Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

516 ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. “Tf you.are alone I fear for you. Your ™ eyes are wild.” “T shall not be alone. The priests say God comes to those who suffer. Farewell, Lady Beatrice!” CHAPTER XXXII. JUDGMENT. ITH Sanseverino in a chair beside him and a little to the rear, Leo X waited in a small room of the Vatican for the entry of the criminals. It had been suggested that he leave the trial and the judgment to San- severino, but his interest in Peter and the unusual nature of the case determined him to give it his own attention. It was a rare exception, for as a rule his gentle nature revolted against the trial and sentence of crimes which called for the death penalty. Accordingly, he gathered all those who were familiar with the plan of the Venus statue or intimate with Peter. If the sculptor had been changed by some violent exterior force, his friends could best testify to the greatness and peculiarity of that change. Around the room sat the cap- tain of the arrest and Antonio della Marca, with Beatrice beside him; Guido Strochini, and a secretary to record the proceedings. First of the prisoners, Peter entered be- « tween two armed men. At sight of the escort the Holy Father raised the inevitable spy-glass to his eye and then lifted his hand. “Stand outside the door, sirs,’”’ he com- manded. “ Messer Peter himself-shall be my guard in case of danger.” Then as Peter knelt before him: “ Rise, my son. Strange, wild tidings have come to me of thee. But what? That strong heart of thine never conceived knavery! No, I shall not believe it. Not a word to me! Take yonder chair.” Peter had scarcely taken the designated chair when the door opened again and two other soldiers, tall fellows of the Swiss guard, appeared, leading Sonia. Each of them held her firmly by the arm, but the Holy Father showed no intention of giving her greater freedom. Like the rest of the people in the room, he stirred in his chair and leaned a little forward. “Ts this the woman?” he said at last. “She is young—young and comely for such foul practise.” “The black art of knavery hath often a white face,” rumbled Sanseverino. “Peace, Sanseverino! And yet you say the truth. It must be so! Secretary, ex- amine. this woman!” The secretary rose, holding his scroll ready to write down the answers to the questions which he had already prepared. The Swiss turned Sonia with unnecessary hands to face him, and Peter clenched his fists. His glaring eyes crossed the frightened and nervous glance of, Beatrice, but he did not see her. “Look well to the Englishman, Holy Father,” said Sanseverino hastily, “ for there’s a red devil in his eye. He'll be at. the throats of the Swiss in another mo- ment!”’. ‘“ Hush, Sanseverino; he knows in what presence he sits, even if he be quite en- chanted. Begin, secretary.” . “But by the mass,” said the burly car- dinal under his breath, “she seems quite singularly composed.” ‘“ Are you the woman Sonia?” asked the monotonous voice of the secretary. ““My name is Sonia,” she answered, and because, perhaps, of the tense expectation in the room, the soft quality of her voice caused a little stir. “Ask by whom she is directly accused?” broke in the Pope. “Let the person stand forth who accuses the woman, Sonia, of the practise of black arts and enchantment,” said the secretary. The Lady Beatrice della Marca rose from her chair. “Tt is—” she began, but here her eye crossed the furious and horrified glance of Peter, and she faltered. “Holy Father!” cried Peter, springing up, “the Lady Beatrice has never known this girl, and her testimony and accusation are worthless as—”’ “ Be silent, Messer Peter,” said the Pope, but not unkindly. ‘‘ You shall not speak unless you are first required. Proceed, Beatrice, my child.” “Do you, Beatrice della Marca,” said the secretary, turning to her, “ do you accuse hi comicbooks.com