H. C. Bailey

“ Ercole came on a fresh horse and Silvain on the charger that had carried him in all his courses. Ercole rode at a great pace and aimed at Silvain’s helm and struck it, indeed. But Silvain, going soberly, bent forward to the shock and the lancepoint glanced up and away, and Ercole, having made ready for a heavy blow which did not come, reeled in the saddle as Silvain’s lance met his shield. He was thrust from his horse easily like a bad rider and heard men laugh as he fell. And once more the heralds proclaimed him vanquished. ”

“ Bonivard grasped his hand.
“I should thank God for you. This is a hard venture. But tell me how did you know I came for her? If any man suspects me, there is no hope for me or her.”
Silvain laughed.
“I think no man knows you but me, Louis. You are the wariest youth in the world. But you puzzled me. You were so eager to hear of knightly ventures, yet when one came you would not take it. I thought then it was for your own sake you were careful. But still you puzzled me. When I found you here in Pavia I saw light. You were not your own man. You have saved yourself for a nobler venture. ”

“ Silvain said gently. “I have my fame that I could lay at the feet of God if I die tonight. And my life is not lived yet.”
Lodovico looked at his wife. Lodovico’s thin lips smiled.
“You are right. He wants nothing of you. That is what a woman can not forgive. What will you give him, Beatrice? Death?” He turned to Silvain. “You have made an enemy, sir.” ”

“ Beatrice and Lodovico looked at each other, and his dark face smiled and she shrugged her shoulders and nodded and turned with a sneer on her lip to watch Silvain.
“The fair Clarissa lives for Bonivard,” Lodovico purred. “It is unfortunate. But she is young and he will not live forever.” Silvain checked and turned. “Men do not live forever in prison. Men who are in the way.” ”

“ Silvain dressed himself quickly and made for the warden’s tower. A man-at-arms stood sentry at the foot of the stair, but he was taken up to the council chamber. It was empty and he had long to wait and then came not Lodovico but Beatrice, Beatrice in a loose gown with a golden plait hanging over each shoulder to her bosom.
“And what do you want of my lord that you are in such haste to seek him?” She looked at Silvain curiously. “Greedy dogs come scurrying when they hear the master’s step. But to give you justice, there is no greed in you.” ”

“ Silvain said. “Every man Lodovico can mount.”
“This is mad.” Bonivard stared at him. “When I called for. my horse this morning they said I was a prisoner and I found a guard at my door. Then they told me we were free to go and brought our horses and opened the gates. Now you say the man means to capture us again. Why, he changes like a weathercock.”
“It was not Lodovico who set you free. It was the Lady Beatrice of her mercy. For she is noble and gracious. But when Lodovico knows of it he will use all his strength to seize you. And I think by now he knows. Ride, ride!” ”

“ And he looked keenly at Lodovico. “I do not take another man’s woman.”
“She has a rich inheritance,” Lodovico purred. “She is worth taking. Who is Lord of Pavia and stands by me will be a great man in Italy in the war that comes. When I march with the King of France on Florence and Naples, the Lord of Pavia has much to win.”
“I ride to win honor and fortune,” Silvain said and he looked at Lodovico and looked down. “But she lives for Bonivard.”
“What is Bonivard?” Beatrice cried. “My page is more of a man. If she is worth anything, she is worth something better.” ”

“ He was for going off alone to some humbler place and when Silvain swore they should lodge together he had many shy excuses and apologies. And Thibaut, though he made a sour face at the little remote tavern to which they came, could not much blame the lad who would plainly have been well content to part from them. And Louis, like a good youth, fell to grooming his horse and cleaning his armor while Silvain went out to see the town.
None so busy, none so rich he had found in all his travels. ”

“ The children had no more need of him, Novara basked in peace and Silvain rode away.
He made over the dank ricefields for Milan in quest of deeds. Milan offered good hope of war. Its master, Lodovico Sforza, whom men called the Moor, because his face was dark, had to meet danger from the southward. Florence and Naples were arming against him. He had the name of a subtle and bold captain, he was likely to be pressed hard. In his affairs Silvain saw promise of noble ventures. And it was common talk that Lodovico had won the King of France to come to his help. ”

“ Bonivard and his Clarissa came tumbling downstairs, Silvain thrust them out before him and shut the door of the tower and locked it and tossed the keys into the river. Bonivard and he took the girl between them and ran along the ramparts. From the tower the clamor of the imprisoned guard came dull on the night air.
“They will rouse the town,” Bonivard panted.
“Time is all,” said Silvain. “Do not fear yet, brother.” ”

“ Your king is allied to a fiend. I would to God I could ride with you. Fare you well.”
Bayard stopped his horse.
“You must go guard the lady? So be it. But come back to us, Silvain. Here is a fair field of honor and no better knight of us all than you.”
“I dare not,” Silvain said hoarsely. “Oh, my brother, I would give my life and be glad to ride under the golden lilies with you. But you go to serve Lodovico, you and France. There is no honor in that, Bayard.”
He turned his horse and rode after Clarissa and Bonivard. Messire Thibaut was waiting for him ”

“ WHEN he rode against Ercole, who was accounted the stronger of the three champions, each man broke his first lance fairly with no advantage and at the second, Silvain, riding faster and coming forward sharply in the saddle at the shock, struck Ercole upon the helmet and hurled him down. Then Gottfried came out and tried to use Silvain’s own tactics against him, but rode so fast that his aim at Silvain’s head was wild and Silvain swayed from it, and the point missed while Gottfried crashed upon Silvain’s lance and was brought up with shattered shield and the lancehead in his arm. ”

“ The lists were set in the tilt-yard, where under a canopy sat the Lord Lodovico and his lady, Beatrice, and their court. At one end a triple tent was hung with three shields, for the order of the fight was that three of Lodovico’s captains defied all who came against them. At the other end gathered those ready to venture, and heralds took their names and ranks. Each man might choose which shield his squire should strike, which captain he would challenge and attack. When Silvain gave his name he asked which of the three was accounted the best knight. ”

“ Silvain said. “Be patient. If we have not our horses safe beyond the town there is no safety.”
Bonivard stared and saw that Thibaut had a led-horse with a bundle on its back.
“Yes, lord, here is your lady’s horse and here is her saddle,” said Thibaut. “That I have found for you. Go find the lady; that is your part.”
They left Messire Thibaut with all the horses and came back to the town afoot and stole in in the dusk by another gate and in another tavern Louis Bonivard wrote his lady a letter thus:
Do not sleep but be ready. ”

“ The Moor of Milan
A Complete Novelette
by
H. C. BAILEY
Author of “The Babes in the Woods,” “The Man in the Cage,” etc.
“NOW my master,” said said Messire Thibaut, “has the nature of a baby, which being in bed tries to fall out or being by the fire tries to fall in, is never content with what it has and—to sum up—wants the world. Such is my master.”
This is to explain why Silvain rode out from the pleasant town of Novara. There he had honor and revenues, there he was loved, but it gave him nothing to do. ”

“ He went on to discover a town of palaces and townsfolk with the state and the airs of courtiers. He must needs wonder how so many people could be wealthy and who could buy all the show of silver ware and silken stuffs in the shops. ”