Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 104 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

| 20 ? Montezuma, the Merciless. —_—_—_——— can became more of a lion, a lion whose velvet paw had just clawed the life out of two of the most dangerous citoyens of New Orleans. Joined by his seconds, Montezuma was driven rapidly back to his hotel, where his slight wound was dressed, after which he sat down with Arthur Grenville and Andrea Angelos to enjoy a delightffil dejeuner, washed down by the Persian wine he had ordered, while through the city flew the news of the fatal duels of the herculean Apollo. CHAPTER XXII. MONTEZUMA AT HOME, WHEN Montezuma told Andrea Angelos that he wanted his palatial mansion ready in two weeks’ time, he meant it, and the Cuban banker had seen enough of the Mexican to know that he expected his wishes as well as his commands to be obeyed to the letter. Why he had bestowed such favors upon him, Andrea Angelos could not tell; but, certain it was that Montezuma had saved him from ruin and made his fortune besides, for as soon as it was known that the banker had promptly paid his notes, taken the mortgages off of his pro erty, and paid his bills, pene no longer felt any doubt of the solidity of his banking- house, and depositors flocked in, many of them withdrawing from the house of Abercrombie, Sebastian & Company, whose three members certainly lived a very fast life and spent a great deal of money. As soon as Andrea Angelos got possession of the three mansions bought by Montezuma, he set regiments of men to work upon the improve- ments, and in an incredibly short time the Gren- ville house came down; then followed the Be- thune residence, delayed a day on account of the funeral, and up went the brick wall around the inclosure, excepting the Sebastian mansion before the front of which was placed an elegant fron fence, through which glimpses could be ob- tained by the passers-by, of the grounds and gardens. Upon these latter workmen were engaged, laying out flower-beds, building arbors, grot- toes, fairy-bowers, and placing costly marble urns, statuary and vases of bronze, filled with rare exotics. The stables meantime were torn down and rebuilt in a twinkling, and rooms and bay-win- dows, were added to the mansion, together with bowling-alleys, billiard and card-rooms, and rifle and pistol galleries. In fact, so much did gold do, that within two weeks from the day of the double duel, the fur- niture was moved into what was now nothing less than a palace. And such furniture! A combination of the voluptuous | of Oriental lands, with the magnificent comforts of Paris—tables of the rarest mosaic, divans of silk and velvet—chairs of ebony, rosewood, and silvered and gilded in the most artistic manner —curtains of lace and velvet, each worth a for- tune—carpets that gave back no sound to the heaviest heel—rugs of priceless value, and bed- chamber sets such as only monarchs could rest upon. Then any quantity of bric a-brac scattered lavishly around; a picture-gallery filled with the most exquisite paintings—but none by the ‘old masters "—artistic drawings and rare en- gravings; then a saloon of statuary containing only the most costly works of art. a ean ig red, white and blue marble ways, and the ceilings throughout the mansion frescoed by the best artists, whom large sums of gold made work with lightning hand, and sh ned genius. “And the dining-room?’ I hear my hungry readers ask. A salon, in which one could wish that dinner would last as did Rip Van Winkle’s sleep. The panels were beautiful paintings, set in— hunting and fishing scenes, with strings of game between that looked as though they could be taken down for use. A carpet of velvet on the floor—a table of ebony, inlaid with gold and silver designs, and an entire service of solid gold, all engraven with the name of Montezuma. The china was of the rarest kind, and the forks were of gold and the knife-handles of the same precious metal. Then there was a curiosity room, in which were the gatherings of Montezuma in different parts of the world. Into this marvelous palace at last filed the servants—Nubians and Persians in the pictur- esque costumes of their country—for Montezu- ma liked not native servants, and upon his de- parture, the day of the duel, in his yacht for the Lake shore, he had presented the Senora Angelos with the turnout he had bought from Wilber Sebastian, throwing in the coachman, too, who certainly was not sorry, as Valik had filled him with a holy horror ‘‘of dat Massa Mexikum Prince, Mon’zummer,” for such the negro cocher called him. e day that the palace was qeady for the reception of its master, Montezuma returned in his yacht, and drove at once to his home, as though he had always lived there, Andrea An- LL ———— eee eee | gelos accompanying him, and a crowd of idlers hbronging the streets to see him go by. **] hope all will be as you like it,” said the banker, as the two dismounted from a turnout, carriage, horses and Persian driver, for surpass- ing the elegant affair which Wilber Sebastian had so prided himself upon. ‘** All is as I like it; it could not be better. | Now put all the workmen on board my largest vessel, the Launcelot, and send them at once to my lake-side estate; here is my plan of improve- ments, Senor Angelos,” and Montezuma handed the banker drawings he had made himself. ‘‘And, by the way, as you have doubtless drawn heavily upon my 4d it with you, I wish, now that I have my safe ashore, to give you more funds,” ** But, Senor Montezuma, I have not spent one-half hart “It is best always to have a full purse, and heavy bank account, friend Angelos. Valik, hand to the senor thirty millions more, in ai 7, ‘* Thirty millions more ?” It was all that Andrea Angelos could say, or rather exclaim. ‘Yes, Senor Angelos—no, hold, Valik! Senor Angelos, it is my intention to both bull and bear the financial market of your city, and, as I shall — a very heavy sum of money to do so, I wish— ‘*Your kindness, Senor Montezuma, has so raised my credit that I can easily borrow any sum you might—” ‘*You misunderstand me, my dear Angelos; I say that as I need a large sum in cash, for have a deep purpose in some transactions | in- tend entering upon, I will let you use the money already deposited with you for improvements on my lake estate, and personal expenses, and lace in your hands—let me see! I think a hun- ed millions, will do to startupon. Valik, car- ry one hundred millions, in French and English — en down tothe office of the Senor An- gelos.’ As Andrea Angelos made no reply, Montezu- ma smilingly added: ‘You see that Valik is my home banker; he carries the keys to all my treasures.” Still Andrea Angelos made no remark; he sat like one astounded by startling news. Could he believe his ears? If not, he could his eyes, as they turned upon Valik counting out the packages of money, and yet leaving behind what appeared as much more. Who was this man of gold and diamonds? This man who pens a million dollars as he, Andrea Angelos, :lid a hundred? This man who had proven himself superhu- man in personal strength, and had faced death with a smile upon his face that would have won ony worens eart! as he man—or was he the devil himself, wearing the image of a man, and handling counterfeit gold and notes made in the realms of Hades? Whatever he was, man or devil, he certainly had befriended him, and he was with him, body and soul. Such were the thoughts of Andrea Angelos as. he sat in almost a stupor before Montezuma. ** Now, senor, we will have iunch, and then the workmen must get off at once, for I wish my house on the Jake run through with the same dispatch that this has been.” ‘** It shall be, Senor Montezuma; before I saw you I had no idea what power gold held in the world, although I deemed it all powerful; you have astounded our citizens, senor.” It was a lunch such as Andrea Angelos had never sat down to before, and he partook of wines that had mellowed for more than a cen- a of years. en he departed on his duty, filled with the energy of the man he served, and at sunset the A No, 1 paler igged ship Launcelot sailed for the Lake shore, the b wake, with the furniture, servants, carriages and horses intended for Montezuma’s country- t seat. Two days after Montezuma was established in his city palace one thousand invitations were sent out to the creme dela creme of .the city aristocracy, to attend a ball to be given by the Mexican billionaire in bis elegant abode. The invitations were solid gold, and upon them, in artistic lettering, was engraved: “MONTEZUMA, OF MEXICO, ‘* Desires the pleasure of your company ‘*AT HIS MANSION, ‘“*Thursday evening, at 9 o’clock.” All who received one of these invitations con- sidered themselves blest among the blessed, and immediately set to work to prepare costumes suitable for the momentous occasion—those who had money sparing no expense and nding freely—those who had no money borrowing free- ty of those who had, and those who had no riends to borrow from, getting the pawn-brok- ers to act @ triendly part—for a consideration— and advance on fewels and other personal ef- fects which they cauld spare from the make- up of their w bes. ark Zulah following in her And in his palace, Montezuma calmly awaited the coming event when bis rooms would be crowded, well knowing that the old saying would be proven true: ‘‘ Plus on est de fous, plus on rit.” (The more fools, the more fun.) CHAPTER XXIII, FOILED. THE Montezuma ball was given, and all whe had been invited were there, with the exception of a few who had died after the invitations were sent out, and who, the gossips said, died with intense regret at being unable to attend. The Mexican Prince, as sycophants would call him, received his guests with the dignified and courtly grace natural to him, and Andrea An- gelos and his lovely wife aided him in the re- ception ceremonies. All were charmed, not only with Montezuma, but with his palace and its a pointments, its Persian servants, and, above all, with the luxuries and wines upon which as they feasted their stomachs, after feasting their eyes upon the beauties of the lion’s den, and the ma- jesty of the lion. From her first scart i 3 with Montezuma, the fair Madame Grenville had determined to lay siege to his heart, and so she managed to have Brainard Abercrombie leave her upon the arm of the elegant host, and her dreamy eyes light- ed up with envy and hope as she turned them upon his evening dress. He was attired in plain black, wearing a vest cut low, that revealed an exquisitely-embroider. ed shirt-bosom, in which burned a single opal of imperial size and beauty, and yet matched by those in his wristbands, and the one in a ring on the little finger of his left hand. Upon his left breast glittered a star of dia- monds, in the center of which was an anchor of rubies; and that it was some foreign decoration all knew, ret none cared to ask him what, As Estelle glided through the thronged room, she thought: ‘* Ah, if I could only make this man my slave, bow happy would I be.” And with such intention she set to work, using every artifice known to an artful wo- man. Presently the two came upon Captain Sebas. tian and his wife. The ve of Montezuma at once fell upon the toilet of Mildred—a carnation velvet, sweepi far back, and the waist decollete, while aro her neck she wore the diamond necklace, al- ready known to the reader, upholding the an- chor of rubies. Through the heavy masses of her hair was fastened the gem-hilted dagger, and upon her Saane was the priceless ring—the single dia- mond, At aglance Montezuma saw the fortune she wore in precious stones, and said pleasantly: ‘*It may be bad taste, Madame Sebastian, to speak of your exquisite gems, but I am such an admirer of them I cannot refrain from it; it you care to, I will show you some of my treas- Ere Mildred could reply Don Felipe Cosala approached, his beautiful Mexican wife upon his arm; they had come late and were seeking the host. Montezuma received them with his accustom: ed courtly grace, and then Estelle cried: ‘Don Cosala, you and the senora are just in time, for the Senor Montezuma was going to show us some of his treasures, and I know he will include you.” ‘‘ Certainly, and with pleasure. You will have to come to my own private rooms, though,” and he led the way, Estelle upon his arm, and fol. lowed by the four others, Of course the private ee of so great a personage had first to be inspected by the ladi and, in the meantime, Montezuma had call Valik to bring him a casket, which the slave un- locked. So intent were allat the display of wealth within, that Don Cosala’s penetrating glance at the jewels worn by Mildred was not observed. is eyes fairly blazed, and his swarthy facs flushed: but he controlled his emotion, and glanced within the casket. Theree saw gems of all kinds, many of thens worth a lortune, and the value of all seemingly a the power of man to compute. ut his eyes again turned upon Mildred, and he said, quietly: “Those gems of yours, Mrs. Sebastian, arv oe priceless; I never saw you wear them be- ore. ‘No, Don, this is the first time I ever knew her to wear them, excepting the ring, and do ou know there is some mystery about them, I hink?’ said Wilber Sebastian. ** Around most precious stones hangs a my#- tery, Captain Sebastian; we know not who has worn them before, whence they have come, how often they have been stolen, or what blood bas been shed to gain them,” said Montezuma, in bis deep, quiet tones. “True, senor, but would you believe that I never knew my wife had these priceless jewels until to-night?” ** Pndeed, Captain Sebastian, there does cer. tainly seem to be a mystery attached to th. m,” said Don Felipe, and he added: S) COMmiGcoee (E(0) EE OE