"
The officer bowed to Giuliana, took his leave, and went, old Busio
escorting him.
"A summons from the Duke?" cried Giuliana, and then the storm broke
"Ay," he answered, grimly quiet, "a summons from the Duke." And he tossed
it across the table to her.
I saw that fateful document float an instant in the air, and then, thrown
out of poise by the blob of wax, swoop slanting to her lap.
"It will come no doubt as a surprise to you," he growled; and upon that his
hard-held passion burst all bonds that he could impose upon it. His great
bony fist crashed down upon the board and swept a precious Venetian beaker
to the ground, where it burst into a thousand atoms, spreading red wine
like a bloodstain upon the floor.
"Said I not that this rascal Cardinal would make a clear field for himself?
Said I not so?" He laughed shrill and fiercely. "He would send your
husband packing as he has sent his other rivals. 0, there is a stipend
waiting--a stipend of three hundred ducats yearly that shall be made into
six hundred presently, and all for my complaisance, all that I may be a
joyous and content cornuto!"
He strode to the window cursing horribly, whilst Giuliana sat white of face
with lips compressed and heaving bosom, her eyes upon her plate.
"My Lord Cardinal and his Duke may take themselves together to Hell ere I
obey the summons that the one has sent me at the desire of the other.
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