the Cypriotes! Our
Janus were better;--a Lusignan--not too much a saint--not a child nor a
woman neither--but masterful: less the pawn of Venice."

"As well of Venice with her fleets and commerce, as of Naples--if it be
not a Cyprian. How sayest thou? And it was King Janus himself who gave
Pelendria--that most royal and bountiful fief of a prince of
Lusignan--into the hands of that parvenu of Naples, _Rizzo_! The King
verily guessed not his quality when he named him to such estate! He
would outrule monarchs."

"_Pace!_"

Close to them, in the crowd, they heard the sound of a soldier's lance
rasping the pavement as he stood at rest. One not far off seemed to
answer his signal.

The storm was growing fiercer; the sullen mutterings of the wind broke
into a shriek, with a terrible downpour of rain; but the rushing crowd
was stayed by a cry of joy that rose above the tumult--a cry of love
from the heart of the people--

"Mater Beatissima! _A light in the palace window!_"

A candle flamed in a dark window--two--more--a light in every casement!

The gates of the palace were thrown wide and a splendid mounted corps
rode forth amidst a flare of torches--white plumes of rejoicing waving
from their casques--white banners raised high on the points of their
lances--while the herald, in full armor with vizor up, bore proudly
before the people the silken banner with the arms of Cyprus blazoned
upon it--the white, royal banner of a Prince of Galilee.

The waiting people went wild with joy, for the bells of all the churches
of Famagosta were pealing a jubilee, and the night rang with shouts of
homage for the Prince of Galilee, the heir to the crown of Cyprus:

For an infant prince had just opened his unconscious eyes upon his
troubled earthly heritage.

XVI

White banners of rejoicing floated from every stronghold and palace
throughout Cyprus, to publish the birth of the infant prince; but a hush
had lain for many days over the city of Famagosta.

In the Cathedral of San Nicolo, the Archbishop of Nikosia, primate of
all Cyprus, ministered in solemn state among a throng of lesser
dignitaries, priests, and acolytes. His sumptuous robes of office, of
cloth of gold broidered with costly pearls, flashed forth a marvellous
radiance from the light of countless candles bought with the precious
copper bits of the peasants who came from the provinces far and near. As
they gathered about the steps of the altar they carefully