THE SPY OF THE SECRET THREE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5237, 5 June 1888, Page 4

THE SPY OF THE SECRET THREE.

» CHAPTER XV. THE TROUBLES OF TIIE DOOE. The night was wearing away—midnight had long been past—aud yet the Doge Giovanni had not retired. He sat in the chamber whero he was wont to give private audience, with his elbow upon a quaintly carved table, and his head resting upon his hand. A single lamp, suspended from tho stuccoed ceiliiiu, gave light enough to cast gloomy shadows upon the mosaic pavement, and upon the heavy draperies, though about tho centre of the apartment, where the table stood, the rays wore more direct and objects thereabouts were revealed quite distinctly. Ever and anon tho Doge raised his head, aud looked towards a d<-or upon his right, bending his ear attentively, and showing by the expression of his face that ho was ill at ease. . " It is late—very late," he muttered, in a weary, shuddering tone. "O, that this burden were lifted from me ! Thoso that are dead have alono known the piling and penalties of this thankless oflice.—Ha !" A slight noise, as of a falling step, arrested Giovanni's attention, and ho looked an-ain towards tho door upon his right. But itwas not thero. He turned in the opposite direction, and observed that a man had entered the room from behind a silken arras. The new-comer peered cautiously around, and then advanced towards the table. He was of niiddle-usrc, his eye bright aud <iuick and his face expressive of true feeling and resolute courage. He wore tho star of a count upon his breast, and yet he was the Doge's secretary and confidential attendant, performing tho office of scribe, or page, ns circumstances might require. Giovanni had been Francisco do Castro s best friend in other years, saving him once from great peril; and now tho grateful count was not only ready to servo his friend in humble capacity, but ho was willing to risk life, if necessary, in that service. _ And he did a service, as "we shall see, which no plobeiau could have done. " Ah, Francisco, is it j'ou ?" " It is I, your highness." "Tut, tut, my good De Castro; don t highness me. Leove that for the fawning sycophants of tho council. But tell me ; havo you news?" "Yes."

" Then make haste and be brief, for we ore liable to be intorrnpted at any moment." " A -c you expecting —" " I am expecting no one, Francisco ; that is, I have made no appointment, but the Three have been in session, and Rinaldi may have a communication to make." Tho count smote his hand upon his thig-h, and his lips curted indignantly. "Rinaldi is a villain of the deepest

dye!" "" I know, I know, my good Dc Castro. But he is still tho chief of the State Inquisition, and it is lamentable, but it is truehe is my master !" " God havo mercy upon the State !" " Aye." responded Giovanni, solomnly, " and upon the Doge, too ! But the news, Francisco ? Have you rounded the officers of our guard:" " I have. Giovanni ; and you have more friends in Venice than you think." " Ah, Francisco, thero may bo many who remember me gratefully for tho numerous deeds of help I have done to my suffering fellows in other years; but how many would dare to be friendly to me as thou art friendly •"""

" Listen, my lord," said the count, seating himself by the side of tho Doge. " Tho things of evil which tho Secret Three are doing are known to tho people. It is known that through them a curse hath fallen upon our city. And yet they know not how to act, since they can make no specific charge. Those noble*"who were once members of the Grand Council, when the power was in tho hands of almost five hundred men, with the Doge at the'- head, are not pleased to see that power wrested from them and lodged with the Council of Ten. And yet they could have borne this better that the thing which now thoy are called upon to bear. They shudder when they think that there is no station in Venice, no" position or rank or honor, from which tho incumbent may not be dragged down by the myrmidons of the Secret Three, and lie hurried on to his death without the power of his friends to interfere "

" It is true," groaned Giovanui, bitterly. " But," pursued De Castro, " the terrible power may; be broken. You, Giovanni, as the head, 'ir-oj/ieio, of all councils in the State, may know what is being done; and if you can"find a deed of wrong, and have the courage to interpose, 1 believe the nobles of Venice will support you."

" Ah, my dear Francisco you know not how terribly the power of the Secret Three holds mo down. I cannot toll you what fearful hold the dread trihunal has upon me. And yet I meant no wrong. I have been dragged down, down, down, until the Inquisitors have become my masters. O ! it isdn.adlul '. "

" Giovanui," demanded the count, with energy, " who commands the armies of the Republic '( " "Ostensibly, the Doge."

" Then be their commander indeed. This very night I have conversed with tho captain of the host on duty, aud he gave mo bis word that he would obey any order you might chooso to give him. He said ho recognised you, and you alone, as the com-mander-in-chief under whom ho served. AM you need to care for is that you have your quarrel just. In tho hour when you can clearly s-liow that the Secret Three are serving their own ends at the expense of justice, you may ca'l upon the nobles of Venice to come to the roouo, and summon tho officers of tho guard, with f ill assurance of their support." "Huik! Some oho approaches. Bo gone, Francisco—but go not far away. I would see you again before I retire." De Castro glided out by the door at which ho hud entered just as Rinaldi came in frum tho opposite direction. Tho Inquisitor peered cautiously around, and tlieiiadvanccd and took tho seat which the count had vacated, lucre was an expression of grim triumph upon his dark face, and ho rubbed his hands extiltingly. " Highness, we ore alone?" " We are, Signor." " I' faith I yorr highness is cool and diir"tant, considering the work we have in hund.'' " Work, Signor?" " Aye, I said teork. By my life ! I think tho filling- of an empty treasury is work enough, especially when the Jows refuso to advance a ducat even upon promise of most exorbitant usance." (TO UK CONTINUED.)