CiHM ICIVIH Microfiche Coliection de Series microfiches (l\/lonograplis) (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microredroductioris/institut canadien de microreproductions historiques ©2000 TechniCc.i and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. Coloured covers / Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged / Couverture endommag^e □ Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaur^ et/ou pellicul^e I I Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps / Cartes g^ographiques en couleur r~?| Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / Iv I Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material / Reli^ avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge ipt^rieure. Blank leaves added during restorations may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela ^tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas i\6 f ilm^es. Additional comments / Commentaires suppi^mentaires: D D D D n L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6\6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-6tre uniques du point de vue bibli- ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^tho- de normale de filmage sont indiquds ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages / Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommag6es D Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaurtes et/ou pellicul^es r~7^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / IJlJ Pages d^color^es, tachettes ou piqu6es I I Pages detached / Pages d^tach^es [ y\ Showthrough / Transparence I I Quality of print varies / D D D Quality in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary material / Comprend Ju materiel supplemental re Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6\6 film^es d nouveau de fa9on k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discolourations are filmed twice to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decolorations sont film^es deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below / Ce document est filme au taux de reduction indlqu^ ci-dessous. 10x 14x 18x 22x 26x 30x ./ 1 i 12x 16x 20x 24x 28x 32x The copy filmed hart hat bttn raproductd thankt to tht gtntroiity of: McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario L'txamplairt film* fut rtproduit grict i U g*n*rositA dt: McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario Tht imagtt apptaring hart »r» tho batt quality potsibia contidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract apacificationa. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara filmod beginning with tha front covar and anding on tha lait paga with a printed or illuatratad improa- tion. or tha back covar whan appropriate. All other original copiet ere filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illuttreted imprea- tion, and anding on the laat page with a printed or illuttreted imprettion. The latt rtcordtd frame on each microfiche shall contain tha symbol — ^^ (meaning "CON- TINUEO"), or the symbol ▼ (meaning "END"), whichever appliat. Ltt imtgts suivanttt ont Ati rtproduitts avec It plui grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da lexamplaira filmA. at an conformity avec let condition! du contrat de filmaga. Lea exemplairat 'irigintux dont la couvertura en papier eat imprin,i.i sont filmAs en commencant par la premier piiti at en terminant soit par la darniire page qui comporte une ampreinte d'imprastion ou d'illuttration. soit par la second plat, talon la cat. Tout let autras txemplaires originaux sont filmte tn commandant par la premiAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'imprettion ou d'illuttration at an terminant par la derniire pege qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dee aymboitt suivants apparaitra sur la darniire image de cheque microfiche, salon la cas: la symbola — »> signifie "A SUIVRE", la symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, platat, chartt, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratiot. Thota too large to be entirely included in one expoture ere filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, at many framet at required. The following diagramt illuttrate the fnethod: Let cartet. planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent etre filmAs A das t^ux da reduction diffIPPLIED iM/^GE 1653 East Mam Street Rochester. New York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (71G) 288 - 5989 - Fa% ■•fW- SIR JOHN HAWRWOO MARION POLR"^ ANGELLOTTI I,! SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD f " I had got my .word free and leapt to the »idj oj jhe Princess She was tense in'every limb but made no s.gn of fright. ^^^^^ ^^^ ». Sir John Haw kwooci A TALE OF The White Company in Italy BY Marion Polk Aiigcllott^ TORONTO McCl.l 1^1 AND ^ (JOODCHll.D LIMITED 11 IT' Copyright, l^ll. By K. F. FKNNO t. COMPANY Sir John Haitik-vood TO MY MOTHER "There's aye thing yet, there's twa thing yet To brag on that ye know ; He never, never failed a friend, And never feared a foe." \ SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD CHAPTER I BARK STKET. "Giovanni Della Gvgua !" The words, subdued yet perfectly audible, fell on my ears just as I set my foot on the threshold of the door leading into the palace loggia. A titter accompanied them, and a buzz of winspering com- ment followed. Instantly I swung round on my hee , narrowed my eyes, and glanced keenly about to discover the author of the jest. My task was like to prove no easy one. I saw at once; for all the busy court-yard was thronged with onlookers who now fixed me with glances of amusement. A group of pert young pages in white and gold hvery were gathered round the fountain- the taunt might have come from one of them, but I thought not, for they had learned that I was no safe butt for their tricks. Gorgeous lackeys stood about m troops, soldiers of the Prince's Guard and not far from where I stood I perceived a score 11 Sir John Hawkwood I 4 * \ " r.y own ireTcln^panio^^J^^ -nng^-^ his left shoulder the jVn^ can. ^^^^^^p^^y silver, which "^'.nies fellows from England They were dare-dev,l --og-"' ^ ^„d,ies of Italy, and France and Spam and all the ^^^ ^^ -n who -'<>„-:,r:Jrhave lien held worse pense of a kmg. or, w^^'J"" . . j ^^sted no time by most, at the Pope '"•"s;' ' "^"^^ „j i,t, being il scanning their faces «or stgns^ o g^^^ ^^ ^^ ,,„ .ware ^^^^'^'^^^^^ and all entertained a great of the earth, they "n . „ ■ „y pres- lead of me that kept ^'^^^^ ^^,,y Jheard ence, if not always m my absence^^ ^J^,^^ ^ ^^^ tlie taunt even as 1 haa, a j^^^^ ^ o the front of the throng "y \^ay be- dear view of the turmod which, tney v Ueved, was sure '» f°"°*;^„,j ,,here I had halted Not far from *e th«*^^^, ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^„ « stood a group of ^f '«"'"„ of the Prince of cupantsof thecotrrt-ahaUdoe ^^^ Verona's own ^"'"tmpty heads, any of them with splendtd "rn-ent and emp y _^^ ^^ ^^. likely enough to have attempted ^^^^„j„ p,„seof me whom*eyd^d^otlo^^ Torre, Prince of the circle ^ """J^ ^ he was my very bitter Antonio's favorite. Thougn ^^ ^^^_ enemy and tireless '">»s efforts * ^ ^^^^^ I had never felt any T'fe w^a shrewd man and Sir John Plawkwood j, that made him better worth gazing at than any pipture on the palace walls. To-day he stood among the laughing young courtiers like a king among h,s subjects, and I had never seen a more splendid sight than he, in his rose and silver satin swinging gold-embroidered cloak, and wide hat with Its plume buckled with jewels. If I gave him a cer- tain grudging admiration, however. I nevertheless hated him with all my heart, and so sure was I now that the whispered taunt had come from him that I swung about in his direction, one foot poised for an advance. At this instant I felt a hand laid on my arm. It was Michael O'Meara, my Irish lieutenant, who stood second in authority in my company of mer- cenanes, and was the only man in all Verona to whom I gave an absolute trust. "Whist, now, Sir John tis wrong you are." he whispered in my ear. ever LTI'. ' ^ '"'^ ^'" ^"^"S'^ *^^t' what- fighting. He was too thorough an Irishman for that-nay. at this very moment his blue eyes were n.. n f;^ ''''^ "^'^'^^''^ '''' ^°^ battle. " 'Twal voLe X ":r ^V-^--^' - the same low del Mayno hey call him-blessed saints, 'tis a jaw of the man who says it ! Shall I be after goin? up and taking him by the nose, Sir John, and tS ing him manners to fit his station ?" ,, Sir John lUwkwood I looked again at the little group » £»"«'«»: all of whom were gazing at m. m manifest amuse ment, and exchanging whispers which, tt took smal wit on my part to guess, were at ny expense The ,„an whom O'Meara had indicated s.oodj.t Ma Torr.'. elbow, laughing loudly, and w.th an appear IZoi delighted mockery which I i-'-''^ "-f, mvself would not last many moments. He might Z Ln five and fifty years old, and was very fat and pompous, with shrewd choleric blue eyes talftried in thick pockets of <^f-^^l^;^, gray beard carefully cut m a square H.s dress ot Ireen and gold velvet was magnificent, and he tad all the manner of a person used to exacting his Ml due of deference from those about l"™.^' «» s^ able in one of his rank and i-P^^-- T -ugh I had never exchanged a word with h m in the vhdt time I had spent in Ve™na, 1 k-w^^ well enough for a rich noble of the Court, a kins ^an in some distant fashion, of Prince Antonio Wm elf and therefore treated by every one with a flattering attention which there was little about him '° "k frankly, I would have given something to have^voided a quarrel with him; for the Prince under whom I now fought, and whose pay was as generous as his name in Italy was 'vl had veO^ high ideas of his royal dignity, and of the d gn y of all who belonged to his house. A quarrel wiA tri Raimondo was plainly not likely to assure or Sir John Hawkwood ^5 strengthen my position at a Court where I had already a round number of intriguing enemies, and prudence counselled me to turn a deaf ear and pro- ceed on my way. Nevertheless, I did no such thing Prudence, truth to tell, got little welcome from me at that time of my life, and recklessness and dare- deviltry were the chief traits of my character. Had It been otherwise, I think I should scarcely have been hailed by all as the greatest free captain of my time in Europe; for could a cautious, mild-mannered, amiable man have ruled my mad band of villains and cutthroats from the four corners of the earth, and turned them into the best fighters to be found anywhere for the hiring of those needing defenders? Moreover, I had so many jealous enemies that my one hope of safety lay in the name I had won of being a man unsafe for meddling and very danger- ous when provoked. Del Mayno's words had been heard by his own circle, who greeted them wi'th laughter and applause; by the pages and lackeys, who grinned and smirked and stood a-tiptoe to see what would happen next; by my own men, who were now waiting in sup^ pressed glee to see the discomfiture which they did not doubt awaited the jester. Should I turn on my heel and pass on, to-morrow all the city of Ve- rona would know the part I had played. There was but one course for me to pursue, and I did pursue it-not as the result of all these sage reflections, but Sir John Hawkwood •\\ \ if by instinct and at on«. the moment that O'Mcara'. "iSdrnt':!'" trtce ..«. -parat.d m. from l-Xetatrd^^"ca,.- der almost touched mine-the rogue! I ^ew we tugh that he was hoping -me 'u" M .^ "-;'. Srnp Tared ; *: haughtily, and Delia Torre if;, if incensed at my daring in approach- scowled as .f """^'^ J „, set his head back shght rt."" as p ^^.^^ J ^p^„j ,„ J %^ s°::;':V laughmg faces sobered not a mtle, and unless I am --'*;" fXt.fd'e'*''' :h^irr^'fmTi'^rn:"of«^ tr ai — i "L G„./i<., if I am not wrong^ h Sir John Hawk wood 17 fancy, as I endeavored to show by killing one gen- tleman who called me by it, disabling three more, and giving two others such a lesson in sword-play as they will not forget. But come— no doubt you are of a merry turn of mind; I would not be too hard upon you; and then, you are kin to the Prince. Take a warning from me that I do not greatly love jests like this, and the matter shall end here." My tone infuriated him, as I knew it would. He turned crimson, puflFed out his cheeks with rage, and squared his shoulders in fierce determination to crush me. Those about him scowled on me darkly and muttered curses on my insolence. "I believe," Del Mayno said scornfully, "that you are the English condottiere who fights the Prince's battles for hire. That is all I know concerning you. As for your name, it may be John Hawkwood or Giovanni della Guglia— do you think I have no better use for my thoughts than the remf ring of how you style yourself? What are yo doing here before me, pray? Did you think, because you heard me speak your name, that I called you ? Not I. Begone, then, and if you must have company, talk to my lackeys yonder— they are nearer your rank than I am." "Now the Virgin pity you, me poor fool, and aid ye too— for it's yourself will soon be needing aid most urgent," I heard my irrepressible Irishman mutter behind me; and a sigh of rapturous anticipa- tion ran about among my mercenaries. Del Mayno heard it too, and with rage. w li g Sir John Hawkwooil "Bid your horse-boys be silent when I speak " he ,ried "Ah Sir John llawkwoo.!, you may th.nk o ru\. .ave " loiters and thieves and bu he, such ;°s famous Com,«.ny of yours, wi-h l;"-^ '~^ and wild words, but you need not h"!* '°J"" hVnobles of Verona. Yes. we know you, brag^rt drunkard and cntthroa. that you are-bu. never dream you can frighten me. Sir Ruffian! hT stoned partly from exhaustion and partly i„"tar led horror; for on his las. word I had s.,«d '" ::td hilt and pulled the weapon out, flashmg ^ IZr his eves For a moment he stared at lTn"ama«m.n,. while the surrounding cir- S f hL friends gave back a trifle, and O'Meara u^- f,red an exclamation of blissful content. Del May "o'^IsaTd with brutal directness, "you are an old Z\ and bad^y in want of a lesson. You have called L" John oVthe Needle. Do you not know that a ZL is a very sharp thing, not one wUh which «o lest' Then you shall learn it now. Th.s blue i de in my hand is my needle, and I am gomg to eive you some experience of .ts powers. Why do fJu sLd there staring at me like any .mbecde Ge ^our sword out. unless you desire that I should sp.. Jo« while you wait!" And I made a pass w.thm an '"th^ad'She would quibble at so far lowering Ws dignity as to meet me sword in hand-bu U had forgotten *e power of bare steel. Af er an, Ms TO very pleasant experience to have a blade flashed It 1 Sir John Hawkwood fn before your eyes, and Lord Raimondo, a powerful noble, was not used to such attentions. With a wild snort c f mingled rage and ftar he pulled his sword loose and came at me in a fury. I gave an exclamation of triumph. All was as I would have it now. The difference in rank which he had forgotten his friends remembered for him. There was a cry of horror from the young courtiers. "Insolence!" shouted Delia Torre. "Come, let us cut down this adventurer who would butcher the Prince's kins- man!" For an instant I felt some alarm, but it was needless, "I'm thinking you do very well where you are and that there you'll stay, my jewels," O'Meara re- marked blandly, and my uneasiness faded as quickly as It had come. He had poignantly regretted, I knev/, his own exclusion from the quarrel, and was overjoyed at an opportunity to mix in it. "Here you rogues, come aid your captain !" At which my men, having no mind at all to see the sport spoiled, pushed roughly in between the courtiers and myself, and kept a clear space in which Del Mayno and I might decide the issue as man to man. Under these cir- cumstances it was child's play for me to do what I would, for in all my life I have met but three swordsmen-by name, the Black Prince, Sir John Chandos, and Bertrand du Guesclin-who could best me, and Lord Raimondo was as a babe in my hands. ^ 20 Sir John Hawkwood If "Now, my friend," I said pleasantly, as I turned his wild thrusts aside, "I am going to amuse myself. You have had your jest and enjoyed it, no\\r I shall have mine. I shall not kill you— what good would that do me?— but if I do not make you cut a poor figure this day, then let me never besiege a fort or sack a town again! You are a very poor swords- man, and I think that even were my eyes blind- folded I could parry your thrusts without danger. Do your best, for with this sword of mine — with my needle, if you please!— I intend to instruct you how dangerous a matter was your pretty jibe. Now, gentlemen, I pray your attention, for the play be- gins! With that I sent him backward, stumbling and panting, wildly defending himself from my attacks ; and I followed him, driving him onward relentlessly, and executing a series of thrusts at his fat legs which made him squeal like a frightened pig. Straight across the court I drove him, and through the gate- way into the palace loggia ; and close on cur heels came the soldiers and pages and lackeys, who, be- side themselves with excitement now, gave vent to wild outbursts of laughter and cheering, and fairly danced for glee as the battle went on. The great loggia was a fair sunny place, the brightest spot in all the palace. Flowers lay thickly scattered over tht pavement, which was built of Verona marble, with alternating blocks of close- grained cream-color and rich mottled red, forming a Sir John Hawkwood Which had a ,„a. Z?°" t cTnTf afd"^ '^7^ staircase leading down ,o the court .^ ".'"*"« fcry, through the arcl,« "' ''°"'*- ">«<• the gal- masses of ros fan , fe fj" "": ''"'" "«« -•••'fling, smothering the senses tihT™' •*""'■"^• and their heavy perfume F?„ T '" "* "'<»- geous blooms peeked out „t '*"''"' *"'= Sor- frames, rare freZtt; ?'""" '" *"'' ei'd«d -«ine s.yie/ss.rrwrvo:s:f ^r " "^- covered with giMed leavll d ZTVL^'T but the hubbubrled bv fh 7 '^°"^'' f^'"'' rogues who foitowX wa, th r;"^' "^"""^ help but rouse the paTace h " ' " '""''^ "<" view. Almost w.thh thr "^ *""" ' ''^'* •" sounded inKioors Ind = """' "'"''" ^'"^ courtiers, some 'f Sten^ '0™"' °'>*" ^"^ quickly out intothegferf; u ™"°"'' '='™ "ad a good audiencftHaH ,Ie%"" ^'°°'- ' above, half his servantr i 2 ^""" ' ^ourt packed about theLggt "te ^T' TT '"" was at present on my side. '""'^ "'' J"' Puttmg forth all mv skill r j Mayno in such fashio2h,7 Lr "'™""'' °" ^e' turned into the devi i„ t-' ' ""'r.,'" """■«■« "» bis desperate .hr^,st;, be'^v „ .hem t *"?'"« ^" P-% in Whatever spot myXTuiS'rr } a 't 22 Sir John Hawkwood We stormed across the loggia like a whirlwind, nar- rowly escaping a table in our course, then bearing down on the staircase. Just as we reached it I swung in a skilful circle and started back again for the gate, still driving; my reluctant and panting prey be- fore me. Round and round the loggia we went, while the spectators cheered us on ; and now I began to add mockery to my torture. "So there, so there!" I cried, shaking with laugh- ter, but taking good care not to miss a thrust. "To the right, my friend— now to the left— ha, you obey my guidance as prettily as could be wished ! Prime, seconde, coupe — come, what makes you squeal so like a stuck pig? Did I go too deep? Yes, 1 see a spreading blood-stain on your fine satin hose : but it is only a prick, as I can show you if I choose to go deeper. Does my needle please you, my needle concerning which you were so witty? Does it still amuse you, now that you know it better? Is it a sharp needle, eh ?" I th» ^st again, and my wretched victim leapt into the air with a yell. "Sir John ! Sir John Hawkwood ! Are you mad ?" called an angry voice from the gallery, and I knew that Antonio della Scala, Prince of Verona and Vincenza, was now numbered among my audience. I feigned to have heard nothing, and my pretense was aided by the delighted clamor of the onlookers, which might well have drowned the Prince's words. "Bravo, bravo. Sir John!" the soldiers and pages were crying, in an ecstacy. O'Meara, who had fol- Sir John Havvkwood ^ beautiful sigh,'- Z Z ,1^°"" ^''' >' " ""'^ gathered, came audftl a„l T '"" """'"^ ^"- adventurers who dar«l » f . ^^'"' """'"'^ ™ fashion, mingied ^X^pJetlrb "f'V" '"'= m«m as my unlucltv v J; ^""^ °' ">""- ^aper. The ehase til" "" f™ '^P^^'""^ ""d a-d round the ZT,f'° '"^ '',°"" "°w. Round -rceiy a foot Si g Snt'"^ *' -« '-^ only by an apparent inte^vent „ , f f P° I' ''''■^^^' luarry was scarlet in the fe '„rt ^^^d^ce. My 'vas plain he must soon fall f^' ° '"°""' ">^' ■'' 'nPPed and s.umb Ld ihi^/Z'^f .f''.^-'-''- He to catch breath, and madrwt, ^^."' "" "^°* "geandangui.h a ".; *'''' ^"""d^ o{ mingled a new mode^„f torture ' "°™'"' ' "^^ '"^P'^^^ by ^^cZ:^,^ '" ""-^ -ble assem. effect that DeU^y Jp^tl? ^7'" "> »-h good liveliest fashion poss"ble "c- "^ "^ '""'"'='' " *' ably, on my word, irnot^^"!,"" ^° ""^ "^^it- "ine a useful thins sil! *'P'''"' "eedle of been like you pi /' ''"0 ?",""'' ' ''' "'^ '^ •"aster? Turn'tft bt ^^Ht-'"™ f ^^f ''^"°"^- yonr right foot-now vof r r,f; / ,"" '=f'-"ise "' I will prick agatW" '?'•"■■«■'"• bigher, s " 1 shook with helples3 'W 24 Sir John Hawkwood laughter to see the desperate efforts and wild pro- truding eyes of my pupil. Flesh and blood could not resist the absurd scene; the loggia was now one great roar of mirth, and even those in the gallery held their sides and wiped their eyes. "Sir John !" the Prince screamed, in a rage. "Do you hear me? Put up your sword on the instant! Cease your horse-play and let him go!" This time I was ready to obey him, for I saw that my victim could bear no more. "Once again, one final effort," I cried, and swung my sword in a hiss- ing circle straight at the feet of Del Mayno, who, with a wild cry and a convulsive spring, leapt high into the air and just cleared the blow. "Well done, my friend. Now rest and get your breath, and take warning by this lesson that needles are too sharp to be spoken of in jest— they have .: power to prick, you see." Still roaring with laughter, I thrust my sword into its scabbard. "Let Delia Torre and his friends pass in now, O'Meara. The play is ended," I called to the Irishman. And then I stood waiting, unable to guess what might be the result of my mad whim, but tolerably certain that the next half-hour •would prove a stirring one for me. A '$ CHAPTER II MISCHIEI' from luT^2 '"? .* """"" "' '"'"^ "roke ■ne in an ^pron-p^l^^t^^'r'"! "'*"<' begone!" I cried fnro;« '"umpn. Begone, "What have ;™ti:7„'Xp"'^. ^"^ "«™- yourselves off knlV Z T' '"^S'" ? Take case from the gafey T' '°^!!'°^'' '"^ ^'-- though .he facSd ^.r-n ?™"''^ '" ^ -^'^ mem I had an insane tJ . ^°^ a mo '-a.ed Raimondo de M vno /"" ''™ '' ' "^^ 'oved one scarcely better ttt' .1°'' '[""" '" ""• ^ nouo n,, taste, this U^^' ThXt:;; .?' "" P"d, foppish, sulkv mo- i .a"g«", this lan- and covered his hLf".""""" "« cheeks blond hairtwhaU.r.?> ""' ^°" his «y- I. was a pTrf „ " trf^ to" "^l' '"'-'"^'^' read this Prince as e^-'T "'"'^ "'"• and I among my f ee com„? ^ '" '"^ ™'"''"g ^"hroat atbotfom« heZstofT ""V"'''" "^ " «" worst of them. He came of a bloody 26 Sir John Hawkvvood \ t\ l1 1 race, a family in which the father slew the son and the husband the wife; and, unless report slandered him, he had himself the blood of his only brother on his conscience. There was an ominous threat under his languid pretense of indifference— his veiled sleepy eyes sometimes held the fierce glint of a wild beast's rage; and more than once I had seen him, when startled into anger, drop all his airs and graces, and rave in a violent fashion that might well chill the blood of any in his power. He accorded me civil treatment, however, for I was not a little useful to him. Would he choose to be indulgent now, or not, I wondered, as I gazed at his slim, lazy, insolent figure, glittering in violet velvet slashed with gold and sewn with pearls. In a trial of strength I could have broken his neck, and the knowledge gave me a kind of scorn for what he might do. There was silence for a moment, while the rabble about the gate eyed me with reverence, and the crowd in the gallery gave me looks of scorn. I stood indifferent, staring back at them. No doubt I wore the plainest attire that could have been found that day in all the Scaligeri palace, where even the ser- vants went splendidly dressed. I had a loose leather jerkin and a short red cloak over my steel cuirass, there was dust on my high boots, and the plume in my hat was draggled, though it still arched with a ruffling air of arrogance. Even O'Meara, clad in the spoil of many a foray, far outshone me. I could feel the scorn in the bright eyes above, and it made Sir John Hawkwood daggered over tocher! A„,^ ""''" '"S""". he of the staircase. He was ^.T" ''°°'' "' "" f°°' ^""'S already breathing wri.h anf"""*^ '"■''"^' •"■' '°^d. my lord, this i.^Z'J^ '" ."'"Seance. "My passionately. "Am J . ^"""g." he wheezed ■•■' Verona Le ^orr';, l!:r' 7°"'= - any man marriage— to be put t„ 1 , ^°"'' °"" •"'" h f^m heaven knowTvw'T;.''^ "■'^ ^""'"'"^^r diers, and made theTa ", 'i ^"'"' =" ''^ ^is sol- Never shall I hear h ' „^5':f7'°''' "' all the city.. •«en made a mock ofUnj ° ^" ""'"e" I '>ave «"nts, I think I sta„ ;"^ ;^' "J- sufferings 1 Holy on the lowest sten Ji Tl- "'^"' ^«ain!" He fell ■'gs- "He priS me be 1 "'""' ^' '"■' ""''■S 'a« <" jump above it, and he wouM > "* "''"e"- '» off at the ankles J wSl v!" . "'' "'°™ -"y 'eet good lord .'" ^"^ '"d"" this outrage, my ^'«'e'r::rb[~^rr*adarkfrow^^ and then a pretty ul;^^-ZuJ,°f '^'"' "■"'- S'.-- John." he said coldir«., ^'""' "^ "«• whim of yours.;' Ita "" chn' ^°" "P'^'" "xs horse-play, and my ,og™ trT "^ *"" '"' ^°"^ "^d «>ought Fra4cf ir'^,f "'-.? Faith. I "-arrara and his Paduans 28 % \ li Sir John Hawkwood f1 1 were upon us, so great was the Bedlam you raised !" This was no time for hesitation; my only hope lay in boldness. I lounged cheerfully across to the stairs and faced Antonio, while Del Mayno, letting out a startled squeal at my approach, climbed half a dozen steps and took sanctuary behind his royal master's back. "Why, my lord," I explained, laugh- ing, "the matter is of the simplest. It appears that various wits among your courtiers are curious as to my birth, my parentage, my ancestry, and other matters concerning me which might be thought no aflFair of theirs. Since I have not cared to gratify their curiosity, they have invented various histories to fit me, and of these inventions the favorite one is that I am the son of a tailor. Therefore, it seems, they have christened me Giovanni della Guglia — John of the Needle. You see? I have done my best to take the point from this jest by dealing roughly with all who cracked it, bat it appears I have been too patient; for to-day, as I came into the palace court, I passed this noble standing among a crowd of his friends, and he called me very audibly by the name I have mentioned. Perhaps he thought his rank would awe me into patience, perhaps he flattered himself that his skill at the sword equalled mine — I cannot say ; at any rate the fancy took me to show him how sharp my needle was and how dangerous, that he might address me more circum- spectly in future. I think he has learned his lesson well," I 2nded, pointing with a roar of laughter It Sir John Hawkwood to the wretched noble wh« ^ Pr«s.d fury with Wm",lMvr" """ 'f«" »"P- fashion?" "^ °"'" """sman in a distant broken. ' "' '^ '"spect.ng tliat it might bl ."'ghly « I had behc* d Z l! ""' "''"' ■"« 'O '0"ged to worst the DukeTTp^r ."""' '^ "" 7 ■"" ^"d my skiil in warfa e h- '?' """^ »* all such hopes in sheer rale at ml ^*'"' '"" »>''y "en as I looked, to mv .fl "^ P''«™ptio„. But -c-c .he angry w^XX ^Tr^^n"' "' '^°''''' out the dark line from h^l^u'^'P'-'""^''^<'<' 'h- dangerous gleam Thahr^"''' '"" "^""hed closed eyes. There was a ^ """ '""' ""'^ h^"" ^Poke-angrily, indeed but notT' '"'"«'" ""^ »■= ^-» thronged into the lo "° ? "'■ '° '''°»« --ho flict. ° "" 'OffSia to watch the con- "Begone, yonl"hecri.H t- "PPer lip raised from hif .e,T^^ ">"" "'''l' his threatening dog 'Do , '" "'' ^^'^'°'> of a "S- J^° you know no better than to 30 Sir John Hawkwood i • swarm into my very presence with your yells and shouting? Go, I say, cr I will have the place cleared with small ceremony!" The onlookers took the hint and filed hastily out, while those in the gal- lery followed suit. "Stay, Ranucio," he added to his favorite, Delia Torre, who had come, up to him. "And do you stop also," he added to O'Meara, who indeed had shown no sign of budging, despite the fierce order for a general departure. The Prince crossed the loggia slowly and seated himself at a great table covered with cards and dice and gold drinking-cups. "And now," he said sourly, "if your merry humor is satisfied, Sir John, in the name of Heaven let us sit down and talk like men of sense." His sudden change of front so amazed me that I could find no words, and must have cut a foolish figure enough had not Del Mayno come to my rescue by diverting the attention of the others to himself. Pulling himself up with difficulty from his seat on the stairs, he hurried indignantly over to the Prince. "Oh, my lord, my lord, am I to have no vengeance ?" he cried, shaking his clenched hand at me, but pru- dently keeping the table between us. "I am your own kinsman, you yourself have said it, and yet you refuse me redress when I am mocked and outraged? Send the rogue to prison, or banish him forever from Verona — let his crime against your dignity and mine be suitably punished. You will not suffer him to flaunt it here as if nothing had happened? I tell you, my lord, I can hardly stand for pain!** Hq 1 Sir John Hawkwood ,, Oh, you make too much of thi> «,,*♦ of dealinJ 1 "ie~th,s was not his usual way ha™ a-r,"^ P"* !'^=" ""^ <'°™ yo" no lasting nius. pardon » JeJ^ ^ "wt ^rT'' '"T friend to Verona nt:^ • " " ™ ^ood a brought aim; o„yo«^^«;"" P'"'" ""« you concerning a „an XT X avo' K""'""" tongue next time, and all will be Jd' K ^ * "'" a doctor for your hurts, .hoi Uhtk ,^7 ^ ^'' deep ones." Del Mavnn fl T '^ *"■* ""^ exhausted. "Go, De, Mayno, T^LC^luT Zt """ "" ™"'' « "dri, and what 1 1 /^r of despair:reVan s^^^g^r^ rhe't^^'^'"^'' samts for this miracle then 'f . ^^'"'"^ »P-h.e. With asto^^h^^ri^-dr :,o^- ? . i 3« Sir John Hawkwood leaned my elbows on the table, and stared straight before me, collecting my thoughts while I waited for the Prince to speak. Why he had chosen to brush aside my offense as a matter of no conse- quence, he alone knew. It was not from good-na- ture ; he had none. Was it because he believed that I alone could help him cast down hit, deadly foe, Francesco Carrara, the Duke of Padua? Perhaps, for he hated that ruler fiercely, and feared him too ; and since I had come to Verona with my mercenaries I had won him a dozen victories over his rival. Yes, I was of value to him, and he knew it — that was surely the cause of his complaisance. Suddenly I became aware that he was watching me maliciously. "You are dreaming, Sir John," he drawled. "Your conduct to-day makes me some- what doubtful whether you are quite sober. I fear you could scarcely fight a successful battle for me now "Faith, my lord, you show yourself very igno- rant of war when you say that," I answered, with a curt laugh — T understood the taunt in his words well enough, but would not show it. "Soldiers never fight so well as when their hearts are warmed with drink- When I stormed the Pont d'Esprit near Avignon I think not a man in all my force sat his horse without reeling in the saddle, yet they did not fight the less well for that. However, I am sober enough at present, though perhaps I could not have said so this morning at sunrise ; reassure yourself — Sir John Hawkwood 3, lo rj'"' ' """'* *°" " """• ' '" '" "« "«'«' "This morning at sunrise," said Delia Torre, re- pe«rng my word, with a sneer on his darkly hand- moTnilr J ^'' •" ■* '""■ " "" "'"' 1"^" 'hi' morning when I passed you, I think. You were vou u^f ?'"• ?T "^ ^""^ '•°e«es were holding you up and you had a bare sword in your hand w..h^h you were pricking all who came [„ your' "Bedad, thin, and what was yourself doinR in the O Meara, before I could speak. His voice was tus- pcously sw«t, a bright glint danced " hfs h le ey«. and his head was thrown back a trifle all of wh,ch spelt danger where he was conctrl ' ""uy science to see a man that's had his glass? Trulv t"med ." , " ' ^'^ P'"" '"""Sh, is now tro.^rIha„ T"'' ^™ ^''"'"•^ "«« "°*ing stronger than water; at sight of wine you raise your Tth uTh ;:clter And r r'"'' ''"'" "° ^'- word—Sir tIu , ' ""^ y"" """y «"<« my word— Sir John Hawkwood will be remembered He paused, for wan. of breath, not for wanfof 34 Sir John Hawkwood ideas. In fact, he was merely at the beginning of his speech, and being quite aware of this fact I seized the opportunity of silencing him. "Hold your tongue, Michael," I cried. The Prince was chuckling in malicious amusement, and Delia Torre had turned on the Irishman a glare of such indignant astonishment as he might have worn had a lackey bearded him. "It matters nothing to those here whether I go drunken through the streets or not. I am hired to win battles, not to chant prayers. The Prince desires to say something to us — give him a moment to word his thoughts, then, and let Delia Torre alone." Antonio was watching me furtively from beneath lowered lids. "Yes, Sir John," be said slowly, after a pause, during which O'Meara hummed an air, Delia Torre scowled, and I racked my brains as to what could be coming. "I sent for you to-day to beg your help in a matter of great importance to me. li is an affair Oi a different sort from what you have done for me hitherto, but then, it will also be more profitable. You are not averse to gaining a round sum of money, eh? If you will carry out this business to my satisfaction, I will give you a great bag of golden coins, and fling this diamond a-top for good measure." He touched an enormous jewel that sparkled at his throat, then darted a keen glance at me to mark if I appeared dazzled by the offer. "Why, my lord," I said bluntly, "I do not under- k "i '