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But Barbesieur had seen the gesture, and with his powerful grasp he clutched Strozzi's hand, and withdrew it armed with a poniard of fine, glistening steel. Flinging it with such force against the wall that it buried itself in the masonry, Barbesieur gazed for a moment at the poor fool whose teeth were chattering with fear; then leading him to a seat "Come," said he, "let us talk like men.
"Of course I love her," was the lying response. "You remember do you not that you were indebted to me for your marriage with Laura Bonaletta?" "Bonaletta!" screamed Strozzi. "There is no Laura Bonaletta; her name is Laura Strozzi, the Marchioness Strozzi, my wife! Remember that, sir remember it." "To be sure, to be sure," murmured Barbesieur; "he has forgotten everybody but that tiresome Laura.
A nobleman knows but one means of repairing that." Barbesieur blushed, and then grew very pale. "You see that I am incapable of resorting to this means," replied he, in much confusion. "Then you will not challenge the Prince de Carignan?" "It is not in my power to send a challenge. My right arm is useless to me."
"Well, I will gratify you both. Belgrade is taken; Prince Eugene, as usual, was foremost in the fight; but unhappily for some people, and happily for others " Here Barbesieur paused to enjoy the agony of his sister's suspense. Her face he could not see, but her trembling figure gave evidence of the poignancy of her anguish. "Well " said Strozzi, "what befell him?"
"Yes, your highness; and, by his first marriage, had a son and a daughter. With the latter, the present Duchess de la Roche Guyon, my mother lived in perfect harmony, but her step-son, Barbesieur, hated her, and finally caused her to quit her husband's house, and take refuge with her mother, the Marchioness de Bonaletta." "I remember," returned the duchess.
She raised her eyes to heaven in thanksgiving. "He is not dead," said she, almost inaudibly. "Then you have read very carelessly," returned Barbesieur. "The letter says, 'so dangerously wounded that he was transported in a dying condition to Vienna," "Had he been dying, he would not have been transported to Vienna," exclaimed Laura, with a smile of returning hope. "No, no!
Barbesieur now made one supreme effort to escape, but all in vain. With one thrust of his muscular arm, Eugene forced him back into the coach, his nether limbs within, his great trunk without the window. "Miserable coward," said the prince, "who to escape from the dangers of a fray among lackeys, have taken refuge in the carriage of a nobleman!
"But you have not yet hit upon her secret yourself?" "Not yet; but I think I am on the track, and hope to discover it in time to try it on Prince Eugene." Barbesieur rose from his seat, and, coming toward Strozzi, struck him on the shoulder. "Now, Strozzi, look at me attentively, and try to understand what I am about to say to you. I will help you to seek this poison. Do you hear?"
Go back to the castle not by that winding path, if you please, but by this wide avenue. And be alert in your movements, for I shall watch you until yonder door closes upon your youthful charms, and hides them from my sight." Carlotta looked venomous, but dared not tarry, and Barbesieur followed her with his eyes until he heard the clang of the ponderous castle-door behind her.
"When I heard of all that took place this morning at the Pre aux Clercs," said Laura, "I remembered it to my shame and sorrow." Barbesieur grew pale with rage and hissed into his sister's ear "Have a care, girl, how you rouse me to retaliation! I can crush you like a worm under my heel; and as for yonder princely beggar, be assured that I shall remember him to his cost."
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