Adventure Magazine Cover — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

150 than his Grace was willing to pay; also mis- representing the size of the affair.” At this, I could not but rise and pace the floor. “So,” says I, “Matteo Scarlatti with- drew, displeasure or no displeasure, and hath sought fresh battlefields, eh?” “Tt was said that he had retired to Coste- caldo, your Honor, there to await a dele- gation—” “Captain,” says Anita, looking at me cool- ly, “‘will you be pleased to dismiss this man?”’ “But, signora—”’ “TI would speak to you alone. of his tidings will keep.”’ There was no denying her; I told the fel- low to go, and to draw five pieces from Benedetto for his success. The moment he was gone, the countess arose and confronted me. “Well?” says she. “That old dog of a Salviati lied of set purpose,” I snarled. “To Scarlatti and to me—to get us cheap.”’ She nodded. “Why not? Did he not succeed? Art thou still expecting scruples of princes, Signor Captain?” “With me he succeeded. Not with Scarlatti.” “And why with thee?” “Because he lied me into a trap from which I can not escape, per Bacco; the goat- bearded—” “So. And will the sortie from the trap be eased if all thy men know thou’rt enraged and despairing—as thou wast about to ad- vise your messenger?” That was very true. “Signor Francesco, meseems_ thyself is in need of discipline— _Is’t not time for thy tour of the battlements?” “Ves. But I had thought, after this, to have my lieutenant make it.”’ ‘“‘Nay; on the contrary; we will go togeth- er, and undo what perchance thy unguard- edness hath done. Maid. Ho, wench! My cloak, and come after us.”’ So, for the first time of many, Anita made the circuit of the walls with me, and I saw with mine own eyes once again, the work- ing of the superstition of noble blood. The men on guard, told carelessly by her that all was well, were twice as convinced as if I had told them the same; the cannoneers, of whom one group were trying long shots at the enemy’s encampment, maneuvered their The rest F. R. Buckley piece under her eye, more smartly than ever they had under mine—and that was smartly enough, on my salvation. “At what do you shoot?” asked the countess, of my old sergeant-gunner, who saluted, coughed, blushed as well as he could with a complexion like curried leather, and looked at me. ‘Well, mane? Answer!”’ ‘With your Ladyship’s favor, we are try- ing to land a ball in your Ladyship’s noble husband’s tent, your Ladyship.”’ ‘What success?” “T am glad to tell your Ladyship they fall short.” “Fall short?” says I. “T am sorry to report to your Honor that such is the case, Captain. I was awaiting permission to try a double charge.” “Certainly.” The old fellow scratched his jowl, as two other men started to measure out the load. “Tt would perhaps be better if your Lady- ship and his Honor the Captain retired be- hind the bastion.” “In case the gun should burst?” demands Anita. ‘“They have burst before, signora.”’ ‘Then rubbish, man! Fire your gun; we will stand where we are.”’ And fire they did, visibly adoring her; and on her account, even, defying me to the extent of withdrawing part of the double charge, lest anything untoward occur. Anita, too, saw them perform this idiot legerdemain (whereby the ball still fell short, wasting itself and the powder)—and as we walked away to the next post, she touched my arm and smiled. “°*Tis as I told thee, thou seest, Captain; I could have been a powerful hindrance to thee; just as I am a powerful aid. Is it not so?” “Yes, signora.”’ “What now?” I had sighed, without knowing why; but she must know, and did most straitly ques- tion me; so that at last, I was fain to say that, with her permission, I did wonder that she and the Count Roberto together had not accomplished great things. She halted, and looked me in the face. “Nay, that sigh was for thine own griefs,” says she; and reflected. “Thou wert more like wondering (as I wonder) that thyself and thy wife have not accomplished—”’ DOOK C©