THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9652, 17 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued

"Signor Arriano, ' said his finest, "you are gracious. Without delay let me tell you that a lawyer is coming from England, expecting to reach Florence about the rh'rt of April, in less than four weeks. H« is named Allan Bird, a little pray man of sixty-live or thereabouts—a man of iron, lie carries to Fabzzo Kidulfi a packet, wherein is a secret. That secret revealed will destroy the happinss and break the heart of the lady of your !ove.' It is a seciet of ancestral sii', of -vljiea she should die ininnocence. Signor, there is but one way to he id her, and that will be to seize this lawyer and relieve him of his packet. That is all I ask; hut to make assurance of safety doubly sure, persnr.de your huly, before the first of the mi.nth coming to be your bride. Signor, 1 am here intent on se-r. iiU'.yoa both. I will nil you in preparing for that lady a suitable home here, and in making her happy." "Most neblo lady!" cried Granitto, in ecstasy, "be assured that every road shall be watched, so that not a fly shall enter Florence without our knowledge. The lawyer shall be captured and the packet placed in your hands." "Surely." said Mrs Bemis, when left alone, "I am doing this t'irl no wrong in uniting her to such a man as this, especially when of her own free choice she loves him." Oh, who so light of heart as Granitto, as seeing his way clear to the possession of his luve, he left Mrs Bemis, and, carbine on shoulder, bounded along the hills, to see that his network of scouts was properly drawn about the north and east of, Florence, where the reign' of the grand duke on A no's bank was trembling to its fail! "What news?" asks Granitto, leaning thrae nights latvr against the portal of the Torre del Pocco, as his scouts tiled in. "Very little. A messenger and his dispatches will come in —just seized —but the Signorella Ami ma Simone is tj be married at her father's home to-morrow night, and all the worlJ will be at the wedding." "What! The Signorellu Arnima, whose father has the holding of some five leagues from my own little ancestral estate? Ah, we played together as children ! I called, her my own sister. So. sdie marries! 1 will attend the dupu.i-, and carry her a worthy present. Giovanni, select for me a silk dress pattern, a box of kerchiefs, a silver c;p, a set i;f filigree of Genoa, it on tue loan- and contributions made us. We vv ill start to morrow before simset, ti-m of you will ride with me, but, not to alarm the" bride, I will e t r the fens' alone. Be sure, my .sons, do i.ot let the English lawyer slip through." Thejiext evening at the little hamlet of Myercerella the wedding feast is in progress in the open air before the bride's house. There is an awning up, lanterns are swinging, wreaths are breathing fragrance, the tables are spread with luxuries, for the father and bridegroom are well to do. Every one is in his best; the little serving lads shins i" bright ribbons. The oride and groom sit at the head of the board, where the canopyis most resplendent; musicians play, and wine is drawn from garlanded barrels, lying on their side.". From a little grove rides a beautiful young man, well mounted as one of the Great Twin Brethren in The Battle of Lake Hegillus; dismounting, he gives his hor.se to a servant, a large parcel to another servant, and stands conspicuous--, waiting in his black velvet Miir, his red silk sash, his white silk stockings, his vest buttoned with doubloon, three bng green cock feathers floating from his hat. He is a beautiful young man—a man of consequence. The bridegroom goes to meet him; low bows are exchanged. "Will your grandeur deign to take a seat at our table?" I "Wilt your magnificence accept a wedding gift for the bride?"

And so Granitto is lead to the board and placed beside the lovely Amima. Presently he says: "Gome, comrades, a health to the bride! Now the bridegroom's health! Bravo! The health of Canon Arnolfo and our host! Benissime! a health to II Mattino and his men! Now, all to your feet and lift your glasses, while I drink, 'Down with the House of Austria, and up with the s.lcrious banners of Savoy!'"

And before the amazed convivalists had regained their seats their guest was gone; a white darted like an arrow across the line of vision, and they heard the rhythm of his hoofs thundering up the hill.

At Torre del Pocco Mrs Bernis saw Granitto but for a few moments each day, when he. paid her a few compliments, and she reported that things in the ;orre were proceeding to her satisfaction, and besought him not only to watch the roads to Florence for Allan Birr 1 , but to hinder, if possible, his entrance to Palazzo Kidulfi, if hj by any chance should reach the city. Despite the cheerful bonhomie of Granitto there was a certain reserve about him which in dered strangers or friends from interfering too curiously In his affair-?*

V BY DUNCAN McGREGOB jf ? / 0 Author of "Kennedy's Foe," '•lshrcricl Keforuio l* V "A. Gn.nnj or Three," "Edna's Peril." ** / Etc, etc. /

; and Mrs Bemig did not know that : he ftvquent.'y met Lina in the palace garden, not now at midnight, but in ; the early grny morning. Of these ; rnc: tin-.;.-;, ;>:• before, Lucy was her solo confidante, Lina ha-1 promised <o fly with Granitto at the first convenient opportunity, anil now they wpited for moonlight, a mild night, and some stir in excited Florence which might help to disembarrass them from pur uic. Arriano informed Mrs Bemi = that he would soon bring his lady to Torre del Foe2o. "Tnen," said Mrs Bemis, "you should have ready your priest. If the lady cornea up toward daybreak, then as soon as she has rested, dressed, and breakfasted, tiie marriage ceremony should be performed, and your chaplain should be ready. Where is he! '•You have none here; what will you do, Arriano.!" "Good faith! I must even go and capture one, and 1 know of cone more reasonable, more even in disposition, and more praiseworthy in his profession, tuan my guod urscie, the Canon Arnelfo. I will slip down to Pisa and capture my uncle." Innocent of the intentions of his renegade nephew, Canon Arnolfo slept the sleep of the just in .the upper room which he occupied at Pisa, when some one, knocking at his door, bade him rise and shrive a dying parishioner. The canon came shivering out into the waning night, wrapped in a good fur-lined cloak. He found two guides, who conducted him to a by street near the north gat" of the city. Here they suddenly stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth, drew his cloak over his head, picked him up between them, and set off on a run. When they set him down and relieved his mouth of the kerchief, he was outside of Pisa. With all courtesy they wrapped him in his cloak, set him on a mule, and led him for a league or two, until in the struggling daylight he perceived a group of aimed men near a little country inn, with Granitto standing at their head. "A million welcomes to you, honoured uncle!" "And so, villain, it is to you Ito thank for this very reverent treatment of my person. The saints be blessed lor such relations." "Don't discompose yourself, excellent uncle. Baptiste, bring out a slice of bread and a cup of hot coffee for the canon. Uncle, lam about to marry, and I am taking you to perform the ceremony. Pray do it with a go.jd intention." "I am in your haudtf, my lad, and like ol.i Peter of blessed memory I may be carried whither I would not. If I get so far as to stand at the altar for a relunnis c ro nouy be sure my intention ,-h=.U r.ot be wanting to the sacrament, lest, I be guilty of a sacrilege." During the journey >ip the hills the canon was peaceful; arrived at the Torre del Pocco he was treated, to the best, and at tvenini right havo been found silti ig by the big fire opposite the couch of old Conte Latrelii, calmly discussing with him the affairs of Church am! State, and even admitting that there might be errors in the admit,istra.ion of both. As the days passed on, and the first of April drew near, Mrs Beans was in a state of almost frantic excitement lest Allan Bird should escape her, Madzo was warned if a person of the lawyer's description arrived at P rt lazzo Ridolfi, that if it were possible, he should be prevented entering, at.d should be iovugkd into the hands of Granitto. Still this was to be a last resort! to catch Allan Bird on the hills was the chief desire, and for this forei n bird Granitto and his troops daily went gunning with great enthusiasm. In the meantime Allan Bird had crossed France and neared the Tuscan boundaries, and was warned that he had better n)t continue his journey until some larce escort were provided, as on the hills a robber named II Mattino had possession, into whose hands he was likely to fall. But the plucky little Rriton would rather face ten bandit captains than risk disappointing his adored Miss Percy, so he offered a large reward to a brave escort.

• "Signor Englishmen, .you delight me," said a whiskered and mustached old Austrian captain, who, owing to a few fingers thrown away in behalf of his country, was now no longer in active service, "you overjoy me. Give me your hand; I have four old soldiers who will go with us for your money, and I will go for glory, for I hate the name of this Tuscan bandit/' On the morning of the first of April Granitto and all his men were out, posted on different roads leading to Florence. Granitto with twelve men took the leading road and placed themselves at the head of a steep gorge. About ten in the morning, in the shadows of the gorge steps were heard, and now and then a low voice. Granitto bent his ear to listen. tie detected an English tongue, an Austrian toitu* 5 , and the click of arms. He was overjoyed. He turned to his men. TtO BK CONTINUED, i