Show V J Y iinthor ot A Prisoner of Zcnda Copyright 1895 by Anthony Hope t I CHAPTER VIH CONCLUDED felanncr of Cotmt Autoiiios Return Then the Lady Lucia having reached the foot of the steps stood still there her eyes on the duke Very fair she was and sad and she seemed rather Hike some beautiful unsubstantial vision than a living maiden and though she Strove to form words with her lips yet no words came Therefore it was by her muteness that she besought pity for her and pardon for her lover But the duke leaning yet further to toard her had fallen but that the physician phy-sician kneeling passed his arm round hIs body and held him up and he said fin low hoarse tones and like a man that is amazed and full of awe and yet moved with a gladness so great that he cannot believe in it Who is it Who is it And the Lady Lucia still could not answer him And he craning towards her spake to her in entreaty t Margharita Slrgharita Then indeed all marvelled for the name that the duke spoke was the Dame by which the princess who had been his wife and was dead had been Stalled 1 and they perceived that his higlmess overcome by his sickness shad lost discernment and conceived the Lady Lucia to be not herself but the spirit of his dead love come to Slim from heaven to which delusion her white robes and her deathlike pallor pal-lor might well incline him And now fthe wonder and fear left his face and there came in place of them a great joy and rapture so that his sunken eyes gleamed his lips quivered and he beckoned with his hand murmuring 1 < i am ready I am ready Margharita And while this passed all who were too distant to hear the dukes words wondered won-dered that the signal came not but supposed that the Lady Lucia had interceded in-terceded for Count ntonio and that his highness was now answering her gayer some hoped that he would errant it And Antonio stood on the Scaffold between the Lord Lorenzo and t < cthe executioner and his eyes were set yon Lucia Then the duke spoke again to the Lady Lucia saying I have been lonelyvery lonely ion pale your face is my sweet Come ro me I cannot come to you for I am ery sick And he held out his hand toward her again But she was now very bewildered for she could not understand the words which his highness used to her and she looked round seeking some one who might tell her what they meant but none moved from his place or came near to her and at last she I found voice enough to say in soft tones Antonio my Lord the Count Antonio Nye 1 know that you loved him said ithe duke But since then he has done great crimes and he must die Yet speak not of him now but come here to me Margharita Then with wavering steps she came toward him mounting the first of the Steps and she said t know not what i you would my lord nor why you call me by the name of Margharita I am Lucia and I come to ask Antonios lifeLucia Lucia said he and his face grew doubtful Nay butt you are my larghanta he said No my lord she answered as with avering uncertain steps she mount fed till she stood but one step b low I where his couch was placed and then she fell on her knees on the highest step and clasped her hands crying Have mercy my lord have mercy Think my dear lord how I love him For if he dies I must die also my lord Ah my lord you have known love You loved our sweet Lady Margharita was not her name now on your lips So I love Antonio so he loves me Ah my lord Christ Jesus teaches pity And she buried her face in her hands and sobbed Then the duke this physician and now the master of the household also supporting him stretched himself over the edge of his couch and putting put-ting out his hand with feverish strength plucked the Lady Lucias hands away from her face and gazed at it And when he had gazed a moment < mo-ment he gave a great cry Ah God and flung his arms up above his head and fell back into the arms of loving a marvel as most men do must needs tell it to the > people and a murmur mur-mur of wonder arose and the report reached the guards at the scaffold who came and told Lorenzo in the hearing of Antonio of the strange delusion de-lusion that had come upon the duke He must be sick to death said Lo renzo I pray not said Count Antonio for though he is a stern man yet he is an able and just prince and this fancy of his is very pitiful Do you spare pity for him asked Lorenzo Shall not I pity all who have lost their lives answered Antonio with a smile and his eye rested on the form of Lady Lucia kneeling by the dukes couch For hard on half an hour the duke layas he had fallen but at last his physician having used all his skill to rouse him he opened his eyes and he I clutdhed his physicians hand and pointed to < < Lusia asking Who Is she It is the Lady Lucia my lord answered an-swered the physician And there was none else asked the duke in a low tremulous whisper I saw no other my lord But I saw her said the duke I saw her even as I saw her last when she lay on her bed and they took the I child out of her dead arms It was the weakness of your malady I mal-ady my lord that made the vision before be-fore your eyes I Alas was it no more moaned the duke Indeed I am very weak there is a blur before my eyes I cannot see I who this lady is that kneels before me Who is she and what ails her And having said this in fretful tones he lay back on his pillow gasping I rl 4 I n 4 I I C I I t i I I I i rl 1 4 Y i r al w U a I 4 I A3I LUCIA AND I COME TO ASK AXTOXlS LIFE his physician who laid him down on his couch where he lay motionless his eyes shut and his chin resting on his breast And all looked at the physician and he answered Nay he is not dead yet Why tarries the signal asked Antonio of Lorenzo on the scaffold It must be that the Lady Lucia beseeches him for your life my lord answered Lorenzo Indeed I wish i the duke would hearken to her prayer I He will not turn for her said Antonio l I But presently the report of what j had passed spread from those round I the duke to the pikemen and they I Then the master of the household came forward and said to him My lord this is the Lady Lucia and she kneels before your highness praying pray-ing for the life of Count Antonio because be-cause she loves him Now the name of Count Antonio when spoken by him roused the duke more than all the ministrations of his physician he roused himself once again crying Oh Antonio I had forgotten Antonio An-tonio Does he still live Your highness has not given the I signal for his death Have I not Then here He had raised his hand but with a great cry the Lady Lucia sprang for I ward and seized his hand before he could move ft kneeling and crying No no my lord no no no And the duke had no strength to throw her off but he gasped Free me from her And the master of the household house-hold terrified lest in her passion she should do violence to his highness roughly tore her hands from the dukes hand and the duke released sat upon up-on his couch and he said in a hard strange voice that was heard of all even to the scaffold and yet seemed not the voice that they knew as his Let Antonio But then he stopped stop-ped he choked in his throat and catching at his shirt tore it loose from hIm Let Antonio he cried again let Antonio = And he sat there for an instant and his eyes grew dim the intelligence departing from them once again he opened his lips but nothing came from them save a gasp and with a thud he fell back on his pillows and having rolled once on his side turned again on his back and lay still And a great hush fell on every man in the square and they looked on one an others faces but found no answer For Valentine Duke and Lord of Forniola was dead of his sickness at the moment when he sought to send Antonio to death Thus marvelously did heaven in its high purposes deal with him His highness is dead said the physician and the master of the household house-hold as his duty was came to the front of the dukes couch and standing stand-ing there before all the people broke the wand of his office and let the broken fragments fall upon the marble steps and he cried aloud Hear all of you It hath pleased Almighty God to take unto himself the soul of the noble ana illustrious Prince Valentine Duke and Lord of Forniola May his soul find peace But there came from the people no answering cry of Amen as according accord-ing to the custom of the duchy it should have come For they were amazed at the manner of this death and many crossed themselves in fear and women sobbed And Lorenzo standing on the scaffold by Antonio was struck with wonder and fear and clutched Antonios arm crying Can it be that the duke is dead And Antonio An-tonio bowed his head answering May Christ receive his soul Then the master of the household came forward again and cried Hear all of you According to the appointment of Almighty God the noble and illustrious prince Valentine Second of that name is from this hour duke and lord of Fornlola whom obey serve and honor all of you May his rule be prosperous And this time there came a low murmur mur-mur of Amen from the people But before more could pass there was a sudden commotion in the square before be-fore the scaffold For Bena seeing what was done and knowing that the duke was dead had glanced at ithe pikemen who stood near and when he saw that they looked not at him but toward where the master of the household house-hold stood he sprang forward and nan like a deer to the scaffold and he leaped up to the scaffold before any could hinder him and he cried in a mighty loud voice saying By what warrant do you hold my lord a prisoner And the apprentices raised a great cheer and with one accord pressed upon the pikemen who amazed by all that had passed gave way before them and the apprentices broke their bounds and surged like a wave of water up to the foot of the scaffold shouting Antonios name and the young lord who held Tommasino came with him and broke through and reached the scaffold for they feared for Lorenzo and yet would not let Tommasino go and Lorenzo was sore at a loss but he drew his sword and cried that he would slay any man that touched Antonio until the eight of the matter should be known Indeed if you will but give me a sword I will slay him myself said Antonio For I stand here toy my own will and according to the promise I gave to the duke and if there be lawful authority to hang me hang me but if not dispose of me as the laws of the duchy bid I have no authority said Lorenzo For the duke gave none and now he is dead Then the Count Antonio fastened his shirt again about his neck and put on his doublet and he signed to Bena to stand on one side of him and he bade the young lords loosen Tommassino And he said to Lorenzo Let us go together to the palace And now he was smiling Then they came down from the scaffold and passed across the square a great multitude following them And when they came to the steps of the palace the dukes body was covered with a rich brocaded cloth that some hand had brought from his cabinet and the little duke stood there with his hand in the master of the households hand and the child war w pinor bitterly Cr he was very fiiglf T ud ever against him stood the Lad LIdn motionless as though she iad uien turned to stone for the strange thing that had come about through her approaching of the duke I had bewildered her brain But when j the boy saw Antonio he let gcrthe hand bo held and ran to Antonio and leaned l I into his arms Then Antonio lifted him and showed him to the people who hailed him for duke and Antonio set I him down and knelt before him and I 1 kissed his hand And the child cried Now that my father is dead Antonio you must not go on your journey but you must stay with me For if I am duke I must learn to use my sword without delay and no man but you shall teach me Shall I not go on my journey my lord asked Antonio No you shall not go said the little duke Then Antonio turned to the lords who stood round and said Behold my lords his highness pardons par-dons me Nay but he does not know what he does in pardoning you He understands as well I think said Antonio as his father under stood when he sent me to death Indeed i In-deed my lords It is not children only who know not what they do And at this speech Tommasino smiled and Bena laughed gruffly But the lords bidding Antonio rest where he was till they returned retired with the little duke into the palace and sent word hastily to the archbishop that he should join them there and deliberate with them as to what it might be best to do And when they were thus gone in Antonio said I may not move But the Lady Lucia is free to move Then Tommasino went to the lady and spoke to her softly telling her that Antonio desired to speak with her and she gave Tommasino her hand and he led her to Antonio who stood within the portico screened from the sight of the people And there they were left alone But meanwhile the whole body of the townsmen and the apprentices had gathered before the palace and their one cry was for Antonio For the fear of the duke being no longer upon them and the pikemen not knowing whom to obey and being therefore disordered disor-dered the people became very bold and they had stormed the palace had not one come to Antonio and implored him to show himself that the people might know that he was safe Therefore There-fore he came forward with Lady Lucia Lu-cia who was now no more bewildered nor petrified with fear or astonishment astonish-ment but was weeping with her eyes and smiling with her lips and clinging to Antonios arm And when the people peo-ple saw them thus they sent up a great shout that was heard far beyond the city walls and the apprenticed lads turned and ran in a body across the square and swarmed on to the scaffold scaf-fold And then and there they plucked down the gibbet and worked so fiercely fierce-ly that in the space of half an hour there was none of it left And now the archbishop with the lords came forth from the council chamber and the little duke with them And they caused the servants to remove the body of the dead duke and they set his son on a high seat and the archbishop offered up a prayer before the people and having done this he turned to Antonio and said My Lord Antonio most anxiously have his highness and we of his council coun-cil considered of this matter and It has seemed to us allmy own in truth was the sole reluctant voice and now I also am brought to the same mindthat whereas the virtuous purposes of princes are meet to be remembered re-membered and made perpetual by faithful fulfilment after their death yet the errors of which they being mortal are guilty should not overlive them nor be suffered to endure when they have passed away And though we are not blind to your offenses yet we judge that in the beginning the fault was not yours Therefore his highness decrees your pardon for all offenses against his civil state and power And I myself who hold authority au-thority greater than any earthly might seeing in what this day has witnessed the finger of God himself do not fight against it but pray you as soon as you may fit yourself thereunto there-unto by prayer and meditation to come in a humble mind and seek again the blessings of the church For in what you did right and in what you outstepped right God himself must one day judge and I will seek to judge of it no more IMy lord said Antonio M have done much wrong Yet I will own no wrong in the matter of the abbot nor in that of the sacred bones But the lord archbishop smiled at Antonio and Antonio bent and kissed i the rim that was on Ms finger and i c N the old man laid his hand for a m meat may be that God works sometimes in ways that I may not see Thus it was that the Count Antonio was restored to his place and came again to Forniola Having been re lieved of the sentence of excommunication excommunica-tion that had been laid upon him he was wedded In the cathedral to the Lady Lucia so soon as the days of mourning for the duke had passed And great was the joy In the city at their wedding for every maid and every man saw in the triumph of Antonios love a sign of the favor of heaven to those who love with a pure and abiding passion So they made great feasts and were marvelously merry and Bena let not the day go by without plighting his troth to a comely damsel saying with a twinkle In his eye that the Count Antonio would have need of his sons whose services he had promised to him as they rode together across the plain on the morning when Antonio had sup posed he was to die Nor would Bena give any other reason whatsoever for the marriage Nevertheless it is like r that there were others But whether Bena fulfiled his promise I know nc for as I have said so little is knowA concerning him that his true name does not survive and it has proved an impossible thing to discover whet = lan l-an of his descendants yet live r Forniola If it chance that they dcfcT trust they will fight as well and as loyally and pray better than he Fut ilartolo has left those that bear his name and a great grandson of his sat s-at this very time huntsman to th < 2 monastery of St Frisian where I hive seen and talked with him many times The task which I laid upon myself thus finds its end For there i = n need for me to tell of the after deeds of Count Antonio of Monte Vellut nor how In the space of a few months he was chosen by all the lords to be11 ruler and protector of the state during V the infancy of the duke in whir J high office he did many notable deeds both of war and peace and raised the duchy to a high height of power aIl conferred many favors on the townsmen towns-men of Forniola whom he loved an < l cherished because they had not f r saken him nor ceased to love during all the years that he dwelt an outlaw in the hills And he built again his house on the hill which Duke Vale tine had burnt and dwelt there with Lucia and with Tommasino also until Tommasino took to wife that same lady for whose sake he had lingered and thus fallen Into the hands of the Lord Lorenzo and went and dwelt at Rilano where those of his house still dwell But when the young duke cam of age to reign the Count Antonio d livered his charge into his hand yt continued to counsel him and was very high in authority And neighboring princes also sought his aid and hs counsel and he was greatly honere of all men Thus if there was aught in his youth that merits censure It may be held that he blotted out tija shame of it by his after life for 1 flatter f-latter days were filled with honorable service to his prince and to his country coun-try Yet the heart of man Is a ain thing for when I who am known to have learned all that can be reco crM from the mists of past times concerning concern-ing Cont Antonio askedand whether whe-ther jf by men or women by boys or girl aye or by toddling infants to tell them a tale of the great Count Antonio when he was an outlaw banned by his prince and by the church living by the light of his own heart and by the strength of his own hand secured only by the love and duty of the lawless men who followed and risking his life every day aj every hour for the sake of the bright > eyes of that lady who waited for him I in the city and I when thinking to g check this perversity bid them look rather on his more worthy and sober days they answer with a laugh But why father do you not write the story of those more worthy and sober days Nor will they believe when I 1 say that it is but because the deeds of those days are elsewhere recorded tIn t-In good truth believe that in our hearts we love a lawless man Here I then ye perverse children are the stories they are all that you shall have from me Read them may they teach you to be true comrades faithful faith-ful lovers of one maid and since strife J must needs come until Gods pleasure It brings peace to reign on earth able c when occasion calls to give and take J good blows Aye never laugh I hiW said it A churchman is a man X fHB 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