The Honour of Savelli: A Romance

by S. Levett Yeats

  CHAPTER XXI.

  THE RESCUE OF ANGIOLA.

  The next day as the big gun from the citadel boomed out the twelfthhour, and all the bells of the town clanged forth the time, fivehorsemen rode through the gate of St. Angelo, whose doors were spreadwide open. The single sentry on duty paced sleepily up and down, hewas longing for his noontide siesta, and the guard of a half-score ofBaglioni's lances, lay with their armour off, basking in the mellowsun. A subaltern officer, who had evidently dined to some purpose,reclined on his back, half in half out of the shade of a few olivetrees that grew to the left of the gate, and the ruby on his cheeksshowed up all the brighter against the green of the grass on which hewas stretched. The horsemen were myself and my four followers. We hadtaken the route I went the day before with Gian, and the plan I hadformed was this. On my gaining admittance to the house, Jacopo andBande Nere were to put themselves at the door, and engage the guardthere in conversation. Gian and the lackey were to hold the horses. Assoon as I ascertained the position of Angiola's room, I would blowshrilly on a whistle I had purchased for the purpose. My men at thedoor, who were armed with arquebuses as well as their swords, wouldhold the passage, and I should try and account for the Cavaliere Paoloand bear off the prize. If we succeeded, we could easily make thegate, and then, the road to St. Jerome lay open before us. The factthat the attempt was to be made in broad daylight too would be asafeguard, as no one would deem that such a deed, usually done undercover of night, was to be adventured at this hour. I had partly pavedthe way for my entrance by my call of yesterday, and was provided witha sufficiently plausible story to keep the cavaliere engaged, whilst Itook stock of his surroundings. Jacopo too had been carefully drilledas to how he was to announce me, and the question resolved itself intohard hitting, and a little luck. I had dressed myself with particularcare, wearing my buff-coat under a gay jerkin, and a short velvetcloak hung from my shoulders. This almost gala attire was to act as afurther blind, and give all the appearance of a mere visit ofceremony. There was of course the possibility of my being refusedadmittance, and of the Cavaliere Paolo declining to see me; but thiswas not probable, and if it did happen, I was ready for a bold stroke,and for this Bande Nere carried with him a grenade with which to blowopen the door. As it turned out, however, we had no difficulty on thisscore. On reaching the house I glanced up, and saw a face peering atus through the caging of one of the windows above; but it was almostimmediately withdrawn. Jacopo dismounted and knocked firmly. The sameperformance, I have described, of opening a grating was gone through,but on my name being mentioned the porter shut his peep-hole, therewas the sound of the removal of a bar, the clank of chains, and thedoor swung open with a sullen groan, disclosing a hall, in which stoodtwo men, completely armed, their arquebuses at the ready in theirhands, whilst the doorkeeper himself, a sturdy knave, stood full inthe entrance, swinging a bunch of keys.

  "Is the Cavaliere Paolo Baglioni within?" I asked as I dismounted,taking it for granted I was to be received, from the preparation I sawwas made.

  "He is, signore--be pleased to follow."

  With a warning glance to Jacopo I stepped in, finding myself in a hallof middle size, the walls discoloured with age, and chipped andcracked in many places--clearly the Casino Baglioni needed repairs. Atthe end of the hall was a spiral staircase, whose stone steps, worn toa hollow in the middle, by the passing and repassing of feet, markedits great age. Up this narrow stairway I followed the man, until wereached a corridor, hung on each side with rusty suits of armour, andold and tattered banners. The place was very damp, and there was amusty smell about it, as if no pure air ever came that way. It wasevident that the cavaliere was on the alert, for a man was on guardhere, armed like those below, with sword and arquebus. To him my guideaddressed himself.

  "He has come," he said, jerking his thumb backwards at me.

  "Well, announce him," said the sentinel.

  "That is for you," answered the janitor, "I had enough of Pluto thismorning." With this he turned on his heel and ran back downstairs,jingling his keys.

  The sentry stood still, however, and after waiting for half a minute,I spoke, my blood rising a little within me.

  "Will you be good enough to announce the Cavaliere di Savelli--on anurgent affair?"

  The man turned round to a closed door behind him, rapping at it withhis mailed hand. From inside I heard a shuffling noise, a heavy bodylurched against the door, and there was a scratching at the wood. Noanswer, however, came to the knock.

  "Knock again," I said, a little impatiently, and this time a deepvoice called out--

  "Enter."

  I placed my hand on the door to open it when the sentry spoke withunexpected civility.

  "Take care of the beast, signore!"

  "The beast--what beast?" I asked, pretending not to know anything ofPluto's existence.

  "His excellency's bear--do not fear it--else it might injureyou--_cospetto!_ But it is a perfect fiend if you run from it. Itkilled a poor woman the other day."

  "Thanks, friend, I will beware," I answered, and pushed open the door,springing back a yard as I did so, for with a short roar that echoedthrough the house, a huge bear rose on his hind legs, and struck outat my face with his claws.

  "_Diavolo!_ go back," shouted the sentry to the brute, and I whippedout my sword; but the animal merely stood in the open doorway, makingno further advance, his great jaws open, and puffing like ablacksmith's bellows.

  "_Cospetto!_ excellency, call off the bear," shouted the sentry again,indeed he seemed positively to hate the animal, and from inside came alow deep-toned but mocking laugh. "Come back, Pluto--down, youbrute--down!" then there was a heavy "thud," the tinkling of shiveredglass, and the bear dropping on its fore feet, shambled back into theroom. I was considerably startled, and not a little angry; butconcealing these feelings, stepped boldly into the room, keeping mydrawn sword still in my hand.

  "The Cavaliere di Baglioni?" I enquired.

  "At the Cavaliere di Savelli's service," and a tall figure rose from alounge chair and surveyed me. I confess that my heart began to beat alittle fast when I saw the man against whom I was to pit myself. Hewas far above the middle height, and proportionately broad. Hisgrizzled hair, parted in the middle, hung down straightly to his neck,and a thick grey beard and moustache hid his mouth and chin. A cruelhooked nose, almost Hebraic in shape, was set between a pair of smalland piercing eyes. His complexion was deathly pale, and by the lightwhich fell from the barred window, I saw beneath the skin the littlered lines of swollen veins which marked an intemperate life. At asmall table beside the chair was a pack of cards, and a glass halffilled with red wine, the bottle from which the wine was taken waslying in fragments at the door, where it had fallen and broken tobits, after being flung at Pluto. The bear was now beside his master,facing me, his huge head held down and swaying from side to side. Weremained for a half minute staring at each other, and then Baglionispoke again, with his deep sneering accent, "Is it usual for theCavaliere di Savelli to pay visits with a drawn sword in his hand?"

  "Is it usual," I replied, "for gentlemen to be received by having asavage beast set at them?"

  "Oh, Pluto!" and he touched the bear, "Pluto was not set at you,man--you would not be here if he was."

  "Probably--if however you will call the beast to one side, I wouldlike to discuss my business with you, cavaliere."

  "Shut the door, and sit down there," he replied, "Pluto will notdisturb us--you can put back your sword. It would avail you little,"he grinned.

  It cost me an effort, but I did as I was bidden, and Baglioni sankback into his lounge, the bear still standing, and keeping its fierceeyes on me. Its master however kept running his hand up and down itsshaggy coat, whilst he asked in his measured voice--

  "Well, and to what do I owe the honour of this visit?"

  "You would prefer no beating about the bush?"

  "It is my way."

  "Well, then, caval
iere, I have come from Rome with a special object,and that is to ask you to change sides, and to use your influence withyour cousin, Count Carlo, to do likewise."

  "I follow the head of my house."

  "Exactly. You are aware that His Holiness is now over seventy years ofage."

  "The lambkin of God, Alexander--yes."

  "Well, he cannot go on for ever, and if he were to die, it is an endto the Borgia."

  "Ho! ho!" he laughed, "it is an end to the Borgia--Cavaliere, youremployers are mad. It will take not a little to break Cesare--CesareBorgia, Duke of Romagna, Imola and Faenza, Marquis of Rimini, Count ofForli, Lord of Pesaro and Fano, Gonfaloniere of the Church--good for alow-born bastard--eh? Ho! ho! break Cesare! Not you."

  "Stronger trees have fallen, signore--remember we have France, and theFlorentines on our side, and twenty thousand men, under Tremouille andTrevulzio, are not twenty miles from you."

  I was playing a risky game. If I did succeed in inducing this man tolisten to my proposals, and he actually persuaded his cousin to dolikewise, it would be a terrible blow to the Borgia. On the other handI ran the immediate risk of being arrested, and kept a prisoner, orkilled outright. But it was the only way to gain time, and look aboutme; and whilst Baglioni reflectively stroked his strange pet, makingno reply to my last speech, I glanced cautiously but carefully aroundthe room. Like the passage outside, the walls were hung with oldarmour and old flags. Time had defaced the pictures on the ceiling,and such furniture as there was, was old, and the coverings of thechairs and tables moth-eaten and wine stained. The stale odour of winemingled with the must of a long untouched room, and everywhere, on thetables, on the chairs, and strewn here and there on the floor, werecards. Evidently the cavaliere had a weakness in this direction, andlike lightning it flashed upon me, that if he were a gambler the gamewas probably in my hands, and I would drop policy and turn to thecards. My thoughts were interrupted by Baglioni, who broke thesilence. "What evidence have you, to show you are the person yourepresent yourself to be?"

  "I can offer you none. In matters like this one does not carryevidence about--but if you like to send a trusted messenger to Rome,to the Cardinal d'Amboise--see the reception he will get--or nearerstill to Tremouille?"

  "And why come to me?"

  "Because of your influence with your cousin, and because you are a manwho will play for a big stake," and I risked the shot. His eyesflashed, and his hand stopped in its movement through the fur of thebear.

  "My influence with my cousin is--that," he snapped his fingers, "but abig stake--yes--I like playing for big stakes."

  I stooped and picked up a card, holding it idly up between my fingerand thumb.

  "This, what I propose, is a bigger stake than you could ever get onthe king, cavaliere," and with a twist of my wrist I sent the cardfrom me, it hit the wall opposite with a smart tap, and then floatedslowly and noiselessly down to the floor of the room.

  The man's eyes followed the card, and he muttered as if to himself--

  "A big stake--yes--Carlo gives me nothing--I am his jailor--I, who ina single night have lost two lordships to Riario, have now not a ducatto fling in the air, except what the niggard allows me."

  I did not like the part I was playing; but I knew enough of the stateof affairs to be certain that D'Amboise would richly reward the personwho could detach Baglioni from the Borgia. I said no more than thetruth therefore when I added quietly--

  "You would have another lordship, or two maybe, to stake, if myproposal were carried out."

  "_Cospetto!_" he said, "it is useless."

  "Then I am sorry," I replied, rising as if to depart, "but must wishyou good day."

  "_Diavolo!_ Cavaliere, you are not going without some refreshment. Ho!without there," and his deep voice pealed out like a great bell.

  The bear, which had stretched itself on the floor, rose with a grunt,but Baglioni pressed its head down, and it sank back, and began to humto itself between its paws, like an enormous bee, or rather with thesound a thousand bees might make.

  After a little delay there was a knock at the door, but apparently, asusual, the person outside, whoever he was, did not feel disposed tocome in. My host rose in anger, and stepped across the room, followedby his beast, the latter passing unpleasantly close to me.

  There was an altercation at the door, my host went out with his pet,and for a minute or two I was left alone. I moved my seat nearer tothe small table beside Baglioni's lounge, and taking up the pack ofcards began to shuffle and cut them.

  The cavaliere came back very soon, a flask in one hand and a glass inthe other.

  "Blood of St. John!" he exclaimed as he set them down with a clink onthe table, "those rascals--I will have their ears cut off--they fearthis poor lamb," and he fondled the great bear, which rose on its hindfeet and began muzzling its master.

  "I am not surprised. _Corpo di Bacco!_ The king again!" and I flungdown the pack in apparent disgust.

  "Down, Pluto!" and Baglioni turned to me, "The king again. What wasthat you said?"

  "Cutting left hand against the right. I lost three times."

  "I lost ten thousand one night over cutting--but help yourself," andhe pushed the flask towards me, and then filled his own, which hedrained at a gulp.

  "Come, cavaliere--you are in no hurry--cut me through the pack."

  "With pleasure; but my purse-bearer is downstairs--will you permit meto see him?"

  "By all means--the heavier the purse the better for me."

  "A favour--I cannot play with that beast near me--could you not sendhim away?"

  "Send him away--my familiar," he said with an awful smile, "No, no, DiSavelli--he is my luck; but I shall keep him at a distance if youlike."

  I rose and went down to Jacopo, and found him and Bande Nere alreadyon friendly terms with the guard. I took my purse from him, and foundtime to whisper a warning to strike the moment he heard my whistle.When I came back, I was relieved to find the bear fastened by a chainto a ring in the wall. The chain itself was weak, and could have beensnapped with ease, but the animal made no effort to strain at it, andlay down as contentedly as a dog. Baglioni had pulled a table into thecentre of the room, and was seated at it, impatiently ruffling thecards.

  "Back at last," he said, and his voice had lost its measured cadence,"heavens, I have not spread the cards for a whole year--what stakes?"

  "Simply cutting the cards?"

  "Yes. It is the quickest game I know."

  "Say a crown each turn to begin with."

  We cut through four times, and I paid over two crowns. Baglionilaughed as he put them on one side, "peddling stakes these,cavaliere--make them ten crowns a cut."

  "Agreed--three cuts and a shuffle."

  He nodded, and I paid ten crowns, feeling at this rate that my pursewould soon be empty; but I saw that the fever was taking hold of him,and offered to double the stakes and won. From that moment luckfavoured me, and at the end of half an hour's play the cavalierehad lost all his ready money, about sixty crowns, and owed me fivehundred besides. He did not take his losses well, all the restrainedself-command which he first exhibited, gave place to a wildexcitement, and his hands shook as he shuffled the cards, his whiteface paling whiter than ever.

  "Curse the cards!" he said, "I have no luck."

  The moment had come for which I had been watching. Time after time Ifelt inclined to strike a sudden blow; but held myself in.

  "No more to-day, cavaliere," I said, filling my glass, "I havebusiness and must away."

  A red flush came to his forehead, "I cannot pay you at once," he saidin a low tone.

  "Tush!" I replied, "the word of Baglioni is enough--but if you want alast try for your revenge, I will cut you----"

  "Double or quits?" he burst in.

  "No, cavaliere," and I dropped the words out slowly, "the five hundredagainst a five minutes' interview with the Lady Angiola."

  He leaned back in his chair in amaze, and I went on, "Listen to me, Ionly want five minutes
' speech with her--in your presence if youwill--come, shall I cut or will you?"

  "_Diavolo!_" he muttered, "if Carlo hears of this--well, yes--I willcut first--the ten--a bad card to beat."

  I cut carelessly, and faced my card. It was a king.

  "Hell and Furies!" he burst out. "You have won. Come, sir," and risinghe advanced towards the bear.

  "A moment, cavaliere. I said in _your_ presence. I did not includeMesser Pluto there in the interview."

  He gave me an unpleasant look; but stopped short.

  "Very well," he said, and taking a large key from his girdle, went onbefore me.

  It cost me a great effort to keep cool, up to now my luck had been sogreat that every moment there was a temptation to put all to thehazard of one stroke. I smiled, under my beard, as I thought of theimposing fool Count Carlo had placed in charge of his prize, and whenI saw the huge shaking hand clutching the key, I could not helpthinking that nerves like that would never hold a sword straight, andthat for all his size and courage, the cavaliere was not a veryformidable foe.

  In a few steps we reached the door he wanted, and Baglioni, afterknocking once, simply turned the key and pushed open the door.

  Looking over his shoulder I saw a small but well-furnished room, andstanding in the middle of it, in startled surprise at this suddenintrusion, the figure of Angiola. Quick as thought I made a warninggesture, and almost at the moment Baglioni turned round with--

  "A visitor for you, madam."

  She did not seem to recognise me, but at the warning gesture I made, afaint flush came into her cheek. She stood looking at us halffrightened, half indignant, and at last spoke.

  "I do not recognise----"

  "Ugo di Savelli, madam," and I bowed.

  Her lips curled a little as she answered--

  "Well, Messer Ugo di Savelli--Cavaliere Ugo di Savelli I shouldsay--is it not so? May I ask your business? If it is any message fromyour master, I decline to hear it," and she turned away with a motionof supreme disdain, thinking no doubt that I was a follower of CountCarlo.

  "Ho! ho!" laughed Baglioni, at my look of discomfiture, "the futurecountess can speak her mind. I pity Carlo. You had best cut short yourfive minutes, cavaliere, and come back to the cards."

  At this moment I heard the bear whining below, impatient for hismaster, and I knew his bonds were all too slender to hold him. Therewas nothing for it, but to save Angiola in spite of herself. All thishappened in a flash, and with my full strength I hit Baglioni belowthe left ear, just where the neck and head united. So sudden, sounexpected was the blow, that the huge man rolled over like an ox, anda short shrill scream broke from Angiola. My sword was out in amoment, and I stood over Baglioni.

  "A cry, a movement, and I kill you like a dog," I gasped out, mybreath coming thick and fast; "throw the key to the lady--pick it up,girl--quick--now run to the door and stand there--I am here to saveyou." It was done at once, for Baglioni saw he must obey or die, andspringing back, I closed the door quickly and turned the key. Almostas I did so, I heard footsteps hurrying below, and blew loudly on mywhistle. The sound of the whistle was followed by an angry shoutingthat was drowned by a terrible roar, and I saw Pluto before me,rushing up the stair, with the end of his broken chain still hangingto him. Baglioni was battering at the door behind me. He was safeenough, but my companion had dropped in a faint, and I wanted all myhands and all my nerve to meet the beast, who was now on the stairway,not ten feet away from me. Close to me was a heavy stool, I seizedthis, and flung it at the animal with all my strength, and gettingbetween his forefeet, it caused him to stumble and slip back ahalf-dozen steps; but with another roar Pluto gathered himselftogether, and rushed up again, his jaws agape, and white with foam. Igave him the point deep into his neck. It might have been a pinprick,and he dented the steel with his teeth. Rising to his feet, he struckat me, tearing my short cloak clean off my shoulders, and then, mysword was up to the hilt in his side, and we grappled. My left cheekwas once touched by his claws, and seemed to be hanging in ribbons;but although almost blinded with blood, and choked by his f[oe]tidbreath, I held my head well down, and drove my dagger again and againinto the beast. Angiola had recovered from her faint, and above thegrunting of the bear, the battering at the door, and the clash ofsteel below, I heard her laughing in shrill hysterics. My strength wasfailing. I was about to give up all for lost, when there was a loudreport, and with a howl the bear fell backwards. My hand somehowfastened itself to the hilt of my sword, sticking in the animal'sside, and the weight of him, as he fell back, and as I shook myselfclear, freed the blade. I stood half dazed, watching the huge blackbody sliding limply down the stairs, until it lay in a shapeless heapon the landing. Jacopo's voice brought me to myself.

  "For the love of God--quick, excellency--quick!"

  God, I suppose, gives men strength sometimes, for his own purposes.And so it must have been with me, for I picked my dear up in my arms,and half giddy, and staggering, made my way to the entrance door. Ineed not say I had no time to look about me; but Jacopo helped me withmy burden. Lifting her to the pommel of the saddle, I sprang upbehind, and drawing my darling close to me, with a shout of triumph, Iset free my plunging horse and let him go with a loose rein.