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She sprang up, attempting to reach a silken cord that swung upon the wall near her; but Cornaro raised his hand above her and lightly tossed it aside. "No one shall come between us until I have thy promise: it lieth between me and thee." "I need some one to help me," she implored; "and Aluisi is of our Casa Cornaro, he would understand."
She would ask her Secretary-Cousin, Aluisi Bernardini; she felt sure that his knowledge and judgment were to be trusted on Venetian matters, although Janus had already told her with unconcealed disdain that Bernardini's opinion was valueless on Cyprian questions, which were new to him and far too complicated.
'Let her take the Prince of Naples, he hath said openly before the Councillors, 'and give us a man to reign over us." "And Janus but two weeks dead!" The Lady Beata gave an involuntary cry of horror. "But Fabrici, the Archbishop?" she asked after a moment, "may he not influence them to be more gentle with her having a brother in the Council?" Aluisi shook his head sorrowfully.
"Can I be a friend to our people if I do not understand them? There are many things that I would know the fiefs the ancient nobles Carlotta. They told me little in Venice of the things I need to know." "What things?" the Chamberlain asked helplessly. She looked at him searchingly. "To whom shall I go if not to thee, Aluisi? Art thou not enough my friend to help me?"
"Forgive me, Aluisi; I listen." "Out of thy generous heart, thou wouldst have covered me who am a Venetian with Cyprian honors. I thank thee. But I will translate thee to thyself. Was it 'to buy my loyalty?" "Nay, nay but of appreciation to show thee grace. Thou knowest it, Aluisi!" Her repentance came swift and warm as that of a child. "I know it well," he answered heartily.
But Aluisi Bernardini grew somewhat graver than his wont, as the banquet proceeded, while he watched his cousin, the newly-arrived Ambassador, less graciously, his lady thought, than he need have done on this first evening when all were hastening to shower honors upon him.
"How will Andrea accept this insolence?" the Lady Beata questioned. "There is more far more than that for anxiety," Aluisi said, dismissing her question with an impatient gesture. "I would that the Queen and the child were here in their own palace or that we were there.
It was of this that the young Queen was thinking as her husband rode forth with his suite of gay, young nobles to the chase, and she summoned Aluisi to her presence.
Thus Aluisi Bernardini found himself with his mother, close prisoner in the Royal palace, on the night when his Queen most sorely needed the help he would have perilled his life to give.
"Thou wilt help me, Zia," she continued, in pathetic appeal, "and thou, my Margherita; for life is difficult. And Aluisi he will think what must be done for the people until my strength returneth for I have forgotten how to think." She pressed her hands tightly against her forehead as if to compel the resistant brain-power.
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