THE SPY OF THE SECRET THREE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5240, 8 June 1888, Page 4

THE SPY OF THE SECRET THREE.

» CHAPTER XVI. J U D 1 T lI—Z Y. N X L I. A . Tho count, retired, and shortly afterwards «i female, closely veiled, entered the ducal presence. She v.'ua I'rasstd in mourning, and her garb was of the Hebrew fashion. "My good woman,'' snid the Doge, rising, " will you *"c wMi'd r" . "It needs nut, your k retiolikdiuc.su, that I should sit, since my cvnind is simple, and must, bo bri'Jly done." Her voice was low and soft, and her bearin •» was of that true womanly cast which unites, under the impu'se of a noble devotion, iiiodcstv and courage. ' "Lady, •I am ready to listen. Speak freely tp'Oiovunni." _ The woman bowed her head, and slipped a silken fni'il'fr ■■>■■: brr }><■{•','. ; and then she ' drewforthfromh j ii.w.p; -o«i-thinir that that flashed in the ■ ' ' : ' ■■'■ ■■i'l' of firo. . ** Your biglinv..,'' the said, " this night

there came to our house an aged Mobr._ He came to ask concerning the Christian maiden called Zcnella, whom the Count Antonio, ero ho died, gave into my father's charge. While ho was beneath our roof the familiars of the Inquisition came to arrest him ; and when ho knew that escape was impossible, ho gave to me this signet, and bade mo givo it to the Doge Giovanni, and to say that he who sent it was in tho State prison." The Dogo took the signet, and when he had looked upon the flashing ruby, in its quaint, Oriental setting, his faio became suddenly pile, his frame shook, and ho gasped for breath, as he ejaculated: " This ring ! A Moor, said ye? " " Yes, your highness." " And his name ? " "Maleck." " It is ho ! It is he ! " And tho Doge held tho ruby up towards the light, and regarded tho intricate work of the sotting moro carefully. Then he k>sscd tho jewel, and pressed it close to his heart. At length ho started, and laid his hand upon tho woman's shoulder. " Who art thou ?" "lam called Judith, and I am tho daughter of the Jew Ben-hadad." I '' This Moor —Maleck—came to thy house in search of Zenella ? " "Yes." " And Zenclla—she it is who hath been called, ' Tho Pearl of the Ghetto ? ' " " Yes." "She—she—isnowAlonzo do Verona's wife?" Tho Doge spoke whisporingly, like one in a frightful dream. " She is." "And the Moor—what told ho of her?" "Nothing, your highness. Ho only sought first Zonclla, and then he would have sought yourself; but tho familiars—" "Ha !—yes—the familiars. Did they saywhy they took him ?" " They sravo no reason. But I heard Maleck say that thoy had been dogging him. Ho thinks the Spy Dngolfo is his chief enemy." " I have scon this Dagolfo, and I like not his looks." " Tho Moor hath known him by anothor iitimc." " How?" " Bonedotto." " What ! Benedetto ? Who is thus namedi'" "Tho Spy of tho Secret Throe." "His men call Dagolfo?" j " Tho same your highness." The Doge stood for a time like ono who had been stricken by a lightning bolt, and over whoso sense the thunder-crash is bursting. But finally ho struggled up from the blow, and gazod once more upon tho preoious signet. •* Judith, havo you more to tell mo?" "No more, your highuess." • "Then I will detain you no longer. Speak not of your mission to another. If I live through this night, you shall not go unrewarded." "O, Giovanni, if, through my instrumentality, thou art led to help the Moor, aud if, "through him, help can come to Zenella, I shall be rewarded most richly." " Heaven bless thee, noblo woman ! Prayto tho God of thy fathers for Zenella, and for Giovanni! Thou wilt fiud him who introduced tlieo in waiting. Bid him come hither when he hath "conducted theo safely forth." Tho Jewess departed, aud ero long afterwards tho count entered. " My dear master —" " Hush ! Not a word, Francisco. I havo work for theo. There had been arrested, this night, by tho familiars under Dagolfo's command, a Moor named Maleck. Go and ascertain where ho is confined, aud bring me word as speedily- as possible. I must see that Moor, though I faced a thousand deaths in doing so." Tho count turned away, and when ho had gone Giovanni touched a bell-cord, and presently a youthful page appeared in answer to the summons. " Lorenzo, thou knowest the members of the Council of Ten ?" " Yes, your highness." " Then go and summon them hither within the hour. Tell them the Dogo would sco them in the Council Chamber. Make hasto and fail not. Say to them that it is a mutter of moro than life or death—far, far more!" Tho page withdrew, and tho Doge sank down well nigh powerless from the force of the wild emotions that raged in his bosom —sank down and prajed to God for mercy ! Tho cell into which Zenella had been usherwl was of moderate size—not so cramped an other cells iv the priwn—and evidently at one of tho angles of the structure, us "there wore small luop-holes in two of tho walls. There was an old oaken pallet, or frame-work, with coarse, damp matting upon it, occupying one sido of the dungeon, but it was not worthy of the name of a bed ; and this was all the furniture the place afforded. As tho .reader is already aware, this was called " Dandolo's Cell." It was so called because a Dogo of that naino had oheo been confined hero under xcutenco of death by the Council of Ten. Hero ho had been walled up to die, and years afterivards the horrible sepulchro had been broken open, tho bones removed, and the iron door replaced in its arch. Zenella, when tho door had been closed upon her, felt her way to the pallet, and sank down upon it; and there she remained, under the torture of reflections born of a realizing sense of her dreadful situation, until she was aroused by the streaming; of light into her dungeon. Sho started up and beheld an aperture in the wall, and a man emerging therefrom with a lantern in his hand. The door by wliich she had entered had not been opened. This man was coming in upon the opposite side and by a secret way. What could it mean ? Had help come to her in this awful hour? Tho thought was in her mind when tho visitor stood before her, und nhe beheld the form and features of the Councillor Rinaldi; and with a sharp, quick cry, «ho shrunk back and covered her eyes—covered them not more to .shut out tho strong light which had been turned upon her than to shut away tho face of that. wicked num. "Zenella," spoke the Councillor, in v tone which ho evidently meant should bo very soft nnd low, "you havo no occasion for* alarm. I have come to offer you assistance." Tho prisoner let fall her hands and gazed upon hoi' visitor. Could it bo that help had cornel' The quick eagerness of her look asked the question. So deep, so deej), in tho gulf of despair, eho could seize upon even a floating straw. " You, my lord ! —you have come to assist mo?" " Yes, Zenella. Sit down and listen." She sat down upon the oaken frame, and Rinaldi sat near her. Could it bo possible that he had come to give her help ? Had ho forgotten the evil lie once meditated, and found room in his heart for mercy ! O ! if it could only bo so! " Zenella, you know that I was one of your judges to-night?" " I recognised you, Signor." "Asa judge, I had no choice but to pronounce tho penalty of the law. It was not my fiat. You know the sentence that has been passed upon you?' ' " Yes. It is death !" She spoke in n whisper, and her thoughts seemed to be wandering, as though she answered for unothei rather than for herself. "Aye, Zonclla, it is death; aud of all living men I alone can suve you. You do not wi?h to die—to die tho—" " O, no ! no ! " gasped the fair prisoner, breaking in upon the terrible words. " Then listen to me, and yon may bo saved. Of courso I cannot openly remove you. It must not be known in Venice that yoli have not died as tho law lias pronouueed. Here is a secret way from your cell, and if you will come with mo I can convey you to a place of safety." "And Alonzo—my husband—what of him?" " Ho is beyond my reach for tho present." " And you cannot save him alao f " "Are you mad, girl? Do you thick I hold power of revision over tho laws of Venico?" Zenella moved to tho far end of tho pallet, and looked into Rinaldi'- face. Her lips wero compressed, her hands clutched, and a now light was in her eyes—a deep, searching light—before which tho base plotter cowered and shrank. "Rinaldi, what do you mean ? What is this help you oiler?" " Do you ask mr that question seriously, Zonclla ? Can you not guess ?" She gazf;d upon him but did not answer. " Come, come, Zenella, no moro of this. Thou knowest very well wherefore I would save theo. San Marco .' do you know what I risk when I offer to conduct you lienco and deliver you from tho executioner ? Dost think I would do it fur one whom I did not love?" That last word was like the sting of an adder. Zenella started, and clasped her hands over her bosom. " Zenella, thou hast been told, ero this, of the strong lovo I bear theo. Such wondrous beauty as thine must not bo cut oil in its early blossom. Yield it to me, and I will save it, and nourish it, anil protect it. O, Zenella—" "Back! Back, my lord! Come no nearer." "How, Zenella? Wilt thou not accept thy lifa at my hands?" " Not at that price." " Bethink theo." "Oh, Rinaldi, judge though you be, aud with many years upon your head, you yet know little of the heart that hath its hopes iv faith and vhaie. I hold mine honor above my life. Stop ! hear me through. You forget yourself. You are not speaking with Zenella, tho ward of Ben-hadad ; but with Zonclla, tho wife of iUonzo do Verona!" " Poor, deluded girl!" said the Councillor the cv* 1 . gleaming of his eyes giving tho lie to the. Milemnity of his tone. " And do you think there was a true marriage rite performed when you gave your hand ;;o confidingly to a prince of Venice ? Know you not Unit the laws make Mich a marriage of no avail ? No, no, Zenella, yon aro not a wife. You aro freo to come with mo, if you wi l !." "And you would tako me to your own home—to be yours as you have onco before asked me—and have Alonzo hero to die?" " I cannot save the prince." [TO BE CONTINUED.]