ran to his kinsman and -stood shoulder to shoulder with him. - -Thus they stood facing the line of pikemen, when suddenly the opposing -rank opened and Robert de Beauregard himself came through. Starting -slightly on sight of Antonio, he yet bowed courteously, baring his head, -and Antonio, with Tommasino, did the like. - -"What is your desire, my lord?" asked Robert. - -"I have naught to ask of you," answered Antonio, and he took a step -forward. Robert's hand flew to his sword, and in a moment they would -have fought. But now another figure came forward with uplifted hand. It -was the Duke himself, and he looked on Antonio with his dark smile, and -Antonio flushed red. - -"You seek me, Antonio?" asked the Duke. - -"I seek not your Highness, but my plighted wife," said Antonio. - -Duke Valentine smiled still. Coming to Antonio, he passed his arm -through his, and said in most friendly fashion: "Come with me to my -house, and we will talk of this;" and Antonio, caught fast in the choice -between obedience and open revolt, went frowning across the square, the -Duke's arm through his, Robert on the Duke's other side, and, behind, -Tommasino with the horses. But as they went, a sudden cry came from the -house they left, and a girl's face showed for an instant, tear-stained -and pallid, at an open window. A shiver ran through Antonio; but the -Duke pressing his arm, he went still in silence. - -At the door of the palace, a lackey took the horses from Tommasino, and -the four passed through the great hall and through the Duke's cabinet -beyond and into the garden; there the Duke sat down under the wall of -the garden, near by the fish-pond, and turning suddenly on Antonio, -spoke to him fiercely; "Men have died at my hands for less," said he. - -"Then for each of such shall you answer to God," retorted Antonio, not -less hotly. - -"You scout my commands in the face of all the city," said the Duke in -low stern tones. "Now, by Heaven, if you seek to see the girl again, I -will hang you from the tower of the gate. So be warned--now--once: there -shall be no second warning." - -He ceased, and sat with angry eyes on Antonio; and Robert, who stood by -his master, glared as fierce. But Antonio was silent for a while, and -rested his arm on Tommasino's shoulder. - -"My fathers have served and fought for your fathers," said he at last. -"What has this gentleman done for the Duchy?" - -Then Robert spoke suddenly and scornfully: "This he is ready to do, to -punish an insolent knave that braves His Highness's will." - -Antonio seemed not to hear him, for he did not move but stood with eyes -bent on the Duke's face, looking whether his appeal should reach its -mark. But Tommasino heard; yet never a word spoke Tommasino either, but -he drew off the heavy riding-glove from his left hand, and it hung -dangling in the fingers of his right, and he looked at the glove and at -Robert and at the glove again. - -"I would his Highness were not here," said Tommasino to Robert with a -smile. - -"Hold your peace, boy," said Robert, "or the Duke will have you -whipped." - -Youth loves not to be taunted with its blessed state. "I have no more to -say," cried Tommasino; and without more, caring naught now for the -presence of the Duke, he flung his heavy glove full in Robert's face, -and, starting back a pace, drew his sword. Then Antonio knew that the -die was cast, for Tommasino would gain no mercy, having insulted the -Duke's favourite and drawn his sword in the Duke's palace; and he also -drew out his sword, and the pair stood facing the Duke and Robert de -Beauregard. It was but for an instant that they stood thus; then Robert, -who did not lack courage to resent a blow, unsheathed and rushed at the -boy. Antonio left his cousin to defend himself, and, bowing low to the -Duke, set his sword at the Duke's breast, before the Duke could so much -as rise from his seat. - -"I would not touch your Highness," said he, "but these gentlemen must -not be interrupted." - -"You take me at a disadvantage," cried the Duke. - -"If you will swear not to summon your guard, I will sheath my sword, my -lord; or, if you will honour me by crossing yours on mine, you shall -draw yours." - -The place where they sat was hidden from the palace windows, yet the -Duke trusted that the sound of the clashing steel would bring aid; -therefore, not desiring to fight with Antonio (for Duke Valentine loved -to scheme rather than to strike), he sat still, answering nothing. And -now Tommasino and Robert were engaged, Robert attacking furiously and -Tommasino parrying him as coolly as though they fenced for pastime in -the school. It was Tommasino's fault to think of naught but the moment -and he did not remember that every second might bring the guard upon -them. And Antonio would not call it to his mind, but he said to the -Duke: "The boy will kill him, sir. He is a finer swordsman than I, and -marvellously active." - -Then the Duke, having been pondering on his course, and knowing -Antonio--sitting there with the Count's sword against his breast--did -by calculation what many a man braver in fight had not dared to do. -There was in truth a courage in it, for all that it was born of -shrewdness. For, thus with the sword on his heart, fixing a calm glance -on Antonio, he cried as loudly as he could, "Help, help, treason!" - -Antonio drew back his arm for the stroke; and the Duke sat still; then, -swift as thought, Antonio laughed, bowed to Duke Valentine and, turning, -rushed between the fighters, striking up their swords. In amazement they -stood for a moment: Antonio drove his sword into its sheath, and, while -Robert was yet astounded, he rushed on him, caught him by the waist, -and, putting forth his strength, flung him clear and far into the -fish-pond. Then seizing Tommasino by the arm he started with him at a -run for the great hall. The Duke rose, crying loudly, "Treason, -treason!" But Antonio cried "Treason, treason," yet louder than the -Duke; and presently Tommasino, who had frowned at his pastime being -interrupted, fell a-laughing, and between the laughs cried "Treason, -treason!" with Antonio. And at the entrance of the hall they met a -dozen pikemen running; and Antonio, pointing over his shoulder, called -in tones of horror, "Treason, treason!" And Tommasino cried, "The Duke! -Help the Duke!" So that they passed untouched through the pikemen, who -hesitated an instant in bewilderment but then swept on; for they heard -the Duke's own voice crying still "Treason, treason!" And through the -hall and out to the portico passed the cousins, echoing their cries of -"Treason!" And every man they met went whither they pointed; and when -they leapt on their horses, the very lackey that had held them dropped -the bridles with hasty speed and ran into the palace, crying "Treason!" -Then Antonio, Tommasino ever following, and both yet crying "Treason!" -dashed across the square; and on the way they met the pikemen who -guarded the Lady Lucia, and the townsmen who were mocking and snarling -at the pikemen; and to pikemen and townsmen alike they cried (though -Tommasino hardly could speak now for laughter and lack of breath), -"Treason, treason!" And all to whom they cried flocked to the palace, -crying in their turn, "Treason, treason!" so that people ran out of -every house in the neighbourhood and hurried to the palace, crying -"Treason!" and every one asking his neighbour what the treason was. And -thus, by the time in which a man might count a hundred, a crowd was -pushing and pressing and striving round the gate of the palace, and the -cousins were alone on the other side of the great square. - -"Now thanks be to God for that idea!" gasped Tommasino. - -But Antonio gave not thanks till his meal was ended. Raising his voice -as he halted his horse before the Lady Lucia's house, he called loudly, -no longer "Treason!" but "Lucia!" And she, knowing his voice, looked out -again from the window; but some hand plucked her away as soon as she had -but looked. Then Antonio leapt from his horse with an oath and ran to -the door, and finding it unguarded, he rushed in, leaving Tommasino -seated on one horse and holding the other, with one eye on Lucia's house -and the other on the palace, praying that, by the favour of Heaven, -Antonio might come out again before the crowd round the Duke's gates -discovered why it was, to a man, crying "Treason!" - -But in the palace of the Duke there was great confusion. For the -pikemen, finding Robert de Beauregard scrambling out of the fish-pond -with a drawn sword in his hand, and His Highness crying "Treason!" with -the best of them, must have it that the traitor was none other than -Robert himself, and in their dutiful zeal they came nigh to making an -end of him then and there, before the Duke could gain silence enough to -render his account of the affair audible. And when the first pikemen -were informed, there came others; and these others, finding the first -thronging round the Duke and Robert, cried out on them for the traitors, -and were on the point of engaging them; and when they also had been with -difficulty convinced, and the two parties, with His Highness and Robert, -turned to the pursuit of the cousins, they found the whole of the great -hall utterly blocked by a concourse of the townsmen, delighted beyond -measure at the chance of an affray with the hated pikemen, who, they -conceived, must beyond doubt be the wicked traitors that had risen in -arms against the Duke's life and throne. Narrowly indeed was a great -battle in the hall averted by the Duke himself, who leapt upon a high -seat and spoke long and earnestly to the people, persuading them that -not the pikemen, but Antonio and Tommasino, were the traitors; which the -townsmen found hard to believe, in part because they wished not to -believe ill of Antonio, and more inasmuch as every man there knew--and -the women and children also--that Antonio and Tommasino, and none else -of all the city had raised the alarm. But some hearkened at last; and -with these and a solid wedge of the pikemen, the Duke and Robert, with -much ado, thrust their way through the crowd and won access to the door -of the palace. - -In what time a thousand men may be convinced, you may hope to turn one -woman's mind, and at the instant that the Duke gained the square with -his friends and his guards, Count Antonio had prevailed on the Lady -Lucia to brave His Highness's wrath. It is true that he had met with -some resistance from the steward, who was in Robert's pay, and had -tarried to buffet the fellow into obedience; and with more from an old -governess, who, since she could not be buffeted, had perforce to be -locked in a cupboard; yet the better part of the time had to be spent in -imploring Lucia herself. At last, with many fears and some tears, she -had yielded, and it was with glad eyes that Tommasino saw the Count come -forth from the door carrying Lucia on his arm; and others saw him also; -for a great shout came from the Duke's party across the square, and the -pikemen set out at a run with Robert himself at their head. Yet so soon -as they were started, Antonio also, bearing Lucia in his arms, had -reached where Tommasino was with the horses, and an instant later he was -mounted and cried, "To the gate!" and he struck in his spurs, and his -horse bounded forward, Tommasino following. No more than a hundred yards -lay between them and the gate of the city, and before the pikemen could -bar their path they had reached the gate. The gate-wardens were in the -act of shutting it, having perceived the tumult; but Tommasino struck -at them with the flat of his sword, and they gave way before the -rushing horses; and before the great gate was shut, Antonio and he were -on their way through, and the hoofs of their horses clattered over the -bridge. Thus Antonio was clear of the city with his lady in his arms and -Tommasino his cousin safe by his side. - -Yet they were not safe; for neither Duke Valentine nor Robert de -Beauregard was a man who sat down under defeat. But few moments had -passed before there issued from the gate a company of ten mounted and -armed men, and Robert, riding in their front, saw, hard on a mile away, -the cousins heading across the plain towards the spot where the spurs of -Mount Agnino run down; for there was the way of safety. But it was yet -ten miles away. And Robert and his company galloped furiously in -pursuit, while Duke Valentine watched from the wall of the garden above -the river. - -Now Count Antonio was a big man and heavy, so that his horse was weighed -down by the twofold burden on its back; and looking behind him, he -perceived that Robert's company drew nearer and yet nearer. And -Tommasino, looking also, said, "I doubt they are too many for us, for -you have the lady in your arms. We shall not get clear of the hills." - -Then Antonio drew in his horse a little and, letting the bridle fall, -took the Lady Lucia in both his arms and kissed her, and having thus -done, lifted her and set her on Tommasino's horse. "Thank God," said he, -"that you are no heavier than a feather." - -"Yet two feathers may be too much," said Tommasino. - -"Ride on," said Antonio. "I will check them for a time, so that you -shall come safe to the outset of the hill." - -Tommasino obeyed him; and Antonio, riding more softly now, placed -himself between Tommasino and the pursuers. Tommasino rode on with the -swooning lady in his arms; but his face was grave and troubled, for, as -he said, two feathers may be overmuch, and Robert's company rode well -and swiftly. - -"If Antonio can stop them, it is well," said he; "but if not, I shall -not reach the hills;" and he looked with no great love on the unhappy -lady, for it seemed like enough that Antonio would be slain for her -sake, and Tommasino prized him above a thousand damsels. Yet he rode on, -obedient. - -But Antonio's scheme had not passed undetected by Robert de Beauregard; -and Robert, being a man of guile and cunning, swore aloud an oath that, -though he died himself, yet Tommasino should not carry off Lucia. -Therefore he charged his men one and all to ride after Tommasino and -bring back Lucia, leaving him alone to contend with Antonio; and they -were not loth to obey, for it was little to their taste or wish to -surround Antonio and kill him. Thus, when the company came within fifty -yards of Antonio, the ranks suddenly parted; five diverged to the right, -and four to the left, passing Antonio in sweeping curves, so far off -that he could not reach them, while Robert alone rode straight at him. -Antonio, perceiving the stratagem, would fain have ridden again after -Tommasino; but Robert was hard upon him, and he was in peril of being -thrust through the back as he fled. So he turned and faced his enemy. -But although Robert had sworn so boldly before his men, his mind was not -what he had declared to them, and he desired to meet Antonio alone, not -that he might fight a fair fight with him, but in order treacherously to -deceive him--a thing he was ashamed to do before his comrades. Coming up -then to Antonio, he reined in his horse, crying, "My lord, I bring peace -from His Highness." - -Antonio wondered to hear him; yet, when Robert, his sword lying -untouched in its sheath, sprang from his horse and approached him, he -dismounted also; and Robert said to him: "I have charged them to injure -neither the Lady Lucia nor your cousin by so much as a hair; for the -Duke bids me say that he will not constrain the lady." - -"Is she then given to me?" cried Antonio, his face lighting up with a -marvellous eagerness. - -"Nay, not so fast," answered Robert with subtle cunning. "The Duke will -not give her to you now. But he will exact from you and from me alike -an oath not to molest, no, not to see her, for three months, and then -she shall choose as she will between us." - -While he spoke this fair speech, he had been drawing nearer to Antonio; -and Antonio, not yet convinced of his honesty, drew back a pace. Then -Robert let go hold of his horse, unbuckled his sword, flung it on the -ground, and came to Antonio with outstretched hands. "Behold!" said he; -"I am in your mercy, my lord. If you do not believe me, slay me." - -Antonio looked at him with searching wistful eyes; he hated to war -against the Duke, and his heart was aflame with the hope that dwelt for -him in Robert's words; for he did not doubt but that neither three -months, nor three years, nor three hundred years, could change his -lady's love. - -"You speak fair, sir," said he; "but what warrant have I?" - -"And, save your honour, what warrant have I, who stand here unarmed -before you?" asked Robert. - -For a while Antonio pondered; then he said, "My lord, I must crave your -pardon for my doubt; but the matter is so great that to your word I dare -not trust; but if you will ride back with your men and pray the Duke to -send me a promise under his own hand, to that I will trust. And -meanwhile Tommasino, with the Lady Lucia, shall abide in a safe place, -and I will stay here, awaiting your return; and, if you will, let two of -your men stay with me." - -"Many a man, my lord," returned Robert, "would take your caution in bad -part. But let it be so. Come, we will ride after my company." And he -rose and caught Antonio's horse by the bridle and brought it to him; -"Mount, my lord," said he, standing by. - -Antonio, believing either that the man was true or that his -treachery--if treachery there were in him--was foiled, and seeing him to -all seeming unarmed, save for a little dagger in his belt which would -hardly suffice to kill a man and was more a thing of ornament than use, -set his foot in the stirrup and prepared to mount. And in so doing he -turned his back on Robert de Beauregard. The moment for which that -wicked man had schemed and lied was come. Still holding Antonio's -stirrup with one hand, he drew, swift as lightning, from under his -cloak, a dagger different far from the toy in his belt--short, strong, -broad, and keen. And that moment had been Antonio's last, had it not -chanced that, on the instant Robert drew the dagger, the horse started a -pace aside, and Antonio, taken unawares, stumbled forward and came near -falling on the ground. His salvation lay in that stumble, for Robert, -having put all his strength into the blow, and then striking not Antonio -but empty air, in his turn staggered forward, and could not recover -himself before Antonio turned round, a smile at his own unwariness on -his lips. - -Then he saw the broad keen knife in the hand of Robert. Robert breathed -quickly, and glared at him, but did not rush on him. He stood glaring, -the knife in his hands, his parted lips displaying grinning teeth. Not a -word spoke Antonio, but he drew his sword, and pointed where Robert's -sword lay on the grass. The traitor, recognising the grace that allowed -him to take his sword, shamed, it may be, by such return for his own -treachery, in silence lifted and drew it; and, withdrawing to a distance -from the horses, which quietly cropped the grass, the two faced one -another. - -Calm and easy were the bearing and the air of Count Antonio, if the -pictures of him that live drawn in the words of those who knew him be -truthful; calm and easy ever was he, save when he fought; but then it -seemed as though there came upon him a sort of fury akin to madness, or -(as the ancients would have fabled) to some inspiration from the God of -War, which transformed him utterly, imbuing him with a rage and rushing -impetuosity. Here lay his danger when matched with such a swordsman as -was little Tommasino; but for all that, few cared to meet him, some -saying that, though they called themselves as brave as others, yet they -seemed half appalled when Count Antonio set upon them; for he fought as -though he must surely win and as though God were with him. Thus now he -darted upon Robert de Beauregard, in seeming recklessness of receiving -thrusts himself, yet ever escaping them by his sudden resource and -dexterity and ever himself attacking, leaving no space to take breath, -and bewildering the other's practised skill by the dash and brilliance -of his assault. And it may be also that the darkness, which was now -falling fast, hindered Robert the more, for Antonio was famed for the -keenness of his eyes by night. Be these things as they may, in the very -moment when Robert pricked Antonio in the left arm and cried out in -triumph on his stroke, Antonio leapt on him and drove his sword through -his heart; and Robert, with the sword yet in him, fell to the ground, -groaning. And when Antonio drew forth the sword, the man at his feet -died. Thus, if it be God's will, may all traitors perish. - -Antonio looked round the plain; but it grew darker still, and even his -sight did not avail for more than some threescore yards. Yet he saw a -dark mass on his right, distant, as he judged, that space or more. -Rapidly it moved: surely it was a group of men galloping, and Antonio -stood motionless regarding them. But they swept on, not turning whither -he stood; and he, unable to tell what they did, whether they sought him -or whither they went, watched them till they faded away in the darkness; -and then, leaving Robert where he lay, he mounted his horse and made -speed towards the hills, praying that there he should find his cousin -and the Lady Lucia, escaped from the pursuit of the Duke's men. Yet had -he known what those dimly discerned riders bore with them, he would have -been greatly moved at all costs and at every hazard to follow after them -and seek to overtake them before they came to the city. - -On he rode towards the hills, quickly, yet not so hastily but that he -scanned the ground as he went so well as the night allowed him. The moon -was risen now and to see was easier. When he had covered a distance of -some two miles, he perceived something lying across his path. Bending to -look, he found it to be the corpse of a horse: he leapt down and bent -over it. It was the horse Tommasino had ridden; it was hamstrung, and -its throat had been cut. Antonio, seeing it, in sudden apprehension of -calamity, cried aloud; and to his wonder his cry was answered by a -voice which came from a clump of bushes fifty yards on the right. He ran -hastily to the spot, thinking nothing of his own safety nor of anything -else than what had befallen his friends; and under the shelter of the -bushes two men of the Duke's Guard, their horses tethered near them, -squatted on the ground, and, between, Tommasino lay full length on the -ground. His face was white, his eyes closed, and a bloody bandage was -about his head. One of the two by him had forced his lips open and was -giving him to drink from a bottle. The other sprang up on sight of -Antonio and laid a hand to his sword-hilt. - -"Peace, peace!" said Antonio. "Is the lad dead?" - -"He is not dead, my lord, but he is sore hurt." - -"And what do you here with him? And how did you take him?" - -"We came up with him here, and surrounded him; and while some of us held -him in front, one cut the hamstrings of his horse from behind; and the -horse fell, and with the horse the lady and the young lord. He was up in -an instant; but as he rose, the lieutenant struck him on the head and -dealt him the wound you see. Then he could fight no more; and the -lieutenant took the lady, and with the rest rode back towards the city, -leaving us charged with the duty of bringing the young lord in so soon -as he was in a state to come with us." - -"They took the lady?" - -"Even so, my lord." - -"And why did they not seek for me?" - -The fellow--Martolo was his name--smiled grimly; and his comrade, -looking up, answered: "Maybe they did not wish to find you, my lord. -They had been eight to one, and could not have failed to take you in the -end." - -"Aye, in the end," said Martolo, laughing now. "Nor," added he, "had the -lieutenant such great love for Robert de Beauregard that he would -rejoice to deliver you to death for his sake, seeing that you are a -Monte Velluto and he a rascally----" - -"Peace! He is dead," said Count Antonio. - -"You have killed him?" they cried with one voice. - -"He attacked me in treachery, and I have killed him," answered Antonio. - -For a while there was silence. Then Antonio asked, "The lady--did she go -willingly?" - -"She was frightened and dazed by her fall, my lord; she knew not what -she did nor what they did to her. And the lieutenant took her in front -of him, and, holding her with all gentleness, so rode towards the city." - -"God keep her," said Antonio. - -"Amen, poor lady!" said Martolo, doffing his cap. - -Then Antonio whistled to his horse, which came to his side; with a -gesture he bade the men stand aside, and they obeyed him; and he -gathered Tommasino in his arms. "Hold my stirrup, that I may mount," -said he; and still they obeyed. But when they saw him mounted, with -Tommasino seated in front of him, Martolo cried, "But, my lord, we are -charged to take him back and deliver him to the Duke." - -"And if you do?" asked Antonio. - -Martolo made a movement as of one tying a noose. - -"And if you do not?" asked Antonio. - -"Then we had best not show ourselves alive to the Duke." - -Antonio looked down on them. "To whom bear you allegiance?" said he. - -"To His Highness the Duke," they answered, uncovering as they spoke. - -"And to whom besides?" asked Antonio. - -"To none besides," they answered, wondering. - -"Aye, but you do," said he. "To One who wills not that you should -deliver to death a lad who has done but what his honour bade him." - -"God's counsel God knows," said Martolo. "We are dead men if we return -alone to the city. You had best slay us yourself, my lord, if we may not -carry the young lord with us." - -"You are honest lads, are you not?" he asked. "By your faces, you are -men of the city." - -"So are we, my lord; but we serve the Duke in his Guard for reward." - -"I love the men of the city as they love me," said Antonio. "And a few -pence a day should not buy a man's soul as well as his body." - -The two men looked at one another in perplexity. The fear and deference -in which they held Antonio forbade them to fall on him; yet they dared -not let him take Tommasino. Then, as they stood doubting, he spoke low -and softly to them: "When he that should give law and uphold right deals -wrong, and makes white black and black white, it is for gentlemen and -honest men to be a law unto themselves. Mount your horses, then, and -follow me. And so long as I am safe, you shall be safe; and so long as I -live, you shall live; and while I eat and drink, you shall have to drink -and eat; and you shall be my servants. And when the time of God's -will--whereof God forbid that I should doubt--is come, I will go back to -her I love, and you shall go back to them that love you; and men shall -say that you have proved yourselves true men and good." - -Thus it was that two men of the Duke's Guard--Martolo and he whom they -called Bena (for of his true name there is no record)--went together -with Count Antonio and his cousin Tommasino to a secret fastness in the -hills; and there in the course of many days Tommasino was healed of the -wound which the Lieutenant of the Guard had given him, and rode his -horse again, and held next place to Antonio himself in the band that -gathered round them. For there came to them every man that was -wrongfully oppressed; and some came for love of adventure and because -they hoped to strike good blows; and some came whom Antonio would not -receive, inasmuch as they were greater rogues than were those whose -wrath they fled from. - -Such is the tale of how Count Antonio was outlawed from the Duke's peace -and took to the hills. Faithfully have I set it down, and whoso will may -blame the Count, and whoso will may praise him. For myself, I thank -Heaven that I am well rid of this same troublesome passion of love that -likens one man to a lion and another to a fox. - -But the Lady Lucia, being brought back to the city by the Lieutenant of -the Guard, was lodged in her own house, and the charge of her was -commended by the Duke into the hands of a discreet lady; and for a while -His Highness, for very shame, forbore to trouble her with suitors. For -he said, in his bitter humour, as he looked down on the dead body of -Robert de Beauregard: "I have lost two good servants and four strong -arms through her; and mayhap, if I find her another suitor, she will rob -me of yet another stalwart gentleman." - -So she abode, in peace indeed, but in sore desolation and sorrow, -longing for the day when Count Antonio should come back to seek her. And -again was she closely guarded by the Duke. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -COUNT ANTONIO AND THE TRAITOR PRINCE. - - -Of all the deeds that Count Antonio of Monte Velluto did during the time -that he was an outlaw in the hills (for a price had been set on his head -by Duke Valentine), there was none that made greater stir or struck more -home to the hearts of men, howsoever they chose to look upon it, than -that which he performed on the high hill that faces the wicket gate on -the west side of the city and is called now the Hill of Duke Paul. -Indeed it was the act of a man whose own conscience was his sole guide, -and who made the law which his own hand was to carry out. That it had -been a crime in most men, who can doubt? That it was a crime in him, all -governments must hold; and the same, I take it, must be the teaching of -the Church. Yet not all men held it a crime, although they had not -ventured it themselves, both from the greatness of the person whom the -deed concerned, and also for the burden that it put on the conscience of -him that did it. Here, then, is the story of it, as it is still told -both in the houses of the noble and in peasants' cottages. - -While Count Antonio still dwelt at the Court, and had not yet fled from -the wrath aroused in the Duke by the Count's attempt to carry off the -Lady Lucia, the Duke's ward, the nuptials of His Highness had been -celebrated with great magnificence and universal rejoicing; and the -feasting and exultation had been most happily renewed on the birth of an -infant Prince, a year later. Yet heavy was the price paid for this gift -of Heaven, for Her Highness the Duchess, a lady of rare grace and -kindliness, survived the birth of her son only three months, and then -died, amidst the passionate mourning of the people, leaving the Duke a -prey to bitter sorrow. Many say that she had turned his heart to good -had she but lived, and that it was the loss of her that soured him and -twisted his nature. If it be so, I pray that he has received pardon for -all his sins; for his grief was great, and hardly to be assuaged even by -the love he had for the little Prince, from whom he would never be -parted for an hour, if he could contrive to have the boy with him, and -in whom he saw, with pride, the heir of his throne. - -Both in the joy of the wedding and the grief at the Duchess's death, -none had made more ostentatious sign of sharing than His Highness's -brother, Duke Paul. Yet hollow alike were his joy and his grief, save -that he found true cause for sorrow in that the Duchess left to her -husband a dear memorial of their brief union. Paul rivalled the Duke in -his caresses and his affected love for the boy, but he had lived long in -the hope that His Highness would not marry, and that he himself should -succeed him in his place, and this hope he could not put out of his -heart. Nay, as time passed and the baby grew to a healthy boy, Paul's -thoughts took a still deeper hue of guilt. It was no longer enough for -him to hope for his nephew's death, or even to meditate how he should -bring it about. One wicked imagining led on, as it is wont in our sinful -nature, to another, and Satan whispered in Paul's ear that the Duke -himself was short of forty by a year, that to wait for power till youth -were gone was not a bold man's part, and that to contrive the child's -death, leaving his father alive, was but to double the risk without -halving the guilt. Thus was Paul induced to dwell on the death of both -father and son, and to say to himself that if the father went first the -son would easily follow, and that with one cunning and courageous stroke -the path to the throne might be cleared. - -While Paul pondered on these designs, there came about the events which -drove Count Antonio from the Court; and no sooner was he gone and -declared in open disobedience and contumacy against the Duke, than Paul, -seeking a handle for his plans, seemed to find one in Antonio. Here was -a man driven from his house (which the Duke had burnt), despoiled of his -revenues, bereft of his love, proclaimed a free mark for whosoever would -serve the Duke by slaying him. Where could be a better man for the -purposes of a malcontent prince? And the more was Paul inclined to use -Antonio from the fact that he had shown favour to Antonio, and been wont -to seek his society; so that Antonio, failing to pierce the dark depths -of his heart, was loyally devoted to him, and had returned an answer -full of gratitude and friendship to the secret messages in which Paul -had sent him condolence on the mishap that had befallen him. - -Now in the beginning of the second year of Count Antonio's outlawry, His -Highness was most mightily incensed against him, not merely because he -had so won the affection of the country-folk that none would betray his -hiding-place either for threats or for reward, but most chiefly by -reason of a certain act which was in truth more of Tommasino's doing -than of Antonio's. For Tommasino, meeting one of the Duke's farmers of -taxes, had lightened him of his fat bag of money, saying that he would -himself assume the honour of delivering what was fairly due to His -Highness, and had upon that scattered three-fourths of the spoil among -the poor, and sent the beggarly remnant privily by night to the gate of -the city, with a writing, "There is honour among thieves; who, then, may -call Princes thieves?" And this writing had been read by many, and the -report of it, spreading through the city, had made men laugh. Therefore -the Duke had sworn that by no means should Antonio gain pardon save by -delivering that insolent young robber to the hands of justice. Thus he -was highly pleased when his brother sought him in the garden (for he sat -in his wonted place under the wall by the fish-pond) and bade him listen -to a plan whereby the outlaws should be brought to punishment. The Duke -took his little son upon his knees and prayed his brother to tell his -device. - -"You could not bring me a sweeter gift than the head of Tommasino," said -he, stroking the child's curls; and the child shrank closer into his -arms, for the child did not love Paul but feared him. - -"Antonio knows that I love Your Highness," said Paul, seating himself -on the seat by the Duke, "but he knows also that I am his friend, and a -friend to the Lady Lucia, and a man of tender heart. Would it seem to -him deep treachery if I should go privately to him and tell him how that -on a certain day you would go forth with your guard to camp in the spurs -of Mount Agnino, leaving the city desolate, and that on the night of -that day I could contrive that Lucia should come secretly to the gate, -and that it should be opened for her, so that by a sudden descent she -might be seized and carried safe to his hiding-place before aid could -come from Your Highness?" - -"But what should the truth be?" asked Valentine. - -"The truth should be that while part of the Guard went to the spurs of -the Mount, the rest should lie in ambush close inside the city gates and -dash out on Antonio and his company." - -"It is well, if he will believe." - -Then Paul laid his finger on his brother's arm. "As the clock in the -tower of the cathedral strikes three on the morning of the 15th of the -month, do you, dear brother, be in your summer-house at the corner of -the garden yonder; and I will come thither and tell you if he has -believed and if he has come. For by then I shall have learnt from him -his mind: and we two will straightway go rouse the guards and lead the -men to their appointed station, and when he approaches the gate we can -lay hands on him." - -"How can you come to him? For we do not know where he is hid." - -"Alas, there is not a rogue of a peasant that cannot take a letter to -him!" - -"Yet when I question them, aye, though I beat them, they know nothing!" -cried Valentine in chagrin. "Truly, the sooner we lay him by the heels, -the better for our security." - -"Shall it be, then, as I say, my lord?" - -"So let it be," said the Duke. "I will await you in the summer-house." - -Paul, perceiving that his brother had no suspicions of him, and would -await him in the summer-house, held his task to be already half done. -For his plan was that he and Antonio should come together to the -summer-house, but that Antonio should lie hid till Paul had spoken to -the Duke; then Paul should go out on pretext of bidding the guard make -ready the ambush, and leave the Duke alone with Antonio. Antonio then, -suddenly springing forth, should slay the Duke; while Paul--and when he -thought on this, he smiled to himself--would so contrive that a body of -men should bar Antonio's escape, and straightway kill him. Thus should -he be quit both of his brother and of Antonio, and no man would live who -knew how the deed was contrived. "And then," said he, "I doubt whether -the poor child, bereft of all parental care, will long escape the -manifold perils of infancy." - -Thus he schemed; and when he had made all sure, and noised about the -Duke's intentions touching his going to the spurs of Mount Agnino, he -himself set forth alone on his horse to seek Antonio. He rode till he -reached the entrance of the pass leading to the recesses of the hills. -There he dismounted, and sat down on the ground; and this was at noon on -the 13th day of the month. He had not long been sitting, when a face -peered from behind a wall of moss-covered rock that fronted him, and -Paul cried, "Is it a friend?" - -"A friend of whom mean you, my lord?" came from the rock. - -"Of whom else than of Count Antonio?" cried Paul. - -A silence followed and a delay; then two men stole cautiously from -behind the rock, and in one of them Paul knew the man they called Bena, -who had been of the Duke's Guard. The men, knowing Paul, bowed low to -him, and asked him his pleasure, and he commanded them to bring him to -Antonio. They wondered, knowing not whether he came from the Duke or -despite the Duke; but he was urgent in his commands, and at length they -tied a scarf over his eyes, and set him on his horse, and led the horse. -Thus they went for an hour. Then they prayed him to dismount, saying -that the horse could go no farther; and though Paul's eyes saw nothing, -he heard the whinnying and smelt the smell of horses. - -"Here are your stables then," said he, and dismounted with a laugh. - -Then Bena took him by the hand, and the other guided his feet, and -climbing up steep paths, over boulders and through little water-courses, -they went, till at length Bena cried, "We are at home, my lord;" and -Paul, tearing off his bandage, found himself on a small level spot, -ringed round with stunted wind-beaten firs; and three huts stood in the -middle of the space, and before one of the huts sat Tommasino, composing -a sonnet to a pretty peasant girl whom he had chanced to meet that day; -for Tommasino had ever a hospitable heart. But seeing Paul, Tommasino -left his sonnet, and with a cry of wonder sprang to meet him; and Paul -took him by both hands and saluted him. That night and the morning that -followed, Paul abode with Antonio, eating the good cheer and drinking -the good wine that Tommasino, who had charged himself with the care of -such matters, put before him. Whence they came from, Paul asked not; nor -did Tommasino say more than that they were offerings to Count -Antonio--but whether offerings of free-will or necessity, he said not. -And during this time Paul spoke much with Antonio privily and apart, -persuading him of his friendship, and telling most pitiful things of the -harshness shown by Valentine his brother to the Lady Lucia, and how the -lady grew pale, and peaked and pined, so that the physicians knit their -brows over her and the women said no drugs would patch a broken heart. -Thus he inflamed Antonio's mind with a great rage against the Duke, so -that he fell to counting the men he had and wondering whether there were -force to go openly against the city. But in sorrow Paul answered that -the pikemen were too many. - -"But there is a way, and a better," said Paul, leaning his head near to -Antonio's ear. "A way whereby you may come to your own again, and -rebuild your house that the Duke has burnt, and enjoy the love of Lucia, -and hold foremost place in the Duchy." - -"What way is that?" asked Antonio in wondering eagerness. "Indeed I am -willing to serve His Highness in any honourable service, if by that I -may win his pardon and come to that I long for." - -"His pardon! When did he pardon?" sneered Paul. - -To know honest men and leave them to their honesty is the last great -gift of villainy. But Paul had it not; and now he unfolded to Antonio -the plan that he had made, saving (as needs not to be said) that part of -it whereby Antonio himself was to meet his death. For a pretext he -alleged that the Duke oppressed the city, and that he, Paul, was put out -of favour because he had sought to protect the people, and was fallen -into great suspicion. Yet, judging Antonio's heart by his own, he dwelt -again and longer on the charms of Lucia, and on the great things he -would give Antonio when he ruled the Duchy for his nephew; for of the -last crime he meditated, the death of the child, he said naught then, -professing to love the child. When the tale began, a sudden start ran -through Antonio, and his face flushed; but he sat still and listened -with unmoved face, his eyes gravely regarding Paul the while. No anger -did he show, nor wonder, nor scorn, nor now any eagerness; but he gazed -at the Prince with calm musing glance, as though he considered of some -great question put before him. And when Paul ended his tale, Antonio sat -yet silent and musing. But Paul was trembling now, and he stretched out -his hand and laid it on Antonio's knee, and asked, with a feigned laugh -that choked in the utterance, "Well, friend Antonio, is it a clever -plan, and will you ride with me?" - -Minute followed minute before Antonio answered. At length the frown -vanished from his brow, and his face grew calm and set, and he answered -Duke Paul, saying, "It is such a plan as you, my lord, alone of all men -in the Duchy could make; and I will ride with you." - -Then Paul, in triumph, caught him by the hands and pressed his hands, -calling him a man of fine spirit and a true friend, who should not lack -reward. And all this Antonio suffered silently; and in silence still he -listened while Paul told him how that a path led privately from the bank -of the river, through a secret gate in the wall, to the summer-house -where the Duke was to be; of this gate he alone, saving the Duke had the -key; they had but to swim the river and enter by this gate. Having -hidden Antonio, Paul would talk with the Duke; then he would go and -carry off what remained of the guard over and above those that were gone -to the hills; and Antonio, having done his deed, could return by the -same secret path, cross the river again, and rejoin his friends. And in -a short space of time Paul would recall him with honour to the city and -give him Lucia to wife. - -"And if there be a question as to the hand that dealt the blow, there is -a rascal whom the Duke flogged but a few days since, a steward in the -palace. He deserves hanging, Antonio, for a thousand things of which he -is guilty, and it will trouble me little to hang him for one whereof he -chances to be innocent." And Duke Paul laughed heartily. - -"I will ride with you," said Antonio again. - -Then, it being full mid-day, they sat down to dinner, Paul bandying many -merry sayings with Tommasino, Antonio being calm but not uncheerful. And -when the meal was done, Paul drank to the good fortune of their -expedition; and Antonio having drained his glass, said, "May God -approve the issue," and straightway bade Tommasino and Martolo prepare -to ride with him. Then, Paul being again blindfolded, they climbed down -the mountain paths till they came where the horses were, and thus, as -the sun began to decline, set forward, at a fair pace, Duke Paul and -Antonio leading by some few yards; while Tommasino and Martolo, having -drunk well, and sniffing sport in front of them, sang, jested, and -played pranks on one another as they passed along. But when night fell -they became silent; even Tommasino turned grave and checked his horse, -and the space between them and the pair who led grew greater, so that it -seemed to Duke Paul that he and Antonio rode alone through the night, -under the shadows of the great hills. Once and again he spoke to -Antonio, first of the scheme, then on some light matter; but Antonio did -no more than move his head in assent. And Antonio's face was very white, -and his lips were close shut. - -It was midnight when Duke Paul and Antonio reached the plain: the moon, -till now hidden by the mountains, shone on them, and, seeing Antonio's -face more plainly, Paul cried, half in jest, half in uneasiness, "Come, -man, look not so glum about it! 'Tis but the life of a rogue." - -"Indeed it is no more," said Antonio, and he turned his eyes on Duke -Paul. - -Paul laughed, but with poor merriment. Whence it came he knew not, but a -strange sudden sense of peril and of doom had fallen on him. The massive -quiet figure of Antonio, riding ever close to him, silent, stern, and -watchful, oppressed his spirit. - -Suddenly Antonio halted and called to Martolo to bring him a lantern: -one hung from Martolo's saddle, and he brought it, and went back. Then -Antonio lit the lantern and gave an ivory tablet to Paul and said to -him, "Write me your promise." - -"You distrust me, then?" cried Paul in a great show of indignation. - -"I will not go till you have written the promise." - -Now Paul was somewhat loth to write the promise, fearing that it should -be found on Antonio's body before he could contrive to remove it; but -without it Antonio declared he would not go. So Paul wrote, bethinking -himself that he held safe in his house at home permission from the Duke -to seek Antonio and beguile him to the city, and that with the witness -of this commission he could come off safe, even though the tablet were -found on Antonio. Taking the peril then, rather than fail, he wrote, -setting out the promises he made to Antonio in case (thus he phrased it) -of the death of his brother. And he delivered the tablet to Antonio; and -Antonio, restoring the lantern to Martolo, stowed the tablet about him, -and they set forth again. - -As the clock in the tower of the cathedral, distantly booming in their -ears, sounded the hour of two, they came to where the road parted. In -one direction it ran level across the plain to the river and the city, -and by this way they must go, if they would come to the secret gate and -thence to the Duke's summer-house. But the second road left the plain, -and mounted the hill that faces the wicket-gate, which is now called the -Hill of Duke Paul. And at the parting of the road, Antonio reined in his -horse and sat silent for a great while. Again Paul, scanning his face, -was troubled, so that Martolo, who had drawn near, saw him wipe a drop -from his brow. And Paul said, "For what wait we, Antonio? Time presses, -for it has gone two o'clock." - -Then Antonio drew him apart, and fixing his eyes on him, said, "What of -the child? What mean you by the child? How does it profit you that the -father die, if the child live?" - -Paul, deeming that Antonio doubted him and saw a snare, and holding it -better to seem the greatest of villains than to stir suspicion in a man -who held him in his hands, smiled cunningly, and answered, "The child -will grow sickly and pine when his father is not alive to care for him." - -"It is enough," said Antonio; and again a flush mounted on his face, and -died down again, and left him pale. For some think he would have turned -from his purpose, had Paul meant honestly by the child. I know not. At -least, the foul murder plotted against the child made him utterly -relentless. - -"Let us go on and end the matter," urged Paul, full of eagerness, and, -again, of that strange uneasiness born of Antonio's air. - -"Ay, we will go on and finish it," said Antonio, and with that he leapt -down from his horse. Paul did the like, for it had been agreed that the -others, with the horses, were to await Antonio's return, while the Count -and Paul went forward on foot: and Tommasino and Martolo, dismounting -also, tied the horses to trees and stood waiting Antonio's orders. - -"Forward!" cried Paul. - -"Come, then," said Antonio, and he turned to the road that mounted the -hill. - -"It is by the other road we go," said Paul. - -"It is by this road," said Antonio, and he raised his hand and made a -certain sign, whereat the swords of his friends leapt from their -scabbards, and they barred the way, so that Duke Paul could turn nowhere -save to the road that mounted the hill. Then Paul's face grew long, -drawn, and sallow with sudden fear. "What means this?" he cried. "What -means this, Antonio?" - -"It means, my lord, that you must mount the hill with me," answered -Antonio, "even to the top of it, whence a man can see the city." - -"But for what?" - -"That this matter may be finished," said Antonio; and, coming to Paul, -he laid a hand on his shoulder and turned him to the path up the hill. -But Paul, seeing his face and the swords of Tommasino and Martolo that -barred all escape, seized his hand, saying, "Before God, I mean you -true, Antonio! As Christ died for us, I mean you true, Antonio!" - -"Of that I know not, and care not; yet do not swear it now by Christ's -name if it be not true. How meant you, my lord, by your brother and your -brother's son?" - -Paul licked his lips, for they had gone dry, and he breathed as a man -pants who has run far and fast. "You are three to one," he hissed. - -"We shall be but man to man on the top of the hill," said Antonio. - -Then suddenly Tommasino spoke unbidden. "There is a priest in the -village a mile away," said he, and there was pity in his voice. - -"Peace, Tommasino! What priest has he provided for his brother?" - -And Tommasino said no more, but he turned his eyes away from the face of -Duke Paul: yet when he was an old man, one being in his company heard -him say he dreamed yet of it. As for Martolo, he bent his head and -crossed himself. - -Then Paul threw himself on his knees before Antonio and prayed him to -let him go; but Antonio seemed not to hear him, and stood silent with -folded arms. Yet presently he said, "Take your sword then, my lord. If I -fall, these shall not touch you. This much I give, though it is more -than I have right to give." - -But Paul would not take his sword, but knelt, still beseeching Antonio -with tears, and mingling prayers and curses in a flow of agonised words. - -At last Antonio plucked him from the ground and sternly bade him mount -the hill; and finding no help, he set out, his knees shaking beneath -him, while Antonio followed close upon him. And thus Tommasino and -Martolo watched them go till the winding of the path hid them from view, -when Martolo fell on his knees, and Tommasino drew a breath as though a -load had rested on his chest. - -It was but a short way to the summit, but the path was steep, and the -two went slowly, so that, as they came forth on the top, the first gleam -of dawn caught them in its pale light. The city lay grey and drab below -them, and the lonely tree, that stands to this day upon the hill, swayed -in the wind with mournful murmurings. Paul stumbled and sank in a heap -on the ground. And Antonio said to him, "If you will, pray," and went -and leant against the bare trunk of the tree, a little way apart. But -Paul, thinking on man's mercy, not on God's, crawled on his knees across -the space between and laid hold of Antonio's legs. And he said nothing, -but gazed up at Antonio. And at the silent appeal Antonio shivered for -an instant, but he did not fly the gaze of Paul's eyes, but looked down -on him and answered, "You must die. Yet there is your sword, and there a -free road to the city." - -Then Paul let go Antonio's legs and rose, and drew his sword. But his -hand was trembling, and he could scarce stand. Then Antonio gave to him -a flask that he carried, holding strong waters; and the wretch, drinking -greedily, found some courage, and came suddenly at Antonio before -Antonio looked for his attack. But the Count eluded him, and drawing his -blade awaited the attack; and Paul seized again the flask that he had -flung on the ground, and drained it, and mad now with the fumes rushed -at Antonio, shrieking curses and blasphemies. The sun rose on the moment -that their blades crossed; and before its rays had shone a minute, -Antonio had driven his sword through the howling wretch's lung, and Duke -Paul lay dying on the grassy hill. - -Then Count Antonio stripped off his doublet and made a pillow of it for -Paul's head, and sat down by him, and wiped his brow, and disposed his -body with such ease as seemed possible. Yet he took no pains to stanch -the blood or to minister to the wound, for his intent was that Paul -should die and not live. And Paul lay some moments on his back, then -twisted on his side; once he flung his legs wide and gathered them again -under his body, and shivered, turning on his back again: and his jaw -fell, and he died there on the top of the hill. And the Count closed his -eyes, and sat by him in silence for many minutes; and once he buried his -face in his hands, and a single sob shook him. - -But now it was growing to day, and he rose, and took from the Duke's -waist the broad silken band that he wore, wrought with golden embroidery -on a ground of royal blue. Then he took Paul in his arms and set him -upright against the trunk of the tree, and, encircling tree and body -with the rich scarf, he bound the corpse there; and he took the ivory -tablet from his belt and tied the riband that hung through a hole in it -to the riband of the Order of St. Prisian, that was round Paul's neck, -and he wrote on the tablet, "Witness my hand--ANTONIO of Monte Velluto." -And he wiped the blade of his sword long and carefully on the grass till -it shone pure, clean, and bright again. Then he gazed awhile at the -city, that grew now warm and rich in the increasing light of the sun, -and turned on his heel and went down the hill by the way that he had -come. - -At the foot, Tommasino and Martolo awaited him; and when he came down -alone, Martolo again signed the cross; but Tommasino glanced one -question, and, finding answer in Antonio's nod, struck his open palm on -the quarters of Duke Paul's horse and set it free to go where it would; -and the horse, being free, started at a canter along the road to the -city. And Antonio mounted and set his face again towards the hills. For -awhile he rode alone in front; but when an hour was gone, he called to -Tommasino, and, on the lad joining him, talked with him, not gaily -indeed (that could not be), yet with calmness and cheerfulness on the -matters that concerned the band. But Paul's name did not cross his lips; -and the manner in which he had dealt with Paul on the hill rested -unknown till a later time, when Count Antonio formally declared it, and -wrote with his own hand how Duke Paul had died. Thus, then, Count -Antonio rode back to the hills, having executed on the body of Paul that -which seemed to him right and just. - -Long had Duke Valentine waited for his brother in the summer-house and -greatly wondered that he came not. And as the morning grew and yet Paul -came not, the Duke feared that in some manner Antonio had detected the -snare, and that he held Paul a prisoner; for it did not enter the Duke's -mind that Antonio would dare to kill his brother. And when it was five -o'clock, the Duke, heavy-eyed for want of sleep, left the summer-house, -and having traversed the garden, entered his cabinet and flung himself -on a couch there; and notwithstanding his uneasiness for his brother, -being now very drowsy, he fell asleep. But before he had slept long, he -was roused by two of his pages, who ran in crying that Duke Paul's horse -had come riderless to the gate of the city. And the Duke sprang up, -smiting his thigh, and crying, "If harm has come to him, I will not rest -till I have Antonio's head." So he mustered a party of his guards, some -on horseback and some on foot, and passed with all speed out of the -city, seeking his brother, and vowing vengeance on the insolence of -Count Antonio. - -But the Duke was not first out of the city; for he found a stream of -townsmen flocking across the bridge; and at the end of the bridge was a -gathering of men, huddled close round a peasant who stood in the centre. -The pikemen made a way for His Highness; and when the peasant saw him, -he ran to him, and resting his hand on the neck of the Duke's horse, as -though he could scarce stand alone, he cried, pointing with his hand to -the hill that rose to the west, "The Duke Paul, the Duke Paul!" And no -more could he say. - -"Give him a horse, one of you, and let another lead it," cried the Duke. -"And forward, gentlemen, whither he points!" - -Thus they set forth, and as they went, the concourse grew, some -overtaking them from the city, some who were going on their business or -for pleasure into the city turning and following after the Duke and his -company. So that a multitude went after Valentine and the peasant, and -they rode together at the head. And the Duke said thrice to the peasant, -"What of my brother?" But the peasant, who was an old man, did but point -again to the hill. - -At the foot of the hill, all that had horses left them in charge of the -boys who were of the party, for the Duke, presaging some fearful thing, -would suffer none but grown men to mount with him; and thus they went -forward afoot till they reached the grassy summit of the hill. And then -the peasant sprang in front, crying, "There, there!" and all of them -beheld the body of Duke Paul, bound to the tree by the embroidered -scarf, his head fallen on his breast, and the ivory tablet hanging from -the riband of the Order of St. Prisian. And a great silence fell on them -all, and they stood gazing at the dead prince. - -But presently Duke Valentine went forward alone; and he knelt on one -knee and bowed his head, and kissed his brother's right hand. And a -shout of indignation and wrath went up from all the crowd, and they -cried, "Whose deed is this?" The Duke minded them not, but rose to his -feet and laid his hand on the ivory tablet; and he perceived that it was -written by Duke Paul; and he read what Paul had written to Antonio; how -that he, the Duke, being dead, Antonio should come to his own again, -and wed Lucia, and hold foremost place in the Duchy. And, this read, the -Duke read also the subscription of Count Antonio--"Witness my -hand--ANTONIO of Monte Velluto." Then he was very amazed, for he had -trusted his brother. Yet he did not refuse the testimony of the ivory -tablet nor suspect any guile or deceit in Antonio. And he stood -dry-eyed, looking on the dead face of Duke Paul. Then, turning round, he -cried in a loud voice, so that every man on the hill heard him, "Behold -the body of a traitor!" And men looked on him, and from him to the faces -of one another, asking what he meant. But he spoke no other word, and -went straightway down the hill, and mounted his horse again, and rode -back to the city; and, having come to his palace, he sent for his little -son, and went with him into the cabinet behind the great hall, where the -two stayed alone together for many hours. And when the child came forth, -he asked none concerning his uncle the Duke Paul. - -Now all the company had followed down from the hill after the Duke, and -no man dared to touch the body unbidden. Two days passed, and a great -storm came, so that the rain beat on Paul's face and the lightning -blackened it. But on the third day, when the storm had ceased, the Duke -bade the Lieutenant of the Guard to go by night and bring the body of -Paul: and the Lieutenant and his men flung a cloak over the face, and, -having thus done, brought the body into the city at the break of day: -yet the great square was full of folk watching in awe and silence. And -they took the body to the Cathedral, and buried it under the wall on the -north side in the shade of a cypress tree, laying a plain flat stone -over it. And Duke Valentine gave great sums for masses to be said for -the repose of his brother's soul. Yet there are few men who will go by -night to the Hill of Duke Paul; and even now when I write, there is a -man in the city who has lost his senses and is an idiot: he, they say, -went to the hill on the night of the 15th of the month wherein Paul -died, and came back mumbling things terrible to hear. But whether he -went because he lacked his senses, or lost his senses by reason of the -thing he saw when he went, I know not. - -Thus died Duke Paul the traitor. Yet, though the Duke his brother knew -that what was done upon him was nothing else than he had deserved and -should have suffered had he been brought alive to justice, he was very -wroth with Count Antonio, holding it insolence that any man should lay -hands on one of his blood, and, of his own will, execute sentence upon a -criminal of a degree so exalted. Therefore he sent word to Antonio, that -if he caught him, he would hang him on the hill from the branches of the -tree to which Antonio had bound Paul, and would leave his body there for -three times three days. And, this message coming to Antonio, he sent one -privily by night to the gate of the city, who laid outside the gate a -letter for the Duke; and in the letter was written, "God chooses the -hand. All is well." - -And Count Antonio abode still an outlaw in the mountains, and the Lady -Lucia mourned in the city. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -COUNT ANTONIO AND THE PRINCE OF MANTIVOGLIA. - - -I know of naught by which a man may better be judged than by his bearing -in matters of love. What know I of love, say you--I, whose head is grey, -and shaven to boot? True, it is grey, and it is shaven. But once it was -brown, and the tonsure came not there till I had lived thirty years and -borne arms for twelve. Then came death to one I loved, and the tonsure -to me. Therefore, O ye proud young men and laughing girls, old Ambrose -knows of love, though his knowledge be only like the memory that a man -has of a glorious red-gold sunset which his eyes saw a year ago: cold -are the tints, gone the richness, sober and faint the picture. Yet it is -something; he sees no more, but he has seen; and sometimes still I seem -to see a face that last I saw smiling in death. They tell me such -thoughts are not fitting in me, but I doubt their doing a man much harm; -for they make him take joy when others reap the happiness that he, -forestalled by fate's sickle, could not garner. But enough! It is of -Count Antonio I would write, and not of my poor self. And the story may -be worth the reading--or would be, had I more skill to pen it. - -Now in the summer of the second year of Count Antonio's banishment, when -the fierce anger of Duke Valentine was yet hot for the presumption shown -by the Count in the matter of Duke Paul's death, a messenger came -privily to where the band lay hidden in the hills, bringing greeting to -Antonio from the Prince of Mantivoglia, between whom and the Duke there -was great enmity. For in days gone by Firmola had paid tribute to -Mantivoglia, and this burden had been broken off only some thirty years; -and the Prince, learning that Antonio was at variance with Duke -Valentine, perceived an opportunity, and sent to Antonio, praying him -very courteously to visit Mantivoglia and be his guest. Antonio, who -knew the Prince well, sent him thanks, and, having made dispositions for -the safety of his company and set Tommasino in charge of it, himself -rode with the man they called Bena, and, having crossed the frontier, -came on the second day to Mantivoglia. Here he was received with great -state, and all in the city were eager to see him, having heard how he -had dealt with Duke Paul and how he now renounced the authority of -Valentine. And the Prince lodged him in his palace, and prepared a -banquet for him, and set him on the right hand of the Princess, who was -a very fair lady, learned, and of excellent wit; indeed, I have by me -certain stories which she composed, and would read on summer evenings in -the garden; and it may be that, if I live, I will make known certain of -them. Others there are that only the discreet should read; for what to -one age is but mirth turns in the mind of the next to unseemliness and -ribaldry. This Princess, then, was very gracious to the Count, and -spared no effort to give him pleasure; and she asked him very many -things concerning the Lady Lucia, saying at last, "Is she fairer than -I, my lord?" But Antonio answered, with a laugh, "The moon is not fairer -than the sun, nor the sun than the moon: yet they are different." And -the Princess laughed also, saying merrily, "Well parried, my lord!" And -she rose and went with the Prince and Antonio into the garden. Then the -Prince opened to Antonio what was in his mind, saying, "Take what -command you will in my service, and come with me against Firmola; and -when we have brought Valentine to his knees, I will take what was my -father's, and should be mine: and you shall wring from him your pardon -and the hand of your lady." And the Princess also entreated him. But -Antonio answered, "I cannot do it. If Your Highness rides to Firmola, it -is likely enough that I also may ride thither; but I shall ride to put -my sword at the service of the Duke. For, although he is not my friend, -yet his enemies are mine." And from this they could not turn him. Then -the Prince praised him, saying, "I love you more for denying me, -Antonio; and when I send word of my coming to Valentine, I will tell -him also of what you have done. And if we meet by the walls of Firmola, -we will fight like men; and, after that, you shall come again to -Mantivoglia;" and he drank wine with Antonio, and so bade him God-speed. -And the Princess, when her husband was gone, looked at the Count and -said, "Valentine will not give her to you. Why will not you take her?" - -But Antonio answered: "The price is too high." - -"I would not have a man who thought any price too high," cried the -Princess. - -"Then your Highness would mate with a rogue?" asked Count Antonio, -smiling. - -"If he were one for my sake only," said she, fixing her eyes on his face -and sighing lightly, as ladies sigh when they would tell something, and -yet not too much nor in words that can be repeated. But Antonio kissed -her hand, and took leave of her; and with another sigh she watched him -go. - -But when the middle of the next month came, the Prince of Mantivoglia -gathered an army of three thousand men, of whom seventeen hundred were -mounted, and crossed the frontier, directing his march towards Firmola -by way of the base of Mount Agnino and the road to the village of -Rilano. The Duke, hearing of his approach, mustered his Guards to the -number of eight hundred and fifty men, and armed besides hard upon two -thousand of the townsmen and apprentices, taking an oath of them that -they would serve him loyally; for he feared and distrusted them; and of -the whole force, eleven hundred had horses. But Count Antonio lay still -in the mountains, and did not offer to come to the Duke's aid. - -"Will you not pray his leave to come and fight for him?" asked -Tommasino. - -"He will love to beat the Prince without my aid, if he can," said -Antonio. "Heaven forbid that I should seem to snatch at glory, and make -a chance for myself from his necessity." - -So he abode two days where he was; and then there came a shepherd, who -said, "My lord, the Duke has marched out of the city and lay last night -at Rilano, and is to-day stretched across the road that leads from the -spurs of Agnino to Rilano, his right wing resting on the river. There -he waits the approach of the Prince; and they say that at daybreak -to-morrow the Prince will attack." - -Then Antonio rose, saying, "What of the night?" - -Now the night was very dark, and the fog hung like a grey cloak over the -plain. And Antonio collected all his men to the number of threescore and -five, all well-armed and well-horsed; and he bade them march very -silently and with great caution, and led them down into the plain. And -all the night they rode softly, husbanding their strength and sparing -their horses; and an hour before the break of day they passed through -the outskirts of Rilano and halted a mile beyond the village, seeing the -fires of the Duke's bivouacs stretched across the road in front of them; -and beyond there were other fires where the Prince of Mantivoglia lay -encamped. And Bena said, "The Prince will be too strong for the Duke, my -lord." - -"If he be, we also shall fight to-morrow, Bena," answered Antonio. - -"I trust, then, that they prove at least well matched," said Bena; for -he loved to fight, and yet was ashamed to wish that the Duke should be -defeated. - -Then Count Antonio took counsel with Tommasino; and they led the band -very secretly across the rear of the Duke's camp till they came to the -river. There was a mill on the river, and by the mill a great covered -barn where the sacks of grain stood; and Antonio, having roused the -miller, told him that he came to aid the Duke, and not to fight against -him, and posted his men in this great barn; so that they were behind the -right wing of the Duke's army, and were hidden from sight. Day was -dawning now: the campfires paled in the growing light, and the sounds of -preparation were heard from the camp. And from the Prince's quarters -also came the noise of trumpets calling the men to arms. - -At four in the morning the battle was joined, Antonio standing with -Tommasino and watching from the mill. Now Duke Valentine had placed his -own guards on either wing, and the townsmen in the centre; but the -Prince had posted the flower of his troops in the centre; and he rode -there himself, surrounded by many lords and gentlemen; and with great -valour and impetuosity he flung himself against the townsmen, recking -little of how he fared on either wing. This careless haste did not pass -unnoticed by the Duke, who was a cool man and wore a good head; and he -said to Lorenzo, one of his lords who was with him, "If we win on right -and left, it will not hurt us to lose in the middle;" and he would not -strengthen the townsmen against the Prince, but rather drew off more of -them, and chiefly the stoutest and best equipped, whom he divided -between the right wing where he himself commanded, and the left which -Lorenzo led. Nay, men declare that he was not ill pleased to see the -brunt of the strife and the heaviest loss fall on the apprentices and -townsmen. For a while indeed these stood bravely; but the Prince's -chivalry came at them in fierce pride and gallant scorn, and bore them -down with the weight of armour and horses, the Prince himself leading on -a white charger and with his own hand slaying Glinka, who was head of -the city-bands and a great champion among them. But Duke Valentine and -Lorenzo upheld the battle on the wings, and pressed back the enemy -there; and the Duke would not send aid to the townsmen in the centre, -saying "I shall be ready for the Prince as soon as the Prince is ready -for me, and I can spare some of those turbulent apprentices." And he -smiled his crafty smile, adding, "From enemies also a wise man may suck -good;" and he pressed forward on the right fighting more fiercely than -was his custom. But when Antonio beheld the townsmen hard pressed and -being ridden down by the Prince of Mantivoglia's knights and saw that -the Duke would not aid them, he grew very hot and angry, and said to -Tommasino, "These men have loved my house, Tommasino. It may be that I -spoil His Highness's plan, but are we to stand here while they perish?" - -"A fig for His Highness's plan!" said Tommasino; and Bena gave a cry of -joy and sprang, unbidden, on his horse. - -"Since you are up, Bena," said the Count, "stay up, and let the others -mount. The Duke's plan, if I read it aright, is craftier than I love, -and I do not choose to understand it." - -Then, when the townsmen's line was giving way before the Prince, and the -apprentices, conceiving themselves to be shamefully deserted, were more -of a mind to run away than to fight any more, suddenly Antonio rode -forth from the mill. He and his company came at full gallop; but he -himself was ten yards ahead of Bena and Tommasino, for all that they -raced after him. And he cried aloud, "To me, men of Firmola, to me, -Antonio of Monte Velluto!" and they beheld him with utter astonishment -and great joy. For his helmet was fallen from his head, and his fair -hair gleamed in the sun, and the light of battle played on his face. And -the band followed him, and, though they had for the most part no armour, -yet such was the fury of their rush, and such the mettle and strength of -their horses, that they made light of meeting the Prince's knights in -full tilt. And the townsmen cried, "It is the Count! To death after the -Count!" And Antonio raised the great sword that he carried, and rode at -the Marshal of the Prince's palace, who was in the van of the fight, -and he split helmet and head with a blow. Then he came to where the -Prince himself was, and the great sword was raised again, and the Prince -rode to meet him, saying, "If I do not die now, I shall not die to-day." -But when Antonio saw the Prince, he brought his sword to his side and -bowed and turned aside, and engaged the most skilful of the Mantivoglian -knights. And he fought that day like a man mad; but he would not strike -the Prince of Mantivoglia. And after a while the Prince ceased to seek -him; and a flatterer said to the Prince, "He is bold against us, but he -fears you, my lord." But the Prince said, "Peace, fool. Go and fight." -For he knew that not fear, but friendship, forbade Antonio to assail -him. - -Yet by now the rout of the townsmen was stayed and they were holding -their own again in good heart and courage, while both on the right and -on the left the Duke pressed on and held the advantage. Then the Prince -of Mantivoglia perceived that he was in a dangerous plight, for he was -in peril of being worsted along his whole line; for his knights did no -more than hold a doubtful balance against the townsmen and Antonio's -company, while the Duke and Lorenzo were victorious on either wing; and -he knew that if the Duke got in rear of him and lay between him and -Mount Agnino, he would be sore put to it to find a means of retreat. -Therefore he left the centre and rode to the left of his line and -himself faced Duke Valentine. Yet slowly was he driven back, and he gave -way sullenly, obstinately, and in good order, himself performing many -gallant deeds, and seeking to come to a conflict with the Duke. But the -Duke, seeing that the day was likely to be his, would not meet him and -chose to expose his person to no more danger: "For," he said, "a soldier -who is killed is a good soldier; but a chief who is killed save for some -great object is a bad chief." And he bided his time and slowly pressed -the Prince back, seeking rather to win the battle than the praise of -bravery. But when Count Antonio saw that all went well, and that the -enemy were in retreat, he halted his band; and at this they murmured, -Bena daring to say, "My lord, we have had dinner, and may we not have -supper also?" Antonio smiled at Bena, but would not listen. - -"No," said he. "His Highness has won the victory by his skill and -cunning. I did but move to save my friends. It is enough. Shall I seek -to rob him of his glory? For the ignorant folk, counting the arm more -honourable than the head, will give me more glory than him if I continue -in the fight." And thus, not being willing to force his aid on a man who -hated to receive it, he drew off his band. Awhile he waited; but when he -saw that the Prince was surely beaten, and that the Duke held victory in -his hand, he gave the word that they should return by the way they had -come. - -"Indeed," said Tommasino, laughing, "it may be wisdom as well as good -manners, cousin. For I would not trust myself to Valentine if he be -victorious, for all the service which we have done him in saving the -apprentices he loves so well." - -So Antonio's band turned and rode off from the field, and they passed -through Rilano. But they found the village desolate; for report had -come from the field that the Duke's line was broken, and that in a short -space the Prince of Mantivoglia would advance in triumph, and having -sacked Rilano, would go against Firmola, where there were but a few old -men and boys left to guard the walls against him. And one peasant, whom -they found hiding in the wood by the road, said there was panic in the -city, and that many were escaping from it before the enemy should -appear. - -"It is months since I saw Firmola," said Antonio with a smile. "Let us -ride there and reassure these timid folk. For my lord the Duke has -surely by now won the victory, and he will pursue the Prince till he -yields peace and abandons the tribute." - -Now a great excitement rose in the band at these words; for although -they had lost ten men in the battle and five more were disabled, yet -they were fifty stout and ready; and it was not likely that there was -any force in Firmola that could oppose them. And Martolo, who rode with -Tommasino, whispered to him, "My lord, my lord, shall we carry off the -Lady Lucia before His Highness can return?" - -Tommasino glanced at Antonio. "Nay, I know not what my cousin purposes," -said he. - -Then Antonio bade Bena and Martolo ride on ahead, taking the best -horses, and tell the people at Firmola that victory was with the Duke, -and that His Highness's servant, Antonio of Monte Velluto, was at hand -to protect the city till His Highness should return in triumph. And the -two, going ahead while the rest of the band took their mid-day meal, met -many ladies and certain rich merchants and old men escaping from the -city, and turned them back, saying that all was well; and the ladies -would fain have gone on and met Antonio; but the merchants, hearing that -he was there, made haste to get within the walls again, fearing that he -would levy a toll on them for the poor, as his custom was. At this Bena -laughed mightily, and drew rein, saying, "These rabbits will run quicker -back to their burrow than we could ride, Martolo. Let us rest awhile -under a tree; I have a flask of wine in my saddle-bag." So they rested; -and while they rested, they saw what amazed them; for a lady rode alone -towards them on a palfrey, and though the merchants met her and spoke -with her, yet she rode on. And when she came to the tree where Bena and -Martolo were, they sprang up and bared their heads; for she was the Lady -Lucia; and her face was full of fear and eagerness as she said, "No -guard is kept to-day, even on helpless ladies. Is it true that my lord -is near?" - -"Yes, he is near," said Bena, kissing her hand. "See, there is the dust -of his company on the road." - -"Go, one of you, and say that I wait for him," she commanded; so Martolo -rode on to carry the news farther, and Bena went to Antonio and said, -"Heaven, my lord, sends fortune. The Lady Lucia has escaped from the -city, and awaits you under yonder tree." - -And when Tommasino heard this, he put out his hand suddenly and caught -Antonio's hand and pressed it, saying, "Go alone, and bring her here: we -will wait: the Duke will not be here for many hours yet." - -Then Antonio rode alone to the tree where Lucia was; and because he had -not seen her for many months, he leapt down from his horse and came -running to her, and, kneeling, kissed her hand; but she, who stood now -by her palfrey's side, flung her arms about his neck and fell with tears -and laughter into his arms, saying, "Antonio, Antonio! Heaven is with -us, Antonio." - -"Yes," said he. "For His Highness has won the day." - -"Have not we won the day also?" said she, reaching up and laying her -hands on his shoulders. - -"Heart of my heart," said he softly, as he looked in her eyes. - -"The cage is opened, and, Antonio, the bird is free," she whispered, and -her eyes danced and her cheek went red. "Lift me to my saddle, Antonio." - -The Count obeyed her, and himself mounted; and she said, "We can reach -the frontier in three hours, and there--there, Antonio, none fears the -Duke's wrath." And Antonio knew what she would say, save that she would -not speak it bluntly--that there they could find a priest to marry -them. And his face was pale as he smiled at her. Then he laid his hand -on her bridle and turned her palfrey's head towards Firmola. Her eyes -darted a swift question at him, and she cried low, "Thither, Antonio?" - -Then he answered her, bending still his look on her, "Alas, I am no -learned man, nor a doctor skilled in matters of casuistry and nice -distinctions. I can but do what the blood that is in me tells me a -gentleman should do. To-day, sweetheart--ah, will you not hide your face -from me, sweetheart, that my words may not die in my mouth?--to-day our -lord the Duke fights against the enemies of our city, holding for us in -hard battle the liberty that we have won, and bearing the banner of -Firmola high to heaven in victory." - -She listened with strained frightened face; and the horses moved at a -walk towards Firmola. And she laid her hand on his arm, saying again, -"Antonio!" - -"And I have fought with my lord to-day, and I would be at his side now, -except that I do his pleasure better by leaving him to triumph alone. -But my hand has been with him to-day, and my heart is with him to-day. -Tell me, sweetheart, if I rode forth to war and left you alone, would -you do aught against me till I returned?" - -She did not answer him. - -"A Prince's city," said he, "should be as his faithful wife; and when he -goes to meet the enemy, none at home should raise a hand against him; -above all may not one who has fought by his side. For to stand side by -side in battle is a promise and a compact between man and man, even as -though man swore to man on a holy relic." - -Then she understood what he would say, and she looked away from him -across the plain; and a tear rolled down her cheek as she said, "Indeed, -my lord, the error lies in my thoughts; for I fancied that your love was -mine." - -Antonio leant from his saddle and lightly touched her hair. "Was that -indeed your fancy?" said he. "And I prove it untrue?" - -"You carry me back to my prison," she said. "And you will ride away." - -"And so I love you not?" he asked. - -"No, you love me not," said she; and her voice caught in a sob. - -"See," said he; "we draw near to Firmola, and the city gates are open; -and, look, they raise a flag on the Duke's palace; and there is joy for -the victory that Martolo has told them of. And in all the Duchy there -are but two black hearts that burn with treacherous thoughts against His -Highness, setting their own infinite joy above the honour and faith they -owe him." - -"Nay, but are there two?" she asked, turning her face from him. - -"In truth I would love to think there was but one," said he. "And that -one beats in me, sweetheart, and so mightily, that I think it will burst -the walls of my body, and I shall die." - -"Yet we ride to Firmola," said she. - -"Yet, by Christ's grace," said Count Antonio, "we ride to Firmola." - -Then the Lady Lucia suddenly dropped her bridle on the neck of her -palfrey and caught Antonio's right hand in her two hands and said to -him, "When I pray to-night, I will pray for the cleansing of the black -heart, Antonio. And I will make a wreath and carry it to the Duke and -kiss his hand for his victory. And I will set lights in my window and -flags on my house; and I will give my people a feast; and I will sing -and laugh for the triumph of the city and for the freedom this day has -won for us: and when I have done all this, what may I do then, Antonio?" - -"I am so cruel," said he, "that then I would have you weep a little: yet -spoil not the loveliest eyes in all the world; for if you dim them, it -may be that they will not shine like stars across the plain and even -into the hut where I live among the hills." - -"Do they shine bright, Antonio?" - -"As the gems on the Gates of Heaven," he answered; and he reined in his -horse and gave her bridle into her hands. And then for many minutes -neither spoke; and Count Antonio kissed her lips, and she his; and they -promised with the eyes what they needed not to promise with the tongue. -And the Lady Lucia went alone on her way to Firmola. But the Count sat -still like a statue of marble on his horse, and watched her as she rode. -And there he stayed till the gates of the city received her and the -walls hid her from his sight; and the old men on the walls saw him and -knew him, and asked, "Does he come against us? But it was against the -Prince of Mantivoglia that we swore to fight." And they watched him till -he turned and rode at a foot's pace away from the city. And now as he -rode his brow was smooth and calm and there was a smile on his lips. - -But when Antonio had ridden two or three miles and came where he had -left the band, he could see none of them. And a peasant came running to -him in great fright and said, "My lord, your men are gone again to aid -the Duke; for the Prince has done great deeds, and turned the fight, and -it is again very doubtful: and my lord Tommasino bade me say that he -knew your mind, and was gone to fight for Firmola." - -Then Antonio, wondering greatly at the news, set his horse to a gallop -and passed through Rilano at furious speed, and rode on towards Agnino; -and it was now afternoon. Presently he saw the armies, but they seemed -to lie idle, over against one another. And, riding on, he met Bena, who -was come to seek him. And Bena said, "The Prince and his knights have -fought like devils, my lord, and the townsmen grew fearful again when -you were gone; and we, coming back, have fought again. But now a truce -has sounded, and the Prince and the Duke are meeting in conference -between the armies. Yet they say that no peace will be made; for the -Prince, taking heart from his sudden success, though he is willing to -abandon the tribute, asks something in return which the Duke will not -grant. Yet perhaps he has granted it by now, for his men are weary." - -"He should grant nothing," cried Antonio, and galloped on again. But -Bena said to himself with an oath, "He has sent back the lady! The -saints save us!" and followed Antonio with a laugh on his face. - -But Antonio, thinking nothing of his own safety, rode full into the -ranks of the Duke's Guard, saying, "Where does my lord talk with the -Prince?" And they showed him where the place was; for the Prince and -the Duke sat alone under a tree between the two arrays. And the Duke -looked harsh and resolute, while the Prince was very courteously -entreating him. - -"Indeed," said he, "so doubtful has the day been, my lord, that I might -well refuse to abandon the tribute, and try again to-morrow the issue of -the fight. But, since so many brave men have fallen on both sides, I am -willing to abandon it, asking of you only such favour as would be -conceded to a simple gentleman asking of his friend. And yet you will -not grant it me, and thus bring peace between us and our peoples." - -Duke Valentine frowned and bit his lip; and the Prince rose from where -he had been seated, and lifted his hand to the sky, and said, "So be it, -my lord; on your head lies the blame. For to-morrow I will attack again; -and, as God lives, I will not rest till the neck of the city of Firmola -is under my foot, or my head rolls from my shoulders by your sword." - -Then Duke Valentine paced up and down, pondering deeply. For he was a -man that hated to yield aught, and beyond all else hated what the -Prince of Mantivoglia asked of him. Yet he feared greatly to refuse; for -the townsmen had no stomach for another fight and had threatened to -march home if he would not make peace with the Prince. Therefore he -turned to the Prince, and, frowning heavily, was about to say, "Since it -must be so, so let it be," when suddenly the Count Antonio rode up and -leapt from his horse, crying, "Yield nothing, my lord, yield nothing! -For if you will tell me what to do, and suffer me to be your hand, we -will drive the enemy over our borders with great loss." - -Then the Prince of Mantivoglia fell to laughing, and he came to Antonio -and put his arm about his neck, saying, "Peace, peace, thou foolish -man!" - -Antonio saluted him with all deference, but he answered, "I must give -good counsel to my lord the Duke." And he turned to the Duke again, -saying, "Yield nothing to the Prince, my lord." - -Duke Valentine's lips curved in his slow smile as he looked at Antonio. -"Is that indeed your counsel? And will you swear, Antonio, to give me -your aid against the Prince so long as the war lasts, if I follow it?" - -"Truly, I swear it," cried Antonio. "Yet what need is there of an oath? -Am I not Your Highness's servant, bound to obey without an oath?" - -"Nay, but you do not tell him----" began the Prince angrily. - -Duke Valentine smiled again; he was ever desirous to make a show of -fairness where he risked nothing by it; and he gazed a moment on -Antonio's face; then he answered to the Prince of Mantivoglia, "I know -the man, my lord. I know him in his strength and in his folly. Do not we -know one another, Antonio?" - -"Indeed, I know not all your Highness's mind," answered Antonio. - -"Well, I will tell him," said Duke Valentine. "This Prince, Antonio, has -consented to a peace, and to abandon all claim to tribute from our city, -on one condition; which is, that I, the Duke, shall do at his demand -what of my own free and sovereign will I would not do." - -"His demand is not fitting nor warranted by his power," said Antonio; -but in spite of his words the Prince of Mantivoglia passed his arm -through his, and laughed ruefully, whispering, "Peace, man, peace." - -"And thus I, the Duke, having bowed my will to his, shall return to -Firmola, not beaten indeed, yet half-beaten and cowed by the power of -Mantivoglia." - -"It shall not be, my lord," cried Count Antonio. - -"Yet, my lord Duke, you do not tell him what the condition is," said the -Prince. - -"Why, it is nothing else than that I should pardon you, and suffer you -to wed the Lady Lucia," said Duke Valentine. - -Then Count Antonio loosed himself from the arm of the Prince and bent -and kissed the Prince's hand; but he said, "Is this thing to come twice -on a man in one day? For it is but an hour or less that I parted from -the lady of whom you speak; and if her eyes could not move me, what else -shall move me?" And he told them briefly of his meeting with the Lady -Lucia. But Duke Valentine was wroth with the shame that a generous act -rouses in a heart that knows no generosity; and the Prince was yet more -wroth, and he said to Duke Valentine, "Were there any honour in you, my -lord, you would not need my prayers to pardon him." - -At this the Duke's face grew very dark; and he cried angrily, "Get back -to your own line, my lord, or the truce shall not save you." And he -turned to Antonio and said, "Three hours do I give you to get hence, -before I pursue." - -Antonio bowed low to him and to the Prince; and they three parted, the -two princes in bitter wrath, and set again on fighting to the end, the -one because he was ashamed and yet obstinate, the other for scorn of a -rancour that found no place in himself. But Count Antonio went back to -his company and drew it some little way off from both armies; and he -said to Tommasino, "The truce is ended, and they will fight again so -soon as the men have had some rest;" and he told Tommasino what had -passed. Then he sat silent again; but presently he laid hold of his -cousin's arm, saying, "Look you, Tommasino, princes are sometimes fools; -and hence come trouble and death to honest humble folk. It is a sore -business that they fight again to-morrow, and not now for any great -matter, but because they are bitter against one another on my account. -Cannot I stop them, Tommasino?" - -"Aye, if you have five thousand men and not thirty-five--for that is the -sum of us now, counting Martolo, who is back from Firmola." - -Antonio looked thoughtfully through the dusk of evening which now fell. -"They will not fight to-night," he said. "I am weary of this -blood-letting." And Tommasino saw that there was something in his mind. - -Now the night fell dark again and foggy, even as the night before; and -none in either army dared to move, and even the sentries could see no -more than a few yards before them. But Antonio's men being accustomed to -ride in the dark, and to find their way through mists both in plain and -hill, could see more clearly; and Antonio divided them into two parties, -himself leading one, and giving the other into Tommasino's charge. -Having very securely tethered their horses, they set forth, crawling on -their bellies through the grass. Antonio with his party made for the -camp of the Prince, while Tommasino and his party directed their way -towards the Duke's bivouacs. And they saw the fires very dimly through -the mist, and both parties passed the sentries unobserved, and made -their way to the centre of the camps. Then, on the stroke of midnight, a -strange stir arose in both the camps. Nothing could be seen by reason of -the darkness and the mist; but suddenly cries arose, and men ran to and -fro; and a cry went up from the Duke's camp, "They are behind us! They -are behind us! We are surrounded!" And in the Prince's camp also was -great fear; for from behind them, towards where the spurs of Mount -Agnino began, there came shouts of "At them, at them! Charge!" And the -Prince's officers, perceiving the cries to be from men of Firmola (and -this they knew by reason of certain differences in the phrasing of -words), conceived that the Duke had got behind them, and was lying -across their way of retreat. - -Then the Duke, hearing the shouts in his own camp, ran out from his -tent; and he was met by hundreds of the townsmen, who cried, "My lord, -we are surrounded!" For Antonio's men had gone to the townsmen and shewn -them how they might escape more fighting; and the townsmen were nothing -loth; and they insisted with the Duke that a body of men on horseback -had passed behind them. So the Duke sent out scouts, who could see -nothing of the horsemen. But then the townsmen cried, some being in the -secret, others not, "Then they have ridden past us, and are making for -Firmola. And they will do Heaven knows what there. Lead us after them, -my lord!" And the Duke was very angry; but he was also greatly afraid, -for he perceived that there was a stir in the Prince's camp also, and -heard shouts from there, but could not distinguish what was said. And -while he considered what to do, the townsmen formed their ranks and sent -him word that they were for Firmola; and when he threatened them with -his Guard, they rejoined that one death was as good as another; and the -Duke gnawed his nails and went pale with rage. But Count Antonio's men, -seeing how well the plan had sped, crept again out from the camp, and -returned to where they had tethered their horses, and mounted, each -taking a spare horse. And before they had been there long, they heard -trumpets sound in the Duke's camp, and the camp was struck, and the Duke -and all his force began to retreat on Rilano, throwing out many scouts, -and moving very cautiously in the darkness and mist. Yet when they came -on nobody, they marched more quickly, even the Duke himself now -believing that the Prince of Mantivoglia had of a purpose allowed the -stir in his camp to be seen and heard, in order that he might detach a -column to Firmola unobserved, and attack the city before the Duke came -up. Therefore he now pressed on, saying, "I doubt not that the Prince -himself is with the troop that has gone to Firmola." And all night long -they marched across the plain, covering a space of eighteen miles; and -just before the break of day they came to the city. - -Thus did it fall out with the army of Duke Valentine. But the Prince of -Mantivoglia had been no less bewildered; for when he sent out men to see -what the cries behind the camp meant, he found no man; but he still -heard scattered cries among the rising ground, where the hills began. -And he in his turn saw a stir in the camp opposite to him. And, being an -impetuous Prince, as he had shown both in evil and in good that day, he -snatched up his sword, swearing that he would find the truth of the -matter, and bidding his officers wait his return and not be drawn from -their position before he came again to them; and taking some of his -younger knights and a few more, he passed out of his camp, and paused -for a moment, bidding those with him spread themselves out in a thin -line, in order the better to reconnoitre, and that, if some fell into an -ambuscade, others might survive to carry the news back to the camp. And -he, having given his order, himself stood resting on his sword. But in -an instant, before he could so much as lift the point of his sword from -the ground, silent blurred shapes came from the mist, and were in front -and behind and round him; and they looked so strange that he raised his -hand to cross himself; but then a scarf was thrown over his mouth, and -he was seized by eight strong hands and held so that he could not -struggle; and neither could he cry out by reason of the scarf across his -mouth. And they that held him began to run rapidly; and he was carried -out of the camp without the knowledge of any of those who were with him, -and they, missing their leader, fell presently into a great -consternation, and ran to and from in the gloom crying, "The Prince? -Have you seen the Prince? Is His Highness with you? In God's name, has -the Prince been this way?" But they did not find him, and they grew more -confounded, stumbling against one another and being much afraid. And -when the Prince was nowhere to be found, they lost heart, and began to -fall back towards their own borders, skirting the base of Agnino. And -their retreat grew quicker; and at last, when morning came, they were -near the border; but the fog still wrapped all the plain in obscurity, -and, robbed of their leader, they dared attempt nothing. - -Now the Prince of Mantivoglia, whom his army sought thus in fear and -bewilderment, was carried very quickly up to the high ground, where the -rocks grew steep and close and the way led to the peak of Agnino. And as -he was borne along, some one bound his hands and his feet; and still he -was carried up, till at last he found himself laid down gently on the -ground. And though he knew no fear--for they of Mantivoglia have ever -been most valiant Princes and strangers to all fear--yet he thought that -his last hour was come, and, fearing God though he feared nothing else, -he said a prayer and commended his soul to the Almighty, grieving that -he should not receive the last services of the Church. And having done -this, he lay still until the dawning day smote on his eyes and he could -see; for the fog that lay dense on the plain was not in the hills, but -hung between them and the plain. And he looked round, but saw no man. So -he abode another hour, and then he heard a step behind him, and a man -came, but whence he could not see; and the man stooped and loosed the -scarf from his mouth and cut his bonds, and he sat up, uttering a cry of -wonder. For Count Antonio stood before him, his sword sheathed by his -side. And he said to the Prince of Mantivoglia, "Do to me what you will, -my lord. If you will strike me as I stand, strike. Or if you will do me -the honour to cross swords, my sword is ready. Or, my lord, if you will -depart in peace and in my great love and reverence, I will give thanks -to Heaven and to a noble Prince." - -"Antonio, what does this mean?" cried the Prince, divided between anger -and wonder. - -Then Antonio told him all that he had done: how the Duke was gone back -with his army to Firmola, and how the Prince's army had retreated -towards the borders of Mantivoglia; for of all this his men had informed -him; and he ended, saying, "For since it seemed that I was to be the -most unworthy cause of more fighting between two great Princes, it came -into my head that such a thing should not be. And I rejoice that now it -will not; for the townsmen will not march out again this year at least, -and Your Highness will scarce sit down before Firmola with the season -now far gone." - -"So I am baulked?" cried the Prince, and he rose to his feet. "And this -trick is played me by a friend!" - -"I am of Firmola," said Antonio, flushing red. "And while there was war, -I might in all honour have played another trick, and carried you not -hither, but to Firmola." - -"I care not," cried the Prince angrily. "It was a trick, and no fair -fighting." - -"Be it as you will, my lord," said Antonio. "A man's own conscience is -his only judge. Will you draw your sword, my lord?" - -But the Prince was very angry, and he answered roughly, "I will not -fight with you, and I will not speak more with you. I will go." - -"I will lead Your Highness to your horse," said Antonio. - -Then he led him some hundreds of paces down the hill, and they came -where a fine horse stood ready saddled. - -"It is not my horse," said the Prince. - -"Be not afraid, my lord. It is not mine either," said Antonio smiling. -"A rogue who serves me, and is called Bena, forgot his manners so far as -to steal it from the quarters of the Duke. I pray you use some -opportunity of sending it back to him, or I shall be dubbed -horse-stealer with the rest." - -"I am glad it is not yours," said the Prince, and he prepared to mount, -Antonio holding the stirrup for him. And when he was mounted, Antonio -told him how to ride, so that he should come safely to his own men, and -avoid certain scouting parties of the Duke that he had thrown out behind -him as he marched back to Firmola. And having done this, Antonio stood -back and bared his head and bowed. - -"And where is your horse?" asked the Prince suddenly. - -"I have no horse, my lord," said Antonio. "My men with all my horses -have ridden back to our hiding-place in the hills. I am alone here, for -I thought that Your Highness would kill me, and I should need no horse." - -"How, then, will you escape the scouting parties?" - -"I fear I shall not escape them, my lord," said Antonio, smiling again. - -"And if they take you?" - -"Of a surety I shall be hanged," said Count Antonio. - -The Prince of Mantivoglia gathered his brow into a heavy frown, but the -corners of his lips twitched, and he did not look at Antonio. And thus -they rested a few moments, till suddenly the Prince, unable to hold -himself longer, burst into a great and merry peal of laughter; and he -raised his fist and shook it at Antonio, crying, "A scurvy trick, -Antonio! By my faith, a scurvier trick by far than that other of yours! -Art thou not ashamed, man? Ah, you cast down your eyes! You dare not -look at me, Antonio." - -"Indeed I have naught to say for this last trick, my lord," said -Antonio, laughing also. - -"Indeed I must carry this knave with me!" cried the Prince. "Faugh, the -traitor! Get up behind me, traitor! Clasp me by the waist, knave! -Closer, knave! Ah, Antonio, I know not in what mood Heaven was when you -were made! I would I had the heart to leave you to your hanging! For -what a story will my Princess make of this! I shall be the best-derided -man in all Mantivoglia." - -"I think not, my dear lord," said Count Antonio, "unless a love that a -man may reckon on as his lady-love's and a chivalry that does not fail, -and a valour that has set two armies all agape in wonder, be your -matters for mirth in Mantivoglia. And indeed, my lord, I would that I -were riding to the lady I love best in the world, as Your Highness -rides; for she might laugh till her sweet eyes ran tears so I were near -to dry them." - -The Prince put back his hand towards Antonio and clasped Antonio's hand, -and said, "What said she when you left her, Antonio? For with women love -is often more than honour, and their tears rust the bright edge of a -man's conscience." - -"Her heart is even as Our Lady's, and with tears and smiles she left -me," said Antonio, and he grasped the Prince's hand. "Come, my lord, we -must ride, or it is a prison for you and a halter for me." - -So they rode together in the morning on the horse that Bena had stolen -from among the choicest of Duke Valentine's, and, keeping cunningly -among the spurs of the hills, they were sighted once only from afar off -by the Duke's scouts, and escaped at a canter, and came safe to the -Prince's army, where they were received with great wonder and joy. But -the Prince would not turn again to besiege Firmola, for he had had a -fill of fighting, and the season grew late for the siege of a walled -town. So he returned with all his force to Mantivoglia, having won by -his expedition much praise of valour, and nothing else in the wide world -besides; which thing indeed is so common in the wars of princes that -even wise men have well-nigh ceased to wonder at it. - -But the Princess of Mantivoglia heard all that had passed with great -mirth, and made many jests upon her husband; and again, lest the Prince -should take her jesting in evil part, more upon Duke Valentine. But -concerning Count Antonio and the Lady Lucia she did not jest. Yet one -day, chancing to be alone with Count Antonio--for he stayed many days -at the Court of Mantivoglia, and was treated with great honour--she said -to him, with a smile and half-raised eyelids, "Had I been a man, my lord -Antonio, I would not have returned alone from the gates of Firmola. In -truth, your lady needs patience for her virtue, Count Antonio!" - -"I trust, then, that Heaven sends it to her, madame," said Antonio. - -"And to you also," she retorted with a laugh. "And to her trust in you -also, I pray. For an absent lover is often an absent heart, Antonio, and -I hear that many ladies would fain soften your exile. And what I hear, -the Lady Lucia may hear also." - -"She would hear it as the idle babbling of water over stones," said -Antonio. "But, madame, I am glad that I have some honesty in me. For if -there were not honest men and true maids in this world, I think more -than a half of the wits would starve for lack of food." - -"Mercy, mercy!" she cried. "Indeed your wit has a keen edge, my lord." - -"Yet it is not whetted on truth and honesty," said he. - -She answered nothing for a moment; then she drew near to him and stood -before him, regarding his face; and she sighed "Heigh-ho!" and again -"Heigh-ho!" and dropped her eyes, and raised them again to his face; and -at last she said, "To some faithfulness is easy. I give no great praise -to the Lady Lucia." And when she had said this she turned and left him, -and was but little more in his company so long as he stayed at -Mantivoglia. And she spoke no more of the Lady Lucia. But when he was -mounting, after bidding her farewell, she gave him a white rose from her -bosom, saying carelessly, "Your colour, my lord, and the best. Yet God -made the other roses also." - -"All that He made He loves, and in all there is good," said Antonio, and -he bowed very low, and, having kissed her hand, took the rose; and he -looked into her eyes and smiled, saying, "Heaven give peace where it has -given wit and beauty;" and so he rode away to join his company in the -hills. And the Princess of Mantivoglia, having watched till he was out -of sight, went into dinner, and was merrier than ever she had shown -herself before; so that they said, "She feared Antonio and is glad that -he is gone." Yet that night, while her husband slept, she wept. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -COUNT ANTONIO AND THE WIZARD'S DRUG. - - -The opinion of man is ever in flux save where it is founded on the rock -of true religion. What our fathers believed, we disbelieve; but often -our sons shall again receive it. In olden time men held much by magic -and black arts; now such are less esteemed; yet hereafter it may well be -that the world will find new incantations and fresh spells, the same -impulse flowing in a different channel and never utterly to be checked -or stemmed by the censures of the Church or the mocking of unbelievers. -As for truth--in truth who knows truth? For the light of Revelation -shines but in few places, and for the rest we are in natural darkness, -groping along unseen paths towards unknown ends. May God keep our -footsteps! - -Now towards the close of the third year of his outlawry the heart of -Count Antonio of Monte Velluto had grown very sad. For it was above the -space of a year since he had heard news of the Lady Lucia, and hard upon -two since he had seen her face; so closely did Duke Valentine hold her -prisoner in Firmola. And as he walked to and fro among his men in their -hiding place in the hills, his face was sorrowful. Yet, coming where -Tommasino and Bena sat together, he stopped and listened to their talk -with a smile. For Bena cried to Tommasino, "By the saints, my lord, it -is even so! My father himself had a philtre from him thirty years ago; -and though, before, my mother had loathed to look on my father, yet now -here am I, nine-and-twenty years of age and a child born in holy -wedlock. Never tell me that it is foolishness, my lord!" - -"Of whom do you speak, Bena?" asked Antonio. - -"Of the Wizard of Baratesta, my lord. Aye, and he can do more than make -a love-potion. He can show you all that shall come to you in a mirror, -and make the girl you love rise before your eyes as though the shape -were good flesh and blood." - -"All this is foolishness, Bena," said Count Antonio. - -"Well, God knows that," said Bena. "But he did it for my father; and as -he is thirty years older, he will be wiser still by now;" and Bena -strode off to tend his horse, somewhat angry that Antonio paid so little -heed to his words. - -"It is all foolishness, Tommasino," said Antonio. - -"They say that of many a thing which gives a man pleasure," said -Tommasino. - -"I have heard of this man before," continued the Count, "and marvellous -stories are told of him. Now I leave what shall come to me in the hands -of Heaven; for to know is not to alter, and knowledge without power is -but fretting of the heart; but----" And Antonio broke off. - -"Ride then, if you can safely, and beg him to show you Lucia's face," -said Tommasino. "For to that I think you are making." - -"In truth I was, fool that I am," said Antonio. - -"But be wary; for Baratesta is but ten miles from the city, and His -Highness sleeps with an open eye." - -So Antonio, albeit that he was in part ashamed, learnt from Bena where -the wizard dwelt on the bridge that is outside the gate of -Baratesta--for the Syndic would not suffer such folk to live inside the -wall--and one evening he saddled his horse and rode alone to seek the -wizard, leaving Tommasino in charge of the band. And as he went, he -pondered, saying, "I am a fool, yet I would see her face;" and thus, -still dubbing himself fool, yet still persisting, he came to the bridge -of Baratesta; and the wizard, who was a very old man and tall and -marvellously lean, met him at the door of the house, crying, "I looked -for your coming, my lord." And he took Antonio's horse from him and -stood it in a stable beside the house, and led Antonio in, saying again, -"Your coming was known to me, my lord;" and he brought Antonio to a -chamber at the back of the house, having one window, past which the -river, being then in flood, rushed with noise and fury. There were many -strange things in the chamber, skulls and the forms of animals from -far-off countries, great jars, basins, and retorts, and in one corner a -mirror half-draped in a black cloth. - -"You know who I am?" asked Antonio. - -"That needs no art," answered the wizard, "and I pretend to none in it. -Your face, my lord, was known to me as to any other man, from seeing you -ride with the Duke before your banishment." - -"And you knew that I rode hither to-night?" - -"Aye," said the wizard. "For the stars told of the coming of some great -man; and I turned from my toil and watched for you." - -"What toil?" asked Antonio. "See, here is money, and I have a quiet -tongue. What toil?" - -The wizard pointed to a heap of broken and bent pieces of base metal. "I -was turning dross to gold," said he, in a fearful whisper. - -"Can you do that?" asked Antonio, smiling. - -"I can, my lord, though but slowly." - -"And hate to love?" asked Count Antonio. - -The wizard laughed harshly. "Let them that prize love, seek that," said -he. "It is not for me." - -"I would it had been; then had my errand here been a better one. For I -am come to see the semblance of a maiden's face." - -The wizard frowned as he said, "I had looked for a greater matter. For -you have a mighty enemy, my lord, and I have means of power for freeing -men of their enemies." - -But Count Antonio, knowing that he spoke of some dark device of spell or -poison, answered, "Enough! enough! For I am a man of quick temper, and -it is not well to tell me of wicked things, lest I be tempted to -anticipate Heaven's punishment." - -"I shall not die at your hands, my lord," said the wizard. "Come, will -you see what shall befall you?" - -"Nay, I would but see my lady's face; a great yearning for that has come -over me, and, although I take shame in it, yet it has brought me here." - -"You shall see it then; and if you see more, it is not by my will," -said the wizard; and he quenched the lamp that burned on the table, and -flung a handful of some powder on the charcoal in the stove; and the -room was filled with a thick sweet-smelling vapour. And the wizard tore -the black cloth off the face of the mirror and bade Antonio look -steadily in the mirror. Antonio looked till the vapour that enveloped -all the room cleared off from the face of the mirror, and the wizard, -laying his hand on Antonio's shoulder, said, "Cry her name thrice." And -Antonio thrice cried "Lucia!" and again waited. Then something came on -the polished surface of the mirror; but the wizard muttered low and -angrily, for it was not the form of Lucia nor of any maiden; yet -presently he cried low, "Look, my lord, look!" and Antonio, looking, saw -a dim, and shadowy face in the mirror; and the wizard began to fling his -body to and fro, uttering strange whispered words; and the sweat stood -in beads on his forehead. "Now, now!" he cried; and Antonio, with -beating heart, fastened his gaze on the mirror. And as the story goes (I -vouch not for it) he saw, though very dimly, the face of Lucia; but -more he saw also; for beside the face was his own face, and there was a -rope about his neck, and the half-shaped arm of a gibbet seemed to hover -above him. And he shrank back for an instant. - -"What more you see is not by my will," said the wizard. - -"What shall come is only by God's will," said Antonio. "I have seen her -face. It is enough." - -But the wizard clutched him by the arm, whispering in terror, "It is a -gibbet; and the rope is about your neck." - -"Indeed, I seem to have worn it there these three years, and it is not -drawn tight yet; nor is it drawn in the mirror." - -"You have a good courage," said the wizard with a grim smile. "I will -show you more;" and he flung another powder on the charcoal; and the -shapes passed from the mirror. But another came; and the wizard, with a -great cry, fell suddenly on his knees, exclaiming, "They mock me, they -mock me! They show what they will, not what I will. Ah, my lord, whose -is the face in the mirror?" And he seized Antonio again by the arm. - -"It is your face," said Antonio; "and it is the face of a dead man, for -his jaw has dropped, and his features are drawn and wrung." - -The wizard buried his face in his hands; and so they rested awhile till -the glass of the mirror cleared; and Antonio felt the body of the wizard -shaking against his knee. - -"You are old," said Antonio, "and death must come to all. Maybe it is a -lie of the devil; but if not, face it as a man should." - -But the wizard trembled still; and Antonio, casting a pitiful glance on -him, rose to depart. But on the instant as he moved, there came a sudden -loud knocking at the door of the house, and he stood still. The wizard -lifted his head to listen. - -"Have you had warning of more visitors to-night?" asked Antonio. - -"I know not what happens to-night," muttered the wizard. "My power is -gone to-night." - -The knocking at the door came again, loud and impatient. - -"They will beat the door down if you do not open," said Antonio. "I will -hide myself here behind the mirror; for I cannot pass them without being -seen; and if I am seen here, it is like enough that the mirror will be -proved right both for you and me." - -So Antonio hid himself, crouching down behind the mirror; and the -wizard, having lit a small dim lamp, went on trembling feet to the door. -And presently he came back, followed by two men whose faces were hid in -their cloaks. One of them sat down, but the other stood and flung his -cloak back over his shoulders; and Antonio, observing him from behind -the mirror, saw that he was Lorenzo, the Duke's favourite. - -Then Lorenzo spoke to the wizard saying, "Why did you not come sooner to -open the door?" - -"There was one here with me," said the wizard, whose air had become -again composed. - -"And is he gone? For we would be alone." - -"He is not to be seen," answered the wizard. "Utterly alone here you -cannot be." - -When he heard this, Lorenzo turned pale, for he did not love this -midnight errand to the wizard's chamber. - -"But no man is here," said the wizard. - -A low hoarse laugh came from the man who sat. "Tricks of the trade, -tricks of the trade!" said he; and Antonio started to hear his voice. -"Be sure that where a prince, a courtier, and a cheat are together, the -devil makes a fourth. But there is no need to turn pale over it, -Lorenzo." - -When the wizard heard, he fell on his knees; for he knew that it was -Duke Valentine who spoke. - -"Look you, fellow," pursued His Highness, "you owe me much thanks that -you are not hanged already; for by putting an end to you I should please -my clergy much and the Syndic of Baratesta not a little. But if you do -not obey me to-night, you shall be dead before morning." - -"I shall not die unless it be written in the stars," said the wizard, -but his voice trembled. - -"I know nothing of the stars," said the Duke, "but I know the mind of -the Duke of Firmola, and that is enough for my purpose." And he rose -and began to walk about the chamber, examining the strange objects that -were there; and thus he came in front of the mirror, and stood within -half a yard of Antonio. But Lorenzo stood where he was, and once he -crossed himself secretly and unobserved. - -"What would my lord the Duke?" asked the wizard. - -"There is a certain drug," said the Duke, turning round towards the -wizard, "which if a man drink--or a woman, Lorenzo--he can walk on his -legs and use his arms, and seem to be waking and in his right mind; yet -is his mind a nothing, for he knows not what he does, but does -everything that one, being with him, may command, and without seeming -reluctance; and again, when bidden, he will seem to lose all power of -movement, and to lack his senses. I saw the thing once when I sojourned -with the Lord of Florence; for a wizard there, having given the drug to -a certain man, put him through strange antics, and he performed them all -willingly." - -"Aye, there is such a drug," said the wizard. - -"Then give it me," said the Duke; "and I give you your life and fifty -pieces of gold. For I have great need of it." - -Now when Antonio heard the Duke's words, he was seized with great fear; -for he surmised that it was against Lucia that the Duke meant to use -this drug; and noiselessly he loosened his sword in its sheath and bent -forward again to listen. - -"And though my purpose is nothing to you, yet it is a benevolent -purpose. Is it not, Lorenzo?" - -"It is your will, not mine, my lord," said Lorenzo in a troubled voice. - -"Mine shall be the crime, then, and yours the reward," laughed the Duke. -"For I will give her the drug, and she shall wed you." - -Then Antonio doubted no longer of what was afoot, nor that a plot was -laid whereby Lucia should be entrapped into marriage with Lorenzo, since -she could not be openly forced. And anger burned hotly in him. And he -swore that, sooner than suffer the thing to be done, he would kill the -Duke there with his own hand or himself be slain. - -"And you alone know of this drug now, they say," the Duke went on. "For -the wizard of Florence is dead. Therefore give it me quickly." - -But the wizard answered, "It will not serve, my lord, that I give you -the drug. With my own hand I must give it to the persons whom you would -thus affect, and I must tell them what they should do." - -"More tricks!" said the Duke scornfully. "I know your ways. Give me the -drug." And he would not believe what the wizard said. - -"It is even as I say," said the wizard. "And if Your Highness will carry -the drug yourself, I will not vouch its operation." - -"Give it me; for I know the appearance of it," said the Duke. - -Then the wizard, having again protested, went to a certain shelf and -from some hidden recess took a small phial, and came with it to the -Duke, saying, "Blame me not, if its operation fail." - -The Duke examined the phial closely, and also smelt its smell. "It is -the same," said he. "It will do its work." - -Then Count Antonio, who believed no more than the Duke what the wizard -had said concerning the need of his own presence for the working of the -drug, was very sorely put to it to stay quietly where he was; for if the -Duke rode away now with the phial, he might well find means to give it -to the Lady Lucia before any warning could be conveyed to her. And, -although the danger was great, yet his love for Lucia and his fear for -her overcame his prudence, and suddenly he sprang from behind the -mirror, drawing his sword and crying, "Give me that drug, my lord, or -your life must answer for it." - -But fortune served him ill; for as the Duke and Lorenzo shrank back at -his sudden appearance, and he was about to spring on them, behold, his -foot caught in the folds of the black cloth that had been over the -mirror and now lay on the ground, and, falling forward, he struck his -head on the marble rim that ran round the charcoal stove, and, having -fallen with great force, lay there like a man dead. With loud cries of -triumph, the Duke and Lorenzo, having drawn their swords, ran upon him; -and the Duke planted his foot upon his neck, crying, "Heaven sends a -greater prize! At last, at last I have him! Bind his hands, Lorenzo." - -Lorenzo bound Antonio's hands as he lay there, a log for stillness. The -Duke turned to the wizard and a smile bent his lips. "O faithful subject -and servant!" said he. "Well do you requite my mercy and forbearance, by -harbouring my bitterest enemies and suffering them to hear my secret -counsels. Had not Antonio chanced to trip, it is like enough he would -have slain Lorenzo and me also. What shall be your reward, O faithful -servant?" - -When the Wizard of Baratesta beheld the look that was on Duke -Valentine's face, he suddenly cried aloud, "The mirror, the mirror!" and -sank in a heap on the floor, trembling in every limb; for he remembered -the aspect of his own face in the mirror and knew that the hour of his -death had come. And he feared mightily to die; therefore he besought the -Duke very piteously, and told him again that from his hand alone could -the drug receive its potency. And so earnest was he in this, that at -last he half-won upon the Duke, so that the Duke wavered. And as he -doubted, his eye fell on Antonio; and he perceived that Antonio was -recovering from his swoon. - -"There is enough for two," said he, "in the phial; and we will put this -thing to the test. But if you speak or move or make any sign, forthwith -in that moment you shall die." Then the Duke poured half the contents of -the phial into a glass and came to Lorenzo and whispered to him, "If the -drug works on him, and the wizard is proved to lie, the wizard shall -die; but we will carry Antonio with us; and when I have mustered my -Guard, I will hang him in the square as I have sworn. But if the drug -does not work, then we must kill him here; for I fear to carry him -against his will; for he is a wonderful man, full of resource, and the -people also love him. Therefore, if the operation of the drug fail, run -him through with your sword when I give the signal." - -Now Antonio was recovering from his swoon, and he overheard part of -what the Duke said, but not all. As to the death of the wizard he did -not hear, but he understood that the Duke was about to test the effect -of the drug on him, and that if it had no effect, he was to die; -whereas, if its operation proved sufficient, he should go alive; and he -saw here a chance for his life in case what the wizard had said should -prove true. - -"Drink, Antonio," said the Duke softly. "No harm comes to you. Drink: it -is a refreshing draught." - -And Antonio drank the draught, the wizard looking on with parted lips -and with great drops of sweat running from his forehead and thence down -his cheeks to his mouth, so that his lips were salt when he licked them. -And the Duke, having seen that Lorenzo had his sword ready for Antonio, -took his stand by the wizard with the dagger from his belt in his hand. -And he cried to Antonio, "Rise." And Antonio rose up. The wizard started -a step towards him; but the Duke showed his dagger, and said to Antonio, -"Will you go with me to Firmola, Antonio?" - -And Antonio answered, "I will go." - -"Do you love me, Antonio?" asked the Duke. - -"Aye, my lord," answered Antonio. - -"Yet you have done many wicked things against me." - -"True, my lord," said Antonio. - -"Is your mind then changed?" - -"It is, my lord," said Antonio. - -"Then leap two paces into the air," said the Duke; and Antonio -straightway obeyed. - -"Go down on your knees and crawl;" and Antonio crawled, smiling secretly -to himself. - -Then the Duke bade Lorenzo mount Antonio on his horse; and he commanded -the wizard to follow him; and they all went out where the horses were; -and the three mounted, and the wizard followed; and they came to the end -of the bridge. There the Duke turned sharp round and rode by the side of -the rushing river. And, suddenly pausing, he said to Antonio, "Commend -thy soul to God and leap in." - -And Antonio commended his soul to God, and would have leapt in; but the -Duke caught him by the arm even as he set spurs to his horse, saying, -"Do not leap." And Antonio stayed his leap. Then the Duke turned his -face on the wizard, saying, "The potion works, wizard. Why did you lie?" - -Then the wizard fell on his knees, cursing hell and heaven; for he could -not see how he should escape. For the potion worked. And Antonio -wondered what should fall out next. But Duke Valentine leapt down from -his horse and approached the wizard, while Lorenzo set his sword against -Antonio's breast. And the Duke, desirous to make a final trial, cried -again to Antonio, "Fling yourself from your horse." And Antonio, having -his arms bound, yet flung himself from his horse, and fell prone on the -ground, and lay there sorely bruised. - -"It is enough," said the Duke. "You lied, wizard." - -But the wizard cried, "I lied not, I lied not, my lord. Slay me not, my -lord! For I dare not die." - -But the Duke caught him by the throat and drove his dagger into his -breast till the fingers that held the dagger were buried in the folds -of the wizard's doublet; and the Duke pulled out the dagger, and, when -the wizard fell, he pushed him with his foot over the brink, and the -body fell with a loud splash into the river below. - -Thus died the Wizard of Baratesta, who was famed above all of his day -for the hidden knowledge that he had; yet he served not God, but Satan, -and his end was the end of a sinner. And, many days after, his body was -found a hundred miles from that place; and certain charitable men, -brethren of my own order, gave it burial. So that he died that same -night in which the mirror had shown him his face as the face of a dead -man; but whence came the vision I know not. - -Then the Duke set Antonio again on his horse, and the three rode -together towards Firmola, and as they went, again and again the Duke -tested the operation of the drug, setting Antonio many strange, -ludicrous, and unseemly things to do and to say; and Antonio did and -said them all. But he wondered greatly that the drug had no power over -him, and that his brain was clear and his senses all his own; nor did -he then believe that the Duke had, in truth, slain the wizard for any -reason save that the wizard had harboured him, an outlaw, and suffered -him to hear the Duke's counsels: and he was grieved at the wizard's -death. - -Thus they rode through the night; and it was the hour of dawn when they -came to the gates of Firmola. Now Antonio was puzzled what he should do; -for having been in a swoon, he knew not whether the Duke had more of the -potion; nor could he tell with certainty whether the potion would be -powerless against the senses of a weak girl as it had proved against his -own. Therefore he said to the Duke, "I pray you, my lord, give me more -of that sweet drink. For it has refreshed me and set my mind at rest -from all trouble." - -"Nay, Antonio, you have had enough," said the Duke, bantering him. "I -have another use for the rest." And they were now nearing the gates of -Firmola. Then Antonio began to moan pitifully, saying, "These bonds hurt -my hands;" and he whined and did as a child would do, feigning to cry. -The Duke laughed in bitter triumph, saying to Lorenzo, "Indeed it is a -princely drug that makes Antonio of Monte Velluto like a peevish child!" -And being now very secure of the power of the drug, he bade Lorenzo -loosen the bonds, saying to Antonio, "Take the reins, Antonio, and ride -with us into the city." - -And Antonio answered, "I will, my good lord." - -"It is even as I saw when I was with the Lord of Florence," whispered -the Duke in exultation. - -"Yet I will still have my sword ready," said Lorenzo. - -"There is no need; he is like a tame dog," said the Duke carelessly. - -But the Duke was not minded to produce Antonio to the people till all -his Guards were collected and under arms, and the people thus restrained -by a great show of force. Therefore he bade Antonio cover his face with -his cloak; and Antonio, Lorenzo's sword being still at his breast, -obeyed; and thus they three rode through the gates of Firmola and came -to the Duke's palace; and Antonio did all that the Duke ordered, and -babbled foolishly like a bewildered child when the Duke asked him -questions, so that His Highness laughed mightily, and, coming into the -garden, sat down in his favourite place by the fish-pond, causing -Antonio to stand over against him. - -"Indeed, Antonio," said he, "I can do no other than hang you." - -"If it be your pleasure, my lord." - -"And then Lucia shall drink of this wonderful drug also, and she will be -content and obedient, and will gladly wed Lorenzo. Let us have her here -now, and give it to her without delay. You do not fret at that, Antonio? -You love not the obstinate girl?" - -"In truth, no," laughed Antonio. "She is naught to me!" And he put his -hand to his head, saying perplexedly, "Lucia? Yes, I remember that name. -Who was she? Was she aught to me, my lord?" - -Then Lorenzo wondered greatly, and the doubts that he had held -concerning the power of the wizard's drug melted away; yet he did not -laugh like the Duke, but looked on Antonio and said sadly to the Duke, -sinking his voice, "Not thus should Antonio of Monte Velluto have died." - -"So he dies, I care not how," answered the Duke. "Indeed, I love to see -him a witless fool even while his body is yet alive. O rare wizard, I go -near to repenting having done justice on you! Go, Lorenzo, to the -officer of the Guard and bid him fetch hither the Lady Lucia, and we -will play the pretty comedy to the end." - -"Will you be alone with him?" asked Lorenzo. - -"Aye; why not? See! he is tame enough," and he buffeted Antonio in the -face with his riding-glove. And Antonio whimpered and whined. - -Now the officer of the Guard was in his lodge at the entrance of the -palace, on the other side of the great hall; and Lorenzo turned and -went, and presently the sound of his feet on the marble floor of the -hall grew faint and distant. The Duke sat with the phial in his hand, -smiling at Antonio who crouched at his feet. And Antonio drew himself on -his knees quite close to the Duke, and looked up in his face with a -foolish empty smile. And the Duke, laughing, buffeted him again. Then, -with a sudden spring, like the spring of that Indian tiger which the -Mogul of Delhi sent lately as a gift to the Most Christian King, and the -king, for his diversion, made to slay deer before him at the _chateau_ -of Blois (which I myself saw, being there on a certain mission, and -wonderful was the sight), Count Antonio, leaping, was upon the Duke; and -he snatched the philtre from the Duke's hand and seized the Duke's head -in his hands and wrenched his jaw open, and he poured the contents of -the phial down the Duke's throat, and the Duke swallowed the potion. -Then Antonio fixed a stern and imperious glance on the Duke, nailing his -eyes to the Duke's and the Duke's to his, and he said in a voice of -command, "Obey! You have drunk the potion!" And still he kept his eyes -on the Duke's. And the Duke, amazed, suddenly began to tremble, and -sought to rise; and Antonio took his hands off him, but said, "Sit -there, and move not." Then, although Antonio's hands were no longer upon -him, yet His Highness did not rise, but after a short struggle with -himself sank back in his seat, and stared at Antonio like a bird -fascinated by a snake. And he moaned, "Take away your eyes; they burn my -brain. Take them away." But Antonio gazed all the more intently at him, -saying, "Be still, be still!" and holding up his arm in enforcement of -his command. And Antonio took from the Duke the sword that he wore and -the dagger wherewith the Duke had killed the Wizard of Baratesta, he -making no resistance, but sitting motionless with bewildered stare. Then -Antonio looked round, for he knew that Lorenzo would soon come. And for -the last time he bent his eyes again on the Duke's eyes in a very long -gaze and the Duke cowered and shivered, moaning, "You hurt me, you hurt -me." - -Then Antonio said, "Be still and speak not till I return and bid you;" -and he suddenly left the Duke and ran at the top of his speed along -under the wall of the garden, and came where the wall ended; and there -was a flight of steps leading up on to the top of the wall. Running up -it, Antonio stood for a moment on the wall; and the river ran fifty -feet below. But he heard a cry from the garden, and beheld Lorenzo -rushing up to the Duke, and behind Lorenzo, the Captain of the Guard -and, two men who led a maiden in white. Then Count Antonio, having -commended himself to the keeping of God, leapt head foremost from the -top of the wall into the river, and his body clove the water as an arrow -cleaves the wand. - -Now Lorenzo marvelled greatly at what he saw, and came to the Duke -crying, "My lord, what does this mean? Antonio flies!" But the Duke -answered nothing, sitting with empty eyes and lips set in a rigid smile; -nor did he move. "My lord, what ails you?" cried Lorenzo. Yet the Duke -did not answer. Then Lorenzo's eye fell on the fragments of the phial -which lay broken on the rim of the fish-pond where Antonio had flung it; -and he cried out in great alarm, "The potion! Where is the potion?" But -the Duke did not answer. And Lorenzo was much bewildered and in sore -fear; for it seemed as though His Highness's senses were gone; and -Lorenzo said, "By some means he has drunk the potion!" And he ran up to -the Duke, and caught him by the arm and shook him violently, seeking to -rouse him from his stupor, and calling his name with entreaties, and -crying, "He escapes, my lord; Antonio escapes! Rouse yourself, my -lord--he escapes!" But the Duke did no more than lift heavy dull eyes to -Lorenzo's face in puzzled inquiry. - -And, seeing the strange thing, the Captain of the Guard hurried up, and -with him the Lady Lucia, and she said, "Alas, my lord is ill!" and -coming to His Highness she set her cool soft hand on his hot throbbing -brow, and took perfume from a silver flask that hung at her girdle, and -wetted her handkerchief with it and bathed his brow, whispering soft -soothing words to him, as though he had been a sick woman. For let a -woman have what grudge she may against a man, yet he gains pardon for -all so soon as he becomes sick enough to let her nurse and comfort him; -and Lucia was as tender to the Duke as to the Count Antonio himself, -and forgot all save the need of giving him ease and rousing him from -his stupor. - -But Lorenzo cried angrily, "I at least have my senses!" And he said to -the Captain of the Guard, "I must needs stay with His Highness; but -Antonio of Monte Velluto has leapt from the wall into the river. Go and -bring him here, dead or alive, and I will be your warrant to the Duke. -But if he be as when I saw him last, he will give you small trouble. For -he was like a child for weakness and folly." And having said this, he -turned to the Duke again, and gave his aid to Lucia's ministrations. - -Now the gentleman who commanded the Duke's Guard at this time was a -Spaniard, by name Corogna, and he was young, of high courage, and -burning to do some great deed. Therefore he said, "I pray he be as he is -wont to be: yet I will bring him to the feet of my lord the Duke." And -he ran swiftly through the hall and called for his horse, and drawing -his sword, rode alone out of the city and across the bridge, seeking -Antonio, and saying to himself, "What a thing if I take him! And if he -slay me, why, I will show that a gentleman of Andalusia can die;" yet -he thought for an instant of the house where his mother lived. Then he -scanned the plain, and he beheld a man running some half-mile away; and -the man seemed to be making for the hill on which stood the ruins of -Antonio's house that the Duke had burnt. Then Corogna set spurs to his -horse; but the man, whom by his stature and gait Corogna knew to be -Antonio, ran very swiftly, and was not overtaken before he came to the -hill; and he began to mount by a very steep rugged path, and he was out -of sight in the trees when Corogna came to the foot. And Corogna's horse -stumbled among the stones, and could not mount the path; so Corogna -sprang off his back and ran on foot up the path, sword in hand. And he -came in sight of Antonio round a curve of the path three parts of the -way up the hill. Antonio was leaning against the trunk of a tree and -wringing the water out of his cloak. Corogna drew near, sword in hand, -and with a prayer to the Holy Virgin on his lips. And he trembled, not -with fear, but because fate offered a great prize, and his name would -be famed throughout Italy if he slew or took Antonio of Monte Velluto; -and for fame, even as for a woman's smile, a young man will tremble as a -coward quakes with fear. - -The Count Antonio stood as though sunk in a reverie; yet, presently, -hearing Corogna's tread, he raised his eyes, and smiling kindly on the -young man, he said, "Very strange are the ways of Heaven, sir. I think -that the Wizard of Baratesta spoke truth, and did not lie to the Duke. -Yet I had that same power which the wizard claimed, although the Duke -had none over me. We are children, sir, and our game is blind-man's -buff; but all are blinded, and it is but the narrowest glimpse that we -obtain now and again by some clever shifting of the handkerchief. Yet -there are some things clear enough; as that a man should do his work, -and be clean and true. What would you with me, sir? For I do not think I -know you." - -"I am of Andalusia, and my name is Corogna. I am Captain of His -Highness's Guard, and I come to bring you, alive or dead, to his -presence." - -"And are you come alone on that errand, sir?" asked Antonio with a smile -that he strove to smother, lest it should wound the young man's honour. - -"David slew Goliath, my lord," said the Spaniard with a bow. - -Then Count Antonio held out his hand to the young man and said -courteously, "Sir, your valour needs no proof and fears no reproach. I -pray you suffer me to go in peace. I would not fight with you, if I may -avoid it honourably. For what has happened has left me more in the mood -for thinking than for fighting. Besides, sir, you are young, and, far -off in Andalusia, loving eyes, and maybe sparkling eyes, are strained to -the horizon, seeking your face as you return." - -"What is all that, my lord?" asked Corogna. "I am a man, though a young -one; and I am here to carry you to the Duke." And he touched Antonio's -sword with his, saying, "Guard yourself." - -"It is with great pain and reluctance that I take my sword, and I call -you to witness of it; but if I must, I must;" and the Count took up his -position and they crossed swords. - -Now Corogna was well-taught and skilful, but he did not know the cunning -which Antonio had learned in the school of Giacomo in Padua, nor had he -the strength and endurance of the Count. Antonio would fain have wearied -him out, and then, giving him some slight wound to cover his honour, -have left him and escaped; but the young man came at him impetuously, -and neglected to guard himself while he thrust at his enemy: once and -again the Count spared him; but he did not know that he had received the -courtesy, and taking heart from his immunity came at Antonio more -fiercely again; until at last Antonio, breathing a sigh, stiffened his -arm, and, waiting warily for the young man again to uncover himself, -thrust at his breast, and the sword's point entered hard by the young -man's heart; and the young man staggered, and would have fallen, -dropping his sword; but Antonio cast away his own sword and supported -him, stanching the blood from the wound and crying, "God send I have not -killed him!" - -And on his speech came the voice of Tommasino, saying carelessly, "Here, -in truth, cousin, is a good prayer wasted on a Spaniard!" - -Antonio, looking up, saw Tommasino and Bena. And Tommasino said, "When -you did not come back, we set out to seek you, fearing that you were -fallen into some snare and danger. And behold, we find you nursing this -young spark; and how you missed his heart, Antonio, I know not, nor what -Giacomo of Padua would say to such bungling." - -But Antonio cared not for his cousin's words, which were spoken in a -banter that a man uses to hide his true feelings; and they three set -themselves to save the young man's life; for Tommasino and Bena had seen -the better part of the fight and perceived that he was a gallant youth. -But as they tended him, there came shouts and the sound of horses' hoofs -mounting the hill by the winding road that led past Antonio's house. And -Tommasino touched Antonio on the shoulder, saying, "We can do no more -for him; and if we linger, we must fight again." - -Then they laid the young man down, Antonio stripping off his cloak and -making a pillow of it; and Bena brought the horses, for they had led one -with them for Antonio, in case there should be need of it; and they were -but just mounted when twenty of the Duke's Guard appeared three hundred -yards away, ascending the crest of the hill. - -"Thank Heaven there are so many," said Antonio, "for now we can flee -without shame;" and they set spurs to their horses and fled. And certain -of the Duke's Guard pursued, but only two or three were so well mounted -as to be able to come near them; and these two or three, finding that -they would be man to man, had no liking for the business, and each -called out that his horse was foundered; and thus it was that none of -them came up with Count Antonio, but all, after a while, returned -together to the city, carrying the young Spaniard Corogna, their -captain. But as they drew near to the gates, Corogna opened his eyes and -murmured some soft-syllabled name that they could not hear, and, having -with failing fingers signed the cross, turned on his side and died. And -they brought his body to the great hall of the Duke's palace. - -There in the great hall sat Duke Valentine: his face was pale and his -frown heavy, and he gazed on the dead body of the young man and spoke no -word. Yet he had loved Corogna, and out of love for him had made him -Captain of his Guard. And he passed his hand wearily across his brow, -murmuring, "I cannot think, I cannot think." And the Lady Lucia stood by -him, her hand resting on his shoulder and her eyes full of tears. But at -last the strange spell which lay on the senses of the Duke passed away: -his eyes again had the light of reason in them, and he listened while -they told him how Antonio had himself escaped, and had afterwards slain -Corogna on the top of the hill where Antonio's house had stood. And the -Duke was very sorry for Corogna's death: and he looked round on them -all, saying, "He made of me a log of wood, and not a man. For when I had -drunk and looked in his eyes, it seemed to me that my eyes were bound to -his, and that I looked to him for command, and to know what I should -do, and that he was my God, and without his will I could not move. Yes, -I was then to him even as he had seemed to be to me as we rode from -Baratesta. And even now I am not free from this strange affection; for -he seems still to be by me, and if his voice came now bidding me to do -anything, by St. Prisian, I should arise and do it! Send my physician to -me. And let this young man lie in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin in -the Cathedral, and to-morrow he shall be buried. But when I am well, and -this strange affection is passed from me, and hangs no more like a fog -over my brain, then I will exact the price of his death from Antonio, -together with the reckoning of all else in respect of which he stands in -my debt." - -But the Lady Lucia, hearing this, said boldly, "My lord, it is by your -deed and through your devices that this gentleman has met his death, and -the blame of it is yours, and not my lord Antonio's." - -At her bold and angry words Duke Valentine was roused, and the last of -his languor left him; and he glared at her in wrath, crying "Go to your -house;" and he rose up suddenly from where he sat and went into his -cabinet, Lorenzo attending him. And on the day after he walked first -behind the bier of Corogna, and his face was very pale, but his air -composed and his manner as it was wont to be. For the spell had passed -and he was his own man again. - -But Count Antonio heard with great grief of the death of the young man, -and was very sorry that he had been constrained to kill him, and took -great blame to himself for seeking counsel of the Wizard of Baratesta, -whence had come death to the young man no less than to the wizard -himself. - -Such is the story of the drug which the Wizard of Baratesta gave to Duke -Valentine of Firmola. To me it seems a strange tale, but yet it is well -attested and stands on as strong a rock of testimony as anything which -is told concerning the Count. The truth of it I do not understand, and -often I ponder of it, wondering whether the Wizard of Baratesta spoke -truth, and why the drug which had no power over Count Antonio bound the -senses and limbs of the Duke in utter torpor and helplessness. And once, -when I was thus musing over the story, there came to my cell a monk of -the Abbey of St. Prisian, who was an old man and very learned; and I -went to walk with him in the garden, and coming to the fountain we sat -down by the basin; and knowing that his lore was wide and deep, I set -before him all the story, asking him if he knew of this strange drug; -but he smiled at me, and taking the cup that lay by the basin of the -fountain, he filled it with the clear sparkling water and drank a -little, and held the cup to me, saying, "I think the Wizard of Baratesta -would have wrought the spell as well with no other drug than this." - -"You say a strange thing," said I. - -"And I do not marvel," said he, "that the Duke had no power over Count -Antonio, for he knew not how to wield such power. But neither do I -wonder that power lay in Count Antonio to bend the mind of the Duke to -his will. I warrant you, Ambrose, that the wonderful drug was not -difficult to compound." - -Then I understood what he meant; for he would have it that the drug was -but a screen and a pretence, and that the power lay not in it, but in -the man that gave it. Yet surely this is to explain what is obscure by a -thing more obscure, and falls thus into a fault hated of the logicians. -For Heaven may well have made a drug that binds the senses and limbs of -men. Has not the poppy some such effect? And the ancients fabled the -like of the lotus plant. But can we conceive that one man should by the -mere glance of his eye have such power over another as to become to him, -by these means and no other, a lord and master? In truth I find that -hard to believe, and I doubt whether a man may lawfully believe it. Yet -I know not. Knowledge spreads, and men grow wiser in hidden things; and -although I who write may not live till the time when the thing shall be -made clear, yet it may be God's will to send such light to the men of -later days that, reading this story, they may find in it nothing that is -strange or unknown to their science and skill. I pray that they may use -the knowledge God sends in His holy service, and not in the work of the -devil, as did the Wizard of Baratesta. - -But Count Antonio being, by his guile and adroitness, and by that -strange power which he had from the drug or whence I know not, delivered -out of the hands of Duke Valentine, abode with his company on the hills -throughout the cold of winter, expecting the day when he might win the -hand of the Lady Lucia; and she returned to her house, and said nothing -of what had befallen the Duke. Yet the Duke showed her no tenderness, -but rather used more severity with her. It is an evil service to a proud -man to aid him in his day of humiliation. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -COUNT ANTONIO AND THE SACRED BONES. - - -There is one tale concerning Count Antonio of Monte Velluto, when he -dwelt an outlaw in the hills, which men tell with fear and doubt, -marvelling at the audacity of his act, and sometimes asking themselves -whether he would in very truth have performed what he swore on the faith -of his honour he would do, in case the Duke did not accede to his -demands. For the thing he threatened was such as no man of Firmola dares -think on without a shudder; for we of Firmola prize and reverence the -bones of our saint, the holy martyr Prisian, above and far beyond every -other relic, and they are to us as it were the sign and testimony of -God's enduring favour to our country. But much will a man do for love of -a woman, and Antonio's temper brooked no obstacle: so that I, who know -all the truth of the matter, may not doubt that he would have done even -as he said, braving the wrath of Heaven and making naught of the terror -and consternation that had fallen on the city and the parts round about -it. Whether that thought of his heart was such as would gain pardon, I -know not: had the thing been done, I could scarce hope even in Heaven's -infinite mercy. Yet this story also I must tell, lest I be charged with -covering up what shames Antonio; for with the opinions of careless and -faithless men (who are too many in this later age) I have no communion, -and I tell the tale not to move laughter or loose jests, but rather that -I may show to what extremity a man in nature good may be driven by -harshness and the unmerited disfavour of his Prince. - -In the third year, then, of Count Antonio's outlawry, His Highness the -Duke looked on the Lady Lucia and found that she was of full age for -marriage. Therefore he resolved that she should be wed, and, since -Robert de Beauregard, to whom he had purposed to give her, was dead, he -chose from among his lords a certain gentleman of great estate and a -favourite of his, by name Lorenzo, and sent word to Lucia that she had -spent too much of her youth pining for what could not be hers, and must -forthwith receive Lorenzo for her husband. But Lucia, being by now a -woman and no more a timid girl, returned to His Highness a message that -she would look on no other man than Antonio. On this the Duke, greatly -incensed, sent and took her, and set her in a convent within the city -walls, and made her know that there she should abide till her life's -end, or until she should obey his command; and he charged the Abbess to -treat her harshly and to break down her pride: and he swore that she -should wed Lorenzo; or, if she were obstinate, then she should take the -vows of a nun in the convent. Many weeks the Lady Lucia abode in the -convent, resisting all that was urged upon her. But at last, finding no -help from Antonio, being sore beset and allowed no rest, she broke one -day into passionate and pitiful weeping, and bade the Abbess tell His -Highness that, since happiness was not for her in this world, she would -seek to find it in Heaven, and would take the vows, rendering all her -estate into the Duke's hand, that he might have it, and give it to -Lorenzo or to whom he would. Which message being told to Duke Valentine, -weary of contending with her, and perchance secretly fearing that -Antonio would slay Lorenzo as he had slain Robert, he cursed her for an -obstinate wench, and bade her take the vows, and set a day for her to -take them: but her estate he assumed into his own hand, and made from -out of it a gift of great value to Lorenzo. And Lorenzo, they say, was -well content thus to be quit of the matter. "For," said he, "while that -devil is loose in the hills, no peace would there have been for the -lady's husband." - -But when it came to the ears of Count Antonio that the Lady Lucia was to -take the veil on the morrow of the feast of St. Prisian, his rage and -affliction knew no bounds. "If need be," he cried, "I will attack the -city with all my men, before I will suffer it." - -"Your men would be all killed, and she would take the veil none the -less," said Tommasino. For Antonio had but fifty men, and although they -were stout fellows and impossible to subdue so long as they stayed in -the hills, yet their strength would have been nothing against a fortress -and the Duke's array. - -"Then," said Antonio, "I will go alone and die alone." - -As he spoke, he perceived Martolo coming to him, and, calling him, he -asked him what he would. Now Martolo was a devout man and had been much -grieved when Antonio had fallen under a sentence of excommunication by -reason of a certain quarrel that he had with the Abbot of the Abbey of -St. Prisian in the hills, wherein the Count had incurred the -condemnation of the Church, refusing, as his way was, to admit any rule -save of his own conscience. Yet Martolo abode with Antonio from love of -him. And now he bowed and answered, "My lord, in three days it is the -feast of St. Prisian, and the sacred bones will then be carried from the -shrine in the church of the saint at Rilano to the city." For it was at -Rilano that Prisian had suffered, and a rich church had been built on -the spot. - -"I remember that it is wont to be so, Martolo," answered the Count. - -"When I dwelt with my father," said Martolo, "I was accustomed to go -forth with all the people of my village and meet the sacred bones, and -kneeling, receive the benediction from the Lord Archbishop as he passed, -bearing the bones in their golden casket. And the like I would do this -year, my lord." - -"But are you not excommunicated in company with Count Antonio and me?" -asked Tommasino, lightly smiling; for Tommasino also stood condemned. - -"I pray not. I was not named in the sentence," said Martolo, signing the -cross. - -"Go in peace, Martolo; but see that you are not taken by the Duke's -men," said Count Antonio. - -"But few of them go with the Archbishop, my lord. For who would lay -hands on the sacred bones? The guard is small, and I shall easily elude -them." So Martolo departed, and told the man they called Bena what had -passed; but Bena was a graceless fellow and would not go with him. - -Now when Martolo was gone, Count Antonio sat down on a great stone and -for a long while he said nothing to Tommasino. But certain words out of -those which Martolo had spoken were echoing through his brain, and he -could not put them aside; for they came again and again and again; and -at last, looking up at Tommasino who stood by him, he said, "Tommasino, -who would lay hands on the sacred bones?" - -Tommasino looked down into his eyes; then he laid a hand on his -shoulder; and Antonio still looked up and repeated, "Who would lay hands -on the sacred bones?" - -Tommasino's eyes grew round in wonder: he smiled, but his smile was -uneasy, and he shifted his feet. "Is it that you think of, Antonio?" he -asked in a low voice. "Beside it, it would be a light thing to kill the -Duke in his own palace." - -Then Antonio cried, striking his fist on the palm of his hand, "Are dead -bones more sacred than that living soul on which the Duke lays hands to -force it to his will?" - -"The people reverence the bones as God Himself," said Tommasino, -troubled. - -"I also reverence them," said Antonio, and fell again into thought. But -presently he rose and took Tommasino's arm, and for a long while they -walked to and fro. Then they went and sought out certain chosen men of -the band; for the greater part they dared not trust in such a matter, -but turned only to them that were boldest and recked least of sacred -things. To ten of such Antonio opened his counsel; and by great rewards -he prevailed on them to come into the plan, although they were, for all -their boldness, very sore afraid lest they, laying hands on the bones, -should be smitten as was he who touched the Ark of the Covenant. -Therefore Antonio said, "I alone will lay hands on the golden casket; -the rest of you shall but hold me harmless while I take it." - -"But if the Lord Archbishop will not let it go?" - -"The Lord Archbishop," said Tommasino, "will let it go." For Tommasino -did not love the Archbishop, because he would not remove the sentence of -excommunication which he had laid upon Antonio and Tommasino on the -prayer of the Abbot of St. Prisian's. - -Now when the feast of St. Prisian was come, the Lord Archbishop, who had -ridden from the city on the eve of the feast, and had lodged in the -house of the priests that served the church, went with all his train -into the church, and, the rest standing afar off and veiling their eyes, -took from the wall of the church, near by the High Altar, the golden -casket that held the bones of the blessed St. Prisian. And he wrapped -the casket in a rich cloth and held it high before him in his two hands. -And when the people had worshipped, the Archbishop left the church and -entered his chair and passed through the village of Rilano, the priests -and attendants going first, and twelve of the Duke's Guard, whom the -Duke had sent, following after. Great was the throng of folk, come from -all the country round to gaze on the casket and on the procession of the -Lord Archbishop; and most devout of them all was Martolo, who rested on -his knees from the moment the procession left the church till it was -clear of the village. And Martolo was still on his knees when he beheld -go by him a party of peasants, all, save one, tall and powerful men, -wearing peasants' garb and having their faces overshadowed by large -hats. These men also had knelt as the casket passed, but they had risen, -and were marching shoulder to shoulder behind the men of the Duke's -Guard, a peasant behind every pikeman. Martolo gazed long at them; then -he moistened his lips and crossed himself, murmuring, "What does this -thing mean? Now God forbid----!" And, breaking off thus, he also rose -and went to the house of his father, sore vexed and troubled to know -what the thing might mean. But he spoke of it to none, no, not to his -father, observing the vow of secrecy in all matters which he had made to -Count Antonio. - -At the bounds of the village the greater part of the people ceased to -follow the procession of the sacred bones, and, having received the -Archbishop's blessing, turned back to their own homes, where they -feasted and made merry; but the twelve peasants whom Martolo had seen -followed the procession when it set forth for the next village, distant -three miles on the road to Firmola. Their air manifested great -devotion, for they walked with heads bent on their breasts and downcast -eyes, and they spoke not once on the way; but each kept close behind a -pikeman. When the procession had gone something more than a mile from -the village of Rilano, it came where a little stream crosses the -highway; and the rains having been heavy for a week before, the stream -was swollen and the ford deeper than it was wont to be. Therefore the -officer of the Guard, thinking of no danger, bade six of his men lay -down their pikes and go lift the Archbishop's chair over the ford, lest -the Archbishop should be wetted by the water. And on hearing this order, -the tallest among the peasants put his hand up to his hat and twisted -the feather of it between his thumb and his forefinger: and the shortest -of them whispered, "The sign! The sign!" while every man of them drew a -great dagger from under his habit and held it behind his back. Now by -this time the priests and attendants had passed the ford; and one-half -of the Guard had laid down their pikes and were gone to raise the -Archbishop's chair, the remainder standing at their ease, leaning on -their pikes and talking to one another. Again the tallest peasant -twisted the feather in his hat; and without speech or cry the peasants -darted forward. Six of them seized the pikes that lay on the ground; the -remaining six sprang like wild-cats on the backs of the pikemen, -circling the necks of the pikemen with their arms, pulling them back and -coming near to throttling them, so that the pikemen, utterly amazed and -taken full at disadvantage, staggered and fell backward, while the -peasants got on the top of them and knelt on their breasts and set the -great daggers at their hearts. While this passed on the road, the -remainder of Antonio's band--for such were the peasants--rushed into the -stream and compelled the unarmed pikemen to set down the Archbishop's -chair in the midst, so that the water came in at the windows of the -chair; and the pikemen, held at bay with their own pikes, sought to draw -their poniards, but Antonio cried, "Slay any that draw!" And he came to -the chair and opened the door of it, and, using as little force as he -might, he laid hands on the casket that held the sacred bones, and -wrested it from the feeble hands of the Archbishop. Then he and his men, -standing in line, stepped backwards with the pikes levelled in front of -them till they came out of the water and on to the dry road again; and -one pikeman rushed at Antonio, but Tommasino, sparing to kill him, -caught him a buffet on the side of the head with a pike, and he fell -like a log in the water, and had been drowned, but that two of his -comrades lifted him. Then all twelve of the band being together--for the -first six had risen now from off the six pikemen, having forced them, on -pain of instant death, to deliver over their pikes to them--Antonio, -with the casket in his hands, spoke in a loud voice, "I thank God that -no man is dead over this business; but if you resist, you shall die one -and all. Go to the city; tell the Duke that I, Antonio of Monte Velluto, -have the bones of the blessed St. Prisian, and carry them with me to my -hiding-place in the highest parts of the hills. But if he will swear by -these bones that I hold, and by his princely word, that he will not -suffer the Lady Lucia to take the vows, nor will constrain her to wed -any man, but will restore her to her own house and to her estate, then -let him send the Archbishop again, and I will deliver up the sacred -bones. But if he will not swear, then, as God lives, to-morrow, at -midnight, I will cause a great fire to be kindled on the top of the -hills--a fire whose flame you shall see from the walls of the city--and -in that fire will I consume the sacred bones, and I will scatter the -ashes of them to the four winds. Go and bear the message that I give you -to the Duke." - -And, having thus said, Antonio, with his men, turned and went back at a -run along the road by which they had come; but to the village of Rilano -they did not go, but turned aside before they came to it, and, coming to -the farm of one who knew Antonio, they bought of him, paying him in good -coin of the Duchy, three horses, which Antonio, Tommasino, and Bena -mounted; and they three rode hard for the hills, the rest following as -quickly as they might; so that by nightfall they were all safely -assembled in their hiding-place, and with them the bones of the blessed -St. Prisian. But they told not yet to the rest of the band what it was -that Antonio carried under his cloak; nor did Martolo, when he returned -from Rilano, ask what had befallen, but he crossed himself many times -and wore a fearful look. - -But Tommasino came to Antonio and said to him, "Why did you not ask also -pardon for all of us, and for yourself the hand of Lucia?" - -"A great thing, and a thing that troubles me, I have done already," -answered Antonio. "Therefore I will ask nothing for myself, and nothing -may I ask for you or for my friends. But if I ask nothing save that -right and justice be done, it may be that my sin in laying hands on the -sacred bones will be the less." - -Now after Antonio and his men were gone, the Archbishop's train stayed -long by the stream on the road, lamenting and fearing to go forward. Yet -at last they went forward, and being come to the next village found all -the people awaiting them at the bounds. And when the people saw the -disorder of the procession, and that the pikemen had no pikes, they ran -forward, eagerly asking what had befallen; and learning of the -calamity, they were greatly afraid and cursed Antonio; and many of them -accompanied the Archbishop on his way to the city, whence he came -towards evening. A great concourse of people awaited his coming there, -and the Duke himself sat on a lofty seat in the great square, prepared -to receive the sacred bones, and go with them to the Cathedral, where -they were to be exposed to the gaze of the people at High Mass. And they -set the Archbishop's chair down before the Duke's seat, and the -Archbishop came and stood before the Duke, and his priests and the -pikemen with him. And the Duke started up from his seat, crying, "What -ails you?" and sank back again, and sat waiting to hear what the -Archbishop should say. - -Then the Archbishop, his robes still damp and greatly disordered, his -limbs trembling in anger and in fear, raised his voice; and all the -multitude in the square was silent while he declared to His Highness -what things Count Antonio had done, and rehearsed the message that he -had sent. But when the Archbishop told how Antonio had sworn that as -God lived he would scatter the ashes of the sacred bones to the winds, -the men caught their breath with a gasp, while the women murmured -affrightedly, "Christ save us;" and Duke Valentine dug the nails of his -hand, whereon his head rested, into the flesh of his cheek. For all the -city held that, according to the words St. Prisian himself had uttered -before he suffered, the power and prosperity of the Duchy and the favour -of Heaven to it rested on the presence among them and the faithful -preservation and veneration of those most holy relics. And the -Archbishop, having ended the message, cried, "God pardon my lips that -repeat such words," and fell on his knees before Duke Valentine, crying, -"Justice on him, my lord, justice!" And many in the throng echoed his -cry; but others, and among them a great part of the apprenticed lads who -loved Antonio, muttered low one to another, "But the Duke has taken his -sweetheart from him," and they looked on the Duke with no favourable -eye. - -Then Duke Valentine rose from his seat and stood on the topmost step -that led to it, and he called sundry of his lords and officers round -him, and then he beckoned for silence, and he said, "Before the sun sets -to-morrow, the Lady Lucia shall take the vows;" and he, with his train, -took their way to the palace, the pikemen clearing a path for them. And -now indeed was silence; for all marvelled and were struck dumb that the -Duke said naught concerning the bones of St. Prisian, and they searched -one another's faces for the meaning of his words. But the Archbishop -arose, and, speaking to no man, went to the Cathedral, and knelt before -the altar in the chapel of St. Prisian, and there abode on his knees. - -Surely never, from that day until this hour, has such a night passed in -the city of Firmola. For the Duke sent orders that every man of his -Guard should be ready to start at break of day in pursuit of Antonio, -and through the hours of the evening they were busied in preparing their -provisions and accoutrements. But their looks were heavy and their -tongues tied, for they knew, every man of them, that though the Duke -might at the end take Antonio, yet he could not come at him before the -time that Antonio had said. And this the townsmen knew well also; and -they gathered themselves in groups in the great square, saying, "Before -the Duke comes at him, the sacred bones will be burnt, and what will -then befall the Duchy?" And those who were friendly to Antonio, foremost -among them being the apprenticed lads, spread themselves here and there -among the people, asking cunningly whether it concerned the people of -Firmola more that the blessing of St. Prisian should abide with them, or -that a reluctant maiden should be forced to take the veil; and some grew -bold to whisper under their breath that the business was a foul one, and -that Heaven did not send beauty and love that priests should bury them -in convent walls. And the girls of the city, ever most bold by reason of -their helplessness, stirred up the young men who courted them, leading -them on and saying, "He is a true lover who risks his soul for his -love;" or, "I would I had one who would steal the bones of St. Prisian -for my sake, but none such have I:" with other stirring and inflaming -taunts, recklessly flung from pouting lips and from under eyes that -challenged. And all the while Duke Valentine sat alone in his cabinet, -listening to the tumult that sounded with muffled din through the walls -of the palace. - -Now there was in the city a certain furrier named Peter, a turbulent -fellow who had been put out of his craft-guild because he would not -abide by the laws of the craft, and lived now as he best could, being -maintained in large measure by those who listened to his empty and -seditious conversation. This man, loving naught that there was worthy of -love in Count Antonio, yet loved him because he defied the Duke; and -about midnight, having drunk much wine, he came into the square and -gathered together the apprentices, saying, "I have a matter to say to -you--and to you--and to you," till there were many scores of them round -him: then he harangued them, and more came round; and when at last Peter -cried, "Give us back the sacred bones!" a thousand voices answered him, -"Aye, give us back the bones!" And when the pikemen would have seized -him, men, and women also, made a ring round him, so that he could not -be taken. And sober men also, of age and substance, hearkened to him, -saying, "He is a knave, but he speaks truth now." So that a very great -throng assembled, every man having a staff, and many also knives; and to -those that had not knives, the women and girls brought them, thrusting -them into their hands; nay, sundry priests also were among the people, -moaning and wringing their hands, and saying that the favour of St. -Prisian would be lost for ever to the city. And the square was thronged, -so that a man could not move unless all moved, nor raise his hand to his -head save by the favour of his neighbour. Yet presently the whole mass -began to move, like a great wave of water, towards the Palace of the -Duke, where the pikemen stood in ranks, ready now to go against Antonio. -Suddenly arose a cry, "The Archbishop comes!" and the venerable man was -seen, led through the crowd by Peter and some more, who brought him and -set him in the front ranks of the people; and Peter cried boldly, "Where -is the Duke?" But the Captain of the Guard came forward, sword in hand, -and bade Peter be still, cursing him for insolence, and shouted that -the people should disperse on pain of His Highness's displeasure. "Where -is the Duke? Let him come out to us!" cried Peter; and the captain, -despising him, struck him lightly with the flat of his sword. But Peter -with a cry of rage struck the captain a great blow with his staff, and -the captain staggered back, blood flowing from his head. Such was the -beginning of the fray; for in an instant the pikemen and the people had -joined battle: men cried in anger and women in fright: blood flowed, and -sundry on both sides fell and rose no more; and the Archbishop came near -to being trodden under foot till his friends and the priests gathered -round him; and when he saw that men were being slain, he wept. - -Then the lord Lorenzo hastened to the cabinet of the Duke, whom he found -pacing up and down, gnawing his finger-nails, and told him of what was -done outside. - -"I care not," said the Duke. "She shall take the vows! Let the pikemen -scatter them." - -Lorenzo then besought him, telling him that all the city was in arms, -and that the conflict would be great. But the Duke said still, "She -shall take the vows!" Nevertheless he went with Lorenzo, and came forth -on to the topmost step of the portico. And when the people saw him they -ceased for a moment to assail the pikemen, and cried out, "Give us back -the sacred bones!" - -"Scatter these fellows!" said the Duke to the Captain of the Guard. - -"My lord, they are too many. And if we scatter them now, yet when we -have gone against Count Antonio, they may do what they will with the -city." - -The Duke stood still, pale, and again gnawing his nails; and the -pikemen, finding the fight hard, gave back before the people; and the -people pressed on. - -Then Peter the furrier came forward, and the hottest with him, and -mocked the pikemen; and one of the pikemen suddenly thrust Peter through -with his pike, and the fellow fell dead; on which a great cry of rage -rose from all the people, and they rushed on the pikemen again and slew -and were slain; and the fight rolled up the steps even to the very feet -of the Duke himself. And at last, able no longer to contend with all the -city, he cried, "Hold! I will restore the sacred bones!" But the people -would not trust him and one cried, "Bring out the lady here before us -and set her free, or we will burn the palace." And the Archbishop came -suddenly and threw himself on his knees before the Duke, beseeching him -that no more blood might be shed, but that the Lady Lucia should be set -free. And the Duke, now greatly afraid, sent hastily the Lieutenant of -the Guard and ten men, who came to the convent where Lucia was, and, -brooking no delay, carried her with them in her bedgown, and brought and -set her beside the Duke in the portico of the palace. Then the Duke -raised his hand to heaven, and before all the people he said, "Behold, -she is free! Let her go to her own house, and her estate shall be hers -again. And by my princely word and these same holy bones, I swear that -she shall not take the vows, neither will I constrain her to wed any -man." And when he had said this, he turned sharply round on his heel, -and, looking neither to the right nor to the left, went through the -great hall to his cabinet and shut the door. For his heart was very sore -that he must yield to Antonio's demand, and for himself he had rather a -thousand times that the bones of St. Prisian had been burnt. - -Now when the Duke was gone, the people brought the Lady Lucia to her own -house, driving out the steward whom the Duke had set there, and, this -done, they came to the Archbishop, and would not suffer him to rest or -to delay one hour before he set forth to carry the Duke's promise to -Antonio. This the Archbishop was ready to do, for all that he was weary. -But first he sent Lorenzo to ask the Duke's pleasure; and Lorenzo, -coming to the Duke, prayed him to send two hundred pikes with the -Archbishop. "For," said he, "your Highness has sworn nothing concerning -what shall befall Antonio; and so soon as he has delivered up the bones, -I will set on him and bring him alive or dead to your Highness." - -But the Duke would not hearken. "The fellow's name is like stale lees -of wine in my mouth," said he. "Ten of my pikemen lie dead in the -square, and more of the citizens. I will lose no more men over it." - -"Yet how great a thing if we could take him!" - -"I will take him at my own time and in my own way," said the Duke. "In -God's name, leave me now." - -Lorenzo therefore got from the Duke leave for but ten men to go with the -Archbishop, and to go himself if he would. And thus they set out, -exhorted by the people, who followed them beyond the bounds of the city, -to make all speed. And when they were gone, the people came back and -took up the bodies of the dead; while the pikemen also took up the -bodies of such of their comrades as were slain. - -Yet had Duke Valentine known what passed on the hills while the city was -in tumult, it may not be doubted, for all his vexation, that he would -have sent the two hundred whom Lorenzo asked: never had he a fairer -chance to take Antonio. For when the Count and those who had been with -him to Rilano were asleep, Antonio's head resting on the golden casket, -a shepherd came to the rest of the band and told them what had been done -and how all the country was in an uproar. Then a debate arose amongst -the band, for, though they were lawless men, yet they feared God, and -thought with great dread on what Antonio had sworn; so that presently -they came altogether, and aroused Antonio, and said to him, "My lord, -you have done much for us, and it may be that we have done somewhat for -you. But we will not suffer the sacred bones to be burnt and scattered -to the winds." - -"Except the Duke yields, I have sworn it, as God lives," answered -Antonio. - -"We care not. It shall not be, no, not though you and we die," said -they. - -"It is well; I hear," said Antonio, bowing his head. - -"In an hour," said they, "we will take the bones, if you will not -yourself, my lord, send them back." - -"Again I hear," said Antonio, bowing his head; and the band went back to -the fire round which they had been sitting, all save Martolo, who came -and put his hand in Antonio's hand. - -"How now, Martolo?" asked Antonio. - -"What you will, I will, my lord," said Martolo. For though he trembled -when he thought of the bones of St. Prisian, yet he clung always to -Antonio. As for Bena and the others of the ten who had gone to Rilano, -they would now have burnt not the bones only, but the blessed saint -himself, had Antonio bidden them. Hard men, in truth, were they, and the -more reckless now, because no harm had come to them from the seizing of -the bones; moreover Antonio had given them good wine for supper, and -they drank well. - -Now the rest of the band being gone back to their fire and the night -being very dark, in great silence and caution Antonio, Tommasino, -Martolo, Bena, and their fellows--being thirteen in all--rose from their -places, and taking naught with them but their swords (save that Antonio -carried the golden casket), they stole forth from the camp, and set -their faces to climb yet higher into the heights of the hills. None -spoke; one following another, they climbed the steep path that led up -the mountain side; and when they had been going for the space of an -hour, they heard a shout from far below them. - -"Our flight is known," said Tommasino. - -"Shall we stand and meet them, my lord?" asked Bena. - -"Nay, not yet," said Antonio; and the thirteen went forward again at the -best speed they could. - -Now they were in a deep gorge between lofty cliffs; and the gorge still -tended upwards; and at length they came to the place which is now named -"Antonio's Neck." There the rocks came nigh to meeting and utterly -barring the path; yet there is a way that one man, or at most two, may -pass through at one time. Along this narrow tongue they passed, and, -coming to the other side, found a level space on the edge of a great -precipice, and Antonio pointing over the precipice, they saw in the -light of the day, which now was dawning, the towers and spires of -Firmola very far away in the plain below. - -"It is a better place for the fire than the other," said Antonio; and -Bena laughed, while Martolo shivered. - -"Yet we risk being hindered by these fellows behind," said Tommasino. - -"Nay, I think not," said Antonio. - -Then he charged Tommasino and all of them to busy themselves in -collecting such dry sticks and brushwood as they could; and there was -abundance near, for the fir-trees grew even so high. And one of the men -also went and set a snare, and presently caught a wild goat, so that -they had meat. But Antonio took Bena and set him on one side of the way -where the neck opened out into the level space; and he stood on the -other side of the way himself. And when they stretched out their arms, -the point of Bena's sword reached the hilt of Antonio's. And Antonio -smiled, saying to Bena, "He had need to be a thin man, Bena, that passes -between you and me." - -And Bena nodded his head at Count Antonio, answering, "Indeed this is as -strait as the way to heaven, my lord, and leads, as it seems to me, in -much the same direction." - -Thus Antonio and Bena waited in the shelter of the rocks at the opening -of the neck, while the rest built up a great pile of wood. Then, having -roasted the meat, they made their breakfast, Martolo carrying portions -to Antonio and to Bena. And, their pursuers not knowing the path so well -and therefore moving less quickly, it was but three hours short of noon -when they heard the voices of men from the other side of the neck. And -Antonio cried straightway, "Come not through at your peril! Yet one may -come and speak with me." - -Then a great fellow, whose name is variously given, though most of those -whom I have questioned call him Sancho, came through the neck, and, -reaching the end of it, found the crossed swords of Antonio and Bena -like a fence against his breast. And he saw also the great pile of wood, -and resting now on the top of it the golden casket that held the sacred -bones. And he said to Antonio, "My lord, we love you; but sooner than -that the bones should be burnt, we will kill you and all that are with -you." - -But Antonio answered, "I also love you, Sancho; yet you and all your -company shall die sooner than my oath shall be broken." - -"Your soul shall answer for it, my lord," said Sancho. - -"You speak truly," answered Antonio. - -Then Sancho went back through the neck and took counsel with his -fellows; and they made him their chief, and promised to be obedient to -all that he ordered. And he said, "Let two run at their highest speed -through the neck: it may be they will die, but the bones must be saved. -And after them, two more, and again two. And I will be of the first -two." - -But they would not suffer him to be of the first two, although he -prevailed that he should be of the last two. And the six, being chosen, -drew their swords and with a cry rushed into the neck. Antonio, hearing -their feet, said to Bena, "A quick blow is as good as a slow, Bena." And -even as he spoke the first two came to the opening of the neck. But -Antonio and Bena struck at them before they came out of the narrowest -part or could wield their swords freely; and the second two coming on, -Bena struck at one and wounded him in the breast, and he wounded Bena -in the face over the right eye, and then Bena slew him; while Antonio -slew his man at his first stroke. And the fifth man and Sancho, the -sixth, coming on, Antonio cried loudly, "Are you mad, are you mad? We -could hold the neck against a hundred." - -But they would not stop, and Antonio slew the fifth, and Bena was in the -act to strike at Sancho, but Antonio suddenly dashed Sancho's sword from -his hand, and caught him a mighty buffet, so that he fell sprawling on -the bodies of the five that were dead. - -"Go back, fool, go back!" cried Antonio. - -And Sancho, answering nothing, gathered himself up and went back; for he -perceived now that not with the loss of half of his men would he get by -Antonio and Bena; and beyond them stood Tommasino with ten whom he knew -to be of the stoutest of the band. - -"It is a sore day's work, Bena," cried Antonio, looking at the dead -bodies. - -"If a man be too great a fool to keep himself alive, my lord, he must -die," answered Bena; and he pushed the bodies a little further back -into the neck with his foot. - -Then Sancho's company took counsel again; for, much as they reverenced -the sacred bones, there was none of them eager to enter the neck. Thus -they were at a loss, till the shepherd who had come along with them -spoke to Sancho, saying, "At the cost of a long journey you may come at -him; for there is a way round that I can lead you by. But you will not -traverse it in less than twelve or thirteen hours, taking necessary rest -by the way." - -But Sancho, counting the time, cried, "It will serve! For although a -thousand came against him, yet the Count will not burn the bones before -the time of his oath." - -Therefore he left fifteen men to hold the neck, in case Antonio should -offer to return back through it, and with the rest he followed the -shepherd in great stealth and quiet; by reason of which, and of the rock -between them, Antonio knew not what was done, but thought that the whole -company lay still on the other side of the neck. - -Thus the day wore to evening as the Archbishop with the Lord Lorenzo and -the guards came to the spur of the hills; and here they found a man -waiting, who cried to them, "Do you bring the Duke's promise to the -Count Antonio?" - -"Yes, we bring it," said they. - -"I am charged," said he, "to lead the Archbishop and one other after the -Count." But since the Archbishop could not climb the hills, being old -and weary, Lorenzo constrained the man to take with him four of the -Guards besides; and the four bore the Archbishop along. Thus they were -led through the secret tracks in the hills, and these Lorenzo tried to -engrave on his memory, that he might come again. But the way was long -and devious, and it was hard to mark it. Thus going, they came to the -huts, and passing the huts, still climbed wearily till they arrived near -to the neck. It was then night, and, as they guessed, hard on the time -when Antonio had sworn to burn the sacred bones; therefore they pressed -on more and more, and came at last to the entrance of the neck. Here -they found the fifteen, and Lorenzo, running up, cried aloud, "We bring -the promise, we bring the promise!" - -But scarcely had he spoken these words, when a sudden great shout came -from the other side of the neck; and Lorenzo, drawing his sword, rushed -into the neck, the fifteen following, yet leaving a space between him -and them, lest they should see him fall, pierced by Antonio and Bena. -And Lorenzo stumbled and fell over the five dead bodies which lay in the -way of the neck. Uttering a cry, "What are these?" he scrambled again to -his feet, and passed unhurt through the mouth of the neck, and the -fifteen followed after him, while the Guards supported the Archbishop in -their hands, his chair being too wide to pass through the neck. And when -thus they all came through, wild and strange was the sight they saw. For -it chanced that at the same time Sancho's company had completed their -circuit, and had burst from behind upon Antonio and the twelve. And when -the twelve saw them, they retreated to the great pile and made a ring -round it, and stood there ready to die rather than allow Sancho's men -to reach the pile. It was then midnight and the time of Count Antonio's -oath. Count Antonio stood on the top of the great pile; at his feet lay -the golden casket containing the sacred bones, and in his hand was a -torch. And he cried aloud, "Hold them, while I fire the pile!" and he -leapt down and came to the side of the pile and laid his torch to the -pile. And in an instant the flames shot up, for the pile was dry. - -Now when Sancho's men saw the pile alight, with shouts of horror and of -terror they charged at the top of their speed against the twelve who -guarded the pile. And Lorenzo and his men also rushed; but the cries of -Sancho's company, together with the answering defiance of the twelve, -drowned the cries of Lorenzo; and Antonio and the twelve knew not that -Lorenzo was come. And the flames of the pile grew, and the highest -tongue of flame licked the side of the golden casket. But Antonio's -voice rose above all, as he stood, aye, almost within the ambit of the -fire, and cried, "Hold them a moment, Tommasino--a moment, Bena--and -the thing is done!" Then Lorenzo tore his casque from his head and flung -down his sword, and rushed unarmed between Antonio's men and Sancho's -men, shouting louder than he had thought ever to shout, "The promise! -the promise!" And at the same moment (so it is told, I but tell it as it -is told) there came from heaven a great flash of lightning, which, -aiding the glare of the flames, fully revealed the features of Lorenzo. -Back fell Sancho's men, and Antonio's arrested their swords. And then -they all cried as men cry in great joy, "The promise! the promise!" And -for a moment all stood still where they were. But the flames leapt -higher; and, as Antonio had said, they were seen by the great throng -that gazed from the city walls; and they were seen by Duke Valentine as -he watched from the wall of his garden by the river; and he went pale, -gnawing his nails. - -Then the Count Antonio sprang on the burning pile, though it seemed that -no man could pass alive through it. Yet God was with him, and he gained -the top of it, and, stooping, seized the golden casket and flung it -down, clear of the pile, even at the Lord Lorenzo's feet; and when -Lorenzo sought to lift it, the heat of it blistered his hands, and he -cried out with pain. But Count Antonio, choked by the smoke, his hair -and his eyebrows scorched by the fire, staggered half-way down the pile -and there sank on his knees. And there he had died, but that Tommasino, -Bena, and Sancho, each eager to outstrip the other, rushed in and drew -him forth, and fetched water and gave it to him, so that he breathed -again and lived. But the flames leapt higher and higher; and they said -on the city walls, "God help us! God help us! The sacred bones are -burnt!" And women, aye, and men too, fell to weeping, and there was -great sorrow, fear, and desolation. And the Duke gnawed his nails even -to the quick, and spat the blood from his mouth, cursing Antonio. - -But Lorenzo, having perceived that the greater number was against -Antonio, cried out to Sancho's men, "Seize him and bring him here!" For -the Duke's promise carried no safety to Antonio. - -But Sancho answered him, "Now that the sacred bones are safe, we have no -quarrel with my lord Antonio;" and he and his men went and laid down -their swords by the feet of Antonio, where he lay on the ground, his -head on Tommasino's lap. So that the whole band were now round Antonio, -and Lorenzo had but four with him. - -"He asks war!" growled Bena to Tommasino. "Shall he not have war, my -lord?" - -And Tommasino laughed, answering, "Here is a drunkard of blood!" - -But Count Antonio, raising himself, said, "Is the Archbishop here?" - -Then Lorenzo went and brought the Archbishop, who, coming, stood before -Antonio, and rehearsed to him the oath that Duke Valentine had taken, -and told him how the Lady Lucia was already free and in her own house, -and made him aware also of the great tumult that had happened in the -city. And Antonio listened to his tale in silence. - -Then the Archbishop raised a hand towards heaven and spoke in a solemn -and sad voice, "Behold, there are ten of the Duke's Guard dead in the -city, and there are twelve of the townsmen dead; and here, in the -opening of the neck, there lie dead five men of those who followed you, -my lord. Twenty-and-seven men are there that have died over this -business. I pray more have not died in the city since I set forth. And -for what has this been done, my lord? And more than the death of all -these is there. For these sacred bones have been foully and -irreligiously stolen and carried away, used with vile irreverence and -brought into imminent hazard of utter destruction: and had they been -destroyed and their ashes scattered to the four winds, according to your -blasphemous oath, I know not what would have befallen the country where -such an act was done. And for what has this been done, my lord? It has -been done that a proud and violent man may have his will, and that his -passion may be satisfied. Heavy indeed is the burden on your soul my -lord; yes, on your soul is the weight of sacrilege and of much blood." - -The Archbishop ceased, and his hand dropped to his side. The flames on -the pile were burning low, and a stillness fell on all the company. But -at last Count Antonio rose to his feet and stood with his elbow on -Tommasino's shoulder, leaning on Tommasino. His face was weary and sad, -and he was very pale, save where in one spot the flame had scorched his -cheek to an angry red. And looking round on the Archbishop, and on the -Lord Lorenzo, and on them all, he answered sadly, "In truth, my Lord -Archbishop, my burden is heavy. For I am an outlaw, and excommunicated. -Twenty-and-seven men have died through my act, and I have used the -sacred bones foully, and brought them into imminent peril of total -destruction, according to my oath. All this is true, my lord. And yet I -know not. For Almighty God, whom all we, whether honest men or knaves, -men of law or lawless, humbly worship--Almighty God has His own scales, -my lord. And I know not which thing be in those scales the heavier; that -twenty-and-seven men should die, and that the bones of the blessed St. -Prisian should be brought in peril, aye, or should be utterly -destroyed; or again that one weak girl, who has no protection save in -the justice and pity of men, should be denied justice and bereft of -pity, and that no man should hearken to her weeping. Say, my lord--for -it is yours to teach and mine to learn--which of these things should God -count the greater sin? And for myself I have asked nothing; and for my -friends here, whom I love--yes, even those I have killed for my oath's -sake, I loved--I have dared to ask nothing. But I asked only that -justice should be done and mercy regarded. Where, my lord, is the -greater sin?" - -But the Archbishop answered not a word to Count Antonio; but he and the -Lord Lorenzo came and lifted the golden casket, and, no man of Antonio's -company seeking to hinder them, they went back with it to the city and -showed it to the people; and after that the people had rejoiced greatly -that the sacred bones, which they had thought to be destroyed, were -safe, the Archbishop carried the golden casket back to the shrine in the -village of Rilano, where it rests till this day. But Count Antonio -buried the five men of his band whom he and Bena had slain, and with -the rest he abode still in the hills, while the Lady Lucia dwelt in her -own house in the city; and the Duke, honouring the oath which he had -sworn before all the people, did not seek to constrain her to wed any -man, and restored to her the estate that he had taken from her. Yet the -Duke hated Count Antonio the more for what he had done, and sought the -more eagerly how he might take him and put him to death. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -COUNT ANTONIO AND THE HERMIT OF THE VAULT. - - -Among the stories concerning the Count Antonio which were told to me in -answer to my questioning (whereof I have rejected many as being no -better than idle tales), there was one that met me often and yet seemed -strange and impossible to believe; for it was said that he had during -the time of his outlawry once spent several days in the vault of the -Peschetti, and there suffered things that pass human understanding. - -This vault lies near to the church of St. John the Theologian, in the -suburb of Baratesta, on the banks of the river; and the Peschetti had a -palace hard by, and were a family of high nobility, and allied by blood -to the house of Monte Velluto. But I could find no warrant for the -story of Antonio's sojourn in the vault, and although many insisted that -the tale was true, yet they could not tell how nor why the Count came to -be in the vault; until at length I chanced on an aged woman who had -heard the truth of the matter from her grandmother, and she made me -acquainted with the story, pouring on me a flood of garrulous gossip, -from which I have chosen as much as concerns the purpose. And here I set -it down; for I believe it to be true, and I would omit nothing that -touches the Count, so I can be sure that what I write is based on truth. - -When Count Antonio had dwelt in the hills for the space of three years -and nine months, it chanced that Cesare, last of the Peschetti, died; -and he made a will on his death-bed whereby he bequeathed to Count -Antonio his lands and also a store of money, and many ornaments of gold, -and jewels; for Antonio's mother had been of the house of the Peschetti, -and Cesare loved Antonio, although he had not dared to give him -countenance for fear of the Duke's anger; yet, knowing himself to be -dying, he bequeathed everything to him, for the Duke's wrath could not -hurt a dead man. And so soon as he was dead, his steward Giuseppe sent -secretly and in haste to Antonio, saying, "My lord, you cannot take the -lands or the house; but, if you will be wise, come quickly and take the -money and the jewels; for I hear that His Highness the Duke, declaring -that an outlaw has no right and can inherit nothing, will send and seize -the treasure." Now Antonio, though grieved at the death of Cesare, was -glad to hear of the treasure; for he was often hard put to it to -maintain his company and those who depended on him for bread. So he -pondered anxiously how he might reach the palace of the Peschetti and -lay hands on the treasure and return safely; for at this time Duke -Valentine had posted above a hundred of his Guard in the plain, and this -troop watched all the approaches to the hills so that the band could not -ride forth in a body unless it were prepared to do battle with the -guards. Nor did Antonio desire to weaken the band, lest the guards, -learning that the bravest were away, should venture an attack. -Therefore he would not take Tommasino or Bena or any of the stoutest -with him; but he took four young men who had come to him from Firmola, -having fallen into the Duke's displeasure through brawling with his -guards. These he mounted on good horses, and, having made a circuit to -avoid the encampment in the plain, he came to Cesare's house on the day -before that appointed for the funeral. Giuseppe came to meet him, and -led him where the dead man lay, and, after the Count had gazed on his -face and kissed his forehead, they two went to the treasury, and -Giuseppe delivered the treasure to Antonio; and Antonio made him a -present of value and confirmed him in his stewardship, although it was -not likely that the Duke would suffer him to exercise any power, -inasmuch as His Highness had declared his intention of forfeiting the -estate into his own hand. - -Now it chanced that one of the young men, being regaled with wine, drank -very freely, and began to talk loud and boastfully of his master's -achievements as the servants sat under the trees in front of the house; -and there was with them a certain tailor, a lame man, who had furnished -mourning garments for the funeral. The tailor, learning that Antonio was -come, said nothing, and seemed not to hear nor understand the drunken -youth's talk; but at an early moment he took his departure and -straightway hobbled as fast as his lame leg would let him to the Syndic -of Baratesta, a very busy and ambitious fellow, who longed greatly to -win the Duke's favour. And the tailor set the price of five pieces of -gold and the ordering of a new gown on the news he brought; and the -Syndic having agreed, the tailor cried, "Antonio of Monte Velluto is at -the house of the Peschetti, and his band is not with him. If you hasten, -you may catch him." At this the Syndic exulted very greatly; for the -Duke's Commissaries would not arrive to assume possession of the house -in his name till the morrow, by which time Antonio would be gone; and -the Syndic rubbed his hands, saying, "If I can take him my glory will be -great, and the gratitude of His Highness also." And he gathered together -all his constables, and hard upon twenty discharged soldiers who dwelt -in the town, and the fifteen men of the Duke's who were stationed at -Baratesta to gather His Highness's dues; and thus, with a force of about -fifty men, he set out in great haste for the house of the Peschetti, and -was almost come there, before a little boy ran to Giuseppe crying that -the Syndic and all the constables and many besides were coming to the -house. And Giuseppe, who had but three men-servants of an age to fight, -the other five being old (for Cesare had loved to keep those who served -him well, even when their power grew less than their will), and moreover -perceived that Antonio's four were young and untried, wrung his hands -and hastened to the Count with the news, saying, "Yet weak as we are, we -can die for you, my lord." - -"Heaven forbid!" said Antonio, looking out of the window. "Are they all -townsmen that come with this Syndic?" - -"Alas, no, my lord. There are certain of the Duke's men, and I see among -the rest men who have spent their days under arms, either in His -Highness's service or in Free Companies." - -"Then," said Antonio, smiling, "unless I am to share Cesare's funeral, I -had best be gone. For I have seen too much fighting to be ashamed to run -away from it." - -"But, my lord, they are at the gates." - -"And is there no other gate?" - -"None, my lord, save the little gate in the wall there; and see, the -Syndic has posted ten men there." - -"And he will search the house?" - -"I fear that he will, my lord. For he must have tidings of your coming." - -"Then where is my horse?" said Count Antonio; and Giuseppe showed him -where the horse stood in the shadow of the portico. "Do not let the -Syndic know," added Antonio, "that the young men are of my company, and -send them away in safety." - -"But what do you, my lord?" cried Giuseppe. - -"What I have done before, Giuseppe. I ride for life," answered the -Count. - -Then the Count, delaying no more, ran lightly down the stairs, leapt on -his horse, and, drawing his sword, rode forth from the portico; and he -was among the Syndic's company before they thought to see him; and he -struck right and left with his sword; and they fell back before him in -fear, yet striking at him as they shrank away; and he had come clean -off, but for one grizzly-haired fellow who had served much in Free -Companies and learnt cunning; for he stooped low, avoiding the sweep of -Antonio's sword, and stabbed the horse in its belly, and stood wiping -his knife and saying, "My legs are old. I have done my part. Do yours; -the horse will not go far." In truth the horse was wounded to death, and -its bowels protruded from the wound; and Antonio felt it falter and -stumble. Yet the gallant beast carried him for half a mile, and then he -sprang off, fearing it would fall under him as he sat and he be crushed -by it; and he drew his sword across its throat that it might not linger -in pain, and then ran on foot, hearing the cries of the Syndic's company -as it pressed on behind him. And thus, running, he came to the church of -St. John and to the vault of the Peschetti by it; two men were at work -preparing for Cesare's funeral, and the door of the vault was open. -Antonio hurled one man to the right and the other to the left, and -rushed into the vault; for his breath failed, and there was no chance -for his life were he overtaken in the open; and before the men regained -their feet, he pulled the door of the vault close and sank on his knee -inside, panting, and holding his sword in readiness to slay any who -entered. Then the Syndic and his company came and called on him to -surrender. And Antonio cried, "Come and take me." Then the Syndic bade -the workmen pull open the door; but Antonio held it with one hand -against them both. Yet at last they drew it a little open; and Antonio -lunged with his sword through the aperture and wounded the Syndic in the -leg, so that he stumbled backwards with an oath. And after that none was -willing to enter first, until the grizzly-haired fellow came up; but he, -seeing the aperture, rushed at it sword in hand, fearing no man, not -even Count Antonio. But he could not touch Antonio, and he also fell -back with a sore gash in his cheek; and Antonio laughed, saying, "Shall -I surrender, Syndic?" - -Now the Syndic was very urgent in his desire to take Antonio, but his -men shook their heads, and he himself could not stand because of the -sword-thrust in his leg; and, instead of fighting, his company began to -tell of the wonderful deeds Antonio had done, and they grew no bolder by -this; and the grizzly-haired fellow mocked them, saying that he would go -again at the aperture if two more would attempt it with him; but none -offered. And the Syndic raged and rebuked them, but he could not hurt -them, being unable to stand on his feet; so that one said boldly, "Why -should we die? The Duke's Commissaries will be here to-morrow with a -company of the Guard. Let the Count stay in the vault till then. He is -in safe keeping; and when he sees the Guard he will surrender. It is -likely enough that a great lord like the Count would rather die than -give up his sword to the Syndic." Whereat the Syndic was very ill -pleased, but all the rest mighty well pleased; and, having heard this -counsel, they could by no means be persuaded to attack afresh, but they -let Antonio draw the door close again, being in truth glad to see the -last of his sword. Therefore the Syndic, having no choice, set twenty -to guard the entrance of the vault and prepared to depart. But he cried -to Antonio, again bidding him to surrender, for the Guard would come -to-morrow, and then at least he could not hope to resist. - -"Aye, but to-morrow is to-morrow, Master Syndic," laughed Antonio. "Go, -get your leg dressed, and leave to-morrow till it dawn." - -So the Syndic went home and the rest with him, leaving the twenty on -guard. And to this day, if a man hath more love for fighting than skill -in it, folk call him a Syndic of Baratesta. - -Count Antonio, being thus left in the vault, and perceiving that he -would not be further molested that day, looked round; and though no -daylight reached the vault, he could see, for the workmen had set a lamp -there and it still burnt. Around him were the coffins of all the -Peschetti who had died in five hundred years; and the air was heavy and -stifling. Antonio took the lamp and walked round the vault, which was of -circular form; and he perceived one coffin standing upright against the -wall of the vault, as though there had been no room for it on the -shelves. Then he sat down again, and, being weary, leant his head -against the wall and soon slept; for a man whose conscience is easy and -whose head has sense in it may sleep as well in a vault as in a -bedchamber. Yet the air of the vault oppressed him, and he slept but -lightly and uneasily. And, if a proof be needed how legends gather round -the Count's name, I have heard many wonderful stories of what happened -to him in the vault; how he held converse with dead Peschetti, how they -told him things which it is not given to men to know, and how a certain -beautiful lady, who had been dead two hundred years, having been slain -by her lover in a jealous rage, came forth from the coffin, with her -hair all dishevelled and a great wound yet bleeding in her bosom, and -sang a low sweet wild love-song to him as he lay, and would not leave -him though he bade her soul rest in the name of Christ and the Saints. -But that any of these things happened I do not believe. - -It was late when the Count awoke, and the lamp had burnt out, so that -the vault was utterly dark. And as the Count roused himself, a sound -strange in the place fell on his ear; for a man talked, and his talk was -not such as one uses who speaks aloud his own musings to himself when he -is alone (a trick men come by who live solitary), but he seemed to -question others and to answer them, saying, "Aye," and "No," and "Alas, -sweet friend!" and so forth, all in a low even voice; and now and again -he would sigh, and once he laughed bitterly. Then the Count raised his -voice, "Who is there?" And the other voice answered, "Which of you -speaks? The tones are not known to me. Yet I know all the Peschetti who -are here." And Antonio answered, "I am not of the Peschetti save by my -mother; my name is Antonio of Monte Velluto." On this a cry came from -the darkness, as of a man greatly troubled and alarmed; and after that -there was silence for a space. And Antonio said, "There is naught to -fear; I seek to save myself, not to hurt another. But how do you, a -living man, come to be in this vault, and with whom do you speak?" Then -came the sound of steel striking on a flint, and presently a spark, and -a torch was lighted; and Antonio beheld before him, in the glow of the -torch, the figure of a man who crouched on the floor of the vault over -against him; his hair was long and tangled, his beard grew to his waist, -and he was naked save for a cloth about his loins; and his eyes gleamed -dark and wild as he gazed on Antonio in seeming fright and bewilderment. -Then the Count, knowing that a man collects his thoughts while another -speaks, told the man who he was and how he came there, and (because the -man's eyes still wondered) how that he was an outlaw these three years -and more because he would not bow to the Duke's will: and when he had -told all, he ceased. Then the man came crawling closer to him, and, -holding the torch to his face, scanned his face, saying, "Surely he is -alive!" And again he was silent, but after a while he spoke. - -"For twenty-and-three years," he said, "I have dwelt here among the -dead; and to the dead I talk, and they are my friends and companions. -For I hear their voices, and they come out of their coffins and greet -me; yet now they are silent and still because you are here." - -"But how can you live here?" cried Antonio. "For you must starve for -lack of food, and come near to suffocation in the air of this vault." - -The man set his hand to his brow and frowned, and said sadly, "Indeed I -have forgotten much, yet I remember a certain night when the Devil came -into me, and in black fury and jealousy I laid wait by the door of the -room where my wife was; and we had been wedded but a few months. There -was a man who was my friend, and he came to my wife secretly, seeking to -warn her that I was suspected of treason to the Prince: yes, in all -things he was my friend; for when I stabbed him as he came to the door, -and, rushing in, stabbed her also, she did not die till she had told me -all; and then she smiled sweetly at me, saying, "Our friend will -forgive, dear husband, for you did not know; and I forgive the blow your -love dealt me: kiss me and let me die here in your arms." And I kissed -her, and she died. Then I laid her on her bed, and I went forth from my -home; and I wandered many days. Then I sought to kill myself, but I -could not, for a voice seemed to say, 'What penitence is there in -death? Lo, it is sweet, Paolo!' So I did not kill myself; but I took an -oath to live apart from men till God should in His mercy send me death. -And coming in my wanderings to the river that runs by Baratesta, I found -a little hollow in the bank of the river, and I lay down there; and none -pursued me, for the Duke of Firmola cared not for a crime done in -Mantivoglia. And for a year I dwelt in my little cave: then it was -noised about that I dwelt there, and fools began to call me, who was the -vilest sinner born, a holy hermit, and they came to me to ask prayers. -So I begged from one a pick, and I worked on the face of the rock, and -made a passage through it. And I swore to look no more on the light of -the sun, but abode in the recesses that I had hollowed out. And I go no -more to the mouth of the cave, save once a day at nightfall, when I -drink of the water of the river and take the broken meats they leave for -me." - -"But here--how came you here?" cried Antonio. - -"I broke through one day by chance, as I worked on the rock; and, seeing -the vault, I made a passage with much labour; and having done this, I -hid it with a coffin; and now I dwell here with the dead, expecting the -time when in God's mercy I also shall be allowed to die. But to-day I -fled back through the passage, for men came and opened the vault and let -in the sunshine, which I might not see. Pray for me, sir; I have need of -prayers." - -"Now God comfort you," said Count Antonio softly. "Of a truth, sir, a -man who knows his sin and grieves for it in his heart hath in God's eyes -no longer any sin. So is it sweetly taught in the most Holy Scriptures. -Therefore take comfort; for your friend will forgive even as the gentle -lady who loved you forgave; and Christ has no less forgiveness than -they." - -"I know not," said the hermit, groaning heavily. "I question the dead -who lie here concerning these things, but they may not tell me." - -"Indeed, poor man, they can tell nothing," said Antonio gently; for he -perceived that the man was subject to a madness and deluded by fancied -visions and voices. - -"Yet I love to talk to them of the time when I also shall be dead." - -"God comfort you," said Count Antonio again. - -Now while Antonio and the hermit talked, one of those who guarded the -vault chanced to lay his ear against the door, listening whether Antonio -moved, and he heard, to his great dread and consternation, the voice of -another who talked with Antonio: most of what was said he did not hear, -but he heard Antonio say, "God comfort you," and the hermit answer -something and groan heavily. And the legs of the listener shook under -him, and he cried to his comrades that the dead talked with Antonio, he -himself being from fright more dead than alive. Then all came and -listened; and still the voice of another talked with Antonio; so that -the guards were struck with terror and looked in one another's faces, -saying, "The dead speak! The Count speaks with the dead! Christ and the -Blessed Mother of Christ and the Saints protect us!" And they looked -neither to right nor left, but sat quaking on the ground about the door -of the vault; and presently one ran and told the Syndic, and he caused -himself to be carried thither in his chair; and he also heard, and was -very greatly afraid, saying, "This Antonio of Monte Velluto is a fearful -man." And the report spread throughout Baratesta that Count Antonio -talked with the dead in the vault of the Peschetti; whence came, I doubt -not, the foolish tales of which I have made mention. A seed is enough: -men's tongues water it and it grows to a great plant. Nor did any man -think that it was the hermit who talked; for although they knew of his -cave, they did not know nor imagine of the passage he had made, and his -voice was utterly strange, seeing that he had spoken no word to any -living man for twenty years, till he spoke with the Count that night. -Therefore the whole of Baratesta was in great fear; and they came to a -certain learned priest, who was priest of the church of St. John, and -told him. And he arose and came in great haste, and offered prayers -outside the vault, and bade the unquiet spirits rest; but he did not -offer to enter, nor did any one of them; but they all said, "We had -determined even before to await the Duke's Guard, and that is still the -wiser thing." - -For a great while the hermit could not understand what Antonio wanted of -him; for his thoughts were on his own state and with the dead; but at -length having understood that Antonio would be guided through the -passage and brought to the mouth of the cave, in the hope of finding -means to escape before the Duke's Commissaries came with the Guard, he -murmured wonderingly, "Do you then desire to live?" and rose, and led -Antonio where the coffin stood upright against the wall as Antonio had -seen it; but it was now moved a little to one side, and there was a -narrow opening, through which the Count had much ado to pass; and in his -struggles he upset the coffin, and it fell with a great crash; whereat -all who were outside the vault fled suddenly to a distance of a hundred -yards or more in panic, expecting now to see the door of the vault open -and the dead walk forth: nor could they be persuaded to come nearer -again. But Antonio, with a great effort, made his way through the -opening, and followed the hermit along a narrow rough-hewn way, -Antonio's shoulders grazing the rock on either side as he went; and -having pursued this way for fifteen or twenty paces, they turned to the -right sharply, and went on another ten paces, and, having passed through -another narrow opening, were in the cave; and the river glistened before -their eyes, for it was now dawn. And the hermit, perceiving that it was -dawn, and fearing to see the sun, turned to flee back to the vault; but -Antonio, being full of pity for him, detained him, and besought him to -abandon his manner of life, assuring him that certainly by now his sin -was purged: and when the hermit would not listen, Antonio followed him -back to the opening that led into the vault, and, forgetting his own -peril, reasoned with him for the space of an hour or more, but could not -prevail. So at last he bade him farewell very sorrowfully, telling him -that God had made him that day the instrument of saving a man's life, -which should be to him a sign of favour and forgiveness; but the hermit -shook his head and passed into the vault, and Antonio heard him again -talking to the dead Peschetti, and answering questions that his own -disordered brain invented. - -Thus it was full morning when Antonio came again to the little cave by -the river, and bethought him what he should do for his own safety. And -suddenly, looking across the river, he beheld a gentleman whom he knew, -one Lepardo, a Commissary of the Duke's, and with him thirty of the -Duke's Guard; and they were riding very fast; for, having started at -midnight to avoid the heat of the sun (it being high summer), so soon as -they reached the outskirts of Baratesta, they had heard that Antonio was -in the vault, and were now pressing on to cross the bridge and come upon -him. And Antonio knew that Lepardo was a man of courage and hardihood, -and would be prevented by nothing from entering the vault. But on a -sudden Lepardo checked his horse, uttering a loud cry; for to his great -amazement he had seen Antonio as Antonio looked forth from the cave, -and he could not tell how he came to be there: and Antonio at once -withdrew himself into the shadow of the cave. Now the banks of the -stream on the side on which Lepardo rode were high and precipitous, and, -although it was summer, yet the stream was too deep for him to wade, and -flowed quickly; yet at Lepardo's bidding, six of his stoutest men -prepared to leap down the bank and go in search of Antonio; and Antonio, -discerning that they would do this, and blaming himself for his rashness -in looking out so incautiously, was greatly at a loss what to do; for -now he was hemmed in on either side; and he saw nothing but to sell his -life dearly and do some deed that should ornament his death. So he -retreated again along the passage and passed through the opening into -the vault; and he summoned the hermit to aid him, and between them they -set not one only, but a dozen of the coffins of the Peschetti against -the opening, laying them lengthwise and piling one on the top of the -other hoping that Lepardo's men would not discover the opening, or -would at least be delayed some time before they could thrust away the -coffins and come through. Then Antonio took his place by the gate of the -vault again, sword in hand, saying grimly to the hermit, "If you seek -Death, sir, he will be hereabouts before long." - -But the Count Antonio was not a man whom his friends would abandon to -death unaided; and while the Syndic was watching Antonio, the four young -men who were with the Count made their escape from Cesare's house; and, -having separated from one another, rode by four different ways towards -the hills, using much wariness. Yet three of them were caught by the -Duke's company that watched in the plain, and, having been soundly -flogged, were set to work as servants in the camp. But the fourth came -safe to the hills, and found there Tommasino and Bena; and Tommasino, -hearing of Antonio's state, started with Bena and eighteen more to -rescue him or die with him. And they fell in with a scouting party of -the Duke's, and slew every man of them to the number of five, losing two -of their own number; but thus they escaped, there being none left to -carry news to the camp; and they rode furiously, and, by the time they -came near Baratesta, they were not more than a mile behind Lepardo's -company. But Lepardo, when he had detached the six men to watch Antonio, -rode on hastily to find the Syndic, and learn from him the meaning of -what he had seen; and thus Tommasino, coming opposite to the mouth of -the hermit's cave, saw no more than six horses tethered on the river -bank, having the Duke's escutcheon wrought on their saddle-cloths. Then -he leapt down, and, running to the edge of the bank, saw a man -disappearing into the mouth of the cave, dripping wet; and this man was -the last of the six who had swum the river, and were now groping their -way with great caution along the narrow track that the hermit had made. -Now Tommasino understood no more than Lepardo that there was any opening -from the cave to the vault, but he thought that the Duke's men did not -swim the river for their pleasure, and he bade Bena take five and watch -what should happen, while he rode on with the rest. - -"If they come out again immediately," he said, "you will have them at a -disadvantage; but if they do not come out, go in after them; for I know -not what they are doing unless they are seeking my cousin or laying some -trap for him." - -Then Tommasino rode after Lepardo; and Bena, having given the Duke's men -but the briefest space in which to come out again from the cave, -prepared to go after them. And the Duke's men were now much alarmed; for -the last man told them of the armed men on the bank opposite, and that -they did not wear the Duke's badge; so the six retreated up the passage -very silently, but they could not find any opening, for it grew darker -at every step, and they became much out of heart. Then Bena's men -crossed the river and entered the mouth of the cave after them. Thus -there was fair likelihood of good fighting both in the passage and by -the gate of the vault. - -But the Count Antonio, not knowing that any of his band were near, had -ceased to hope for his life, and he sat calm and ready, sword in hand, -while the hermit withdrew to a corner of the vault, and crouched there -muttering his mad answers and questions, and ever and again hailing some -one of the dead Peschetti by name as though he saw him. Then suddenly a -coffin fell with a loud crash from the top of the heap on to the floor; -for the Duke's men had found the opening and were pushing at it with -hand and shoulder. Antonio sprang to his feet and left the gate and went -and stood ready by the pile of coffins. But again on a sudden came a -tumult from beyond the opening; for Bena and his five also were now in -the passage, and the foremost of them--who indeed was Bena himself--had -come upon the hindmost of the Duke's men, and the six, finding an enemy -behind them, pushed yet more fiercely and strenuously against the -coffins. And no man in the passage saw any man, it being utterly dark; -and they could not use their swords for lack of space, but drew their -daggers and thrust fiercely when they felt a man's body near. So in the -dark they pushed and wrestled and struggled and stabbed, and the sound -of their tumult filled all the vault and spread beyond, being heard -outside; and many outside crossed themselves for fear, saying, "Hell is -broke loose! God save us!" But at that moment came Lepardo and his -company; and he, having leapt from his horse and heard from the Syndic -that Antonio was in very truth in the vault, drew his sword and came at -the head of his men to the door; and hearing the tumult from within, he -cried in scorn, "These are no ghosts!" and himself with his boldest -rushed at the door, and they laid hold on the handles of it and wrenched -it open. But Antonio, perceiving that the door was wrenched open, and -not yet understanding that any of his friends were near, suddenly flung -himself prone on the floor by the wall of the vault, behind two of the -coffins which the efforts of the Duke's men had dislodged; and there he -lay hidden; so that Lepardo, when he rushed in, saw no man, for the -corner where the hermit crouched was dark; but the voice of the madman -came, saying, "Welcome! Do you bring me another of the Peschetti? He is -welcome!" Then the Duke's men, having pushed aside all the coffins save -one, came tumbling and scrambling over into the vault, where they found -Lepardo and his followers; and hot on their heels came Bena and his -five, so that the vault was full of men. And now from outside also came -the clatter of hoofs and hoarse cries and the clash of steel; for -Tommasino had come, and had fallen with great fury on those of Lepardo's -men who were outside and on the Syndic's levies that watched from afar -off. And fierce was the battle outside; yet it was fiercer inside, where -men fought in a half-light, scarcely knowing with whom they fought, and -tripping hither and thither over the coffins of the Peschetti that were -strewn about the floor. - -Then the Count Antonio arose from where he lay and he cried aloud, "To -me, to me! To me, Antonio of Monte Velluto!" and he rushed to the -entrance of the vault. Bena, hailing the Count's voice, and cutting down -one who barred the way, ran to Antonio in great joy to find him alive -and whole. And Antonio came at Lepardo, who stood his onset bravely, -although greatly bewildered to find a party of Antonio's men where he -had looked for Antonio alone. And he cried to his men to rally round -him, and, keeping his face and his blade towards the Count, began to -fall back towards the mouth of the vault, in order to rejoin his men -outside; for there also he perceived that there was an enemy. Thus -Lepardo fell back, and Antonio pressed on. But, unnoticed by any, the -mad hermit now sprang forth from the corner where he had been; and, as -Antonio was about to thrust at Lepardo, the hermit caught him by the -arm, and with the strength of frenzy drew him back, and thrust himself -forward, running even on the point of Lepardo's sword that was ready for -Count Antonio; and the sword of Lepardo passed through the breast of the -hermit of the vault, and protruded behind his back between his -shoulders; and he fell prone on the floor of the vault, crying -exultantly, "Death! Thanks be to God, death!" And then and there he died -of the thrust that Lepardo gave him. But Antonio with Bena and three -more--for two of Bena's five were slain--drove Lepardo and his men back -before them, and thus won their way to the gate of the vault, where, to -their joy, they found that Tommasino more than held his own; for he had -scattered Lepardo's men, and the Syndic's were in full flight, save -eight or ten of the old soldiers who had served in Free Companies; and -these stood in a group, their swords in their right hands and daggers in -the left, determined to die dearly; and the grizzly-haired fellow who -had killed Antonio's horse had assumed command of them. - -"Here are some fellows worth fighting, my lord," said Bena to Tommasino -joyfully. "Let us meet them, my lord, man for man, an equal number of -us." For although Bena had killed one man and maimed another in the -vault, he saw no reason for staying his hand. - -"Aye, Bena," laughed Tommasino. "These fellows deserve to die at the -hands of men like us." - -But while they prepared to attack, Antonio cried suddenly, "Let them be! -There are enough men dead over this matter of Cesare's treasure." And he -compelled Tommasino and Bena to come with him, although they were very -reluctant; and they seized horses that had belonged to Lepardo's men; -and, one of Tommasino's men also being dead, Bena took his horse. Then -Antonio said to the men of the Free Companies, "What is your quarrel -with me? I do but take what is mine. Go in peace. This Syndic is no -master of yours." But the men shook their heads and stood their ground. -Then Antonio turned and rode to the entrance of the vault where his band -was now besieging Lepardo, and he cried to Lepardo, "Confer with me, -sir. You can come forth safely." And Lepardo came out from the vault, -having lost there no fewer than five men, and having others wounded; and -he was himself wounded in his right arm and could not hold his sword. -Then the Count said to him, "Sir, it is no shame for a man to yield when -fortune is against him. And I trust that I am one to whom a gentleman -may yield without shame. See, the Syndic's men are fled, and yours are -scattered, and these men, who stand bravely together, are not enough to -resist me." - -And Lepardo answered sadly--for he was very sorry that he had failed to -take Antonio--"Indeed, my lord, we are worsted. For we are not ten men -against one, as I think they should be who seek to overcome my lord -Antonio." - -To this Antonio bowed most courteously, saying, "Nay, it is rather -fortune, sir." - -And Lepardo said, "Yet we can die, in case you put unseemly conditions -on us, my lord." - -"There is no condition save that you fight no more against me to-day," -said Antonio. - -"So let it be, my lord," said Lepardo; and to this the men of the Free -Companies also agreed, and they mingled with Antonio's band, and two of -them joined themselves to Antonio that day, and were with him -henceforward, one being afterwards slain on Mount Agnino, and the other -preserving his life through all the perils that beset the Count's -company. - -Then Antonio went back to the house of Cesare, and brought forth the -body of Cesare, and, having come to the vault, he caused those who had -been slain to be carried out, and set the coffins again in decent order, -and laid Cesare, the last of the house, there. But when the corpse of -the hermit was brought out, all marvelled very greatly, and had much -compassion for him when they heard from the lips of Count Antonio his -pitiful story; and Antonio bestowed out of the moneys that he had from -Cesare a large sum that masses might be said for the soul of the hermit. -"For of a surety," said the Count, "it was Heaven's will that through -his misfortune and the strange madness that came upon him my life should -be saved." - -These things done, Antonio gathered his band, and, having taken farewell -of Lepardo and commended him for the valour of his struggle, prepared to -ride back to the hills. And his face was grave, for he was considering -earnestly how he should escape the hundred men who lay watching for him -in the plain. But while he considered, Tommasino came to him and said, -"All Baratesta is ours, cousin. Cannot we get a change of coat, and thus -ride with less notice from the Duke's camp?" And Antonio laughed also, -and they sent and caught twenty men of Baratesta, grave merchants and -petty traders, and among them Bena laid hold of the Syndic, and brought -him in his chair to Antonio; and the Count said to the Syndic, "It is -ill meddling with the affairs of better men, Master Syndic. Off with -that gown of yours!" - -And they stripped the Syndic of his gown, and Antonio put on the gown. -Thus the Syndic had need very speedily of the new gown which he had -contracted to purchase of the lame tailor as the price of the tailor's -information. And all Antonio's men clothed themselves like merchants and -traders, Antonio in the Syndic's gown taking his place at their head; -and thus soberly attired, they rode out soberly from Baratesta, neither -Lepardo nor any of his men being able to restrain themselves from -laughter to see them go; and most strange of all was Bena, who wore an -old man's gown of red cloth trimmed with fur. - -It was now noon, and the band rode slowly, for the sun was very hot, and -several times they paused to take shelter under clumps of trees, so that -the afternoon waned before they came in sight of the Duke's encampment. -Soon then they were seen in their turn; and a young officer of the -Guard with three men came pricking towards them to learn their business; -and Antonio hunched the Syndic's gown about his neck and pulled his cap -down over his eyes, and thus received the officer. And the officer was -deluded and did not know him, but said, "Is there news, Syndic?" - -"Yes, there is news," said Antonio. "The hermit of the vault of the -Peschetti is dead at Baratesta." - -"I know naught of him," said the officer. - -By this time Antonio's men had all crowded round the officer and his -companions, hemming them in on every side; and those that watched from -the Duke's camp saw the merchants and traders flocking round the -officer, and said to themselves, "They are offering wares to him." But -Antonio said, "How, sir? You have never heard of the hermit of the -vault?" - -"I have not, Syndic," said the officer. - -"He was a man, sir," said Antonio, "who dwelt with the dead in a vault, -and was so enamoured of death, that he greeted it as a man greets a dear -friend who has tarried overlong in coming." - -"In truth, a strange mood!" cried the officer. "I think this hermit was -mad." - -"I also think so," said Antonio. - -"I cannot doubt of it," cried the officer. - -"Then, sir, you are not of his mind?" asked Antonio, smiling. "You would -not sleep this night with the dead, nor hold out your hands to death as -to a dear friend?" - -"By St. Prisian, no," said the young officer with a laugh. "For this -world is well enough, Syndic, and I have sundry trifling sins that I -would be quit of, before I face another." - -"If that be so, sir," said Antonio, "return to him who sent you, and say -that the Syndic of Baratesta rides here with a company of friends and -that his business is lawful and open to no suspicion." And even as -Antonio spoke, every man drew his dagger, and there were three daggers -at the heart of the officer and three at the heart of each of the men -with him. "For by saying this," continued the Count, fixing his eyes on -the officer, "and by no other means can you escape immediate death." - -Then the officer looked to right and left, being very much bewildered; -but Tommasino touched him on the arm and said, "You have fallen, sir, -into the hands of the Count Antonio. Take an oath to do as he bids you, -and save your life." And Antonio took off the Syndic's cap and showed -his face; and Bena rolled up the sleeve of his old man's gown and showed -the muscles of his arm. - -"The Count Antonio!" cried the officer and his men in great dismay. - -"Yes; and we are four to one," said Tommasino. "You have no choice, sir, -between the oath and immediate death. And it seems to me that you are -indeed not of the mind of the hermit of the vault." - -But the officer cried, "My honour will not suffer this oath, my lord." -And, hearing this, Bena advanced his dagger. - -But Antonio smiled again and said, "Then I will not force it on you, -sir. But this much I must force on you--to swear to abide here for -half-an-hour, and during that time to send no word and make no sign to -your camp." - -To this the officer, having no choice between it and death, agreed; and -Antonio, leaving him, rode forward softly; and, riding softly, he passed -within half-a-mile of the Duke's encampment. But at this moment the -officer, seeing Antonio far away, broke his oath, and shouted loudly, -"It is Antonio of Monte Velluto;" and set spurs to his horse. Then -Antonio's brow grew dark and he said, "Ride on swiftly, all of you, to -the hills, and leave me here." - -"My lord!" said Tommasino, beseeching him. - -"Ride on!" said Antonio sternly. "Ride at a gallop. You will draw them -off from me." - -And they dared not disobey him, but all rode on. And now there was a -stir in the Duke's camp, men running for their arms and their horses. -But Antonio's band set themselves to a gallop, making straight for the -hills; and the commander of the Duke's Guard did not know what to make -of the matter; for he had heard the officer cry "Antonio," but did not -understand what he meant; therefore there was a short delay before the -pursuit after the band was afoot; and the band thus gained an advantage, -and Antonio turned away, saying, "It is enough. They will come safe to -the hills." - -But he himself drew his sword and set spurs to his horse, and he rode -towards where the young officer was. And at first the officer came -boldly to meet him; then he wavered, and his cheek went pale; and he -said to the men who rode with him, "We are four to one." - -But one of them answered, "Four to two, sir." - -"What do you mean?" cried the officer. "I see none coming towards us but -Count Antonio himself." - -"Is not God also against oath-breakers?" said the fellow, and he looked -at his comrades. And they nodded their heads to him; for they were -afraid to fight by the side of a man who had broken his oath. Moreover -the figure of the Count was very terrible; and the three turned aside -and left the young officer alone. - -Now by this time the whole of the Duke's encampment was astir; but they -followed not after Antonio, but after Tommasino and the rest of the -band; for they did not know Antonio in the Syndic's gown. Thus the -young officer was left alone to meet Antonio; and when he saw this his -heart failed him and his courage sank, and he dared not await Antonio, -but he turned and set spurs to his horse, and fled away from Antonio -across the plain. And Antonio pursued after him, and was now very near -upon him; so that the officer saw that he would soon be overtaken, and -the reins fell from his hand and he sat on his horse like a man smitten -with a palsy, shaking and trembling: and his horse, being unguided, -stumbled as it went, and the officer fell off from it; and he lay very -still on the ground. Then Count Antonio came up where the officer was, -and sat on his horse, holding his drawn sword in his hand; and in an -instant the officer began to raise himself; and, when he stood up, he -saw Antonio with his sword drawn. And Antonio said, "Shall men without -honour live?" - -Then the officer gazed into the eyes of the Count Antonio; and the sweat -burst forth on his forehead. A sudden strange choking cry came from him; -he dropped his sword from his hand, and with both hands he suddenly -clasped his heart, uttering now a great cry of pain and having his face -wrung with agony. Thus he stood for an instant, clutching his heart with -both his hands, his mouth twisted fearfully, and then he dropped on to -the ground and lay still. And the Count Antonio sheathed his sword, and -bared his head, saying, "It is not my sword, but God's." - -And he turned and put his horse to a gallop and rode away, not seeking -to pass the Duke's encampment, but directing his way towards the village -of Rilano; and there he found shelter in the house of a friend for some -hours, and when night fell, made his way safely back to the hills, and -found that the Duke's men had abandoned the pursuit of his company and -that all of them were alive and safe. - -But when they came to take up the young officer who had been false to -his oath, he was dead; whether from fright at the aspect of Count -Antonio and the imminent doom with which he was threatened, or by some -immediate judgment of Heaven, I know not. For very various are the -dealings of God with man. For one crime He will slay and tarry not, and -so, perchance, was it meted out to that officer; but with another man -His way is different, and He suffers him to live long days, mindful of -his sin, in self-hatred and self-scorn, and will not send him the relief -of death, how much soever the wretch may pray for it. Thus it was that -God dealt with the hermit of the vault of the Peschetti, who did not -find death till he had sought it for twenty-and-three years. I doubt not -that in all there is purpose; even as was shown in the manner wherein -the hermit, being himself bound and tied to a miserable life, was an -instrument in saving the life of Count Antonio. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -COUNT ANTONIO AND THE LADY OF RILANO. - - -From the lips of Tommasino himself, who was cousin to Count Antonio, -greatly loved by him, and partaker of all his enterprises during the -time of his sojourn as an outlaw in the hills, this, the story of the -Lady of Rilano, came to my venerable brother in Christ, Niccolo; and the -same Niccolo, being a very old man, told it to me, so that I know that -the story is true and every part of it, and tread here not on the -doubtful ground of legend, but on the firm rock of the word of honest -men. There is indeed one thing doubtful, Tommasino himself being unable -to know the verity of it; yet that one thing is of small moment, for it -is no more than whether the lady came first to Duke Valentine, offering -her aid, or whether the Duke, who since the affair of the sacred bones -had been ever active in laying schemes against Antonio, cast his eyes on -the lady, and, perceiving that she was very fair and likely to serve his -turn, sent for her, and persuaded her by gifts and by the promise of a -great marriage to take the task in hand. - -Be that as it may, it is certain that in the fourth year of Count -Antonio's outlawry, the Lady Venusta came from Rilano, where she dwelt, -and talked alone with the Duke in his cabinet; so that men (and women -with greater urgency) asked what His Highness did to take such a one -into his counsels; for he had himself forbidden her to live in the city -and constrained her to abide in her house at Rilano, by reason of -reports touching her fair fame. Nor did she then stay in Firmola, but, -having had audience of the Duke, returned straightway to Rilano, and for -the space of three weeks rested there; and the Duke told nothing to his -lords of what had passed between him and the lady, while the Count -Antonio and his friends knew not so much as that the Duke had held -conference with the lady; for great penalties had been decreed against -any man who sent word to Antonio of what passed in Firmola, and the -pikemen kept strict guard on all who left or entered the city, so that -it was rather like a town besieged than the chief place of a peaceful -realm. - -Now at this time, considering that his hiding-place was too well known -to the Lord Lorenzo and certain of the Duke's Guard, Count Antonio -descended from the hills by night, and, having crossed the plain, -carrying all his equipment with him, mounted again into the heights of -Mount Agnino and pitched his camp in and about a certain cave, which is -protected on two sides by high rocks and on the third by the steep banks -of a river, and can be approached by one path only. This cave was known -to the Duke, but he could not force it without great loss, so that -Antonio was well nigh as safe as when his hiding-place had been unknown; -and yet he was nearer by half to the city, and but seven miles as a bird -flies from the village of Rilano where the Lady Venusta dwelt; although -to one who travelled by the only path that a man could go upright on -his feet the distance was hard on eleven miles. But no other place was -so near, and from Rilano Antonio drew the better part of the provisions -and stores of which he had need, procuring them secretly from the -people, who were very strictly enjoined by the Duke to furnish him with -nothing under pain of forfeiture of all their goods. - -Yet one day, when the man they called Bena and a dozen more rode in the -evening through Rilano, returning towards the cave, the maid-servant of -Venusta met them, and, with her, men bearing a great cask of fine wine, -and the maid-servant said to Bena, "My mistress bids you drink; for good -men should not suffer thirst." - -But Bena answered her, asking, "Do you know who we are?" - -"Aye, I know, and my lady knows," said the girl. "But my lady says that -if she must live at Rilano, then she will do what she pleases in -Rilano." - -Bena and his men looked at one another, for they knew of His Highness's -proclamation, but the day having been hot, they being weary, the wine -seeming good, and a woman knowing her own business best, at last they -drank heartily, and, rendering much thanks, rode on and told Tommasino -what had been done. And Tommasino having told Antonio, the Count was -angry with Bena, saying that his gluttony would bring trouble on the -Lady Venusta. - -"She should not tempt a man," said Bena sullenly. - -All these things happened on the second day of the week; and on the -fourth, towards evening, as Antonio and Tommasino sat in front of the -cave, they saw coming towards them one of the band named Luigi, a big -fellow who had done good service and was also a merry jovial man that -took the lead in good-fellowship. And in his arms Luigi bore the Lady -Venusta. Her gown was dishevelled and torn, and the velvet shoes on -her feet were cut almost to shreds, and she lay back in Luigi's -arms, pale and exhausted. Luigi came and set her down gently before -Antonio, saying, "My lord, three miles from here, in the steepest and -roughest part of the way, I found this lady sunk on the ground and -half-swooning: when I raised her and asked how she came where she was, -and in such a plight, she could answer nothing save, 'Count Antonio! -Carry me to Count Antonio!' So I have brought her in obedience to her -request." - -As Luigi ended, Venusta opened her eyes, and, rising to her knees, held -out her hands in supplication, saying, "Protect me, my lord, protect me. -For the Duke has sent me word that to-morrow night he will burn my house -and all that it holds, and will take me and lodge me in prison, and so -use me there that I may know what befalls those who give aid to -traitors. And all this comes upon me, my lord, because I gave a draught -of wine to your men when they were thirsty." - -"I feared this thing," said Antonio, "and deeply I grieve at it. But I -am loth to go in open war against the Duke; moreover in the plain he -would be too strong for me. What then can I do? For here is no place in -which a lady, the more if she be alone and unattended, can be lodged -with seemliness." - -"If the choice be between this and a prison----" said Venusta with a -faint sorrowful smile. - -"Yet it might be that I could convey you beyond His Highness's power," -pursued Antonio. "But I fear you could not travel far to-night." - -"Indeed I am weary even to death," moaned Venusta. - -"There is nothing for it but that to-night at least she rest here," said -Antonio to Tommasino. - -Tommasino frowned. "When woman comes in," said he behind the screen of -his hand, "safety flies out." - -"Better fly safety than courtesy and kindness, cousin," said Count -Antonio, and Tommasino ceased to dissuade him, although he was uneasy -concerning the coming of Venusta. - -That night, therefore, all made their camp outside, and gave the cave to -Venusta for her use, having made a curtain of green boughs across its -mouth. But again the next day Venusta was too sick for travel; nay, she -seemed very sick, and she prayed Luigi to go to Rilano and seek a -physician; and Luigi, Antonio having granted him permission, went, and -returned saying that no physician dared come in face of His Highness's -proclamation; but the truth was that Luigi was in the pay of Venusta and -of the Duke, and had sought by his journey not a physician, but means of -informing the Duke how Venusta had sped, and of seeking counsel from him -as to what should next be done. And that day and for four days more -Venusta abode in the cave, protesting that she could not travel; and -Antonio used her with great courtesy, above all when he heard that the -Duke, having stayed to muster all his force for fear of Antonio, had at -length appointed the next day for the burning of her house at Rilano and -the carrying off of all her goods. These tidings he gave her, and though -he spoke gently, she fell at once into great distress, declaring that -she had not believed the Duke would carry out his purpose, and weeping -for her jewels and prized possessions which were in the house. - -Now Count Antonio, though no true man could call him fool, had yet a -simplicity nobler it may be than the suspicious wisdom of those who, -reading other hearts by their own, count all men rogues and all women -wanton: and when he saw the lady weeping for the trinkets and her loved -toys and trifles, he said, "Nay, though I cannot meet the Duke face to -face, yet I will ride now and come there before him, and bring what you -value most from the house." - -"You will be taken," said she, and she gazed at him with timid admiring -eyes. "I had rather a thousand times lose the jewels than that you -should run into danger, my lord. For I owe to you liberty, and perhaps -life." - -"I will leave Tommasino to guard you and ride at once," and Antonio rose -to his feet, smiling at her for her foolish fears. - -Then a thing that seemed strange happened. For Antonio gave a sudden cry -of pain. And behold, he had set his foot on the point of a dagger that -was on the ground near to the Lady Venusta; and the dagger ran deep into -his foot, for it was resting on a stone and the point sloped upwards, so -that he trod full and with all his weight on the point; and he sank back -on the ground with the dagger in his foot. How came the dagger there? -How came it to rest against the stone? None could tell then, though it -seems plain to him that considers now. None then thought that the lady -who fled to Antonio as though he were her lover, and lavished tears and -sighs on him, had placed it there. Nor that honest Luigi, who made such -moan of his carelessness in dropping his poniard, had taken more pains -over the losing of his weapon than most men over the preservation of -theirs. Luigi cursed himself, and the lady cried out on fate; and Count -Antonio consoled both of them, saying that the wound would soon be well, -and that it was too light a matter for a lady to dim her bright eyes for -the sake of it. - -Yet light as the matter was, it was enough for Venusta's purpose and for -the scheme of Duke Valentine. For Count Antonio could neither mount his -horse nor go afoot to Venusta's house in Rilano; and, if the jewels were -to be saved and the lady's tears dried (mightily, she declared with -pretty self-reproach, was she ashamed to think of the jewels beside -Antonio's hurt, but yet they were dear to her), then Tommasino must go -in his place to Rilano. - -"And take all save Bena and two more," said Antonio. "For the Duke will -not come here if he goes to Rilano." - -"I," said Bena, "am neither nurse nor physician nor woman. Let Martolo -stay; he says there is already too much blood on his conscience; and let -me go, for there is not so much as I could bear on mine, and maybe we -shall have a chance of an encounter with the foreguard of the Duke." - -But Venusta said to Antonio, "Let both of these men go, and let Luigi -stay. For he is a clever fellow, and will aid me in tending your wound." - -"So be it," said Antonio. "Let Luigi and the two youngest stay; and do -the rest of you go, and return as speedily as you may. And the Lady -Venusta shall, of her great goodness, dress my wound, which pains me -more than such a trifle should." - -Thus the whole band, saving Luigi and two youths, rode off early in the -morning with Tommasino, their intent being to reach Rilano and get clear -of it again before the Duke came thither from the city: and Venusta -sent no message to the Duke, seeing that all had fallen out most -prosperously and as had been arranged between them. For the Duke was not -in truth minded to go at all to Rilano; but at earliest dawn, before -Tommasino had set forth, the Lord Lorenzo left the city with a hundred -pikemen; more he would not take, fearing to be delayed if his troop were -too large; and he made a great circuit, avoiding Rilano and the country -adjacent to it. So that by mid-day Tommasino was come with -thirty-and-four men (the whole strength of the band except the three -with Antonio) to Rilano, and, meeting with no resistance, entered -Venusta's house, and took all that was precious in it, and loaded their -horses with the rich tapestries and the choicest of the furnishings; and -then, having regaled themselves with good cheer, started in the -afternoon to ride back to the cave, Tommasino and Bena grumbling to one -another because they had chanced on no fighting, but not daring to tarry -by reason of Antonio's orders. - -But their lamentations were without need; for when they came to the pass -of Mount Agnino, there at the entrance of the road which led up to the -cave, by the side of the river, was encamped a force of eighty pikemen -under the Lieutenant of the Guard. Thus skilfully had the Lord Lorenzo -performed his duty, and cut off Tommasino and his company from all -access to the cave; and now he himself was gone with twenty men up the -mountain path, to take Antonio according to the scheme of the Duke and -the Lady Venusta. But Bena and Tommasino were sore aghast, and said to -one another, "There is treachery. What are we to do?" For the eighty of -the Duke's men were posted strongly, and it was a great hazard to attack -them. Yet this risk they would have run, for they were ready rather to -die than to sit there idle while Antonio was taken; and in all -likelihood they would have died, had the Lieutenant obeyed the orders -which Lorenzo had given him and rested where he was, covered by the hill -and the river. But the Lieutenant was a young man, of hot temper and -impetuous, and to his mistaken pride it seemed as though it were -cowardice for eighty men to shrink from attacking thirty-and-five, and -for the Duke's Guards to play for advantage in a contest with a band of -robbers. Moreover Tommasino's men taunted his men, crying to them to -come down and fight like men in the open. Therefore, counting on a sure -victory and the pardon it would gain, about three o'clock in the -afternoon he cried, "Let us have at these rascals!" and to Tommasino's -great joy, his troop remounted their horses and made ready to charge -from their position. Then Tommasino said, "We are all ready to face the -enemy for my lord and cousin's sake. But I have need now of those who -will run away for his sake." - -Then he laid his plans that when the Lieutenant's troop charged, his men -should not stand their ground. And five men he placed on one extremity -of his line, Bena at their head; and four others with himself he posted -at the other extremity; also he spread out his line very wide, so that -it stretched on either side beyond the line of the Lieutenant. And he -bade the twenty-and-five in the centre not abide the onset, but turn and -flee at a gallop, trusting to the speed of their horses for escape. And -he made them fling away all that they had brought from the Lady -Venusta's house, that they might ride the lighter. - -"And I pray God," said he, "that you will escape alive; but if you do -not, it is only what your oath to my lord constrains you to. But you and -I, Bena, with our men, will ride, not back towards the plain, but on -towards the hills, and it may be that we shall thus get ahead of the -Lieutenant; and once we are ahead of him in the hilly ground, he will -not catch us before we come to the cave." - -"Unless," began Bena, "there be another party----" - -"Hist!" said Tommasino, and he whispered to Bena, "They will fear if -they hear all." - -Then the Duke's men came forth, and it fell out as Tommasino had -planned; for the body of the Duke's men, when they saw Tommasino's rank -broken and his band flying, set up a great shout of scorn and triumph, -and dug spurs into their horses and pursued the runaways. And the -runaways rode at their top speed, and, having come nearly to Rilano -without being caught, they were three of them overtaken and captured by -the well at the entrance to the village; but the rest, wheeling to the -right, dashed across the plain, making for Antonio's old hiding-place; -and, having lost two more of their number whose horses failed, and -having slain four of the Guard who pursued incautiously ahead of the -rest, they reached the spurs of the hills, and there scattered, every -man by himself, and found refuge, some in the woods, some in shepherds' -huts; so they came off with their lives. But the men with Tommasino and -Bena had ridden straight for the hill-road, and had passed the -Lieutenant before he apprehended Tommasino's scheme. Then he cried aloud -to his men, and eight of them, hearing him, checked their horses, but -could not understand what he desired of them till he cried aloud again, -and pointed with his hand towards where the ten, Tommasino leading and -Bena in the rear, had gained the hill-road and were riding up it as -swiftly as their horses could mount. Then the Lieutenant, cursing his -own folly, gathered them, and they rode after Tommasino and Bena. - -"Be of good heart," said the Lieutenant. "They are between us and the -company of my Lord Lorenzo." - -Yet though he said this, his mind was not at ease; for the horses of his -men, being unaccustomed to the hills, could not mount the road as did -the sure-footed mountain-horses ridden by Tommasino's company, and the -space widened between them; and at last Tommasino's company disappeared -from sight, at the point where the track turned sharp to the left, round -a great jutting rock that stood across the way and left room for but -three men to ride abreast between river and rock. Then the Lieutenant -drew rein and took counsel with his men, for he feared that Tommasino -would wait for him behind the jutting rock and dash out on his flank as -he rode round. Therefore for a while he considered, and a while longer -he allowed for the breathing of the horses; and then with great caution -rode on towards the jutting rock, which lay about the half of a mile -from him. And when he came near it, he and his men heard a voice cry, -"Quiet, quiet! They are close now!" - -"They will dash at us as we go round," said the Lieutenant. - -"And we can go no more than three together," said one of the guards. - -"Are you all ready?" said the voice behind the cliff, in accents that -but just reached round the rock. "Not a sound, for your lives!" Yet a -sound there was, as of a jingling bit, and then again an angry, "Curse -you, you clumsy fool, be still." And then all was still. - -"They are ready for us now," whispered a guard, with an uneasy smile. - -"I will go," said the Lieutenant. "Which two of you will lead the way -with me?" - -But the men grumbled, saying, "It is the way to death that you ask us to -lead, sir." - -Then the Lieutenant drew his men back, and as they retreated they made a -noise great hoping to make Tommasino think they were gone. And, having -thus withdrawn some five hundred paces, they rested in utter quiet for -half an hour. And it was then late afternoon. And the Lieutenant said, -"I will go first alone, and in all likelihood I shall be slain; but do -you follow immediately after me and avenge my death." And this they, -being ashamed for their first refusal, promised to do. Then the -Lieutenant rode softly forward till he came within twenty yards of the -rock, and he clapped spurs to his horse and shouted, and, followed close -by his men crying, "For God and our Duke!" charged round the jutting -rock. - -And behold, on the other side of it was not a man! And of Tommasino and -his company naught was to be seen--for they had used the last hour to -put a great distance between them and their pursuers--save that away, -far up the road, in the waning light of the sun, was to be dimly -perceived the figure of a man on horseback, who waved his hat to them -and, turning, was in an instant lost to view. And this man was Bena, -who, by himself and without a blow, had held the passage of the jutting -rock for hard on an hour, and thus given time to Tommasino to ride on -and come upon the rear of Lorenzo's company before the Lieutenant and -his men could hem them in on the other side. - -Thus had the day worn to evening, and long had the day seemed to -Antonio, who sat before the mouth of the cave, with Venusta by his side. -All day they had sat thus alone, for Luigi and the two youths had gone -to set snares in the wood behind the cave--or such was the pretext Luigi -made; and Antonio had let them go, charging them to keep in earshot. As -the long day passed, Antonio, seeking to entertain the lady and find -amusement for her through the hours, began to recount to her all that he -had done, how he had seized the Sacred Bones, the manner of his -difference with the Abbot of St. Prisian, and much else. But of the -killing of Duke Paul he would not speak; nor did he speak of his love -for Lucia till Venusta pressed him, making parade of great sympathy for -him. But when he had set his tongue to the task, he grew eloquent, his -eyes gleamed and his cheek flushed, and he spoke in the low reverent -voice that a true lover uses when he speaks of his mistress, as though -his wonted accents were too common and mean for her name. And Venusta -sat listening, casting now and again a look at him out of her deep -eyes, and finding his eyes never on hers but filled with the fancied -vision of Lucia. And at last, growing impatient with him, she broke out -petulantly, "Is this girl, then, different from all others, that you -speak of her as though she were a goddess?" - -"I would not have spoken of her but that you pressed me," laughed -Antonio. "Yet in my eyes she is a goddess, as every maid should be to -her lover." - -Venusta caught a twig from the ground and broke it sharp across. "Boys' -talk!" said she, and flung the broken twig away. - -Antonio laughed gently, and leant back, resting on the rock. "May be," -said he. "Yet is there none who talks boys' talk for you?" - -"I love men," said she, "not boys. And if I were a man I think I would -love a woman, not a goddess." - -"It is Heaven's chance, I doubt not," said Antonio, laughing again. "Had -you and I chanced to love, we should not have quarrelled with the boys' -talk nor at the name of goddess." - -She flushed suddenly and bit her lip, but she answered in raillery, -"Indeed had it been so, a marvel of a lover I should have had! For you -have not seen your mistress for many, many months, and yet you are -faithful to her. Are you not, my lord?" - -"Small credit not to wander where you love to rest," said Antonio. - -"And yet youth goes in waiting, and delights missed come not again," -said she, leaning towards him with a light in her eyes, and scanning his -fair hair and bronzed cheek, his broad shoulders and the sinewy hands -that nursed his knee. - -"It may well be that they will not come to me," he said. "For the Duke -has a halter ready for my throat, if by force or guile he can take me." - -She started at these words, searching his face; but he was calm and -innocent of any hidden meaning. She forced a laugh as she said, twisting -a curl of her hair round her finger, "The more reason to waste no time, -my Lord Antonio." - -Antonio shook his head and said lightly, "But I think he cannot take me -by force, and I know of no man in all the Duchy that would betray me to -a shameful death." - -"And of no woman?" she asked, glancing at him from under drooping -lashes. - -"No, for I have wronged none; and women are not cruel." - -"Yet there may be some, my lord, who call you cruel and therefore would -be cruel in vengeance. A lover faithful as you can have but one friend -among women." - -"I know of none such," he laughed. "And surely the vengeance would be -too great for the offence, if there were such." - -"Nay, I know not that," said Venusta, frowning. - -"I would trust myself to any woman, even though the Duke offered her -great rewards, aye, as readily as I put faith in Lucia herself, or in -you." - -"You couple me with her?" - -"In that matter most readily," said Antonio. - -"But in nothing else?" she asked, flushing again in anger, for still his -eyes were distant, and he turned them never on her. - -"You must pardon me," he said. "My eyes are blinded." - -For a moment she sat silent; then she said in a low voice, "But blind -eyes have learned to see before now, my lord." - -Then Antonio set his eyes on her; and now she could not meet them, but -turned her burning face away. For her soul was in tumult, and she knew -not now whether she loved or hated him, nor whether she would save or -still betray him. And the trust he had in her gnawed her guilty heart. -So that a sudden passion seized her, and she caught Antonio by the arm, -crying, "But if a woman held your life in her hand and asked your love -as its price, Antonio?" - -"Such a thing could not be," said he, wondering. - -"Nay, but it might. And if it were?" - -And Antonio, marvelling more and more at her vehemence, answered, "Love -is dear, and honour is dear; but we of Monte Velluto hold life of no -great price." - -"Yet it is a fearful and shameful thing to hang from the city wall." - -"There are worse things," said he. "But indeed I count not to do it;" -and he laughed again. - -Venusta sprang to her feet and paced the space between the cave and the -river bank with restless steps. Once she flung her hands above her head -and clasped them; then, holding them clasped in front of her, she stood -by Antonio and bent over him, till her hair, falling forward as she -stooped, brushed his forehead and mingled with his fair locks; and she -breathed softly his name, "Antonio, Antonio!" At this he looked up with -a great start, stretching up his hand as though to check her; but he -said nothing. And she, suddenly sobbing, fell on her knees by him; yet, -as suddenly, she ceased to sob, and a smile came on her lips, and she -leant towards him, saying again, "Antonio." - -"I pray you, I pray you," said he, seeking to stay her courteously. - -Then, careless of her secret, she flashed out in wrath, "Ah, you scorn -me, my lord! You care nothing for me. I am dirt to you. Yet I hold your -life in my hand!" And then in an instant she grew again softened, -beseeching, "Am I so hideous, dear lord, that death is better than my -love? For if you will love me, I will save you." - -"I know not how my life is in your hands," said he, glad to catch at -that and leave the rest of what Venusta said. - -"Is there any path that leads higher up into the mountains?" she asked. - -"Yes, there is one," said he; "but if need came now, I could not climb -it with this wounded foot of mine." - -"Luigi and the young men could carry you?" - -"Yes; but what need? Tommasino and the band will return soon." - -But she caught him by the hand, crying, "Rise, rise; call the men and -let them carry you. Come, there is no time for lingering. And if I save -you, my Lord Antonio----?" And a yearning question sounded in her voice. - -"If you save me a thousand times, I can do nothing else than pray you -spare me what is more painful than death to me," said he, looking away -from her and being himself in great confusion. - -"Come, come," she cried. "Call them! Perhaps some day----! Call them, -Antonio." - -But as she spoke, before Antonio could call, there came a loud cry from -the wood behind the cave, the cry of a man in some great strait. -Antonio's hand flew to his sword, and he rose to his feet, and stood -leaning on his sword. Then he cried aloud to Luigi. And in a moment -Luigi and one of the youths came running; and Luigi, casting one glance -at Venusta, said breathlessly, "My lord, Jacopo's foot slipped, and the -poor fellow has fallen down a precipice thirty feet deep on to the rocks -below, and we fear that he is sore hurt." - -Venusta sprang a step forward, for she suspected (what the truth was) -that Luigi himself had aided the slipping of Jacopo's foot by a sudden -lurch against him; but she said nothing, and Antonio bade Luigi go quick -and look after Jacopo, and take the other youth with him. - -"But we shall leave you unguarded, my lord," said Luigi with a cunning -show of solicitude. - -"I am in no present danger, and the youth may be dying. Go speedily," -said Antonio. - -Luigi turned, and with the other youth (Tommasino told Niccolo his name, -but Niccolo had forgotten it) rushed off; and even as he went, Venusta -cried, "It is a lie! You yourself brought it about!" But Luigi did not -hear her, and Antonio, left again alone, asked her, "What mean you?" - -"Nay, I mean naught," said she, affrighted, and, when faced by his -inquiring eyes, not daring to confess her treachery. - -"I hope the lad is not killed," said Antonio. - -"I care not for a thousand lads. Think of yourself, my lord!" And -planning to rouse Antonio without betraying herself, she said, "I -distrust this man Luigi. Is he faithful? The Duke can offer great -rewards." - -"He has served me well. I have no reason to mistrust him," said Antonio. - -"Ah, you trust every one!" she cried in passion and in scorn of his -simplicity. "You trust Luigi! You trust me!" - -"Why not?" said he. "But indeed now I have no choice. For they cannot -carry both Jacopo and me up the path." - -"Jacopo! You would stay for Jacopo?" she flashed out fiercely. - -"If nothing else, yet my oath would bind me not to leave him while he -lives. For we of the band are all bound to one another as brethren by an -oath, and it would look ill if I, for whom they all have given much, -were the first to break the oath. So here I am, and here I must stay," -and Antonio ended smiling, and, his foot hurting him while he stood, sat -down again and rested against the rock. - -It was now late, and evening fell; and Venusta knew that the Duke's men -should soon be upon them. And she sat down near Antonio and buried her -face in her hands, and she wept. For Antonio had so won on her by his -honour and his gentleness, and most of all by his loyal clinging to the -poor boy Jacopo, that she could not think of her treachery without -loathing and horror. Yet she dared not tell him; that now seemed worse -to her than death. And while they sat thus, Luigi came and told Antonio -that the youth was sore hurt and that they could not lift him. - -"Then stay by him," said Antonio. "I need nothing." - -And Luigi bowed, and, turning, went back to the other youth, and bade -him stay by Jacopo, while he went by Antonio's orders to seek for some -one to aid in carrying him. "I may chance," said he, "to find some -shepherds." So he went, not to seek shepherds, but to seek the Duke's -men, and tell them that they might safely come upon Antonio, for he had -now none to guard him. - -Then Antonio said to Venusta, "Why do you sit and weep?" - -For he thought that she wept because he had scorned the love in which -her words declared her to hold him, and he was sorry. But she made no -answer. - -And he went on, "I pray you, do not weep. For think not that I am blind -to your beauty or to the sweet kindness which you have bestowed upon me. -And in all things that I may, I will truly and faithfully serve you to -my death." - -Then she raised her head and she said, "That will not be long, Antonio." - -"I know not, but for so long as it may be," said he. - -"It will not be long," she said again, and burst into quick passionate -sobs, that shook her and left her at last breathless and exhausted. - -Antonio looked at her for a while and said, "There is something that you -do not tell me. Yet if it be anything that causes you pain or shame, you -may tell me as readily as you would any man. For I am not a hard man, -and I have many things on my own conscience that forbid me to judge -harshly of another." - -She raised her head and she lifted her hand into the air. The stillness -of evening had fallen, and a light wind blew up from the plain. There -seemed no sound save from the flowing of the river and the gentle -rustle of the trees. - -"Hark!" said she. "Hark! hark!" and with every repetition of the word -her voice rose till it ended in a cry of terror. - -Antonio set his hand to his ear and listened intently. "It is the sound -of men's feet on the rocky path," said he, smiling. "Tommasino returns, -and I doubt not that he brings your jewels with him. Will you not give -him a smiling welcome? Aye, and to me also your smiles would be welcome. -For your weeping melts my heart, and the dimness of your eyes is like a -cloud across the sun." - -Venusta's sobs had ceased, and she looked at Antonio with a face calm, -white, and set. "It is not the Lord Tommasino," she said. "The men you -hear are the Duke's men;" and then and there she told him the whole. Yet -she spoke as though neither he nor any other were there, but as though -she rehearsed for her own ear some lesson that she had learnt; so -lifeless and monotonous was her voice as it related the shameful thing. -And at last she ended saying, "Thus in an hour you will be dead, or -captured and held for a worse death. It is I who have done it." And she -bent her head again to meet her hands; yet she did not cover her face, -but rested her chin on her hands, and her eyes were fixed immovably on -Count Antonio. - -For the space of a minute or two he sat silent. Then he said, "I fear, -then, that Tommasino and the rest have had a fight against great odds. -But they are stout fellows, Tommasino, and old Bena, and the rest. I -hope it is well with them." Then, after a pause, he went on, "Yes, the -sound of the steps comes nearer. They will be here before long now. But -I had not thought it of Luigi. The rogue! I trust they will not find the -two lads." - -Venusta sat silent, waiting for him to reproach her. He read her thought -on her face, and he smiled at her, and said to her, "Go and meet them; -or go, if you will, away up the path. For you should not be here when -the end comes." - -Then she flung herself at his feet, asking forgiveness, but finding no -word for her prayer. "Aye, aye," said he gently. "But of God you must -ask it in prayers and good deeds." And he dragged himself to the cave -and set himself with his back against the rock and his face towards the -path along which the Duke's men must come. And he called again to -Venusta, saying, "I pray you, do not stay here." But she heeded him not, -but sat again on the ground, her chin resting on her hands and her eyes -on his. - -"Hark, they are near now!" said he. And he looked round at sky and -trees, and at the rippling swift river, and at the long dark shadows of -the hills; and he listened to the faint sounds of the birds and living -creatures in the wood. And a great lust of life came over him, and for a -moment his lip quivered and his head fell; he was very loth to die. Yet -soon he smiled again and raised his head, and so leant easily against -the rock. - -Now the Lord Lorenzo and his twenty men, conceiving that the Lieutenant -of the Guard could without difficulty hold Tommasino, had come along -leisurely, desiring to be in good order and not weary when they met -Antonio; for they feared him. And thus it was evening when they came -near the cave and halted a moment to make their plans; and here Luigi -met them and told them how Antonio was alone and unguarded. But Lorenzo -desired, if it were possible, to take Antonio alive and carry him alive -to the Duke, knowing that thus he would win His Highness's greatest -thanks. And while they talked of how this might best be effected, they -in their turn heard the sound of men coming up the road, this sound -being made by Tommasino, Bena, and their party, who had ridden as fast -as the weariness of their horses let them. But because they had ridden -fast, their horses were foundered, and they had dismounted, and were now -coming on foot; and Lorenzo heard them coming just as he also had -decided to go forward on foot, and had caused the horses to be led into -the wood and tethered there. And he asked, "Who are these?" - -Then one of his men, a skilled woodsman and hunter, listening, answered, -"They are short of a dozen, my lord. They must be come with tidings from -the Lieutenant of the Guard. For they would be more if the Lieutenant -came himself, or if by chance Tommasino's band had eluded him." - -"Come," said Lorenzo. "The capture of the Count must be ours, not -theirs. Let us go forward without delay." - -Thus Lorenzo and his men pushed on; and but the half of a mile behind -came Tommasino and his; and again, three or four miles behind them, came -the Lieutenant and his; and all these companies were pressing on towards -the cave where Antonio and Venusta were. But Tommasino's men still -marched the quicker, and they gained on Lorenzo, while the Lieutenant -did not gain on them; yet by reason of the unceasing windings of the -way, as it twisted round rocks and skirted precipices, they did not come -in sight of Lorenzo, nor did he see them; indeed he thought now of -nothing but of coming first on Antonio, and of securing the glory of -taking him before the Lieutenant came up. And Tommasino, drawing near -the cave, gave his men orders to walk very silently; for he hoped to -surprise Lorenzo unawares. Thus, as the sun sank out of sight, Lorenzo -came to the cave and to the open space between it and the river, and -beheld Antonio standing with his back against the rock and his drawn -sword in his hand, and Venusta crouched on the ground some paces away. -When Venusta saw Lorenzo, she gave a sharp stifled cry, but did not -move: Antonio smiled, and drew himself to his full height. - -"Your tricks have served you well, my lord," he said. "Here I am alone -and crippled." - -"Then yield yourself," said Lorenzo. "We are twenty to one." - -"I will not yield," said Antonio. "I can die here as well as at Firmola, -and a thrust is better than a noose." - -Then Lorenzo, being a gentleman of high spirit and courage, waved his -men back; and they stood still ten paces off, watching intently as -Lorenzo advanced towards Antonio, for, though Antonio was lamed, yet -they looked to see fine fighting. And Lorenzo advanced towards Antonio, -and said again, "Yield yourself, my lord." - -"I will not yield," said Antonio again. - -At this instant the woodsman who was with Lorenzo raised his hand to his -ear and listened for a moment; but Tommasino came softly, and the -woodsman was deceived. "It is but leaves," he said, and turned again to -watch Lorenzo. And that lord now sprang fiercely on Antonio and the -swords crossed. And as they crossed, Venusta crawled on her knees -nearer, and as the swords played, nearer still she came, none noticing -her, till at length she was within three yards of Lorenzo. He now was -pressing Antonio hard, for the Count was in great pain from his foot, -and as often as he was compelled to rest his weight on it, it came near -to failing him, nor could he follow up any advantage he might gain -against Lorenzo. Thus passed three or four minutes in the encounter. And -the woodsman cried, "Hark! Here comes the Lieutenant. Quick, my lord, or -you lose half the glory!" Then Lorenzo sprang afresh on Antonio. Yet as -he sprang, another sprang also; and as that other sprang there rose a -shout from Lorenzo's men; yet they did not rush to aid in the capture of -Antonio, but turned themselves round. For Bena, with Tommasino at his -heels, had shot among them like a stone hurled from a catapult; and this -man Bena was a great fighter; and now he was all aflame with love and -fear for Count Antonio. And he crashed through their ranks, and split -the head of the woodsman with the heavy sword he carried; and thus he -came to Lorenzo. But there in amazement he stood still. For Antonio and -Lorenzo had dropped their points and fought no more; but both stood with -their eyes on the slim figure of a girl that lay on the ground between -them; and blood was pouring from a wound in her breast, and she moaned -softly. And while the rest fought fiercely, these three stood looking on -the girl; and Lorenzo looked also on his sword, which was dyed three -inches up the blade. For as he thrust most fiercely at Antonio, Venusta -had sprung at him with the spring of a young tiger, a dagger flashing in -her hand, and in the instinct that sudden danger brings he had turned -his blade against her; and the point of it was deep in her breast before -he drew it back with horror and a cry of "Heavens! I have killed her!" -And she fell full on the ground at the feet of Count Antonio, who had -stood motionless in astonishment, with his sword in rest. - -Now the stillness and secrecy of Tommasino's approach had served him -well, for he had come upon Lorenzo's men when they had no thought of an -enemy, but stood crowded together, shoulder to shoulder; and several of -them were slain and more hurt before they could use their swords to any -purpose; but Tommasino's men had fallen on them with great fury, and had -broken through them even as Bena had, and, getting above them, were now, -step by step, driving them down the path, and formed a rampart between -them and the three who stood by the dying lady. And when Bena perceived -this advantage, wasting little thought on Venusta (he was a hard man, -this Bena), he cried to Antonio, "Leave him to me, my lord. We have him -sure!" and in an instant he would have sprung at Lorenzo, who, finding -himself between two enemies, knew that his state was perilous, but was -yet minded to defend himself. But Antonio suddenly cried in a loud -voice, "Stay!" and arrested by his voice, all stood still, Lorenzo -where he was, Tommasino and his men at the top of the path, and the -Guards just below them. And Antonio, leaning on his sword, stepped a -pace forward and said to Lorenzo, "My lord, the dice have fallen against -you. But I would not fight over this lady's body. The truth of all she -did I know, yet she has at the last died that I might live. See, my men -are between you and your men." - -"It is the hazard of war," said Lorenzo. - -"Aye," said Bena. "He had killed you, my Lord Antonio, had we not come." - -But Antonio pointed to the body of Venusta. And she, at the instant, -moaned again, and turned on her back, and gasped, and died: yet just -before she died, her eyes sought Antonio's eyes, and he dropped suddenly -on his knees beside her, and took her hand and kissed her brow. And they -saw that she smiled in dying. - -Then Lorenzo brushed a hand across his eyes and said to Antonio, "Suffer -me to go back with my men, and for a week there shall be a truce between -us." - -"Let it be so," said Antonio. - -And Bena smiled, for he knew that the Lieutenant of the Guard must now -be near at hand. But this he did not tell Antonio, fearing that Antonio -would tell Lorenzo. Then Lorenzo, with uncovered head, passed through -the rank of Tommasino's men; and he took up his dead, and with them went -down the path, leaving Venusta where she lay. And when he had gone two -miles, he met the Lieutenant and his party, pressing on. Yet when the -two companies had joined, they were no more than seventeen whole and -sound men, so many of Lorenzo's had Tommasino's party slain or hurt. -Therefore Lorenzo in his heart was not much grieved at the truce, for it -had been hard with seventeen to force the path to the cave against ten, -all unhurt and sound. And, having sorely chidden the Lieutenant of the -Guard, he rode back, and rested that night in Venusta's house at Rilano, -and the next day rode on to Firmola, and told Duke Valentine how the -expedition had sped. - -Then said Duke Valentine, "Force I have tried, and guile I have tried, -and yet this man is delivered from my hand. Fortune fights for him;" -and in chagrin and displeasure he went into his cabinet, and spoke to no -man, and showed himself nowhere in the city, for the space of three -days. But the townsmen, though they dared make no display, rejoiced that -Antonio was safe, and the more because the Duke had laid so cunning and -treacherous a snare for him. - -Now Antonio, Tommasino, and the rest, when they were left alone, stood -round the corpse of Venusta, and Antonio told them briefly all the story -of her treachery as she herself had told it to him. - -And when he had finished the tale, Bena cried, "She has deserved her -death." - -But Tommasino stooped down and composed her limbs and her raiment gently -with his hand, and when he rose up his eyes were dim, and he said, "Yes;" -but at the last she gave her life for Antonio. And though she deserved -death, it grieves me that she is gone to her account thus, without -confession, pardon, or the rites of Holy Church. - -Then Antonio said, "Behold, her death is her confession, and the same -should be her pardon. And for the rites----" - -He bent over her, and he dipped the tip of his finger in the lady's -blood that had flowed from her wounded breast; and lightly with his -finger-tip he signed the Cross in her own blood on her brow. "That," -said he, "shall be her Unction; and I think, Tommasino, it will serve." - -Thus the Lady Venusta died, and they carried her body down to Rilano and -buried it there. And in after-days a tomb was raised over her, which may -still be seen. But Count Antonio, being rejoined by such of his company -as had escaped by flight from the pursuit of the Duke's troop, abode -still in the hills, and albeit that his force was less, yet by the dread -of his name and of the deeds that he had done he still defied the power -of the Duke, and was not brought to submission. - -And whether the poor youth whom Luigi pushed over the precipice lived or -died, Niccolo knew not. But Luigi, having entered the service of the -Duke, played false to him also, and, being convicted on sure evidence of -taking to himself certain moneys that the Duke had charged him to -distribute to the poor, was hanged in the great square a year to the -very day after Venusta died; whereat let him grieve who will; I grieve -not. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE MANNER OF COUNT ANTONIO'S RETURN. - - -In all that I have written concerning Count Antonio, I have striven to -say that only which is surely based on truth and attested by credible -witness, and have left on one side the more marvellous tales such as the -credulity of ignorance and the fond licence of legend are wont to weave. -But as to the manner of his return there is no room for uncertainty, for -the whole account of it was recorded in the archives of the city by -order of Duke Valentine the Good, son and successor to that Duke who -outlawed Antonio; to which archives I, Ambrose, have had full access; -and I have now free permission to make known so much of them as may -serve for the proper understanding of the matter. And this same task is -one to which I set my pen willingly, conceiving that the story is -worthy of being known to every man in the Duchy; for while many may -censure the things that Antonio did in the days of his sojourn in the -hills, there can, I think, be none that will not look with approval on -his bearing in this last hap of fortune. Indeed he was a gallant -gentleman; and if, for that, I forgive him his sins too readily, in like -manner may our good St. Prisian intercede that my sins be forgiven me. - -Five years had the Count dwelt in the hills; five years had the Lady -Lucia mourned in the city; five years had Duke Valentine laid plans and -schemes. Then it fell out that a sickness came upon the city and the -country round it; many died, and more were sore stricken but by the -mercy of God narrowly escaped. Among those that suffered were the Duke -himself, and at the same time a certain gentleman, by name Count Philip -of Garda, a friend of Antonio's, and yet an obedient servant to the -Duke. Now when Antonio heard that Philip lay sick, he sent to him a rich -gift of choice meats and fruits by the hand of Tommasino. And Tommasino -came with six of the band and delivered the gift, and might have ridden -back in all safety, as did the six who came with him. But Philip had a -fair daughter, and Tommasino, caught by her charms, made bold to linger -at Philip's house, trusting that his presence there would not be known -to the Duke, and venturing his own neck for the smiles of red lips and -the glances of bright eyes, as young men have since this old world -began. But one of the Duke's spies, of whom he maintained many, brought -word to him of Tommasino's rashness; and as Tommasino at last rode forth -privily in the evening, singing a love-song and hugging in his bosom a -glove that the lady had suffered him to carry off, he came suddenly into -an ambush of the Duke's Guard, was pulled violently from his horse, and -before he could so much as draw his sword, behold, his arms were seized, -and the Lord Lorenzo stood before him, with doffed cap and mocking -smile! - -"My glove is like to cost me dear," said Tommasino. - -"Indeed, my lord," answered Lorenzo, "I fear there will be a reckoning -for it." Then he gave the word, and they set Tommasino bound on his -horse, and rode without drawing rein to the city. And when the Duke -heard the next morning of Tommasino's capture, he raised himself on his -couch, where he lay in the shade by the fish-pond under the wall of his -garden. "This is sweet medicine for my sickness," said he. "On the third -day from now, at noon, he shall die. Bid them raise a great gibbet in -front of my palace, so high that it shall be seen from every part of the -city and from beyond the walls; and on that gibbet Tommasino shall hang, -that all men may know that I, Valentine, am Duke and Lord of Firmola." -And he lay back again, pale and faint. - -But when word came to Antonio that Tommasino was taken, he withdrew -himself from the rest of the band who were lamenting the untoward -chance, and walked by himself to and fro for a long while. And he gazed -once on the picture of the Lady Lucia which was always round his neck. -Then he sat down and wrote a letter to the Duke, saying, "My gracious -lord, I am here with fifty men, stout and brave fellows; and if my -cousin dies, there shall be no peace in the Duchy. But my heart is heavy -already for those that have died in my quarrel, and I may not endure -Tommasino's death. Therefore let Tommasino go, and grant full pardon and -oblivion to him and to all who are here with me, and swear to do this -with a binding oath; and then I will come and deliver myself to you, and -suffer such doom as seems good to Your Highness. May Almighty God -assuage Your Highness's sickness and keep you in all things.--ANTONIO of -Monte Velluto." And this letter he sent to the Duke Valentine, who, -having received it, pondered long, but at last said to Lorenzo, "I do -not love to let Tommasino go, nor to pardon these lawless knaves; yet -for five years I have pursued Antonio and have not taken him. And I am -weary, and the country is racked and troubled by our strife." - -"With Antonio dead, all would be quiet, my lord," said Lorenzo. - -Then the Duke's eyes flashed and he said, "It shall be so. And bid them -strengthen the gibbet, for Antonio is a large man; and he shall surely -hang on it." - -Now Lorenzo was somewhat grieved, for he esteemed Antonio; yet he obeyed -the Duke's commands, and took from the Duke a letter for Antonio, -wherein His Highness swore to all that Antonio asked, and bade him come -alone or with one companion only into the city on the day that had been -before appointed for the hanging of Tommasino. And, further, the Lord -Lorenzo gathered together all the pikemen and every man that served the -Duke, and placed them all on guard, and proclaimed that any man besides -found carrying arms in the city should be held as the Duke's enemy. For -he feared that the townsmen who loved Antonio would attempt something on -his behalf. But when the townsmen saw the great force that Lorenzo had -gathered, they dared attempt nothing, although they were sore grieved -and lamented bitterly. And the Lady Lucia, looking from the window of -her house, beheld those who were erecting the gibbet, and wept for her -lover. As for Tommasino, when he heard that he was not to be hanged, -but to be set free, and Antonio to suffer death in his stead, he was -like a man mad, and his rage and grief could not be restrained; for he -declared that he would not live if Antonio died, and did not cease to -reproach himself bitterly. Therefore the Lord Lorenzo held him confined -in his own house, lest he should do himself some harm, or endeavour by -some desperate device to prevent Antonio from fulfilling his purpose; -but he treated him with all courtesy, for he was sorry for his plight. - -Now Count Antonio feared his companions and did not dare to tell them of -what he had done, lest their obedience should fail under a strain so -great, and they should by force prevent his going to the city. Therefore -he told them to rest quiet in their camp, while he, with Bena, went -about certain necessary business; and he bade them farewell, enjoining -them most strictly to do nothing against the Duke. - -"For," said he, "although I may not tell you fully what the business is -on which I go, yet I have good hope that His Highness is favourably -inclined to you, and that in a short space you will receive from him -pardon for all your offences. And that pardon I charge you to accept -with gratitude, and, having accepted it, be thenceforward loyal servants -to His Highness." - -"But will the Duke pardon you also, my lord, and the Lord Tommasino?" -asked Martolo. - -"He will pardon Tommasino also," answered Antonio. "And be assured that -I shall suffer nothing." And having said this, he shook every man by the -hand, thanking them for the love and service they had shown him; and he -and Bena were accompanied by all of them to the foot of Mount Agnino; -and there, in the early morning of the appointed day, Antonio mounted -his horse and rode with Bena into the plain. And as they rode, Bena said -to him, "My lord, why does the Duke grant this pardon?" - -"Because I give him what he asks as the price of it, Bena," answered -Antonio; and they rode on for a while. But when Bena saw that Antonio -turned his horse not towards Rilano, but directly across the plain -towards Firmola, he said, "My lord, whither are we riding?" - -"We are riding to the city, Bena," answered Antonio. "There is no cause -for fear; we go by leave and on the invitation of His Highness." - -"But will he let us go again?" asked Bena. - -"You will be free to go when you will," answered Antonio, "and me the -Duke will himself send forth from the city when I am ready to go." For -Lorenzo had promised in the Duke's name that Antonio's body, after it -had hung three days on the gibbet, should be carried from the city to -the church of St. Prisian at Rilano, and there interred with fitting -ceremony. - -"Yet I do not like this ride of ours," grumbled Bena. - -"Nay, I like it not myself," said Antonio, smiling. "But for the good of -my cousin and of all our company, we must go forward." And he stopped -for a moment and added, "Swear to me, Bena, by St. Prisian, to obey in -all I bid you in the city to-day, and not to draw your sword unless I -draw mine." - -"Do I not always obey you, my lord?" asked Bena. - -"But swear to me." - -"Well, then, I swear," said Bena, "though in truth, my lord, your word -is full as strong to me as any oath, whether by Prisian or another." For -this man whom they called Bena was a godless man, and one that held holy -things in light esteem. But he was a fine fighter and a loyal servant, -and God's mercy is infinite. It may be his heart was turned at last; -though indeed I have found no record of it. - -"My lord, will you see my Lady Lucia in the city?" asked Bena. - -"I trust at the least to see her face at her window," answered Antonio. - -"Will you have speech with her, my lord?" - -"If His Highness will grant me that favour, Bena." - -"Ah, I know now why you smiled, my lord, as you rode, just now. It will -be a bright day for you." And Bena laughed. - -"Indeed," said Antonio, "I trust that the day may be bright for me. Yes, -bright as the light of heaven." - -"There is no light brighter than the eyes of the girl a man loves," said -Bena. - -"Yes, there is one," said Antonio. But Bena did not understand his -meaning. - -Thus they rode till it wanted only two hours of noon; and then they were -within five miles of the city, and Bena, looking, beheld the great -gibbet rising above the walls of the city and standing forth grim and -black in front of the marble face of the Cathedral. - -"What is that, my lord," he cried, "which towers above the walls of the -city?" - -"Is it not enough to know when we come there?" answered Antonio. - -Then Bena sighed, and said to Antonio, "I find it in my heart, my lord, -to be half sorry that the Duke pardons us; for we lived a fine merry -life in the hills. Yet it will be pleasant to live at ease: and we have -adventures enough to tell our sweethearts, aye, and our children too, -when we grow old, and they come round us and ask us for stories of our -youth. I hope my boys will be good at a fight, my lord, and serve your -sons as I have served you." - -"It may be God's will that I leave no sons to bear my name, Bena." - -"I do not think that," said Bena with a laugh. - -They were now passing the hill on which stood the blackened walls of -Antonio's house, which Duke Valentine had burnt. - -Bena cried out at the sight. "You will need to spend much in rebuilding -it," said he. - -"Perhaps His Highness has provided another dwelling for me," said -Antonio. - -"To-night he will surely lodge you, my lord, in his own palace, or, may -be, with my Lord Lorenzo." - -"Wherever it may be, I shall sleep soundly," said Antonio. - -Now they were come near to the city, and they saw a body of pikemen -coming out to meet them, the Lieutenant of the Guard at the head. And -when they met, the Lieutenant bowed to Antonio, who greeted him most -courteously; and the pikemen spread themselves in front and behind and -on both sides of Antonio and Bena, and thus they went on towards the -bridge and the city gate. But Bena eyed the pikemen with no love, and -moved restlessly in his saddle. "These fellows," said he to Antonio, -"hem us in, my lord. Shall I make my horse threaten their toes a little, -so that they may give us more room?" - -"Let them be," said Antonio. "It is not for long, Bena." - -At the entrance of the gate stood Lorenzo, awaiting the Count, and there -they dismounted, and Antonio passed through the gate with Lorenzo, Bena -being close to him on the other side. And when Bena saw the great force -of pikemen, and, behind their ranks, a mighty throng of people, and when -he saw the tall gibbet and understood what it was, suddenly his face -went red and his hand flew to his sword. - -But Antonio caught his arm, saying, "My sword is not drawn, Bena." - -"My lord, what does it mean?" cried Bena in a loud voice, so that -Lorenzo heard and stayed his steps and looked at Bena. "Does he not -know?" he asked of Antonio. - -"He does not know yet," said Antonio. And to Bena he said, "I have need -of your sword, Bena. Give it me." - -"My sword, my lord?" - -"Yes, your sword." - -Bena looked at him with wondering frightened eyes; but slowly he -unbuckled his sword from his belt and gave it to Antonio. And Antonio -unbuckled his own sword also and gave them both to the Lieutenant of the -Guard, saying, "Sir, I pray you to restore Bena's to him in the evening, -and mine to me when I go forth to Rilano." - -But Bena clutched at Antonio's arm, crying again, "What does it mean, my -lord?" - -Then Antonio took him by the hand and said, "Are we to be afraid now of -what we have often faced together with light hearts, Bena?" - -"Are we to die?" asked Bena. - -"You are to live and beget those brave boys, Bena. But it is otherwise -with me," said Antonio. - -Then the Lord Lorenzo, who had looked in Bena's eyes, signed to four -pikemen to come near, and they came and stood near Bena; for Lorenzo -feared that he would not suffer Antonio to die without seeking to save -him or to die with him. - -"Nay, let him alone," said Antonio. "You will obey me of your free-will, -Bena?" - -"Yes, my lord," said Bena; and he looked up at the gibbet; and then he -caught Antonio's hand and kissed it a score of times; and he began to -sob as a child sobs. And the Guard, among whom were some that had felt -his arm, marvelled to see him thus moved. - -"Let us go on," said Antonio. "It is hard on noon, and I must keep my -tryst with His Highness." - -"His Highness awaits my lord by the fish-pond in the garden," said -Lorenzo; and he led Antonio to the palace and brought him through the -great hall and so to the fish-pond; and by it the Duke lay propped on -pillows, yet very richly arrayed; and his little son sat by him. Now -Lorenzo stood aloof, but Antonio came, and, kneeling, kissed the Duke's -hand, and then rose and stood before the Duke. But the boy cried, "Why, -it is my Lord Antonio! Have you come back to live in the city, my Lord -Antonio? Ah, I am glad of it!" - -"Nay, I have not come to live in the city, my little lord," said -Antonio. - -"Whither do you go then?" asked the boy. - -"His Highness sends me on a journey," said Antonio. - -"Is it far?" - -"Yes, it is far," said Antonio with a smile. - -"I wish he would send another and let you stay; then we could play at -robbers again in the great hall," said the little Duke. "Father, can you -find no other lord to go in Antonio's place?" - -The Duke turned his face, pale and wasted with sickness, and his eyes, -that seemed larger and deeper than they had been before, upon his son. -"I can send none but Antonio," said he. And calling to Lorenzo, he bade -him take the boy. But the boy went reluctantly, telling Antonio that he -must return speedily. "For you promised," said he, "to teach me how to -use my sword." And the Duke signed with his hand to Lorenzo, who lifted -the boy and carried him away, leaving Antonio alone with the Duke. - -"I have set my seal to the pardons as I swore," said the Duke; "and -Tommasino shall be free this evening; and all that he and the rest have -done against me shall be forgotten from this hour. Have you any cause of -complaint against me?" - -"None, my lord," said Count Antonio. - -"Is there anything that you ask of me?" - -"Nothing, my lord. Yet if it be Your Highness's pleasure that I should -have speech with the Lady Lucia and with my cousin, I should be well -pleased." - -"You will see them yonder in the square," said the Duke. "But otherwise -you shall not see them." - -Then Lorenzo returned, and he led Antonio to a chamber and gave him meat -and wine; and while Antonio ate, the Lord Archbishop, having heard that -he was come, came in great haste; and the venerable man was very urgent -with Antonio that he should make his peace with Heaven, so that, having -confessed his sins and sought absolution, he might be relieved of the -sentence of excommunication under which he lay, and be comforted with -the rites of the Church before he died. - -"For there are many wild and wicked deeds on your conscience," said the -Archbishop, "and above all, the things that you did touching the Abbot -of St. Prisian, and yet more impiously touching the Sacred Bones." - -"Indeed I have many sins to confess," said Antonio; "but, my Lord -Archbishop, concerning the Abbot and concerning the Sacred Bones I have -nothing to confess. For even now, when I stand on the threshold of -death, I can perceive nothing that I did save what I could not leave -undone." - -Then the Archbishop besought him very earnestly, and even with tears; -but Antonio would own no sin in these matters, and therefore the -Archbishop could not relieve him from his sentence nor give him the holy -comforts, but left him and returned to his own house in great distress -of spirit. - -The Lord Lorenzo now came again to Antonio and said to him, "My lord, -it wants but a few moments of noon." Therefore Antonio rose and went -with him; and they came through the great hall, and, a strong escort -being about them, took their stand at the foot of the palace steps. Then -the Duke was borne out on his couch, high on the shoulders of his -lackeys, and was set down on the topmost step: and silence having been -proclaimed, the Duke spoke to Antonio; but so weak was his voice that -none heard save those who were very near. "Antonio of Monte Velluto," -said he, "it may be that in God's purposes I myself have not long to -live. Yet it is long enough for me to uphold and vindicate that princely -power which the same God has committed to my hands. That power you have -outraged; many of my faithful friends you have slain; against both me -and the Church you have lifted your hand. Go then to your death, that -men may know the fate of traitors and of rebels." - -Antonio bowed low to His Highness; but, not being invited by the Duke to -speak, he said naught, but suffered Lorenzo to lead him across the -square; and as he went, he passed where four pikemen stood by Bena, -ready to lay hold on him if he moved; and Bena fell on his knees and -again kissed Antonio's hand. And Antonio, passing on, saw two young -lords, followers of Lorenzo. And between them stood Tommasino; their -arms were through Tommasino's arms and they held him, though lovingly, -yet firmly; and he had no sword. - -"May I speak with Tommasino?" asked Antonio. - -"His Highness has forbidden it," said Lorenzo; but Antonio paused for a -moment before Tommasino; and Tommasino, greatly moved, cried piteously -to him that he might die with him. And Antonio kissed him, and, with a -shake of his head, passed on. Thus then he came to the gibbet, and -mounted with Lorenzo on to the scaffold that was underneath the gibbet. -And when he was seen there, a great groan went up from the people, and -the apprenticed lads, who were all gathered together on the left side of -the gibbet, murmured so fiercely and stirred so restlessly that the -pikemen faced round, turning their backs towards the scaffold, and laid -their pikes in rest. - -Then the hour of noon struck from the clock in the tower of the -Cathedral; and the Master of the Duke's Household, who stood by the -couch of his master, turned his eyes to the Duke's face, seeking the -signal for Antonio's death; which when he received, he would sign to the -executioner to set the rope round the Count's neck; for the man stood by -Antonio with the rope in his hand, and Antonio was already in his shirt. -But when the Master of the Household looked at the Duke, the Duke made -him no signal; yet the Duke had not fainted from his sickness, for he -was propped on his elbow, his face was eager, and his gaze was set -intently across the square; and his physician, who was near, spoke to -him softly, saying, "My lord, they await the signal." - -But the Duke waved him aside impatiently, and gazed still across the -square. And, seeing His Highness thus gazing intently, the Master of the -Household and the physician and all the rest who were about the Duke's -person looked also; and they saw the Lady Lucia coming forth from her -house, clad all in white. Antonio also saw her from where he stood on -the scaffold, for the people made a way for her, and the pikemen let her -pass through their ranks; so that she walked alone across the middle of -the great square; and the eyes of all, leaving Antonio, were fixed upon -her. Her face was very pale, and her hair fell on her shoulders; but she -walked firmly and swiftly, and she turned neither to right nor left, but -made straight for the spot where the Duke lay. And he, seeing her -coming, moaned once, and passed his hand thrice across his eyes, and -raised himself yet higher on his arm, leaning towards her over the side -of the couch. Again he passed his hand across his brow; and the -physician regarded him very intently, yet dared not again seek to rouse -his attention, and imposed silence on the Master of the Household, who -had asked in low tones, "What ails His Highness?" Then the Lady Lucia, -having reached the foot of the steps, stood still there, her eyes on the -Duke. Very fair was she, and sad, and she seemed rather some beautiful -unsubstantial vision than a living maiden; and though she strove to -form words with her lips, yet no words came; therefore it was by her -muteness that she besought pity for herself and pardon for her lover. -But the Duke, leaning yet further towards her, had fallen, but that the -physician, kneeling, passed his arm round his body and held him up; and -he said in low hoarse tones and like a man that is amazed and full of -awe, and yet moved with a gladness so great that he cannot believe in -it, "Who is it? Who is it?" - -And the Lady Lucia still could not answer him. And he, craning towards -her, spoke to her in entreaty, "Margherita, Margherita!" - -Then indeed all marvelled; for the name that the Duke spoke was the name -by which that Princess who had been his wife and was dead had been -called; and they perceived that His Highness, overcome by his sickness, -had lost discernment, and conceived the Lady Lucia to be not herself but -the spirit of his dead love come to him from heaven, to which delusion -her white robes and her death-like pallor might well incline him. And -now the wonder and fear left his face, and there came in place of them a -great joy and rapture, so that his sunk eyes gleamed, his lips quivered, -and he beckoned with his hand, murmuring, "I am ready, I am ready, -Margherita!" And while this passed, all who were too distant to hear the -Duke's words wondered that the signal came not, but supposed that the -Lady Lucia had interceded for Count Antonio, and that His Highness was -now answering her prayer: and they hoped that he would grant it. And -Antonio stood on the scaffold between the Lord Lorenzo and the -executioner; and his eyes were set on Lucia. - -Then the Duke spoke again to the Lady Lucia, saying, "I have been -lonely, very lonely. How pale your face is, my sweet! Come to me. I -cannot come to you, for I am very sick." And he held out his hand -towards her again. - -But she was now sore bewildered, for she could not understand the words -which His Highness used to her, and she looked round, seeking some one -who might tell her what they meant, but none moved from his place or -came near to her; and at last she found voice enough to say in soft -tones, "Antonio, my lord, the Count Antonio!" - -"Aye, I know that you loved him," said the Duke. "But since then he has -done great crimes, and he must die. Yet speak not of him now, but come -here to me, Margherita." - -Then, with wavering tread, she came towards him, mounting the first of -the steps, and she said, "I know not what you would, my lord, nor why -you call me by the name of Margherita. I am Lucia, and I come to ask -Antonio's life." - -"Lucia, Lucia?" said he, and his face grew doubtful. "Nay, but you are -my Margherita," he said. - -"No, my lord," she answered, as with trembling uncertain feet she -mounted, till she stood but one step below where his couch was placed; -and then she fell on her knees on the highest step and clasped her -hands, crying, "Have mercy, my lord, have mercy! Think, my dear lord, -how I love him; for if he dies, I must die also, my lord. Ah, my lord, -you have known love. You loved our sweet Lady Margherita; was not her -name now on your lips? So I love Antonio, so he loves me. Ah, my lord, -Christ Jesus teaches pity!" And she buried her face in her hands and -sobbed. - -Then the Duke, his physician and now the Master of the Household also -supporting him, stretched himself over the edge of his couch, and, -putting out his hand with feverish strength, plucked the Lady Lucia's -hands away from her face and gazed at her face. And when he had gazed a -moment, he gave a great cry, "Ah, God!" and flung his arms up above his -head and fell back into the arms of his physician, who laid him down on -his couch, where he lay motionless, his eyes shut and his chin resting -on his breast. And all looked at the physician, but he answered, "Nay, -he is not dead yet." - -"Why tarries the signal?" asked Antonio of Lorenzo on the scaffold. - -"It must be that the Lady Lucia beseeches him for your life, my lord," -answered Lorenzo. "Indeed heartily do I wish the Duke would hearken to -her prayer." - -"He will not turn for her," said Antonio. - -But presently the report of what had passed spread from those round the -Duke to the pikemen, and they, loving a marvel as most men do, must -needs tell it to the people, and a murmur of wonder arose, and the -report reached the guards at the scaffold, who came and told Lorenzo, in -the hearing of Antonio, of the strange delusion that had come upon the -Duke. - -"He must be sick to death," said Lorenzo. - -"I pray not," said Count Antonio. "For though he is a stern man, yet he -is an able and just prince, and this fancy of his is very pitiful." - -"Do you spare pity for him?" asked Lorenzo. - -"Shall I not pity all who have lost their loves?" answered Antonio with -a smile, and his eye rested on the form of the Lady Lucia kneeling by -the Duke's couch. - -For hard on half an hour the Duke lay as he had fallen, but at last, his -physician having used all his skill to rouse him, he opened his eyes; -and he clutched his physician's hand and pointed to Lucia, asking, "Who -is she?" - -"It is the Lady Lucia, my lord," answered the physician. - -"And there was none else?" asked the Duke in a low tremulous whisper. - -"I saw no other, my lord." - -"But I saw her," said the Duke. "I saw her even as I saw her last, when -she lay on her bed and they took the child out of her dead arms." - -"It was the weakness of your malady, my lord, that made the vision -before your eyes." - -"Alas, was it no more?" moaned the Duke. "Indeed, I am very weak; there -is a blur before my eyes. I cannot see who this lady is that kneels -before me. Who is she, and what ails her?" And having said this in -fretful weary tones, he lay back on his pillow gasping. - -Then the Master of the Household came forward and said to him, "My lord, -this is the Lady Lucia, and she kneels before your Highness praying for -the life of Count Antonio, because she loves him." - -Now the name of Count Antonio, when spoken to him, moved the Duke more -than all the ministrations of his physician; he roused himself once -again, crying, "Antonio! I had forgotten Antonio. Does he still live?" - -"Your Highness has not given the signal for his death." - -"Have I not? Then here----" - -He moved his hand, but with a great cry the Lady Lucia sprang forward -and seized his hand before he could raise it, kneeling to him and -crying, "No, no, my lord, no, no, no!" And the Duke had no strength to -fling her off, but he gasped, "Free me from her!" And the Master of the -Household, terrified lest in her passion she should do violence to His -Highness, roughly tore her hands from the Duke's hand, and the Duke, -released, sat up on his couch, and he said, in a strange hard voice that -was heard of all, even to the scaffold, and yet seemed not the voice -that they knew as his, "Let Antonio----" But then he stopped; he choked -in his throat, and, catching at his shirt, tore it loose from him. "Let -Antonio!"----he cried again. "Let Antonio!"----And he sat there for an -instant; and his eyes grew dim, the intelligence departing from them; -once again he opened his lips, but nothing came from them save a gasp; -and with a thud he fell back on his pillows, and, having rolled once on -his side, turned again on his back and lay still. And a great hush fell -on every man in the square, and they looked in one another's faces, but -found no answer. - -For Valentine, Duke and Lord of Firmola, was dead of his sickness at the -moment when he had sought to send Antonio to death. Thus marvellously -did Heaven in its high purposes deal with him. - -"His Highness is dead," said the physician. And the Master of the -Household, as his duty was, came to the front of the Duke's couch, and, -standing there before all the people, broke the wand of his office, and -let the broken fragments fall upon the marble steps; and he cried aloud, -"Hear all of you! It hath pleased Almighty God to take unto Himself the -soul of the noble and illustrious Prince, Valentine, Duke and Lord of -Firmola. May his soul find peace!" - -But there came from the people no answering cry of "Amen," as, according -to the custom of the Duchy, should have come. For they were amazed at -the manner of this death; and many crossed themselves in fear, and women -sobbed. And Lorenzo, standing on the scaffold by Antonio, was struck -with wonder and fear, and clutched Antonio's arm, crying, "Can it be -that the Duke is dead?" And Antonio bowed his head, answering, "May -Christ receive his soul!" - -Then the Master of the Household came forward again and cried, "Hear all -of you! According to the high pleasure and appointment of Almighty God, -the noble and illustrious Prince, Valentine, Second of that Name, is -from this hour Duke and Lord of Firmola; whom obey, serve, and honour, -all of you. May his rule be prosperous!" - -And this time there came a low murmur of "Amen" from the people. But -before more could pass, there was a sudden commotion in the square -before the scaffold. For Bena, seeing what was done, and knowing that -the Duke was dead, had glanced at the pikemen who stood near; and when -he saw that they looked not at him but towards where the Master of the -Household stood, he sprang forward and ran like a deer to the scaffold; -and he leapt up to the scaffold before any could hinder him, and he -cried in a mighty loud voice, saying, "By what warrant do you hold my -lord a prisoner?" - -Then the apprentices raised a great cheer and with one accord pressed -upon the pikemen, who, amazed by all that had passed, gave way before -them; and the apprentices broke their bounds and surged like a billow of -the sea up to the foot of the scaffold, shouting Antonio's name; and the -young lords who held Tommasino came with him and broke through and -reached the scaffold; for they feared for Lorenzo, and yet would not let -Tommasino go: and Lorenzo was sore at a loss, but he drew his sword and -cried that he would slay any man that touched Antonio, until the right -of the matter should be known. - -"Indeed, if you will give me a sword, I will slay him myself," said -Antonio. "For I stand here by my own will, and according to the promise -I gave to the Duke; and if there be lawful authority to hang me, hang -me; but if not, dispose of me as the laws of the Duchy bid." - -"I have no authority," said Lorenzo, "save what the Duke gave; and now -he is dead." - -Then the Count Antonio fastened his shirt again about his neck and put -on his doublet; and he signed to Bena to stand on one side of him, and -he bade the young lords loose Tommasino. And he said to Lorenzo, "Let us -go together to the palace." And now he was smiling. Then they came down -from the scaffold and passed across the square, a great multitude -following them. And when they came to the steps of the palace, the -Duke's body was covered with a rich brocaded cloth that some hand had -brought from his cabinet; and the little Duke stood there with his hand -in the Master of the Household's hand; and the child was weeping -bitterly, for he was very frightened; and over against him stood the -Lady Lucia, motionless as though she had been turned to stone; for the -strange thing that had come about through her approaching of the Duke -had bewildered her brain. But when the boy saw Antonio he let go the -hand he held and ran to Antonio and leapt into his arms. Then Antonio -lifted him and showed him to the people, who hailed him for Duke; and -Antonio set him down and knelt before him and kissed his hand. And the -child cried, "Now that my father is dead, Antonio, you must not go on -your journey, but you must stay with me. For if I am Duke, I must learn -to use my sword without delay, and no man but you shall teach me." - -"Shall I not go on my journey, my lord?" asked Antonio. - -"No, you shall not go," said the little Duke. - -Then Antonio turned to the lords who stood round and said, "Behold, my -lords, His Highness pardons me." - -But the lords doubted; and they said to Antonio, "Nay, but he does not -know what he does in pardoning you." - -"He understands as well, I think," said Antonio, "as his father -understood when he sent me to death. Indeed, my lords, it is not -children only who know not what they do." And at this speech Tommasino -smiled and Bena laughed gruffly. But the lords, bidding Antonio rest -where he was till they returned, retired with the little Duke into the -palace, and sent word hastily to the Archbishop that he should join -them there and deliberate with them as to what it might be best to do. -And when they were thus gone in, Antonio said, "I may not move, but the -Lady Lucia is free to move." - -Then Tommasino went to the lady and spoke to her softly, telling her -that Antonio desired to speak with her; and she gave Tommasino her hand, -and he led her to Antonio, who stood within the portico, screened from -the sight of the people. And there they were left alone. - -But meanwhile the whole body of the townsmen and the apprentices had -gathered before the palace, and their one cry was for Antonio. For the -fear of the Duke being no longer upon them, and the pikemen not knowing -whom to obey and being therefore disordered, the people became very -bold, and they had stormed the palace, had not one come to Antonio and -implored him so show himself, that the people might know that he was -safe. Therefore he came forward with the Lady Lucia, who was now no more -bewildered, nor petrified with fear or astonishment, but was weeping -with her eyes and smiling with her lips and clinging to Antonio's arm. -And when the people saw them thus, they set up a great shout, that was -heard far beyond the city walls; and the apprenticed lads turned and ran -in a body across the square, and swarmed on to the scaffold. And then -and there they plucked down the gibbet and worked so fiercely that in -the space of half an hour there was none of it left. - -And now the Archbishop with the lords came forth from the council -chamber, and the little Duke with them. And they caused the servants to -remove the body of the dead Duke, and they set his son on a high seat, -and put a sceptre in his hand. And the Archbishop offered up a prayer -before the people; and, having done this, he turned to Antonio and said, -"My Lord Antonio, most anxiously have His Highness and we of his Council -considered of this matter; and it has seemed to us all--my own in truth -was the sole reluctant voice, and now I also am brought to the same -mind--that whereas the virtuous purposes of princes are meet to be -remembered and made perpetual by faithful fulfilment after their death, -yet the errors of which they, being mortal, are guilty should not -overlive them nor be suffered to endure when they have passed away. And -though we are not blind to your offences, yet we judge that in the -beginning the fault was not yours. Therefore His Highness decrees your -pardon for all offences against his civil state and power. And I myself, -who hold authority higher than any earthly might, seeing in what this -day has witnessed the finger of God Himself, do not fight against it, -but will pray you, so soon as you may fit yourself thereunto by prayer -and meditation, to come in a humble mind and seek again the blessing of -the Church. For in what you did right and in what you outstepped right, -God Himself must one day judge, and I will seek to judge of it no more." - -"My lord," said Antonio, "I have done much wrong. Yet I will own no -wrong in the matter of the Abbot nor in that of the Sacred Bones." - -But the lord Archbishop smiled at Antonio, and Antonio bent and kissed -the ring that was on his finger; and the old man laid his hand for a -moment on Antonio's head, saying, "It may be that God works sometimes in -ways that I may not see." - -Thus then it was that the Count Antonio was restored to his place, and -came again to Firmola; and, having been relieved of the sentence of -excommunication that had been laid upon him, he was wedded in the -Cathedral to the Lady Lucia as soon as the days of mourning for the Duke -had passed. And great was the joy in the city at their wedding; for -every maid and every man saw in the triumph of Antonio's love a sign of -the favour of Heaven to those who love with a pure and abiding passion. -So they made great feasts, and were marvellously merry; and Bena let not -the day go by without plighting his troth to a comely damsel, saying -with a twinkle in his eye that the Count Antonio would have need of his -sons, whose services he had promised to him as they rode together across -the plain on the morning when Antonio had supposed that he was to die. -Nor would Bena give any other reason whatsoever for the marriage. -Nevertheless it is likely that there were others. But whether Bena -fulfilled his promise I know not; for, as I have said, so little is -known concerning him that his true name does not survive, and it has -proved an impossible thing to discover whether any of his descendants -yet live in Firmola. If it chance that they do, I trust that they fight -as well, and serve as loyally, and pray better than he. But Martolo has -left those that bear his name, and a great-grandson of his is at this -very time huntsman to the Monastery of St. Prisian, where I have seen -and talked with him many times. - -The task which I laid upon myself thus finds its end. For there is no -need for me to tell of the after-deeds of Count Antonio of Monte -Velluto, nor how, in the space of a few months, he was chosen by all the -lords to be Ruler and Protector of the State during the infancy of the -Duke; in which high office he did many notable deeds, both of war and -peace, and raised the Duchy to a great height of power, and conferred -many favours on the townsmen of Firmola, whom he loved and cherished -because they had not forsaken him nor ceased to love him during all the -years that he dwelt an outlaw in the hills. And he built again his house -on the hill which Duke Valentine had burnt, and dwelt there with Lucia, -and with Tommasino also, until Tommasino took to wife that same lady for -whose sake he had lingered and thus fallen into the hands of the lord -Lorenzo, and went and dwelt at Rilano, where those of his house still -dwell. But when the young Duke came of an age to reign, the Count -Antonio delivered his charge into his hand, yet continued to counsel -him, and was very high in authority. And neighbouring princes also -sought his aid and his counsel, and he was greatly honoured of all men. -Thus if there were aught in his youth that merits censure, it may be -held that he blotted out the shame of it by his after-life, for his -later days were filled with honourable service to his Prince and to his -country. - -Yet the heart of man is a vain thing; for when I, who am known to have -learnt all that can be recovered from the mists of past times concerning -Count Antonio, am asked--and whether it be by men or women, by boys or -girls, aye, or by toddling infants--to tell them a tale of the great -Count Antonio, it is not of the prudent ruler, nor of the wise -counsellor, nay, nor even of the leader of the Duke's army, that they -would hear, but always of Antonio when he was an outlaw, banned by his -Prince and by the Church, living by the light of his own heart and by -the strength of his own hand, secured only by the love and duty of the -lawless men who followed him, and risking his life every day and every -hour for the sake of the bright eyes of that lady who waited for him in -the city. And when I, thinking to check this perversity, bid them look -rather on his more worthy and sober days, they answer with a laugh, "But -why, father, do you not write the story of those more worthy and sober -days?" Nor will they believe when I say that it is but because the deeds -of those days are elsewhere recorded. In good truth, I believe that in -our hearts we love a lawless man! Here, then, ye perverse children, are -the stories; they are all that you shall have from me. Read them; may -they teach you to be true comrades, faithful lovers of one maid, and, -since strife must needs come until God's pleasure bring peace to reign -on earth, able, when occasion calls, to give and take good blows. Aye, -never laugh. I have said it. 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