Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

The Moor of Milan “Ob, happy!” she cried. “But why does he come to Milan? Did ever you meet a man in your house who wanted nothing?” ‘“There is no such man in the world,” said Lodovico. 3 ‘At least I have never seen: him,’”’ Silvain smiled. ‘Sir, my lady jeers at me. I am the greediest soul alive. I have sought fortune and honor all my days.” “And what have you won?” said the lady. “Not six feet of ground for your grave.” “I have had honor of men,” Silvain said gently. “I have my fame‘that I could lay at the feet of God if I die tonight. And my life is not lived yet.” Lodovico looked at his wife. thin lips smiled. “You are right. Lodovico’s He wants~ nothing of you. That is what a woman can not for- give. What will you give him, Beatrice? Death?”? He turned to Silvain. “You have made an enemy, sir.” His smile faded; his dark face was expressionless. “It. is.unfortunate. I had. something to offer you, but my lady rules all.” “You!” Beatrice laughed. “What could you give him, Lodovico? If you gave him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them he would not serve you.”’ “You are bitter, madam,” said Lodovico. “T pray you let us speak man to man. Sir, IT have only a venture to give you, a venture of danger and honor. I ask your service for a woman in need. You are free to choose.” ‘My lord, I shall thank you for any noble venture,” said Silvain. “Tt is this: Pavia was friendly to Milan of old and I do not hide from you it is much te me in the war which comes upon us that the town should be friendly still. Its lord died in the Spring and his only heir is the Lady Clarissa. But he kept a company of hireling soldiers, and their chief, Carlo the Sicilian, has seized the town and the lady, and he holds her prisoner and has made himself lord of Pavia in her stead. If I march against him and make a siege of the town, before I break in he will surely kill her. I find no hope for her in war or policy. To take up her cause is to condemn her to death. I dare not do it. ‘So here is a venture desperate enough. I am frank with you. If you can save her it will serve me well for I can fight for her right and drive Carlo to the —— and win 93 the town. But it is for her I bid you go. She must waste away in prison or die mur- dered when her death will serve Carlo, unless a man comes who can deliver her.”’ Beatrice smiled. ‘You bid the man go to his death, my lord,” she said. “For the joy of the venture and the honor of it!’ And she looked at Silvain and laughed. “T go, lady,” Silvain said. Ge] PAVIA stands where rivers meet in fee the plain. It stood within great walls then and men called it the city of a hundred towers, so many there were on the ramparts and within the town, gaunt things of ancient brick. Into Pavia as the evening mists were ris- ing from the wet rice fields came two shabby travelers. ‘They were soldiers by trade, they said, at the humble tavern to which they went, they hired themselves out to merchants who needed a guard for their caravans of goods, they were looking for another job, but times were bad and at the best it was a dog’s life. Please St. Nicholas, they might find business doing in Pavia. Such was the tale Thibaut told the land- lord over a flash of harsh red Lombardy wine and he told it well. But at the end he looked up into the simple young face of Louis Bonivard. It was Messire Thibaut who showed surprise. Louis Bonivard saluted him with a stranger’s civility: ‘“‘“A newcomer, sir? You have chosen a good inn,” and turned away to speak to a servant and went out. In the street Silvain came up behind him. “Sir, we must know each other better,”’ Silvain said and linked arms with him. “Sir, you flatter me. But when we parted you did not want to know any more of me. Well, I was content.” “It is possible I have done you a wrong. I did not expect to meet Louis Bonivard in Pavia.” Bonivard looked quickly round him. There was no one near them. “I ride through Italy for my pleasure,” he said. Silvain smiled. ‘Pavia is no town of pleasure.” “You are wrong, sir. I have had very pleasant hours in Pavia.” ‘Pray sir, show me how to enjoy the place,”’ said Silvain. Bonivard hesitated. micloool © inn