Excellency."

"'Rations,' and 'pay,'" Cornaro answered scornfully, "to rouse the city
and 'put it down'--at dead of night!"

"Aye: since they chose this time for their own deed of darkness, we
men-at-arms may not be dainty about the hour of retribution."

"The Queen--my niece," said Andrea, taking a sudden resolution and
throwing the reins across his horse's neck; "I will first go to her.
Later I wait thy pleasure, Signor Rizzo; on the ramparts, or where thou
wilt.--This is no lightsome night for a woman--a mere girl."

"'A woman'--'a mere girl'!"--the Chief of Council began tauntingly.

Cornaro's hand was upon his sword.

"_Scusi!_" Rizzo said, suavely, being not yet ready for the break. "I
meant no disrespect--but she is young to rule. If thou wilt take thy
horse, we will first seek the Queen, who would speak with thee. Nay--not
by that court--the winding mount is quieter."

The Count of Tripoli and his companions had already left them and passed
into the first court, in eager converse; but Cornaro was scarcely in the
saddle before a sudden great uproar in the streets of the city beyond
the fort arrested them. Cries, as of many men in concert, proclaiming
Alfonso, son of Ferdinand of Naples, Prince of Galilee and Heir to the
Crown of Cyprus--"by order of the _Council of the Realm_:" deafening
shouts and threats of the citizens, protesting:--sounds of clashes of
arms, terrorizing the people:--the sudden crash of the alarum bell,
bursting forth anew to drown their protests:--

Then again the traitorous cries, passing off through the more distant
streets of the city:

"_Viva Alfonso--Prince of Galilee and Heir to the Crown of Cyprus!_"

"What meaneth this insolence!" Cornaro cried, white with passion and
instantly drawing his sword.

* * * * *

The Neapolitan was not braver than the Venetian--but with an infinitely
cooler brain, well-skilled in villany and intrigue and troubled by no
sense of honor, he seized his opportunity, and when his victim's arm was
raised, he dealt him a desperate blow on the head which hurled him, with
stunning force from his horse. And then, upon the pavement of the
castle-court, having him at disadvantage and senseless from the blow,
the valiant Chief of Council, cruelly and like no loyal knight, summoned
his mercenaries to his aid and dispatched his enemy with quick
sword-thrusts, bidding them toss the lifeless body into the moat that
circled the ca