The Viper of Milan: A Romance of Lombardy

cala is

ed - the name of della Scala was on every lip. But in the Visconti palace it was not spoken. Silent, sombre as ever, the castle frowned over its beautiful gardens, and only by the companies of horse th

ough the corridors, paused an

eye, and he watched, hidden

ces and set with cypress-trees, rose clear against the sapphire sky. To the right lay Isotta d'Este's prison, the

nner that hung above, lifeless in the summe

ed moat and climbed up the wall; and, as Giannotto still watched, the figure he had seen enter there, hooded and cloaked, passed

asual observer would have taken little heed, but Giannotto's eyes were

hould she visit the prison of Isotta d'Este?' He followed he

think no one's eyes could be on her, when Viscont

ting the ends of his scarlet robe betw

underneath his very hand, pleased Giannotto, as did anything that annoyed Visconti, save when his master's rage was such that his secretary felt its working. The Duke he knew to be alone. The b

ary smoothed a smile from his face, and, tapping

isconti had no love for the sunlight, and even the na

t open, and showing silver goblets and curious bottles and glasses twisted into strange shapes, and coloured. At the farther end were

is hand a bracelet, fashioned as a snake

d,' he said, closing the door behind him, 'ha

and put out of sight the b

gnese trouble me?'

' returned the secretary smoothly. 'They would have th

ergamo; yet do the twain who then appealed, to me reign in

d not trouble thee, my lord. Bologna is a w

round. Gian Galeazzo slipped his b

e moment there are more precious things to do e

to and fro a moment, then broke

said eagerly. 'Thinkest thou that if he do re

returned Giannotto, 'and the roa

let him escape them

e. It is enough that Alberic da

t hang for it,

s seat, flung himself into it, clu

e - I stripped him, I routed him. And now!' he smiled and his eyes widened, 'he is a beggar. Perhaps it is not so ill that he lives to know it. It is a better revenge than any I cou

not imagine Mastino della Scala

and absorbed by hatred

ut him. Will he, thinkest thou, ever be won over to side with Mastino? No, Giannotto, I

rth fearing is not worth considering.' He seated himself at the low table as he spok

and fell to thinking. The secretary, looking at his brooding face, shuddered a little at what h

moved uneasily. He loved not to sit alone w

roused

l I have undertaken, I have succeeded!" And I can say as much. I have succeeded. I looked on life and took from it wh

at Visconti's outbur

ten him. He was but utt

usal, and in my heart I said: "I will bring that man so low that life shall hold nothing so sweet to him as the thought of meeting me in single fight!"

e throne of Milan - four lives, all crafty - and two young. But I- I, the youngest, took my fate and th

g eyes and parted lips,

ness,' thought Giannotto;

them were two girls, one dark, one fair, and she with the dark hair had her betrothed beside her. They were happy among the happy, they loved each other - and I rode unseen. The may was thick and white, I watched them through t

g, resting his hand on the arra

gazed upon h

gain, and looked back with a s

ly; and, opening the narrow door, he was gone, as

I sit silent, I have no ears, no memory - that I shall forget? "In that to

f the shoulders Giann

e Duke to sign, and grumbling at his absence, stayed, but dar

after her secret visit, and he considered if she could bribe him to silence

or money, and she might pay well. S

d'Este, and he wondered, with som

isoner; Tuscany and the Empire already looked with interest on the Duke of

e door, when it opened and the ancient Luisa, Isotta's pri

he hated most people, but her in particular, for she eq

him mistrustfully. 'Thou canst not see him,'

ed chairs. 'I will not take thy word for what I can or canno

it were possible to win her news

ust it to me, and I will see he does not forget wh

a sm

-bearer,' she said, and

news, art thou so mad as to think of following him there? Wilt thou n

and be dismissed for having left thy post, and remember t

eizing his bag and papers, Giannotto was gone, and the heavy door

rm. 'Listen a moment -' And s

little and showed hi

e leaves his laboratory and finds thou hast bee

ith a cry of vexation. 'But

his hands a pi

ffled past him, terror overmastering greed. To be locked within that chamber to await the Visconti was what she had no

ph reentered the chamber. He read the pa

d'Este's prison,' mused Giannotto. 'Now, sh

one was locked, the other opened to the touch. He dared investigate no further, and retu

o had helped him in his experiments; there was an assistant who a

he doing? It was an opportunity to spy. If caught, the secretary could plead anxiety as to his master'

ack marble, carpeted in gold, the h

y twisted abruptly out of sight. Round t

mounted. At the bend the steps

ame within sight of a door, ajar. He marvelled at it. It was thus Conrad von Schulembourg

It showed him the outer laboratory, a long low room of grey sto

n, was an elaborate silver pot, seeming to quiver i

glasses, vases, jars, and gob

tove near the window lay a pile of things, curiously mixed. They held

intertwisted, and, sparkling on an inlaid tray, a massive ring - he knew it, he had seen it on

ificently worked in pearls, and in the other a small phial filled with a yellow, slow-moving liquid. This he held high against the light, which fell strong and cold upon his upturned face and thick, curling red hair, and Giannotto gazed, fascinated, on the gleam of his teeth as he smiled with a slow satisfaction. Giannotto had seen enough. His hea

with terror, but a covert glance

d,' he began at once. 'It was le

took the

eft there?

iannotto. 'Luisa brought it,

f a moment since had ti

,' said Visconti. 'Someone who d

a lives,' h

iannotto, of the bad air and the confinement,' and he smiled. 'I would certainly not have her deat

ent nor reward, but one the secretary was glad to esc

ste? The soldiers are to be trusted,' mused

velvet gloves of turquoise hu

and gold and tasselled at the points with rubies. On the back was a rich design also

ately by the tassels and looked long at their rich blue,