Adventure, June 1911 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

Sir John Hawkwood to me. Others were well enough disposed _ save for a natural anger at the thought that I had led them into danger of the Prince’s vengeance for some purpose of my own. There was a movement in the crowd, and Pierre came through and faced me. “TI hope, Sir John, you'll not use me as you did Jacques,” he said, kicking contemptuously at the fallen man and grinning broadly, ‘“‘but ' [Id like to ask you a question of my own. ' You've led us for years now, and if in some ways you've been a hard master, you’ve been a just one, too. You’ve played us fair, and never tricked us. I believe the same of ‘ydu now. We can’t tell why you have the Prince’s cousin here a prisoner, but I'll never believe you are leading us into dan- ger without good reason. Just tell me as much, and say that you mean to play us fair, and I'll stand for you against any odds that come!” ¥1 THE time for close-mouthed de- } fiatice had passed. I must quiet ™ these fellows with some plausible explanation of my strange actions. sure, it would not be wholly true, and it is the bounden -duty of all knights to scorn false statements. .As a common thing I was as truthful as any other man, but in the present situation, with the lives of us all - hanging on the fall of the dice, I admit with- _out shame that I would have sworn away my soul if I could thereby have added one iota to the Princess’ safety. - “Why, you fools,” I began, with an appearance of bluff heartiness, ‘‘I am lead- ing you into no danger at all, though I will admit the enterprise is a trifle difficult. Since you have come to your senses and ceased to threaten me, I am willing enough to tell you the meaning of it all. A short time since I overheard Prince Antonio con- terring with Della Torre, and learned that he was weary of my services and had it in mind to turn me off. That was a poor prospect both for me and for you, eh? So I looked about for a way to better it. Well, I knew that this lady was kin to the Duke of Padua, who claims her as his ward and has long tried to get possession of her; and I fancied he might be willing to give a rich reward to those who put her in his hands. I held secret communication with him, and arranged the terms—then I carried off the lady.. We are to hold her safe here until the Duke sends a strong escort to bring us To be- 251 safely into Padua, where we will be well treated, I can promise you. Come, is not this better than waiting in Verona until Prince Antonio is pleased to turn us adrift? And have I not a-shrewder head than this fellow Jacques, who would have persuaded you that I had some trick in mind? |Our reward will pay us well for all our trouble. Are you content?”’ I heard the Princess give a low gasp be- hind me, but for the moment I paid her no heed at all. I was looking with desperate eagerness at the troopers to see if they ac- cepted what I had said. If they did, all was well. Fired by the hope of gain, they would defend the castle like madmen, and we would be safe until the Florentine men came to my aid. After that, I cared very little how soon they knew I had tricked them in my tale. After conferring for a time they began to give back sheepishly, some of them cursing Antonio for his plan to throw us over and congratulating them- selves on the rare revenge of robbing him of his cousin; others guessing how much Fran- cesco Carrara would give for so great a service. Presently, too, they began to cast furtive glances at me, as if uncertain how I might be inclined to visit my anger at their unruliness upon them. ‘‘Oh, we were fools to doubt you, Sir John! You have a better head than any of us,” one of the ring-leaders muttered apologetically. “You will be fools if you do it twice, for I shall not be so patient again!’ I answered grimly. ‘Take yourselves off while I stay in a good-natured mood!”’ They obeyed me with cheers and glances of admiration, and in a moment the gal- lery was empty. CHAPTER AIX THE COMING OF VIOLANTE NAN the last man had clattered down the stairs I swung about on my heel and faced the three who had stood behind me throughout the episode. O’Meara had appeared to enjoy himself a great deal more than the circumstances warranted. On my coming, all feeling of responsibility and anxiety. had seemed to leave him, and he had leaned calmly on the wall, watching my struggles with a merry glint in his blue eyes, and laughing heartily when I pommeled Jacques into submission. Now that all was CORICLOO© SoCO