Marjorie Bowen

“ Dirk laughed hoarsely.
"I have no fear of God!" he said in a thick voice. "But you—you are afraid of Sathanas. Well, go your way. Each man to his master. Mine will give me many things—look to it yours does the like by you——"
"Listen to me. I am not afraid. Nay, why did I leave Courtrai?"
With resolute starry eyes Dirk gazed up at Theirry (who was near a head taller) , and his proud mouth curled a little.
"I may not disregard the fate that sent me here," continued Theirry. "Will you come with me? I can be loyal. Together might we do much, and it is ill work studying alone." ”

“ I dare not come to an issue with you, Luigi Caprarola, and to buy your silence on these matters I will secure your election—and afterwards you and my lord shall see who is the stronger."
"We part as enemies," he answered, "but I kiss the hem of your gown, Empress, for you are brave as you are beautiful." He gracefully lifted the purple robe to his lips. "And above all things do I admire a constant woman;" ”

“ The Cardinal leant forward in his chair.
"I do not play for a saintly fame," he said, "and as for a corrupted Conclave—your Grace should know corruption, seeing that your art, and your art alone, achieved the election of Balthasar to the German throne." ”

“ Ysabeau stared at him mutely; he gave a soft laugh.
"You are a clever woman," he continued. "Your husband is the first King of the Germans to hold the Empery of the West for ten years and keep his heel on the home lands as well; but even your wits will scarcely suffice now; Bohemia revolts, and Basil stretches greedy fingers from Ravenna, and to keep the throne secure you desire a man in the Vatican who is Balthasar's creature."
The Empress rose and placed her hand on the gilded ribbing of the window-frame. "Your Eminence shows some understanding," she flashed, pale beneath her paint ”

“ You will be no man's creature, and, I think, no man's ally—what chance shall we have in Rome once you are master? Sylvester was old and meek, he let Balthasar hold the reins—will you do that?"
"That will not I," said Luigi Caprarola. "If it please me I will hurl him down and set one of my own followers up. I have no love for Balthasar of Courtrai."
Ysabeau's face hardened with hate. "But you think he can help you to the Tiara——"
"Through you, lady—you can tell him I am his friend, his ally, what you will—or you may directly influence the Cardinals, I care not, so the thing be done ”

“ The Cardinal rested his finger-tips on the arm of the chair, and looked down at them with a deepening smile.
"You speak," he answered, "as one whom I can admire—it requires great courage to put the front you do on guilt—but I have certain knowledge of what I say; come, I will prove to you that you cannot deceive me—you came first to the house of a certain witch in Frankfort on a day in August, a youth opened the door and took you into a room at the back that looked on to a garden growing dark red roses ”

“ He stepped on to the ladder, and holding the light above his head, followed. They found themselves in a large vault entirely below the surface of the ground, so that air was attained only from the trap-door that they had left open behind them. ”