Don Tarquinio: A Kataleptic Phantasmatic Romance (Valancourt eClassics) Read Online Free PDF

him unawares. He cast suspicious glances round him: but we iiij were in the middle of the chamber, while he was alone by the door. We stood up, openly looking at him as though we were astounded at his audacity: for, in starting, he had knocked down the double-cross, golden, which leaned against the pedestal of the ivory faun near him, nor did he attempt to replace it. Indeed, his eyes began to glare like those of one who unadvisedly had looked upon a cluster of hobgoblins. His knees also began to bend like those of one pressed downward by an incubus, gently, irresistibly. Anon he became prone on the black carpet.
    Having approached him, Cesare opened one of his eyes with thumb and index-finger. Naught but white was seen. Having pinched together iij barleycorns’ length of the freckled flesh of the neck, the said cardinal transfixed the same with a needle-point from Ippolito’s hand-case. But the sleeper soundly slept.
    Cesare returned to the black cushions; and seated himself by side of Ippolito, saying:
    “Let Us have the skin of this barbarian’s back.”
    Gioffredo assisted me. We left the runner in possession of nothing but himself. He was very heavy and inert; and we pulled him about rather roughly. Anon, having dragged him to the feet of the cardinals, we laid him out on the black carpet, limp as a freshly-made cadaver, a lean long form, huge of loin, the breast deeply arched, puny and narrow of shoulder and arm. The tan of the sinuous legs faded at the middle of the thighs: thence, to the ribs on the right side and to the shoulder on the left side, there was dazzling whiteness. Having inspected him, we turned him downward; and left him, eagerly fixing our gaze on the Cardinal of Valencia.
    That purpled person produced from his burse a tiny crystal vial containing a flesh-coloured liquid, viscous and opaque as cream, with a little brush of very fine hogs bristles. Having unstopped the vial, he gave it into Ippolito’s ready hand; and dipped the brush. We became conscious of a certain f œ tor, mysterious, mephitic.
    Cesare said:
    “Know that ye are savouring a solution in spirit of the juice of an Indian fig, [5] which We took from Messer Leone Abrabanel of Naples. Know also that We habitually bereave mages of their drugs when We have seen the method of using and the effect of the same: for a prince very often hath need of such matters.”
    Mark well, o Prospero, those words of wisdom.
    Thus he spoke: but we signified assent with our eyebrows very intently watching his actions. He began to write with the brush upon the runner’s back.
    But a terrific catastrophe instantly happened.
    For, at the first touch of the said brush on the top of the left shoulder-blade, the malignance of his stars caused the sleeper to think fit to move his head, and to attempt to rise. Immense confusion instantly invaded the secret chamber.
    Cesare sprang up, vociferating maledictions. Ippolito stopped the vial; and pouched it, preparing himself to rebut accusations of treachery. Gioffredo danced up and down like a cat who inopportunely hath stepped on an oven.
    Lo Skoto with a bound was on his feet, phrenetic with fear, capering hither and thither, babbling in an unknown savage jargon. Upon whom I launched myself like a flash of white thunder.
    But, before I could touch and crush his flesh with mine, Cesare whipped a raging poignard into him, and out: a clever Roman thrust upward through the heart from the stomach. The runner wriggled and choked, spouting red blood; and fell. He kicked the carpet iiij times very quickly; and writhed; and died straight. I never have seen so short an agony.
    The Cardinal of Valencia at once recovered his equanimity; and dried his poignard in the knot of dead hair, saying to Ippolito:
    “Pardon, o Cardinal of Ferrara, on account of this puddle on thy carpet. It is not caused by malice but by necessity. But now, before we consider new plans, let us be rid of this carrion, secretly.”
    Ippolito continued