The Royal Pawn of Venice

  XII

  In the first dazed days that followed, between the necessary adjustmentof matters of state, and the many ceremonies incident upon the King'ssudden death, there was scant time to discuss the rapid happenings; evenin the court-circle they scarcely knew what was passing--still less howit had come about. It was said that Janus had died of malignant fever,due to the terrible malaria of the coasts where he had been hunting. Yetsome hinted that there were natural poisons, as of the marshes, andothers--more fatal: but this was with bated breath and kept well withoutthe innermost circle of the court, for no one really _knew_. It was easyto talk of poison, but far less easy to make assertions implicatingthose who might be innocent; and, meanwhile, the complicationssurrounding the throne of Cyprus demanded infinite wisdom and despatch.

  Almost before the Queen could lift her head after the shock of herhusband's death, the nobles and barons of the realm had penetrated toher private boudoir and sworn her fealty, with a tenderness andreverence that deeply touched her. By the will which the King had left,Caterina Veneta was now Queen of Cyprus, with a Council of Sevenappointed to assist her; and every Venetian who held a post in theGovernment was restless until the young widow of Janus, who had beencrowned with all due ceremony in the Cathedral of Nikosia at the time ofher marriage, had publicly received the full seal of her authority.

  So quickly death had fallen upon the brilliant, pleasure-loving youngmonarch--so without warning--that it seemed to those of his court likesome dread nightmare from which they might presently awake to a newmorning, fair and gay as those they had known so little time ago, beforethe music and the mirth, the jewels and the festal robes that befit acourt had given place to the gloom and mourning of these horrible days.As in a dream they had taken part in the sumptuous funeral ceremonies,feeling still that it could not be true--he was too young, too brave,too gay, too gracious, to have come so soon to this! And if to some ofthose young nobles it was rather the shock of the loss of a booncompanion than a serious grief, there were many among them who, for thefew bright words that cost him little--a smile--the grasp of his readyhand--permission to come and shine about him--now brought their tributeof adoring tears.

  Meanwhile, in the halls of the palace, time moved with slow and haltingfootsteps: the stricken Queen came rarely among her circle of ladies,and only for short intervals, and the talk, however varied, was but uponone absorbing theme.

  It was known that soon after the funeral, the Queen seeking how shemight do highest honor in preparing the permanent tomb, had been told ofthe priceless sarcophagus of oriental jasper--the gift in early ages ofthe Emperor of the East to Santa Soffia in Nikosia, and she had sent anenvoy to the brothers of the convent to ask that it be surrendered forthe tomb of Janus, their king, promising whatever compensation theyshould ask.

  "Ah, but it will be magnificent, that tomb under the dome of our own SanNicolo! It will stand on the precious mosaic pavement from Alexandria,on columns of ivory chased with gold. Dama Margherita hath seen thedesign which hath been made for her Majesty by the curator of ourlibrary of art."

  "I also," said the little Contarini, timidly, for she was proud of thefavor of the Queen whom she devotedly loved: "It was most beautiful; andthe Serenissima la Regina held it long, as if she could not put itaway."

  But a hand was raised to hush the topic:

  "Speak no more thereof; for word hath come but now that the request ofher Majesty hath been denied."

  There was a chorus of indignant protest:

  "It could not be, when she so grieveth! They have no hearts--those_frati_ of Santa Soffia!"

  "The Queen will not endure this refusal without reason!"

  "There was no reason that should be told," their informer whispered lowto one of them. "For love of the Queen, hush the topic."

  But an elderly member of the Queen's Council who had been passingthrough the great Hall and had paused near them, taking no part in theconversation, now came forward, after a moment's hesitation.

  "_I_ speak that you may forget it," he said: "for it seemeth to be apleasing theme of discussion among you--yet should be so no more--a mereextravaganza of fancy that our girl-queen might wisely abandon."

  "Signore!" exclaimed the Lady of the Bernardini, rising indignantly, "Imaintain the dignity of our Sovereign Lady's Court, while she perforce,from sore affliction, must be absent. All speech must be as in herpresence."

  The Councillor, resenting the reproof, gave a slight cold bow, studyingher curiously, and pondering whether he dared go further.

  "The matter is of interest," he pursued, after a moment's pause, "forthey _gave_ their reason, these monks of Santa Soffia, and scruplednot--being willing to keep their treasure."

  "Signore Consigliere----!" Dama Margherita exclaimed beseechingly.

  But if the monks of Santa Soffia had a reason for their conduct, he alsohad for his, and would not be stayed.

  "They gave their reason; that the precious gift should not be desecratedto _hold relics that were subject to excommunication_," he said withpainful distinctness, and would not linger for any explanation.

  "It is shameful--such a reason so calmly told by a member of our Queen'sCouncil! He should unsay the words!" one of the maids of honor criedhotly. "There could be no color for it: the Signor Fabrici hath proventhat he loveth not the Regina!"

  "It was unholy speech," said Dama Margherita crossing herself, "whichhad not been, save for the Consigliere: it hath no shade of truth; maythe Holy Madonna forgive him--and us, who have listened to slander."

  "Cara Dama Margherita," said the little Contarini consolingly, "if wehave listened--it is not with our hearts!"

  "Thou art wise, carina: and we who love her will see that the ill wordgoeth not beyond."

  But the speech of the Consigliere had caused such consternation that itcould not be immediately dismissed; and one of the elder ladies of theCourt was obliged to explain it, for "excommunication" was a word ofevil omen.

  "The word is a slander," she said. "But it is known that the Holy Fatherhath had small friendship for King Janus since he declined alliance withthe niece of His Holiness, who was not one to please our young King'sdelicate fancy, though His Holiness strove to have his will--first bypromises and then by threats."

  They pressed closely about her, with exclamations of interest andastonishment, for this gray-haired noble woman, Madama de Thenouris, hadnot been one of those to retail gossip and they might not question herstrange tale; they knew that she had some serious purpose in thisunwonted freedom of speech.

  "This was known by some of us in Cyprus before the marriage of ourKing--yet was kept hushed, lest trouble should grow from mention of thedispleasure of the Holy Father; but no threat of excommunication hathreached this court. My children, I am trusting you with confidences--forit is a time of trouble for our most gracious Lady and we of her courtmust know truth from slander that we may stand for her."

  Each one came and laid her hand, in silent pledge, in that of thegray-haired speaker.

  "Later, not long since," she continued, "there came from Rome atale--maliciously whispered about by Fabrici--not to be believed--thatby some act of renunciation of the Christian Faith, Janus won the favorof the Sultan when he sent him hither to regain his throne. TheConsigliere Fabrici went with others to the monks of Santa Soffia, andif he told this matter there, so as he hath whispered it in the court ofCyprus, it may well be that the _frati_ reasoned thus."

  "Is it true, Madama, that an ambassador is already come from the Sultanto acknowledge Caterina as Queen of Cyprus, and that there shall be somegathering of the court to-night to receive his homage?"

  "Aye; such a gathering as one may have in these sad days, my children."

  "And Carlotta?" another asked eagerly--"Ecciva--tell them what thou hastspoken of Carlotta."

  "That she, in very person, hath sailed from Rhodes to meet the Admiralof Venice on his fleet--to throw herself on his mercy, as _heir ofCyprus_, to ask his help, to place her on the throne, _from the lon
gfriendship between the islands_." She told it with a little note oftriumph, for it was strange news.

  "Carlotta! To seek aid from Venice!--It cannot be true!"

  "Aye; it is verily true," Madama de Thenouris said quietly--"as Eccivahath told it; for a report hath come from Messer Mocenigo, himself. Butthat is like Carlotta, who leaveth no imagining of her brain untried.She hath even the courage to urge her near connection with Venice_through her brother Janus the King, by his marriage with CaterinaVeneta_!"

  "She hath lost her reason, one would say: there can be no more to fearfrom Carlotta!"

  "No more to _hope_ from Carlotta," some one corrected in an undertone;but the voice sounded unfamiliar in the group and when they looked tosee who might have spoken, there was no one to whom they could assignit.

  Eloisa Contarini turned to the young Dama Ecciva de Montferrat with herimpulsive question:

  "Who was it, Ecciva?"

  "Nay, I was about to ask--I also."

  Dama Margherita turned and looked at her steadily; the girl gazed backat her with narrowing eyelids, slightly shrugging her shoulders as shefinally dropped her eyes.

  "But Carlotta?" one of the Venetian maids of honor questioned, impatientfor the tale: "she knew not of the will of his Majesty the King?"

  "Nay; and she had hope of being first to carry news of his death to theAdmiral of Venice;--a most strange hope of any favor from such aquarter!"

  "The answer of the Mocenigo was a marvel of courtesy, as it hath beenreported, and worthy of a diplomat," Madama de Thenouris continued."Most graciously he assured the Princess that Venice held her friendshipgladly and would not fail of anything that she might do to prove herloyalty to this Crown of Cyprus. Yet now, the Daughter of the Republic,Caterina Veneta, being left by the Will of Janus Queen of Cyprus, Venicemust first uphold the rights of Caterina, and might show her Eccellenza,the Princess Carlotta, no favor that could prejudice the sovereignty ofthe Queen."

  "And then?"

  "And then came further pleading from Carlotta, with a new tissue ofreasons. But finally the Mocenigo told her plainly: 'The reasons whichavail in kingdoms are arms--not questions of legality.'"

  "It is a theme for a comedy! And Carlotta----?"

  "Hath sailed again with new wisdom for Rhodes; or, perchance to plansome enterprise that bespeaketh her less mad."

  "She is not mad--but brave!" cried the Dama Ecciva boldly.

  "It is enough of Carlotta," said the Lady of the Bernardini, rising tobreak up the talk.

  But she beckoned to Dama Margherita to remain, as the others wereleaving the hall, and gave her a charge in a low tone.

  "See to it that these tales add not to the weariness of our beloved Ladywho hath already enough of grief to bear; and the time is full ofdangers for her. I count much upon thine influence with the youngermaids to keep her from breaking her heart," she added with hesitation,but with a smile which conveyed her confidence in the Lady Margherita,"and to hold them loyal."

  She laid a detaining hand upon the younger woman's shoulder as shespoke the last words, uncertain whether to confide in her further, andMargherita, having given her assurance, still waited.

  "For this question of excommunication," the Lady of the Bernardini saidat last--"lest it should be bruited about by the enemies of theQueen--_it hath no color of truth_. My Son, the Lord Chamberlain, hathconfided to me--(I am trusting thee, Dama Margherita, that thou mayest_know_ it to be so, for the peace of mind of our poor, young Queen, andso mayest lead others to thy belief--yet speak no hint of this myconfidence). My Son, the Chamberlain, hath seen in the most reveredchronicle of State of this kingdom, the _Libro delle Rimembranze_, thecopy of a letter sent by King Janus to His Holiness, to accredit hisReverence the Archbishop of Nikosia, brother to this same Signor JeanPerez Fabrici the Consigliere, who spoke with us but now--as Ambassadorto His Holiness: and the manner of this letter leaveth no room for doubtthat he wrote as a son of the Church, in all confidence of favor. Hecalleth His Holiness '_Santissimo e Beatissimo Padre!_' and thesignature of this letter (which it is noted that he wrote with his ownhand) was _'Devotus vester Filius, Rex Jacobus Cipri_.'"