Love-at-Arms

mocking speech that had been as vinegar to Gian Maria's wounds. For when Gian Maria was

he understood love, the rejected Duke waxed furiously jealous of this other at whose existence Peppe had hinted. This unknown stood in his path to Valentina, and to clear that path it sugg

is departure were toward, he bade Alvaro summon Martin Armstadt-the

scover the haunts of Peppe the fool. Seize him, and bring him after me.

he guards of the Duke of Babbiano-bowed, and answered in hi

to return within a few days for the nuptials, and leaving an impression upon the mind

er he had repaired, driven thither by the demon of gout that already inhabited his body, and was wont to urge him at times to isolate himself from his court. She found him reclining upon a couch, seeking distraction i

his book upon the table beside him,

er upon learning of the roughness with which Gian

lack the formality that should attend the addresses of a man in the Duke's position to a lady in yours. But

tly, "and I am misunderstood. I do not intend to we

ged his shoulders a trifle wearily. This handsome and well-beloved Guidobaldo was very

durance of every one of us. As your uncle and your prince, I claim a double duty from you, and you owe

en, and it was just the woman who a

ess, I do n

tience crossed

I loved your aunt. Yet we were wed, and through hab

to love you," she returned. "You are not as Gian Maria.

heart through the ever-ready channel of his vanity. Bu

ue. It were unworthy in us both. Princ

they not subject to the same ills; do they not experience the same joys? Are they not born, and do they not

nation that clearly defied utterance. The violence of his gestur

oes this become of so much importance as in their mating. It behoves them to contract such alliances as shall redound to the advantage of their people." A toss of her auburn he

. And whilst divided, neither of us could withstand him, united, we shall comb

n alliance as you speak of is desirable, why may it not be made a purely political one-such a o

In the case of Urbino and Babbiano it enters also into consideration that I have no son. It might well be, Valentina," he pursued, with a calculating coldness that revolted her, "that a son of yours would yet more strongly link the two duchies. In ti

her white brow, her lips were set and her hands clenched. Pity for his physical ills fought a while with pity for her own

entailed the sacrifice of your own flesh and blood-in the person of your niece. But I will have no part in them. It may be that I lack a like nobility of soul; it may be that I am all unworthy of the high station to which I was born,

d out of his wonted calm. "Do yo

pear to have

s--" he began, when

aps if you remember that, you may consider how very natural it is

sed. "And on your knees beg Heaven's grace to help y

m Mantua," she sighed. "The good Monna

ou and becomes you ill. You shall be wed with a splendour and magnificence that will set every princess in Italy green with envy. Your dowry is set at fifty thousand ducats, and Giulia

t wed?" she broke in with passionate c

ded cane, and looked at her a moment wit

"I have passed my word to the Duke, and your marriage shall take place so soon as he ret

imploring note now taking the place

s dignity-for he feared that she might still remain-he

angry tear from her brown eyes. Then, with a sudden movement that seemed to imply supp

ossed her ante-chamber and gained the very room where some hours ago she had received the insult of Gian Maria's odious advances.

n below. The splashing of the fountain seemed to soothe her, and for a little while her eyes were upon that gleaming water, which rose high in a crystal column, then broke and fell, a shower of glittering jewels, into the broad marble basin. Then, her eyes growing tired, they strayed to th

tumult that raged in Valentina's soul. Then another sound broke the stillness-a soft step, crunching the gravel of the walk. She

fingers softly stirring the strings of the lute he carri

tone was the tone of one whose tho

oment it seemed as if she had forgotten his pres

any in his young life-had inculcated into a soul that in the main was anything but virtuous. He came a step nearer, and lea

na," he murmured, in hi

, but in a mild tone, "do yo

he answered, glibly, "and I were a poor fri

questioned, without looking

ace there swept a shade of something that may have been good or bad or

more than your friend. Count

spoken in his voice. In his eyes there was a glance of burning intensity. She drew away fr

s own good fortune that so much favour should be showered upon him, obeyed h

d dropping his jewelled cap, he flung one white-cased leg over the other

orced. "It is in ottava rima, a faint echo of the immortal Niccolo Correggio,

u sing

e impossibility to sing of her. Thus--" And s

orriderán

i tuoi a

nd upon his a

am in no humour for your song, sw

n had been wont to listen greedily to his strambotti, enthralled by

ll again. Forgive me, good Gonzaga," she begged him, with a sweetness no man could have resisted. And then

end. Oh, that you had left me at pe

ude and gentleness, to inquir

Babbiano. I have told Guidobaldo that I will not wed this Duke. But as profita

oundly, in sympathy

a grievance that he could do nothing to remove.

t you can do nothing for me. You are all words, Gonzaga. You can call yourself more th

sympathy, I believed, was all that you invited, and so, lest I should seem presumptuous, it was all I offered. But if my help you need; if you

tain grim confidence, for all that as y

liant. Yet so excellent an actor was he as to deceive even himself by his acting, and in this suggestion of some vague fine deeds that he would do, he felt himself stirred by a sudden martia

voice of this great love he bore her, but of which he never yet had dared to show a sign. The passing jelousy that he had entertained f

tulant outburst. Of actually finding a way to elude her uncle's wishes she had no thought-unless it lay in carrying out that threat of hers to take the veil. No

tered before it grew to any strength-peeped now f

Gonzaga?" she ask

was a man of very ready fancy. Like an inspiration an idea had come to him; out of this had sprung another, and yet another

y, his eyes upon the gro

ip tremulous, and her face a li

e besought hi

eside him, and his eyes looke

rs in the Palace of Urbino. Will it please you

steps that led from the terrace to the box-flanked walks of the gardens. Here, among the lengthening shadows, they paced in silence for

nna," he answered her

ready pursuing. But wh

isten, Madonna! The Castle of Roccaleone is your property. It is perhaps the stoutest fortress i

, yet presently they kindled to a light of daring that augured well for a very stout adventure. It was a wildly romant

red, her eyes sparkling at th

n. "Immure yourself in Roccaleone, and thence hurl defiance at Urbino and Babbiano,

stioned, her mind-in its innocence-incl

able to stand siege for a whole year, should the need arise, and I will find you the men to arm it-a score will,

d she, "I shall

ade her a

office, Madonna, I shall serve

and directing the operations for the resistance of an assiduous siege, touched her with its ludicrous note. Yet, if she refused him this, it was more than likely he would deem himself offended, and refuse to advance their plans. It crossed her mind-in the full

for the men and the victual

iendship be proven als

, struck suddenly with

. Upon her head she wore a fret of gold, so richly laced with pearls as to be worth a prince's ransom. This she now made haste to unfasten with fingers that

le with just Gonzaga and the men he was about to enrol. His answer

ch of your ladies-say three or four-as appear suitable and have your tr

was to escape alliance with his Highness of Babbiano. But there was more than that in it, although that w

or-spirited, and-since his tastes had not inclined that way-untrained in arms, it would have been futile for him to have sought the career common to adventurers of his age. Yet an adventurer at heart he was, and since the fields of Mars were little suited to his nature, he had long pondered upon the possibilities afforded him by the lists of Cupid. Guidobaldo-purely out of consideration for Monna Elizabetta-had shown him a high degree of

certainly refuse to wed Gonzaga's widow-would let them be. To this end no plan could be more propitious than that into which he had lured her. Guidobaldo might besiege them in Roccaleone and might eventually reduce them by force of arms-a circumstance, however, which, despite his words, he deemed extremely remote. But if only he could wed Va

y, he smiled a smile of cunning gratification. He bethought him how well advised had been his suggestion that they should take a priest to