Adventure, June 1911 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

252 over he sheathed his sword, then flung his arms about me and favored me with a bear’s embrace which came near making my ribs crack. “Glory be, ’twas yourself settled them in no time! But the affair was a close one, do you know that? May we never be nearer dying till our last day comes! Faith, at one time I was mortal afraid they’d kill you first,”’ he rattled on. “Oh, hold your tongue, Michael!’ I said curtly, turning to the ladies. Francesca was on her knees with her face in her hands. The Princess was standing proudly erect, her pale face turned toward me, and breath- ing such indignant contempt as I shall never forget. ‘So now at last I have learned the truth, Sir John Hawkwood!” she said in a low voice that trembled curiously with emotion. “You have taken a bribe from the Duke of Padua to seize me and bring me to him! Now I understand!” For an instant I did not answer her. Perhaps I had cherished some vague hope that the manner in which I had saved her from imminent death might a little soften her toward me—might perhaps even lead her to say a proud word of thanks. The scorn and anger in her face hurt me sharply. She continued to look at me with a search- ing disdain. ‘‘Listen, sir,’’ she said pres- ently, in the tone which she might have used to a dog. “You care only for money. Honor, knightliness, chivalry—all these are nothing to you. Good—I will make you‘an offer. Tell me what Francesco Carrara has promised you for this pretty business, and I will give you double the sum to set me free.” I bowed low to her. “Thank you, ma- donna,” I said, with a bitter laugh. ‘‘Re- member that even a man as vile as I may not care to betray the master whose enter- prise he has undertaken. I believe that even my enemies do not deny me this one virtue.” we, HER face twistedsuddenly. ‘How “v7, can it be, how can it be!” she cried, turning away from me passionately. “Ts there no good in you, that you treat a helpless girl so for your own gain? Have you no shred of knightliness, you that wear aknight’s spurs?’”’ Sheconfronted meagain, and this time her eyes were kinder. ‘‘ When you stood between me and that crowd of cut-throats, Sir John Hawkwood, my heart softened to you. I thought at least he is a Adventure brave man, at least he does not fear to risk his life. And a moment later I heard from your own lips for what base motive you had brought me here! It is too much; I can not believe that any man can fall so low!” “Madonna Giulia,” I cried, “listen to me! What I told the men was but a tale of my own inventing, a means to pacify them and turn them off. Do you not——” Her face hardened again. ‘“‘I do not believe you!” she flung at me. “By your own confession you have lied either to me 6r to your troopers, and I have no trust for a» knight who lies. Do your will with me—I am a helpless woman who can not wield"é a. sword “Small matter for that, Prificeds? ‘aation: you possess a tongue!”’ I retorted, stung out | of my manners. “Since you choose’ 0. dis believe me, I will say no more: -:‘As. ‘your. door is broken down, I must beg-yout fo. cross” the gallery and enter the room n there. at: ‘the. 3 right.” “She hesitated for a moment, , Todleing as Sif *s she would speak again, butany grini rhannes. ; silenced her. She was turning away . When. | Pierre came hastily into the gallery.'3: 3 > +. ee “Your pardon, Sir John,” he Ged. initich.. excited, “but a small company: -Of horse=" men are coming from the direction 6f Ver=~ _ ona! What they want I can not. guess, for: ? they are not enough to storm the castle——=” “Wait for me below!” I cut him short. Then, striding across the gallery, I’ opened the door of the room I had choser*for the ladies, bowed to them, and awaited their entrance. ‘The Princess stood motionless, her color risen, her eyes bright as stars. “Men are coming from Verona!” she cried. “They are coming to find me, to free me—is it not so?” “That, Princess,”’ I answered coldly, ‘‘is what I propose to descend and discover, if you will first oblige me by entering this room.” “Vou will keep me imprisoned here?”’ she cried angrily. ‘You will let me know nothing of this party that has ridden here: to help me?”’ =“Depend upon it, Princess, whatever troop of horsemen ride to Castel Paura to effect your liberty will turn their horses’ fulfilled!” Our eyes met in a clashing glance.. “You have the right of force, Sir John Hawkwood,’ he she said coldly, taking Francesca’ Ss hand.1 Ast COMICOOCKKS. CO _ heads back to Verona with their, object pet