Love-at-Arms

hts above stood six men with heads uncovered and bowed, obeying its summons to evening prayer. A brass lamp, equipped with three beaks, swung from

and trappings of that company a richness that was the

y piously crossed themselves, and leisurely resuming their head-gear, they looked at one another with questioning glance

h relief, whilst a younger man of good shape and gay garments str

mmered steel, from which depended on his left a long sword with ringed, steel quillons, whilst from behind his right hip peeped the hilt of a stout Pistoja dagger. His hose of red cloth vanished into boots of untanned leather, laced in front

removed his hat, and allowed it to remain slung from his shoulders, displaying, together with a still youthful countenance of surpassing strength and nobility, a m

ble, about which the company was standing, and his bla

ent lame a half-league beyond Sant' Angelo, and

rders of the great. "A cup of Puglia wine, my lord. Here, Fanfulla," he called, to the young noble

ream. It may well be, illustrious sirs, that

ose in every mind, even as on every countenanc

y hat so set that it might best conceal my face, I was all eyes. And as I passed the spot where that spy was ambushed, I discerned among the leaves that might so well have screened him, but that the sun had found his helmet out, the evil face of Masuccio Torri." There was a stir among the listeners, and their consternation increased, whilst one or two changed colour.

In all Italy it was known to no man beyond us six that you were to meet us here, and

rds, and they were not slow to confirm what he had sworn, in terms as ve

ued, in a slightly altered tone, "I know not to what end you have bidden me hither, but if aught of treason lurks in your designs, I cry you beware! The Duke has knowledge of it,

contemptuous indifference which was

r, a grim smile upon his rugged face. "T

s half wonder, half enlightenment gleamed in the blac

said he, with a touch of sternness, "an

im, "we are traitors to a man that we ma

ed the Lord of Aqu

Babbiano," c

the Duchy?" he questioned, scorn running ever stronger in

ffled men. They had not looked for such a tone from him, and they questioned with their eyes and mind

the one or of the other. To be named a traitor, sir, is to be given a harsh title, and one, I think, that could fit no man less than it fits me or any of these my companions. Will you do me the honour, then, to hear me out, Excellency; and when you ha

nged whilst he spoke, so that from scornful that it had been, it had now grown full

knightly word not to betray them in the event of his rejection of the proposals they had to make. When he had given them his promise, and they had seated themsel

the man's reckless extravagances, his continued self-indulgence, his carelessness in matters of statecraft, and his apparent disinclination to fulfil the duties which his high station imposed

we should be lost as an independent state. And the peril that menaces us is the peril of being so lost. Not only by defection of our own, but by the force of arms of another. That other is Caesar Borgia. His dominion is spreading like a plague upon the face of this Italy, which he has threatened to eat up like an artichoke-leaf by leaf. Already his greedy eyes are turned upon us, and what power have we-all unready as we are-wherew

. But of this, his companions, at least, were all unconscious, for they filled the

r you speak of. But-what do you expect of me?

hort, Lord Count, we need such a warrior as are you. What man is there in all Italy-or, indeed, what woman or what child-that has not heard of the prowess of the Lord of Aq

eulogistic interlocutor, what time a faint tinge crept in

f the stranger, hesitate to employ your skill and valour against the enemies of your own homela

hall find me ready. But until then, and touching such preparation

st Ferrabraccio laughed outright in chill contem

of his Vicarship; I might as profitably sprinkle incense on a dunghill. What we could say to Gian Maria we have said, and since it had been idle to h

quired the Count, his glance

ed. Allied thus to the house of Montefeltro, we should receive not only assistance from Guidobaldo, but also from the lords of Bologna, Perugia, Camerino, and some smaller state

It would have been a wise step indeed. P

he smote the table a blow that well-nigh shattered it. "Because Gian Maria was not in a marrying mood! The girl we

defend their homes. In the sacred name of the people, then," the old man concluded, rising, and speaking in a voice shaken by emotion, "and with the people's voice, of which we are but the mouthpiece, we now offer you the crown of Babbiano. Return with us to-night, my lord, and to-morrow, with but twenty spears for escort, we shall ride into Babbiano and proclaim you Duke. Nor need you fear the sl

r eager glances turned upon the Count, their ears anxiously alert for his reply. Thus th

f Venice or Milan. He had a vision of widened territories, and of neighbouring lords becoming vassals to his might. He saw himself wresting Romagna mile by mile from the sway of the ribald Borgia, hunting him to the death as he was wont to hunt the boar in the marshes of Commachio, or driving him into the very Vatican to seek shelter within his father's gates-the last strip of soil that he would leave him to lord it over. He dreamt of a Babbiano courted by the great republics, and the honour of its alliance craved by them that they might withstand the onslaughts of French and Spaniard. All this he saw in that fleeting vision of his, and Temptation caught his martial spirit in a grip of steel. And then another picture

h the fitful light was casting harsh shadows. The pale ghost of

ve done me," he made answer slowly, "an h

s their voices ros

an honour which

faces from eager that they had been, g

s arms outstretched towards the Count, his voice q

k me to overthrow and supplant is of my own blood." And but th

ith such a man as your Excellency, patriotism and the love of

hen such a man might be as unfitted for dominion as is the present Duke in this. What then? A good knight-errant is an indifferent courtier and a bad statesman. Lastly, my friends-since you must know all that is in my heart-there remains the fact that I love myself a little. I love my liberty too well, and I have no mind to stifle in the scented atmosphere of cou

lence, Da Lodi's voice implored him, in accents that trembled with pathetic emphasis, to recon

l ride with you to Babbiano, and I will seek to reason with my cousin. More will I do; I will seek at his hands the office of Gonfalonier, and if he grant

heir efforts, until in the end, with a sorrowful mien, Da Lodi t

l wield in Babbiano to the end that the high office of Gonfalonier be conferred upon you. We had pr

alarm spreading upon his comely face. A second he remained thus; then, going swiftly to the door, he opened it, and stood listening, followed by the surprised glances of the assembled company. But it needed not the warnin