The Royal Pawn of Venice A Romance of Cyprus

"Aye, daughter--as thou and I must fight," the Patriarch answered her with tender approval in his eyes, a shadow of apprehension dimming them before he withdrew his gaze--for of...

"Aye, Father," she admitted sadly, "but it is to steady mine own judgment _to judge of theirs_--that I have sent for thee. The question is not for Court Councillors, but for one...

But as time slipped by in apparent tranquillity and growing prosperity, with constant evidences of judicious thought bestowed by the Queen upon the well-being of her subjects--w...

"Mother--when our stars have ordered otherwise--there is no more to it than that--why then--if men lack strength to bend their wills to meet their destiny,--it is not as they wi...

"Messer Andrea, our cousin, being high in favor with his Majesty, hath a more intimate knowledge of Cyprian matters--I being new in the land--why not appeal to him? Was it not b...

"Dear Margherita," he said with emotion, "it is well for our dear Queen that thou art so loyal; and well for our distraught land that thou shouldst be near her." He kissed her h...

Athwart the low, confused twittering of bird-notes which had infused the solemn silence with a vague hint of life, strident sounds grew dominant--a crow calling to his mate from...

These Venetian nobles would have made short work in meting out justice to those chiefs who had been the instigators of the conspiracy, but as yet they had eluded the search; tho...

White banners of rejoicing floated from every stronghold and palace throughout Cyprus, to publish the birth of the infant prince; but a hush had lain for many days over the city...

"_Not_ confiscation!" she pleaded. "Hath not this mother enough to suffer in knowing that her child hath missed the highest trust? Shall we add this also to her pain, and take f...

So quickly death had fallen upon the brilliant, pleasure-loving young monarch--so without warning--that it seemed to those of his court like some dread nightmare from which they...

"Most reverend Father," she said, stretching out her hand to greet him, yet with no hint of welcome in her wan face, "they have stripped me of every joy; I had thought the Holy...

"Nay: leave the Queen to the Dama Margherita for this one blissful morning," she interrupted without ceremony: "for I have news--verily; and they may return ere it be told. Whic...

"Aye--am I!--Where there is cause for mistrust it maketh cowards of us, when faith were better. Thou knowest, gentle Mother, that this Valentine confessed, before his death, tha...

There was a commotion on the Piazzetta; the first barge, heading the long procession from the Palazzo Cornaro in San Cassiano far up the Canal Grande, was coming in sight, beari...

Had the young knight Marco Bembo but known of his uncle's barbarous murder, and that the white-haired Councillor Zaffo lay foully slaughtered in the first court of the castle be...

"It is her Majesty who hath had the vision--one can tell it but to look at her: and for the three fatal shrieks--the shrieks to curdle one's blood--Josefa told of them but now....

"For that I came!" cried Dama Margherita, her voice ringing through the hall like a leader's call to arms; "to bring news of her to her own! How should it fare with a Queen made...

But Stefano was one who spoke when it pleased him: he deigned no reply, but fixed an intent gaze on the balcony of the palace, while the crowd fell to talk among themselves, sti...

But he was serious at once. "Aye--ever to the Queen, in duty bound--by kinsman's ties--by knighthood's vows--by my honor, by her sorrows, and by my will--yet this hindereth not...

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He went nearer, almost abject in the joy of this sudden reaction, promising her with glowing visions, state, glory, luxury, honor, favor of the Senate, ease, everything that his...