Show ' ) NOT ALL mtOSS 1ZtZ family estates something akin io distrust Of this the General was aware lie mid played his cards accordingly put himself under many obligations to the proud but generous D’Lacy It was Lord Reginald’s tenantry that sent the General to the English Parliament and it was Lord Reginald’s baud that opened the stately doors of England’s select aristocracy to one who though he held high military rank in the East India Company’s service hint no ancient family to claim nor a single relation to be found in any branch of the hereditary gentlemen of the hnd Eut the friendship and countenance of the D’Lacy was to the wealthy plebeian in aristocratic circled what among the moneyocracy of the present day it would be to a commercial man tube seen on “Change” in close fellowship with King Rothschild The General was therefore under very great obligation to the D’Lacy— indeed more deeply indebted to him than was the noble himself to bis wealthy creditor for Lord Reginald’s friendship and support obtained for him what all his wealth could not have purchased Now the General was very frank and constant in his acknowledgments of his vast obligations to his uobie friend and would not hear fram Lord Reginald anything touching the mortgage which he He inheld upon the D’Lacy estates sisted that he was vastly indebted to the P'Lacys and not they to birn — that through their representative he had been advanced in social and political position more than all bis wealth could have ac- complished alone and be was irresisti- ble in tho argument that he personally picked the fniits of the princely state of tho D’Lacy hoise 'When Lord Reginald wafi in a humor to contemplateTetrench- nient General Blakely was at hand to combat the monstrous and unkind intention— unkind he declared to himself lor tho D’Lacy who had conferred so liberally favors on him was too proud to rc-- r coive an acknowledgment of those favors The D’Lacy however was not too proud io jreceive an acknowledgment in words it was tho substantial one which his wealthy creditor offered that he was so nice upon But the gallant General urged that he also had his pride and was us tender as tho D’Lacy upon a point of honor If Lord Reginald would not condescend to a reciprocity of friendship and favors with him then lie would owe to the D’Lacys as little as possible and pay off a portion of his own indebtedness to them by destroying the mortgage which ho held against their estates lie even went ro far iir the consummation of his deep laid plot as to send tho mortgage deeds to Lord Reginald which that nobleman returned as tho General well knew ho would Thus it was tho General’s course being so plausible and what he urged so true in point of fact and honor that Lord Reginald committed the great error of' humoring what he acknowledged as just prejudice of his wealthy friend to the character of money-lendIt was a deep laid plot of General Blakely who was at once morally the debtor and legally the creditor of the D’Lacy who fell into the arch plotter’s trap and allowed him to carry his point in his determined refusal to receive’ the yearly interest of Thus worked the plot to the mortgage its consummation and thus the ruin of the D’Lncy house which broke tho heart of Lord Reginald and stripped his son Lord Frederick of his family estates Thus also was partially fulfilled the throat vindictive Herbert Blakely against young Fred at school CHARTER IV of his N of-th- ROM E— N O TJ Jj E II EVKLLKUS On through the changes of time to Rome and a period sixteen years later ' “The new prima donna ! The queen of song! Tho divine Terese!” shouted a In their gay company of noble revellers dissipated gallantry they sprang to their feet and pledged’ the lady in sparkling and as each gallant tipped the wine glaf s of his fellow he shouted a rival pledge to the same lady The revellers vied with each other in naming tho new Star f ' been r princess of the proud Orsini houser itself and he but one of its serfs who had presumptuously claimed her favor” “Tho fashionable gossips repeat th scandal that the charming Terese sent the Orsini back the diamond coronet and his eloquent billet dcaiix — his love offer- -' ing penned by a poetic secretary un- opened” observed Count Cariati with evident pleasure at tho opportunity of being able to annoy his rivalj “ The Or sini was surely caught by Cupid this timer but the nightingale was not caught by" him” : “Rather a severe thrust that” reTwo gentlemen remote from the rev“ You had better marked the Benedict ellers were drinking their wine in quiet me Orsini’ after ‘r’ pattern were English though propriety They “ 0 ! I can afford Carinti’s banter Beone of them would have passed for an sides reminds of me it former triumphs Italian and he spoke tho language of the in which the Count has been put hors de country with tho ease of a native and in combat love our Bear me witpasses the elegance of a scholar The two young ness also noble friends that of all this Englishmen had no relation with the company of irresistible gallants none nor joined them in their have been more successful with the lady pledge even so much as by a' itoticc but than I” quietly conversed together Seemingly “But Count you must acknowledge They were oblivious to the presence of we have not met your repulse nor had the gallants and unconscious of their our gifts returned” said the English naming a young musical star who had " - baronet just burst upon the fashionable world at “ila ha” laughed Orsini complacentRome captivating withher rustic beauty ly “ my little episode was too significant and enchanting with her wonderful draa warning for others to attempt where matic powers and gifts of song It might I had failed Quite flattering Sir Her- - ‘ have been that thtf two young Englishbert I assure you” — artists who had come men were students “ Remember Orsini I have not made to the capital of the empire of art for advances to your gifted countrywoman’ their finishing education They looked said the Englishman not unlike artists of some class — perhaps “It would he iu vain Sir Herbert” painters perhaps musicians and if the “ 1 have cut the wings of as shy a bird latter doubtless they were not so unconere now Count” scious of the pledge of the revellers to “tho “Come friends come ! a common cause I queen of song — the divino Terese” as they We grant Sir Herbert to have been irre-seemed to be One thing however consistible with tho fair and to be still a cerning them was certain that if they gallant worthy a beauty’s smiles but in were more than artists they had not justice we must claim the superior aL ' chiimcd their social rank in the fashionavantages of youtln” ble circles at Rome and were unknown The vanity of the Englishman was to the dissipated young noblemen who he was piqued for though middle-age- d ignored their presence as completely' as still a fine looking man who in his day tlie young Englishmen had seemed to bo too had sex been fair with successful the oblivious of the revelling of the gallants to the sorrow of many a repentant deabashed were close they by proxPerhaps serted one imity to gay men of rauk and by quiet “ A princely dinner to this company of reserve invited no attention to them? noble gallants Count Orsini that I will selves perhaps they were lost together succeed where you failed aud win the in interesting conversation upon their Give me smiles of the beautiful Terese favorite art threo months and I will bring the queen “ “ Gentlemen” said a signor Benedict of song from her rustic bower to blaze from among the gay young noblemen “I her lustre on the fashionable crowd at have pledged the gifted artiste not the !vome” lady — not the lady by the mass” “As her knight Sir Herbert ? ?“Ha lia! not tho lady Marquis of The favoredaccepted lover who shall conquer the course not the lady She would not ungifted amazon who beat the Orsini?” likely jilt you as a certain fair songstress “ Yes Count as the conqueror of her did before Gentlemen we absolve signor who discomfited vou” Benedict from all imputation of pledging “A wager by the holy virgin” laughed a woman — of drinking wine in honor of the handsome young noble with pardoncreature in in any petticoats excepting able assurance that the Englishman would her character as an artiste You absolve fail where he had lost “ I accept the chal- our Benedict noble gallants?” lenge Y’ou are witnesses noble friends!” “ Certainly certainly ! Right willingly “ Bear witness gentlemen” joined in No scandal' to we absolve the Marquis Sir Herbert “And now pledge me sucthe Benedict about a petticoat!” cess in wine most gallant worshipers of “ Signor Benedict” said Count Orsini Bachus and Venus” ' the leader of the revellers “you are ab“Hedge the daring Englishman” shout- solemn solved by this assembly of all aped tho company “ 1 will lead the ceremony as a token pearance of pledging a woman I” “ By tho bye Count you have not met of good will” said Count Orsini “ Sue- success with the new prima cess to fjjr Herbert if he can loin it !” your usual “ If he can win it i” laughed the rov- clonna ” retorted the Marquis Baglioni cllers the Benedict for the thrust made at him “ I think we have been 'rather imprby the Count touching his unfortunate love episode udent” rhero observed Count Cariati “Usual success!” laughed a middle-age- d glancing towards the two young English-- ? men who had held no companionship English baronet “Why Marquis with them your wording of the Count’s ill luck in The revellers turned their attention to wooing the beautiful singer is verv like a compliment whevo the Count indicated and for tho The irresistible 6rsini fir-time gave importance to’ the pres- Ins been repulsed by the gifted peasant with as much hauteur as though he had cnee of tho Grangers |