e that
should be his if he brought the Bernardini back with him, and such
fidelity as might thus be purchased, Dama Ecciva could count upon.

"Nay: I follow," the Bernardini answered, waving him on before,--"yet
not too closely. At the castle wait for me."

"Of deep import to Cyprus," he repeated to himself, as he made his way
across the breadth of the city to the citadel: he was alone save for his
horse, who often brought him a sense of almost human companionship, and
to-day the responsive quiver of the animal, as his master laid a
caressing touch upon his arched neck, gave him an assurance of fidelity
that was helpful. For the matter of this conspiracy had sorely wrought
upon him and he might not ignore such a message, though it came from one
so unreliable as Dama Ecciva, for she was surely in touch with the
disaffected nobles. It might be a new conspiracy--yet it was more likely
a mere whim, or an attempt to get her sentence remitted--poor girl!

But he felt no emotion of compassion towards her, save for her
duplicity, as he was conducted to the apartment which the Queen had had
prepared in the castle for her young prisoner of State. By the Queen's
grace, also, the Countess of Montferrat occupied the royal apartment
under the same roof and was permitted at certain hours, to visit her
daughter, though never without surveillance. But for one so high in
authority as the Bernardini there were no restrictions and he soon stood
confronting the Dama Ecciva in a small cabinet, which by the Queen's
mercy had little the aspect of a prison; for she had thought of the
mother, as she gave her orders for the prisoner's comfort, and of the
last days that she and her daughter might spend together in their native
land, and her tender heart had overflowed to them; there were even
flowers from the royal gardens, and the air was fragrant; but in Dama
Ecciva's manner there was no softening change.

"So your Excellency hath even deigned to respond to the request of a
_prisoner_?" she exclaimed by way of greeting, and lingering with a
little mocking pretense on the last word.

"If it be within my power----" he began tentatively.

"Promise not too rashly, my Lord Chamberlain, lest I hold thee to thy
word," she answered lightly. "For I shall ask naught of thee that is not
within thy sole power to grant. If I ask thee aught--yet I know not if
I will:--methinks my mood hath changed."

He was dumb as he looked at her--within a few hours