oking upward, and the anguish lessened and peace and strength
descended upon her soul--a gift from the holiness of the night.

It was in such vigils, since her great sorrows had come to her, that the
desolate girl-queen had learned her life-lessons--and she was no longer
afraid of their solemnity, coming thus into closer friendship with her
own soul and a more implicit faith.

"Dear Father in Heaven!" she cried. "Thou knowest it is because I love
them that I leave them, to do their life-work! and Thou wilt grant me
wisdom! If but I knew--if but I knew my people's need!"

* * * * *

At that most perfect hour of early evening when the sun was sinking
rapidly behind the mountains in a flood of gold and crimson glory, and
the air was filled with a delicious wandering breeze, soft and
refreshing after the heat of the day and laden with the perfumes of a
thousand flowers, the Queen set forth upon her journey.

She was accompanied by her full court of knights and maidens, a guard of
infantry and escort of cavalry, with many mounted nobles besides, to do
her honor,--a sumptuous cavalcade of at least two hundred horse; with
such state had the Council of the Realm thought fit to decree the royal
progress. With them came forth the dignitaries of Famagosta and other
nobles, as was the custom of those days in bidding a ceremonious
farewell--to journey with the royal train a league beyond the city which
the Queen was leaving to take up her residence in Nikosia.

And thus the cavalcade proceeded on its way, pausing anon, for the
greetings of the villagers who came forth to meet them and offer
homage--Caterina slow-pacing on her snow-white palfrey--six knights from
among the noblest in the land in constant attendance at her bridle,
giving place continually to the new group pressing forward to claim
their part of this so honorable service.

They had journeyed thus for an evening and a long day, with but the
needful pauses for rest and refreshment, when they saw before them in
the distance, embowered in delicious gardens of palms and cypresses and
rich masses of bloom, the domes and minarets of the city of
Nikosia--slender and white and lace-like against the deep blue sky--and
climbing the hillside, high above the city, the turrets and crenellated
walls of its far-famed citadel.

The chances of travel had often brought the Signor Bernardini and Dama
Margherita together, and there had been much frien