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But Dama Margherita was already far down the narrow stone corridor, beyond hearing the confession of failing courage which would have brought her instantly back, when a tapestry was thrust hastily aside, and Maestro Gentile, the old white-haired physician, fully armed, but with the air of a hunted man, tottered into the room. "They seek my life," he gasped, "I know not why.

"It was unholy speech," said Dama Margherita crossing herself, "which had not been, save for the Consiglière: it hath no shade of truth; may the Holy Madonna forgive him and us, who have listened to slander." "Cara Dama Margherita," said the little Contarini consolingly, "if we have listened it is not with our hearts!"

"How to thy 'displeasure'? What 'rights'?" "His right of Lord of the fiefs for our lands are gifts of the Crown to choose a husband for his dama di maridaggio who suiteth not her fancy." "Nay, verily, Ecciva, he is a noble gentleman he would not press thee too hard, thou wouldst protest." "Aye, I should protest I would protest.

She had suddenly flushed and grown pale again. Then a new thought came to her. "But she also is a Dama di Maridaggio she also. Thou mightest tell that for a bit of gossip to the Queen, who, perchance, hath influence with the Signor Bernardini." She had laid her hand again on Elois

Dama Ecciva asked lightly, but unconsciously opening and closing her slender henna-stained fingers, straining them into the soft palms with strenuous motions, while she waited for her companion's reply.

No wonder that the Cypriotes gnashed their teeth in their powerlessness to dispute this insolent assertion, while their indignation effervesced in petty intrigues! But Dama Ecciva's spirits had revived.

For Mutio di Costanzo also, and for the Bernardini, there had been demonstrations, as Dama Ecciva had foretold: but the Lady Margherita de Iblin had noticed with uneasiness, that whereas it was a time when the people, high and low, should have assembled to testify their loyalty and affection, the crowd was chiefly composed of burghers and peasants from the hamlets in city neighborhoods, and that many of the old Cyprian nobles with their tenantry were conspicuously absent.

"I saw them all the time Dama Margherita was reciting Holy Mother, but it was long! I thought the King was coming, and it was I that should carry the news to her Majesty I came near crying out! But I could not see his orange plume, and I waited. They came slowly Santissima Vergine! He was not there!" He clutched his comrade's doublet with a trembling hand and turned an ashen face towards him.

Dama Margherita questioned with a desperate attempt to defer the moment of yielding. Caterina turned and looked at her seriously. "If he hath not the gift, already," she said, "it is much to ask. Yet, if he holdeth it, by no constraint but because it is for him alone and may not be withheld however one may struggle, need one ask further assurance of happiness?

Ecciva broke the tension with her exclamation: "No, Contarini mia, all knights are not like that: I said it but to tease thee. Tell it to the Dama Margherita with a face like that, and she will make it a second 'Kypria, for she hath, verily the gift.