is our hope. We must guard her kingdom for him."

Then suddenly his face flamed with wrath. "This Council of the Realm
were arch-traitors!" he said fiercely, "and to think that they escaped
death!--Wresting power for their own ends--taking no concern for Cyprian
interests--they 'forget' the tribute which assures to Cyprus the support
of our Suzerain, and wait for Venice to come with careful inquiry to set
such failures right! But what cared they whether the provisions of a
solemn treaty were kept or broken? They had no thought of honor--they
wanted power to overturn the throne--not to uphold it.--The masterful
meanness of such creatures is beyond comprehension!"

"It doth unman me!" he said apologetically to Margherita, after this
unusual outburst, for Mutio di Costanzo was a man of few words; then,

"Madama di Thenouris is of our private council," he added, to her
immense relief, as he left her.

XXVII

It was the Bernardini whose swift thought had sent the first faithful
account of the revolt of the Council of the Realm to the Signoria--his
ingenuity which had secured the delivery of this true statement before
the false story under the signature forced from Caterina had reached
Venice--his prowess that had generaled the uprising of the citizens for
the Queen's release--his devotion that had rescued the infant Prince
from captivity--his foresight that had sent warning to the Admiral
Mocenigo before he could be summoned from Venice to the rescue. Such
honors as might be decreed to a fidelity beyond reward had come upon
Aluisi Bernardini from the Republic, apt in recognition: and the undying
gratitude of the Queen was already his.

"What shall I give thee, beloved Cousin?" the Queen had asked him. "Wilt
thou be a noble of Cyprus?"

"Dear Lady," he answered, "I want but thy favor. Doth it not suffice me
that I am a noble of Venice?"

"Nay--but to prove how thou art in my grace--with rich fiefs and
holdings in this land for which thou hast spent thy service right
royally."

"He doth not spend 'right royally' who seeketh reward," he answered,
smiling down upon her, as he stood before her.

Caterina answered him by quoting the Cyprian proverb, "_Assai dimanda
che fidelmente serve_." (Who hath faithfully served hath made a large
demand.)

But he shook his head, still smiling.

"Other than I have done, what true knight would do?" he protested.
"There could be no question of reward between us--thou being