The Duchess's Revenge or The Three Warnings — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

8 THE DUCHESS S REVENGE. eee ne ray ee eM Unt oe rs TN At that moment the branches were slightly moved, and a man’s voice whispered : “Hold, my lord! The duchess is here!” Scarcely had the words been uttered than the | duchess staggered from her place of conceal- ment, and fell senseless on the ground. At the | same time the air seemed filled with a wild music, and the White Lady glided up to where | the duchess lay, and slowly lifting her arm, pointed, first at Constantia, and then at the pros- trate figure at her feet, then slowly melted away. ‘Great heavens!” cried the duke, ‘‘this is | the second warning.” , In a moment Bentivoglio sprang through the bushes, and, leaning over the duchess, waved | the others to retire, at the same time placing. one of his hands on Fiammetta’s breast. - She still breathes!’’ he cried. ‘Fly in- stantly. You, my lord, rejoin the guests; and you, Constantia, to your apartment; wait until I rejoin you. Make arrangements, my lord, to depart for Mugnone directly. I will either ac- company you, or followin a few hours. Leave the duchess with me, and all will soon be well.’’ As the duke and Constantia hurried away, Bentivoglio leant over the duchess, and, raising her head upon his knee, applied some pungent scent to her nostrils. At last she heaved a deep sigh, and her eyelids quivered. tivoglio seized her hand, and, pressing it to his bosom, implanted a kiss upon her cold, pale lips. This bold proceeding called the duchess in- stantly back to life, and, with a cry of horror, she sprang to her feet, and gazed with wild ex- citement at Bentivoglio, who still remained in a kneeling position. “Where are they ?”’ she demanded, at length, in a hollow voice. * Gone,”’ replied Bentivoglio. “Gone! and left me alone with you. Oh, wh did you not kill me as I lay P” | “Kill yon! I would protect you with my life. You know, madam, if I spoke the truth.” “But my husband! Did he not stop to pro- tect me?” , *‘ Not he! The Lady Constantia fled in terror, — and he, crying out some silly words abont Blanche and ghosts, fled also. you for some love long dead.” ‘“ Long dead indeed,” moaned the unfortunate Fiammetta. ‘‘ Oh, Bentivoglio, there was a time when I would have died to give that man pleasure ; and no cannot hate him. It is the curse of those who are wronged in love, to love those who wrong them. Tell me, Bentivoglio, what I shall do?” “‘I know not, madam; it seems to me there are but two ways of action,” ** And they are a : “To bear your wrongs with meeknegs, or to avenge them,” ‘“ Bear them! never!” exclaimed the duchess, her eyes flashing fire with anger. “Then there is but the other left,” replied Bentivoglio, ‘‘ You cannot, must not, win him back.” Instantly Ben- | | world seems to me made but of one stuff, and I think he took a better plan to try to win him home unto his wife than lead that wife to kill him. You seem amazed at what I say. Think you that it is an easy thing to kill those we love? ”’ ‘Har from it; but scarce an hour since I had a dagger given me to use at a lady’s command. Shall I return itP”’ “No; keep it,’ replied the duchess, shudder- ing. ‘‘Thank heaven I had it not when they were here. I dare scarce trust myself to meet the duke; now love, now hatred swells my heart. In vain I seek for help or aid.” « Fiammetta,’ said Bentivoglio, reproach- fully, ‘is this the way you return what I have done for your I was the duke’s tutor, bound to him by many ties of friendship. I loved him well, yet all this was forgotten when I saw you wronged.” ‘‘ How knew you of this meeting?” demanded the duchess, suddenly. ) “The duke himself honoured me by making me his confidant.” “And you betrayed his secret,’ was the duchess’s scornfil rejoinder. ‘How could I see one I loved so much so cruelly deceived P ”’ ‘‘Oh, tender conscience, who would make in other men a sin of what they boast as virtue in themselves. But still, I blame you not. This men but of the same spirit.” ‘You forgive me if I have in my over haste caused you displeasure ? ”’ “ Yes, I forgive you, and will do more—make you the agent of my revenge.” “You have but to command, lady, and I obey; your word is my law.” ““So be it. As the duke told you so much, doubtless, he has told you more.” ‘“Certainly, he has told me of his love, and determination to possess the lady.”’ “No more? Has he not said aught abont me P Longed for my death, or, at least, for some good cause to break the holy knot that bound us at God’s altar, and part us? Speak, man; never be afraid. I know that I am hated—hated beyond measure. I know that my life weighs down his, and therefore fear not to hear the truth. It is the rich and high who tremble at truth’s sound, not the poor and miserable. What, silent still! Have you not words enough to breathe the hatred that he feels? Oh! had yon loved me as you have sworn you did, you would have struck the coward to the earth. Begone, | begone, and leave me; there isno truth in man, or goodness in the earth!” ‘“My dearest lady, be not vexed with me, who have hidden much from you sooner than displease your ears. Is it my fanlt that the duke should please to pour his vile love in my ears ? Can I bid him be silent, or tell him that he shall do this, and shall not dare dothat P I amnotrich _ or powerful, while he is both. I, a poor scholar; he, a rich prince. Hvyen now, for your sake, I have done that which still may cost me dear.’ “And, having told me that which yon have “And why not winhim back? Wouldit notbe | done, I now must know the rest. Come, sir, Gomichbookscom