The Viper of Milan: A Romance of Lombardy

, Tomaso looked cautiou

seen a view of any who might come or go; and though the days

red Tomaso; 'they have ridden farth

hen Vittore clutched his cousin's hand y

ed, 'a horseman co

w a single rider approaching swiftly,

see him safely pass, to their dismay he slackened pace, and fi

ed Tomaso, and Vittore c

me slight movement betrayed them, for the rider dismount

? I am a frie

against the tree in silence, and even through the gathering dusk,

aid the stranger. 'I can

whispered eagerly; 'he is a Fl

eone we know,' he said chokingly, 'or

eir hiding-place unerringly; he stood close by, his horse's bridle across his arm. He was a slight, ro

le; then, as the two figures drew nearer, he p

om his face, with parted lips, s

hou dost n

seized him by the shoulders with trembl

ce was shrill with fe

absent at a distant court, serving where chance had led him, for fame

s dead, and he, in his turn, had wandered far, sea

ng about his father's neck, and was

broke out the youth at last. 'I ne

g and wearily. I thought thou must have perished on thy long journey, having found out Verona had fallen. But

t thou doing - an

ver which the bridle had been slipped, and Vittore clinging to the other han

said Vittore; Tomaso grieved

'Grieve! Aye, did we!

Ligozzi asked, 'wher

in trust. It is a path thy horse can follow, a

speech, and taking so much pleasure in that it was his son wh

the last, and not the first, came to mention o

light I could not see too well. It is only one more wrong to s

nched hand and cove

e said, 'since thou wert n

caped,' returned his father. 'Still, go on with thy tale

e his recital ended they had reached the open, and found everything

u, Father,' said Tomaso proudly; 'thou wilt be of

sently, the plan is that we set fort

r, and I will bring thee f

stools and watched Tomaso affectionately, as he brought the poor horn lantern from th

ppose the soldiers think to search again on

ght,' said Vittore, 'but Franc

zi la

e must be a brave man, and his care save

e, thy name; he is di Coldra; he knew the

eyes filled with tears, and hi

Tomaso,' he continued sadly, 'his memory has filled my heart during these weary weeks. I hop

t see him perish?'

. The palace was a sheet of fire, the Duchess was within, and the Visconti's soldiers swarming. The Prince rushed like a madman through the streets, a little group of us behind him. Too late! The Duchess Was too great a prize, the miscreants had lost no time, and she was gone. A tale had reached the Duke while he still struck about him frantically that Gian Visconti himself had led the onset, and wa

tly?' said Tomaso, af

I ever found him brave and generous, as strong as gentle, and most honourable - and he loved t

e as if to put from him t

one Francisco di Coldra, thou say'st; he cla

the door, and looked out into the da

yes; a handsome face, I think it, Father, stern and sad. He is worn - as if

nt; his figure a

,' he remarked at last, 'every moment of d

, and, to ease his impatienc

nother moment. 'It seems a dream, Father, t

s were heard, the crackling of fallen boughs, the swish of the flowering grass. Ligoz

hem. Ligozzi, still farther back, bent down to Vittore, who stood beside him

closed eyes, and a ready,

oked up in

ave not ever seen him smile like that

enly. 'I think - I remember

hut, followed by Francisco, whose stately prese

father, saved from the taking of Veron

lamation; the anger cleared from his brow.

med, with shining ey

o eagerly. 'He has come to join us. He owe

it, and now, when Ligozzi come forward shrinkingly, Francisco

am Francisco di Coldra, from Verona, and eve

bare-headed,

sed thee, sir,' he said; 'thou thinkest thou art still at

'Tomaso has told me - he began.

ch time has already been shamelessly wasted,'

under review, in the scanty gleam of light afforded by the lantern, an

o.' He spoke airily, as if ten minutes since Francisco had not lashed him with his ton

the black,' said

the other with a laugh. 'Becaus

was never spoken. With a gesture, Francisco m

ing hither!' he

lysed - yes, Francisco's ears had caught the sound aright,

there was none, though Conrad mad

turned on him

Where shall we ride? Into the water? No, go back into the hut.' He turned to Ligozzi. 'Aid me

dition. The soldiers' voices were no

at being soldiers, and see how we can overcome Visconti

anced around. By the table stood Conrad, showing even at that moment the silver and ivory chessmen, which he

maso's face was white; the Visconti's scar showed plainly; his breas

ide told the soldiers were in

had put out the light.

'Alberic da Salluzzo. When last I heard it 'twas in

an back into his doublet. He regretted Francisco had dragged him so furiously away before he

The horses champed, threw up their heads, and clanked their trappings; but as he tal

y a sho

d the horses,'

ared across the opening, high up in the wall, and more faintly through the broken r

d a harsh voice. 'Open!' a

door fly open as if the blow had forced it. On the threshold stood Alberic da Salluzzo, resplendent in jewelled ar

d stepped across the threshold.

it. In an instant, by the breathing of the men near him, da Salluzzo knew he had been trapped. He turned to escape, he

s teeth at his folly more than his plight, and stru

ried to cry aloud to those without; his voice was gripped within his throat. Slowly but irresist

senses. Da Salluzzo lay dead upon the floor, and over him there towered a tall figure. They saw naught else. These men had fought with Alberic at the Sacking of

e, at the look of his wild face as he advanced, they dropped th

tino della Scala!' And dropping the lig