THE DOUBLE SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9653, 18 November 1909, Page 2

THE DOUBLE SECRET.

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued

"Here are the friends for whom wfi wait. Divide! Six move softly higher up; five with me make a detour, and come out behind these gentlemen as they have gained the ascent." Done. The party of fix, headed by Allan Bird and the Austrian veteran, are between the two detachments of Mattino's men. The lawyer and the captain are in conference. Their voices echo clearly from the rocks behind them.

"Sir Englishman," cried the captain, "I begin to think that these tales of II Mattino are an illusion and a s-iare." "Doibtless the fellow is a coward," replied Allan Bird, and dares not show his nose agairst brave men. His exploitb will be against womec, children siiid unarmed coitadini. I make sure lie ia hidimr, at this moment, as t'itr as posriuld fron. us." "Halt, thfie, gentlemen!" cried a ringing voice, "halt and take a morning greeting from II Mattino!" Allan aid the captain whirled around, beheld II Mattino ana his five men between them and the gorge. They looked forward- the sun flashed from six carbir.e barrels protruding from the trees at the head of the turn in the road.

"Destruction! we aralost!" cried the four veterans.

"Never say die!" shouted Allan Bird. "Up and at 'em! God save the queen!" "The queen is nothing ti us," said the veterans, "better cry quarter." "I'll choke the first man who cries quarter," foamed tha captain. "Take aim! fire!" and his own harmless weapon blazed away, »s his adversaries sank out cf sighr, and then reappeared as the smoke drifted down the gorge, and u,e balls rebounded from the rucks.

"One does not surprise G''ankto Arriano. The ball is not yet moulded that says 11 Mattino," cried the merry bandit.

"Disarm them with a rush!" His men smarmed forward and fairly clasped the travellers in their arms, as they relieved them of rifle?, re yolvers, and knives. "Well armed!" laughed II Mattino. "Gentlemen, some bandit?, especially after being dubbed cowards, might tax yau and your lires. But, captain, 1 love a brave man, and these are days when such are few. I Rive you life and a souvenir of my skill. To your hat!" A ball whtstled from the carbine of Granitto and carried away the gilt button at top of the Austrian's cap. "Now, gentlemen, but one of you has luggage. The Englishman carries behind him a pjrtmanttau; he wears a coat, in t:ie picket of whicn are papers. These I examine. I want but one small memento. Tnat taken, I set youi forces back on the road whence you came, if the Engilshman will give me his parole of honour to return at once to England, arid not communicate with Florence until he has reached London." "I will not do it!" shouted Allan Bird.

"My lads, carry the Englishman to Torre del Pocco. Captain, take your men by the road which you came. Leave your arms, lest in your valor you damage some of my friends.'

Arrived at Torre del Pocco, Allan Bird was taken into an anteroom, stripped, dressed in mountain greei', and escorted out to supper with his captors. Mrs Bemis was then called for to come and search for the packet which she so wildly desired to obtain. She found it in an inner pocket of Allan's waistcoat. She grasped it with eager hands. She cried: "I will burn it! I will burn it!''

"Not so much haste," said Granitto, "hasty deeds see repentance. The packet must be safely laid away for at least a week, lest you burn it in haste ard regret it at leisure I will now allow our English friend to resume all his garments and possessions, and though I had meant to return him at once to England, I shall now detain him until he has witnessed my marriage and made a memorandum of it in -English form. Then I will order him un t« England." Consider the blank amazement of Allan Jttird when lie found toat a robber on the Italian hills wanted but one thing of him—the packet containing the secret—and belonging to Miss Percy.

CHAPTER XVII. THE BITTERNESS OF THE SuER The linf.'trnig fever which had so long held Lord Harcourt prisoner had now releastd its hold, and Lord Thomas was well, "Richard is himself aeain," quoth Lady Lina. But by this tune his lordship was tired of Florence, and a spetdy return to England was announced on the 28th day of March. 1859. Dugald Probyn obtained permission to accompany his friends to London. Lady Lina now t.iok her own resolve, fche musr «o immediately with Granit-to. A note carried by Baptisfe lore her promise to he ready wtih Lucy on the night of April 2nd. ■

BY DUNCAN fficQEEGOR, Author of "Kennedy's Foe," '■'lsliinuel Rofonne "A. Game of ThrcV > Etc, etc.

On the night of April Ist, Lucy carried to the gate of the olives a large English dress basket, wherein she had packed a suitable purl ion of her mistress' wardrobe. That basket was long b°iore morning as • Ciiviirig the hills on th- back of a mule. The next cvt rung, about eleven o'clock, a mile and a half above the ten men of the hills unmounted, and live mounted, and with them two horses provided with side.-saddles. Towards this group drove Baptise, and a young peasant girl who drove a little donkey almost hidden in a pair of matting bags used for country produce. This pretty contadine was no other than Lucy, breathless and alarmed, who was lifted into one of the saddles, and ready to faint with apprehension lest something might hinder the arrival of Lady Lina. At that moment Miss Pauline Percy believed that Lucy was in oed with a sick headache, and Lina had promised to look after Lucy, as Lady Astraea had of a genuine sort, and demanded all Pauline's attention. The stre?ts of Florence were filled with excited crowds; there were rumours of war and change of dynasty. Lord Marcourt displayed the British flag over Palazzo Ridolfi, and ordered the house darkened and the family sent to bed early. "I hope soon to be out of this villainous land," he said to Dugald, who remained at Palazzo Ridolri all night. At midnight, attriel in a long blue riding habit, the*skirt held over her ar;n, her plumed hat hidden under her cloak of ermine, Lady Lina stole out through the Ridolri garden to the gate of the olive trees. There was Granitto; he gave her a hasty embrace tied a silk handkerchief over her yellow curls, lest her hat should be to conspicuous, hastily turned her cloak wrong side out, and giving her his arm, hurried by sequestered ways toward a deserted portion of the city wail. Four men kept pace with his steps, two behind him and two on the other side of the street. Arrived at the wall, a rope ladder was hastily thrown upon Jt, one of the comrades /•an up like a cat and held it securely, while Granitto, catching up Lina as if she were a baby, was soon at the top of the wall a.'so. The ladder was let down on the othter side, and presently Lina was once more on the ground. The moon was now rising, the six lugitivea presssed toward tha rendezvous, and Lina was placed upon the horse which was waiting for her "Are we safe?" cried she aaxiu ously. "Very nearly," replied Granitto. Lady Lina put on her cloak - o nd hat properly, reassun d Lucy, the escort divided, a pa:t rkiirig on hefore, the footmen lonvng alter; Granitto took his place hetwee i Lina and Lucy, and the ride up trie hills began, "Mrs Bemis will be ready to welcome you," said Granitto. "She has prepared you an English home on the Italian hills, and to-morrow we will be married by my uncle, the canon," and then he told the tile of the canon's capture. With this pleasant story he beguiled the way until the portal of Torre del Pocco appeared in sight, The mediaeval castle standing with its ruir.ed church under its shadow, charmed the romantic Lina. On that happy morning all the world looked lovely to her. Granitto lifted her from her horse, saying: "Welcome, fair chatelaine, to your tower. I hope soon to offer you one of the finest palaces in Florence." He then led her through the court of arms, aiid up the stone stairway to the room where Mrs Bemis was awaiting their coming. As he threw open the door, he cried in a joyous tone: "She is here! My beloved has come! Welcome the la!y of the Torre del Pocco!" Lina sprang forward to great her friend for whom shi had so singular an affection. Mrs Bemis advanced a step to meet the merrily announced lady, gave one look, then, with a luuu scream, she repelled Lina's profit red hand, crying: "What! what! what! This one? No, no, i ever! it shall not be! Oh, me; never! it shall not be! On, merciful powt-rb! it shall not be! I for- [ bid it! forbid it! it is impossbi'e " | "Are you mad? cried Granitto. "Pienora, what is the matter?" "Mrs Pemis, Mrs Bemis, what do you mean"" said Lady Lina. Mrs Bemis wrung her hands; her trembling limts refused to sustain her; she fell tpon her knees. She screamid: "How am I deceived! Only this one! Where is she? Where is the one for whom I have waited?—where is Miss Percy? ahe is the bride whom I exne"t —not Li^a—no, never!" ' Signorina •" shouted Granitto, pas.' ; inr» inlo a rage with true Italian facility, "it matters little what you expect; we I ave chosen for ourselves: we dn not ionsult you; you forget yourself. This iady is my bride — welcom he . or be silent!" [TO BE CONTINUED.)