He followed her with his eyes, foolishly believing that she might pause at the threshold and look back. When she had passed from the room and he could see her no longer, but heard still the quick rustle of silk, he moved to another point of view, and watched her retreating figure until it disappeared at a door, where a maid waited, far down the mirrored passage. It was the entrance to that regal chamber whither he had conducted her a few hours before and proclaimed with plebeian delight—on the authority of Donna Beatrice—that it was a part of the private suite occupied by many dukes and duchesses of her house and in times yet older by the rulers of Milan, for the Barbiondi had given the free city seven of its lords. The couch was modern, but its tester and rich hanging of tapestries, though new from the loom, retained the genius of the past in pattern and phase of colour. And yonder the lord was wont to repose, in a chamber likewise beautiful, set apart by a mid-room, and beyond this a door of mahogany, embellished with Madonnas and saints and cherubs, carved for the glory of God by Fra Pandole, famed for his pictures in wood.
Presently the reflection of Tarsis passed from one to another of the corridor mirrors and he entered the bed-chamber of the Barbiondi lords. He found his valet there, busy yet with his task of unpacking and putting in order. When the man had helped him into his dressing-gown and gone his way, Tarsis turned low the light and threw himself on a settle so placed as to hold in view the corridor through his half-open door. There he watched and waited, puffing a cigarette.
From Via Cappuccini came the familiar sounds of a conscript’s festa—some newly-drafted soldier and his comrades celebrating a long-dreaded event in wine-born merriment.
“Long live the army! Long live the King! Long live the people!”
A minute more and Tarsis’s vigil ended. He saw Hera’s maid pass in the corridor on her way to the servants’ quarters. Then he arose and approached the door of Fra Pandole. It was closed, but his interpretations of the past hour made him blindly confident that it would yield to the turning of the knob. He was on the point of turning it when he heard the sharp click of a key in the lock, then the sound of receding footsteps.
In the sudden impulse of his rage he threw himself against the door, crying, “Open, open! I am your husband! It is my right!”
But the door did not swing, and from the other side came no answer. With a Sicilian malediction on his lips, Tarsis moved away to the window to stand in the cool of the night air. The new conscript and his comrades, passing below, sent up a fresh gust of tipsy laughter.
CHAPTER XI
BY ROYAL COMMAND
Public announcement was made next day that the King would arrive within the week at his summer palace in Monza—a peaceful town reposing at the end of two rows of stately poplars ten miles long, with a level white road between, that stretch in direct lines from the Venetian Gate. Toward evening a courier in scarlet dashed into the Barbiondi court bearing a message from the King. It concerned the reception and dinner to follow at which their Majesties would honour the subject who had done so much to build up the industries of the realm. The message was a command that Signor Tarsis render at his earliest convenience a list of the persons to be bidden. This was done at once, and in two days the list came back with a line drawn through some of the names and other names added.
“His Majesty directs me to say,” wrote the secretary, “that in view of the fact that a political colour was deducible from the list as it stood, he has made the changes to the end that the assemblage may be representative of all his subjects in the Province of Milan, so far as political complexion is concerned. It appeared that certain elements were overlooked, others conspicuously recognised. Therefore, he has replaced some of the latter with the names of two Republicans, Signor Lingua and Signor Quattrini; one Radical, Signor Parlari, and one leader of the New Democracy, the Honourable Mario Forza. His Majesty directs me to inform you that he will arrive at Palazzo Barbiondi at seven o’clock.”