| Show tf love or ew W t h b L 13 11 i rafael dalae I 1 balini Sa service borgia sentinels in the dark and she was in san leo by morning though in urbino none knew of this but cesare who had word of it privately from della delia volpe her palace by the remained opened as if inhabited by her but to all who came to seek her it was said that slie she was in III health and kept her chamber and amongst these was lorenzo cas tro caro who upon being denied admittance mit tance on this plea concluded that she was angry with him for having failed to do ns as lie he had pron promised lel and thereafter grew oddly silent and morose two days after her night flight came news of Flora Floravant ls death in the grim fortress lie he defended and castrocaro Castro caro was dispatched by the duke of cesena on a mission which might well have been In trusted to a less important of fier it was ten days later when his immediate return was ordered and in view of the terms of that order he went upon reaching urbino till all dust laden as he was into the dukes presence with the dispatches that he bore Valenti sat in council at the time and della delia volpe from the lines under san leo was in attendance you are very opportunely returned til arned was his greeting of messer lorenzo and he thrust aside as of no consequence the dispatches will which ch the latter brought we tire are met here to consider this resistance of san leo which Is being conducted now by to bentino with all the firmness that was Flora Floravant ls we must make an end and you messer lorenzo are the man to accomplish it 1 1 I cried the young soldier sit cesare bade him and obediently castrocaro Castro caro took a chair at the table listen you are to understand that I 1 am not commanding you to do this thing for I 1 command no valued officer of mine so greatly to imperil his life I 1 but show you what Is our need what might be done by one who has your knowledge and whose heart Is stout enough to bid him take the risk which the thing entails th the nodded his understanding his blue eyes set upon the dukes calm face you told us here cesare continued of a perilous way into san leo which Is known to few and to yourself amongst those few you said that it if a man were to gain the plateau on the southern side of the rocks summit he might with a rope and a grappling hook effect an entrance now if a man were to do this at dead of night choosing his time wisely so as to take the sentry unawares stab that sentry and thereafter reach the gates and loose the bars the rest would be an easy task della delia troops would meanwhile have crept up by the bridle path to await the signal upon which they would pour forth against the unbarred gate and so san leo might be reduced at last with little loss of life messer blesser lorenzo considered tor for some moments the dutee duke watching him it Is shrewd he said approvingly it Is shrewd and easy and likely to succeed provided the man who goes Is one who knows the rock and the fortress itself 11 provided that of course said cesare and he looked steadily at the young man messer lorenzo bore that look a moment with the self possession t that hat was natural to him then translating its quiet significance 1 I will go lie said quietly and heaven helping me I 1 will succeed you have counted the cost of failure said cesare it needs no counting it Is plain enough A rope and a beam from the castle wall or a leap from the rock then since who gambles should know not only what he way may chance to lose but also the stake he stands to win said the duke let me say that if you succeed ill give you the governorship of the fortress with a stipend of ten thousand ducats dubats messer lorenzo flushed in his agree able surprise his eyes sparkled and his tone rang with youths ready con in its own powers 1 I will not fall he promised TZ when h ln 41 do L I 1 the attempt continued next week |
