Marjorie Bowen

“ The Pope withdrew his hand. "I was not in the Conclave," he said in a strange tone. "I lay sick in my villa—as for the storm——"
"It has not lifted since," breathed Theirry; "day and night have the clouds hung over Rome—is not there, after all, a God?"
"Silence!" cried the Pope in a troubled voice. "You would be Emperor of the West, would you not?—let us speak of that."
Theirry leant against the arm of the throne and stared with an awful fascination into the other's face. "Ay, let us speak of that," he answered wildly; "can all your devilries accomplish it? ”

“ He rose; the red cloak slipped from his shoulders to the ground; he stood with his hand on his hip, looking down at Theirry.
"Come," he said gravely. "We must not quarrel, my comrade, my one friend ... when shall we find another with such aims as ours ... we are bound to each other, are we not? Certes! you swore it."
Theirry lifted his beautiful face. "I do like you greatly," he answered. "And in no wise blame you because you are weakly and used to luxury. Others have found me over gentle."
Dirk looked at him out of the corners of his eyes. ”

“ The Pope made a scornful movement with his little hand.
"None of these can make your peace with God and us—one thing only can avail there."
"Tell it me," cried the Emperor eagerly. "If it be a crusade, surely I will go—after Lombardy is subdued."
The Pope flashed a quick glance over him. "We want no knight-errantry in the East; we demand this—that you put away the woman whom you call your wife." ”

“ Ysabeau is not Empress, nor your wife; her son is not your heir, and you must presently part with both of them or suffer the extremity of our wrath—yea, the woman shall ye give into the hands of the executioner to suffer for the death of Melchoir, and the child shall ye turn away from you—and with pains and trouble shall ye search for Ursula of Rooselaare, and finding her, cause her to be acknowledged your wife and Empress of the West. ”

“ Theirry turned on his elbow and gazed across the flowering grass. "I am not wrathful," he smiled. "And you have had many whims ... none of them have I opposed."
Dirk answered angrily. "You make me out a fantastical fellow—it is not true."
"It is true you are as nice as a girl," Theirry answered. "Many a time I would have slept by the kitchen hearth—ay, and have done, but you must always lie soft as a prince."
Dirk was scarlet from brow to chin. "Well, if I choose," he said defiantly. "If I choose, as long as I have money in my pocket, to live gently...." ”

“ The evening sun overspread it all with a soft yet sparkling veil of light; the fields of long grass that spread to right and left were more golden than green; close by was a grove of pine-trees, whose tall red trunks shone delicately; above them, piled up rocks starred with white flowers mounted against the pale blue sky, beneath them the hillside sloped to the valley where lay the little town. Dirk sat apart, resting his back against the foremost of the pine-trees.
The cause of the quarrel had ceased to be any matter to Theirry ”

“ On the furthest peak appeared a gigantic black horseman outlined against the ghostly light; he carried a banner in his hand; it was the colour of blood and the colour of night; for a moment he sat his horse, motionless, facing towards the east ”

“ That she lives I know, the rest is for you."
"I have but one answer," said Balthasar. "And it would be the same did I deliver it in the face of God—that while I live and have breath to speak, I shall proclaim Ysabeau and none other as my wife, and our son as an Empress's son, and my heir and successor; kingdom and even life may your Holiness despoil me of—but neither the armies of the earth nor the angels of heaven shall take from me these two—this my answer to your Holiness."
The Pope resumed his seat.
"Ye dare to defy me," he said. "Well—ye are a foolish man to set yourself against Heaven ”