Love-at-Arms

posing of affairs in Babbiano, that he might return to the nuptials for which he was impatient. But

ér Valdicampo, his wife and two daughters, and a couple of friends, potential citizens of Cagli, whom he had invited, that they might witness the honour that was being done his house. It waxed late, and the torpor that ensues upon the generous gratification of app

owled the Duke,

"They have brought him, Highness,

d your thoughts?" hectored Gia

itation. Then, stepping close to

hind have brought

rd, he turned and whispered back to his captain to have the fellow taken to his chamber, ther

pecting. Valdicampo, who for the honour of having a Duke sleep beneath his roof would have stomached improprieties far more flagrant, belittled the matter and

the Duke to his apartments. He would have carried his good offices, and his candles, as far as Gian Maria's very bed-

nd Santi-who had followed him and stood awaiting his commands-of what he was about to do. In

ands together, and in answer to that summons the door of hi

e?" inquire

ered the Swiss, and he held th

a noble and lofty room, in the midst of which loomed the great c

light enough for such purpose as he entertained, for he bade Martin fetch him the candelabra that had been left behind.

e between, the unfortunate Ser Peppe. The fool's face was paler than its wont, whilst the usual roguery had passed from his eye

ind him, Gian Maria bade the two guards withdraw, but hold themselves in readiness in

as you were this morni

e, schooled by the long habit of jest, p

ropitious-to me. Your Highness, thou

evise no ready answer, no such cutting gibe as it would have pleasured him to admin

some things for which I should

le if you had me hanged," returned th

aria, never seeing the irony intended.

ested, but he did not succeed this time

hot him a fu

your venomous tongue in bounds,

s well it might-for what should such a on

and stricken, th

nce, I am willing that you should come by no hurt so tha

que figure was d

stions, glorious

t the memory of the exact words in which the fool had spoken.

n the jester's face. "Yes," h

ou spoke of, and in such wondrous

iver Metauro is no better than a brook. S

very mention of the place where the late conspiracy

, as Monna Valentina was journe

racy. The mountain fight in which Masuccio had been killed had taken place on the Tuesday night, and the convic

with this man-was he known

and so aroused her compassion. Sh

uspected. I'll swear he got that wound the night before at Sant' An

whose cruelties some ghastly tales were told. But in greater fear he stood of the eternal damna

my freedom at so light a price; yet it is one that ig

t him searchingly

have set a cunning edge upon his wits, and suspicion h

ibe him to me. How was he dressed

answer you. I had but the mo

vil-looking, and an ugly smile twisted hi

o memory of him is

ely, Hi

s countenance noble, his manner princely, his speech courtly, and-I know not what besides. Yet now you tell me-you tell me-that y

incensed--" the fool began, in fearful pr

there is no anger in me." He crossed himself, as if to exorcise the evil mood if it indeed existed, and devotedly bowing his head and folding his

ut at that the Duke turned from him with a shrug of

the door opened, and the Swiss appear

and simultaneously the fool ca

" he wailed. "Do not h

ed be dumb, and avail us nothing. We want you alive, Messer Peppino-alive and

pe raised his wil

prayed, at which the Duke br

peals to me. I am the more immediate arbiter of your fate. Tell me the n

athering on his pale brow, and a horrid

solemn oath he had sworn. Gian Maria turned from him, at last, to his bravi, who now entered silently and with the air of

, Highness,"

e despatched one of the men to see that the ante-chamber door was closed, so

ted from his knees and from the prayers he had been patter

ool," quoth the Duke, "wi

ed Peppe, for all that terro

tion gleamed now in

nger protest your ignorance, but only that

Maria eyed him with a sinister smile, and Martin proceeded to fasten one end of the rope to his pinioned wrists. Then they led him, shivering to the great bed. The other end of the cord was passed over one of the

he said, in tones of chilling indiffer

rottling, "you are a good Christian, a loyal son of Mot

Was the fool about to intimidate him

Acquasparta on that luckless day, that I would never reveal his identity. What am I to do? If I keep my oath, you will tortur

presence that day at Acquasparta should become known, that he had bound the fool by oath not to divulge the secret of it. Of what he had before suspected he was now assured. The man in question was one of the conspirators; probably the very chief of

h have I to save my own-for temptations are many and this poor flesh is weak. But it is this m

them threw their weight upon the rope, hoisting Peppe by his wrists until he was at the height of the canopy itself. That done, they paused, and turned their eyes upon the Duke for fur

r hands. Then they grasped it again, so that Peppe's sudden fall was as suddenly arrested by a jerk that almost wrenched his arms f

ly in his teeth that the blood trickled from it adown his chin. Again the Duke gave the signal, and again they let him go. Th

oints, and it was as if a burning iron wer

screamed. "Oh, have

mity of his anguish, the poor hunchback poured forth from frothing lips a stream o

with a cruel smile, as of one who watches the progress of events towards the end that he desires and has planned. He was less patient

stening pallor, and of his eyes naught showing save the whites. He hung there, and moaned piteously and incessantly. Martin glanced

u?" he asked the fool

to the impossible horror of his position. That this agony would endure until he died or fainted, he was assured. And since he seemed incapable of either fainting or dying, suffer more he could not. What was heaven o

"Let me down, and you shall

he manner of your descent

over his bleeding lips

panted, "Francesco del

moment, with startled cou

d, in a quivering voice. "It was the Count of Aqui

. "Now, in the name of God and

news he had gathered. Then conviction of the truth sank into his mind. It was the Lord of Aquila who was the idol of the Babbianians. What, then, more natural than tha

. "Then take him hence, and let him go

nable to stand. His legs doubled under him, and he lay-a little crook-

two men picked him up and

down before an ivory crucifix to render thanks to God for the signal

doublet a chaplet of gold and amber beads,