Adventure Magazine Cover — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

142 best for her to depart from the realms of Rometia. I forced my way into her castle through a balcony, and after some warm sword play with her guards, during which I killed two of them and received a slight cut myself, I brought the woman to terms, and she sent the writhing, rat-faced little worm of a count about his business. I gave her a parchment with an order for twenty thousand ducats from the duke. ‘Thereupon the wanton made sheep’s-eyes at me, but I would have none of her. “Go home then to thy milk and water,” she jeered. So I rode home. I went to Sergeant Lucio’s quarters in the citadel, and being worn out, and stiffened of my wound, I slept long and deep. I awoke when a great voice rumbled in my ear. “What?” I asked sleepily. “Arise, Francesco,” roared the pink-bearded Lucio, ‘‘and on the instant! The duke demands to see thee.” The duke was in his cabinet when we arrived. What was my astonishment when the captain, my superior, looked at me as if he did not know me, and addressed the sergeant thuswise! “Retain thy prisoner till I return, Sergeant.” “Prisoner!” I gasped. “Tis but the duke’s mode of keeping his skirts clean, fool!”’ cautioned Lucio in a whisper. ‘Since thou’st done well, there’s nothing to fear.” When the duke heard my story, he was immensely pleased and presented me with a medal of his new Order of Jesus Christ. Then I heard the duke order that payment be stopped on the warrant that I had given tothe woman. He intimated that he would stop her mouth for her. . . My disgust knew no bounds. HereI had betrayed a weak woman to the knife, forsooth, of one of the duke’s assassin’s—and had been rewarded for my valor—with a cross of Jesus Christ! Alas! Soon afterward the duke had another delicate mission for me to perform. A certain Pietro Uc- cello, a leader of marauding free-lance troops, had of late made much trouble for the duke; wherefore he had his physician concoct a mortal poison which I was to convey to Uccello’s camp and put some in . HE countess will not see the Captain,” says he. “Didst tell her I commanded it instanter?”’ “Yes, Captain.” “Ts she bedded?” *“N-no, Captain.” ‘Then stand here at the door as sentry,” says I, pushing open the door through which he had returned; ‘‘and if the countess sum- mons any of thy fellows, and they come, tell them to stay and keep thee company; for the man that enters this room ere I leave it shall be hanged within five minutes. Is that understood?” “Yes, Captain.” There was an antechamber, and a man- at-arms on guard therein. “Begone,” says I. “Report to my lieu- tenant on the walls. There’s more work F. R. Buckley his food. For that deed I should receive absolution from the Church and a sublieutenancy from the duke. A betrayer of women and a poisoner, I! I played sick for several days, till the duke, becoming impatient, ordered me arrested. Then I fled for my life—and direct to the camp of Uccello. I had some little trouble in convincing him that I was there for my own safety and not for his destruction—for Uccello knew of the duke’s plot. And so I joined the ranks of the marauders, learned much, and in time rose to a lieutenancy; and when Captain Uccello was killed in combat, I naturally assumed his place. About the time of my becoming head of the troop, we were hired to take by storming a certain castle belonging to the Count Roberto, husband of the Countess Anita, sister of the Duke of Rometia. The count (the castle was his property) had in some manner offended his lady and had been forcefully ejected from the place. The poor count had had the temerity to collect forces to besiege the castle. The duke, hearing of this show of boldness on the part of the weak-kneed Roberto, and his own troops being occupied in other directions, found himself under the necessity of accepting the services of condottiert. And thus, I, Francesco di Vitali, who had fled the duke for my life, was now in position to deal with the duke with proper dignity—and to command a fat figure for my services. I laid my plans for the campaign, using strategy such as was new in the annals of warfare of the time. Then, using my flanks as decoys, I smashed through Roberto’s forces at the center with my speediest column infantry. The battle was a rout, and my whole force was soon within the castle gate. I had not seen the count himself in the combat, so I guessed he had sped to gather more forces. I told the sentry that I wished to see the countess. ‘“‘I—I dare not,” says the man. “Dost thou think me a better person to beard than the lady?” Seemingly he was spared this mistake, for he was off very suddenly. At length he came forth from a doorway where I awaited him in the corridor; and his face was as white as wool. here to be done than standing on a carpet.” “T am here by the countess’ orders,” says the fellow sullenly. “And thou’lt be there by mine,” I told him, pulling from my belt the commission signed by Salviati in the duke’s name, and showing it to him. “Look you, fellow, I do thee the honor to present my credentials; they are from the Duke of Rometia; thou canst report them to thy fellows of the countess’ guard. Thou canst also report that I shall extend this grace no more. The next man that hesitates before an order as thou hast, I stab on the spot. Now— march!”’ He moved slowly even then, which made me the more realize that my command was not to be undisputed; and when he had passed the outer door, I laid my hand to the fastening of the inner. COMMGIOOKSEEO