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"But his brother, the Count Carpasso, is more to fear," he cried wrathfully. "They are men of one mind and both creatures of that treacherous King of Naples. If Janus had had more wit, he would have left Gioan Peres Fabrici to this day, bargaining for his cargoes of grain, instead of naming him to the Council of the Realm and lavishing the honors of the kingdom upon this faithless favorite."
"There was the nephew, Almerico much in temper because thy noble uncle the Contarini would not yield up to his traitorous care the Castle of Cerines for the signature forced from the Queen. There was Fabrici the very Reverend, the Primate of Cyprus. And then and then not last, but first, and deepest and darkest traitor of them all the very darkest villain of them all there was Rizzo!" "Ecciva!
"Later, not long since," she continued, "there came from Rome a tale maliciously whispered about by Fabrici not to be believed that by some act of renunciation of the Christian Faith, Janus won the favor of the Sultan when he sent him hither to regain his throne.
The Commander of Famagosta hath men and arms behind those impregnable walls, and all the wicked strength of his cunning Council to direct them, Rizzo and Fabrici masters in intrigue and the men of the galleys of Naples at the tower in the port, commanding land and sea. Without more force it is impossible!" "Dear Lady, the Bernardini lacketh no courage, and he commandeth.
My Son, the Chamberlain, hath seen in the most revered chronicle of State of this kingdom, the Libro delle Rimembranze, the copy of a letter sent by King Janus to His Holiness, to accredit his Reverence the Archbishop of Nikosia, brother to this same Signor Jean Perez Fabrici the Consiglière, who spoke with us but now as Ambassador to His Holiness: and the manner of this letter leaveth no room for doubt that he wrote as a son of the Church, in all confidence of favor.
"Fabrici, for another cause, holdeth the queen in deep disfavor," he said, "for that he, having been sent by Janus on some embassy of marriage for the child Zarla, came into the Chamber of Counts of the Kingdom not many days since and with much grossness of speech would have discussed the matter at length in that presence; which we, of her household she being in the first grief of her young widowhood prevented, through members of the Queen's Council, better disposed."
Thou knowest, gentle Mother, that this Valentine confessed, before his death, that he but heralded a larger craft sent from Rhodes, with knights and gentlemen and letters favoring Carlotta! And Gioan Peres Fabrici, Captain of our galley, sent with speed by prayer of us of Venice to bring them hither to confess themselves, found them not. He returned, with speed and found them not.
Margherita turned to Fabrici, who seemed to her less inhuman than Rizzo, for she had noticed the slight weakening in his attitude. "Pardon me, your Grace," she said in a tone of quiet deference; "hath the learned body of the Queen's Council no knowledge of the crime of lese-majesty?" Fabrici made no answer, being conscious-stricken; but Rizzo turned upon her with blazing eyes.
"It is shameful such a reason so calmly told by a member of our Queen's Council! He should unsay the words!" one of the maids of honor cried hotly. "There could be no color for it: the Signor Fabrici hath proven that he loveth not the Regina!"
She looked up dumbly as Rizzo and Fabrici drew near her couch her eyes deep with unspeakable misery. The Lady Margherita, watching near her, was indignant at the intrusion; she rose and stood before the Queen. "My Lords, you forget yourselves Her Majesty hath not summoned you." "There are moments, my Lady of Iblin, when Majesty is but a farce and Power need not do it reverence!"
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