ddened her. And now,
poor child, she hath the little one to bring her comfort."

"Aye, Madre mia; she hath perchance won the love of the simple folk; but
it is a powerless love."

"Aluisi!--thou art not like thyself to scorn it."

"I may well be not like myself in so strange a land," he answered
bitterly. "But I know not scorn; nor hopeless trust, neither."

His mother watched him wondering, as he, who was usually so
self-contained, strode impatiently about the chamber, as if its limits
fretted him.

"A few cries of loyalty--a group of peasants kneeling--make a pretty
showing--a tribute to bring her comfort--but it is the chaff before the
wind, when danger cometh. And she hath never spoken of the many fiefs
from which they came not--withheld by command of their jealous nobles.
This peasantry hath no initiative--no aggressiveness. How wouldst thou
that they should save her when danger cometh?"

"What danger, Aluisi?"

"The ever-present danger from without and within," he answered
despondently. "One knoweth not from whence the first blow shall come."

She was silent for a moment, seeking how she might pursue the theme
without further irritating him.

"If the peasants are powerless," she said, "the burghers are strong. And
they came in throngs to the coronation."

"Aye, Mother; they are our hope: I thank thee for thy word."

A silence fell again between them, and his face grew less anxious.

"The burden is heavy for thee," she said, as he came and stood near her
low couch. "It will ease thee to speak of it, if thou mayest not dismiss
it. It is not this last attempt of Carlotta that troubles thee? _That_
hath been crushed?--without renewal?"

He gave a short laugh.

"One knoweth not," he answered, with an attempt at playfulness that
showed no color of mirth. "These two hours have I been within. Cornaro
was with me. Another _mahona_ may have chanced to land, coming from
Africa with some other Valentine to do Carlotta's bidding and assert her
claim to this uneasy crown of Cyprus; _this_ Valentine of Montolipho,
poor youth, having no longer a brain to work her schemes.--But danger
from within is less easy to quell."

She had never seen him so uneasy: but she tried to control her
apprehension since he needed all her strength.

"What saith Andrea Cornaro? Doth he share thy fear?" she asked in a low
even tone.

"We spoke together but now of his Grace, the Archbishop, who verily wore
a face that boded no good