The Viper of Milan: A Romance of Lombardy

ode slowly through the streets of Milan, a le

his life, Gian Galeazzo not fearing his poor disordered intellect enough

d the people bowed humbly, respecting him solely as the Duke's brother, fo

figure than his brother, who was seldom seen, but of

e the gates. Dropping his loose reins on the palfrey's neck, Tisio Visconti looked around him with lacklustre eyes and a dull sm

aths; his father, infamously, his mother beside him, in the full light of day to Brescia;

. It was to see them he came. To him the world outside Milan was paradise; sometimes the soul within him rose and chafed at his

the walls; and Tisio's followers wiped their brows and chafed. But he gazed with wistful eyes, unheeding, into the beauty and the calm, the green and the gold. The sentry

w, of grey stone, enclosed in square courtyards

betokened her errand. She and the little group of horsemen were the only life in the silent, sunny street. Tisio's eyes lit upon her,

e background of grey wall. The colour, and the sunshine falling over her golden hair, made a picture Tisio was not slow to see; his

,' he said, with the

nd confused, to make good her escape, but the page, riding

lady; fear nothing; he would o

ncreased at the mentio

,' she said. 'I have never so mu

Duke, but it is the Duke's pleasure that he be obeyed in matters su

long and eagerly, at her scarlet dress, her sunny hair, the white and green lilies in her hands. Still he did not speak, and she

d Tisio at last. 'What is thy

ord; Agnolo Vistarnini is

vacant, and his gaze w

der?' he asked, and po

iend's garden. My fathe

e laughed foolishly. 'I may go?' asked

, and stroked it, dropping it with a sigh. 'Give me these,' he said, pointing to the

e in which he spoke them, Gra

, but before she could withdraw her hand, he grasped her arm with a childish ex

ng with satisfaction: but the girl drew

e said peevishly, and the page

to him in confus

, the tears starting. 'I entreat

one law for the citizens of Milan: that was the tyranny of the Visconti; let the

him the bracelet; he will drop it, forgotten, tomorrow. Ask for me one day at the p

ace was d

impatiently, 'or it will be thou and th

to me,' she murmured.

less tears were flowing; slowly she unclasped the bracelet; the page took her treasur

rbed in his new toy, gave her neither look nor thought, for jewels, gold

tears of vexation streaming down. She thought of Ambrogio, the painter

not have let the Duke himself take it from me - but I- wh

gone. In the distance she could see Tisio, still handling the bracelet with delight, and she half-smiled, even through her tears, at so strange and pitiful a thing. 'It makes the p

bed in his new spoil,

n blended the city into brilliant light and shade, broken only by the vivid colour of the drapery

fine clatter at the entrance steps. Tisio, following, raised his head, and looked dully at them - a band of his brother's soldiers, hired mercenaries

r,' said the page, 'his tho

laughed wi

ruin states and lose towns, and even Visconti had to pay them well and concede licence to their leaders; for upon them, to a great extent, his sovereignty rested, and Alberic da Salluzzo could take more liberties than a

endid armour, and swung into the ante-chamber of the Visconti's audience-room. It was deserted. Alberic, astonished, pau

ed. He was turning away to seek enlightenment, when a dark form he had passed unnoticed in the distan

ned here?' dema

uke has had the room cleared. He will see no one.'

ut art even thou excluded?' he continued in surprise, for Giannotto was the one man

ow smile that men's lips lea

escaped hath galled him much; it came at a bad moment too, following on those parchments twice found within th

all, messer secretary, there is no token whatsoever of how the Count escaped. But after

im is he who inscrib

w among the huts from which we drove Count Conrad's Germa

long narrow strip, scrawled across in irr

s it say?

y, his eyes on the Duke's door

ow, thou may'st hand that to th

eenly. 'Della Scala cannot live;

it be, I say thou shalt have the

Besides, the Duke will need thee for his further

ls last night?' asked Alberic; an

looks across his shoulder

l of madmen. Wandering robbers from the hills! They were four at mo

were discovered, and when they were pursued fled back into the night

th dismissed even me, and the delivery of this parc

d out of sight along the corridor, leaving Alberic standing in the unguarded

r places, afraid to stay away; and presently, with slow steps and vacant smil

t be if I ask him to hand this parchment over?' a

unheeding, seated himself in one of the great cha

cried Alberic suddenly;

, and he swung his plumed hat low to the lady

alentine

ed in every movement; it was not difficult for Alb

ait, and turned to her brother, huddled

her tone was very gentl

his dull face li

Gian,' he

'What wouldst thou

him this' The tears rushed to Valentine's eyes

asked. 'Another parchment, lady,' said the captain.

brightly. 'Thou has not

waiting till I am oblig

d. 'Give me the paper; I w

tain he

nd the cause of it: Conrad's escape, the threatening parchments; the hint that della Scala lived. Alberic, glancing at her, saw a triumph and a malice in the lady'

'give me the parchment to deliver, or knock at

ith a significant gesture, and, handing over the fatal missiv

aid. 'The Duke may not be b

him, stroked his hands tenderly, then breaking

bitterly. 'All of us, surely

rn to her rescue. She would live to be free; to come and go outside the Visconti palace, outside Milan, out yonder in the worl

o seek an audience for it, why, Tisio, thou shalt see me give it. The Duke loves not an inter

toward the omin

in his fury. Yet well he knew he dared not leave his c

' she

the page, startled into speec

boy,' she said. 'Why

ething here of great moment. Why let everyone know thou art so moved? Gian! Thou m

Valentine stepped back a pa

she said, and th

led, the fine lace frills at his wrists were torn to rags, his eyes strained wide open, and for a moment, as it was with any who encountered it, his e

rdered doublet, had their meanings, and the look in those wide eyes, as

do not usurp another's

ul,' he answered; 'thou shouldst know my humours, and that 'tis dangerous

ehending the threat, rose, and

ut my doors? Hast thou come t

ed. Tisio, dazed and affrighted

tooped to

bent knee. Visconti studied it one second, then, with a sound of fury that sent the boy crouching back against the wall, contro

led. 'How came this bracelet in t

ung him from him with such force that, save for Valentine, he woul

this?' He held the bracelet out. And the sight of those torn

, 'a girl, whom my Lord Tisi

Ah, the three of you shall pay dear

, half-wild with terror. 'He took

ive it,' said

hen he spoke again,

ashing a look on Tisio, who, huddled in the chair,

o done? Is this the first ornament he has liked and ta

t not make my dislike overrule my ambition - the

ed to t

e face the wretched page rose and helped Tisio to his feet. At a whisp

le silen

isio go - alive. To ask why the jewel Tisio had fondled had so angered

nt laugh Viscont

asked. 'Flaunt thee?' said Valentine. 'How shou

enly, and crushed the bra

thou art worth something to my plans

. But at the same moment Giannotto spoke. He had entered uno

i met him w

say so? Take care, Giannotto

e. He had learned that to shrink before Vi

' he remarked, 'Alberic da Sa

the Count?' f

ce of him, unless the

st anoth

. His head was bent, his eyes downcast, and the

Alberic's men - found an hour since out

inscribed with th

notto, stepping back, watche

eal of it was the Ladder of the Scaligeri. Long Visconti fingered it in silence, then remembering he was not alone, glanced wrathfully up to see that Valentine was watching him with a faint smi

at da Salluzzo searches Milan and all Lombardy - that he spares neither treasure nor blood - and that

nce, and Visconti slowly broke the seal o

sage from thy Conrad?' he said fiercely. 'Hav

t was always the same; let her meet Visconti with never so

udden fury, and she stayed n

nti reentered his private room. It was dark and silent;

not without a furtive glance over his shoulder, he looked at the

n the floor. Visconti started back, he stared at it, uttered a hoarse sound, stooped and picked it

U WOULDST NOT

e words. He looked a

t in his shaking fingers, went to it, still with glances around, and drew out drawer after drawer, till

with the seals of Verona, a cartel of defiance, neatly endorsed in a

he packet, and laid the two writing

est, breathing heavily, his face not

k himself in his rage. Then his gaze came back t

ment that I read from on the road that day; the parc

mething more than fury, Visconti drove it down among the ot

as, faint in the dusk. He strained his ears listening; the air was full of voices, far away, pleading for the most part, yet some

called. 'Lights!

ound of flying feet, hurrying, hurrying; with a scream of ho

ng to behind him, shook the tapestry; as it fell into place