next to his heart of stone.

And this--to the magnificent Lord Admiral Mutio di Costanzo, Vice-Roy of
Nikosia and friend to Caterina, who had received her oath of allegiance
after the death of Janus--so high he stood among the nobles of
Cyprus--Rizzo's eyes fairly gleamed as he gloated over it--this order
commanding him to yield up the splendid city of Nikosia, with his
fortress of Costanza and the fleets of the island, to those who should
present this parchment with the little signature of _Caterina Regina_.
He, Rizzo, would take the governorship of this city of Nikosia--or,
perhaps, the command of the fleets--he knew not which--that was a trifle
to decide since all would be in his power: and of course he should
instantly re-man the galleys. He allowed himself a moment's vision of
this stately Knight Mutio de Costanzo, with his escort of
cavaliers--the forty of his noble house entitled to wear the Golden
Spurs--surrendering his holdings at the Queen's command, to those whom
Rizzo should elect--_Rizzo_, who had heard himself called "that parvenu
of Naples"--and the vision filled him with delight.

Then he folded the other orders without a glance, they touched upon
minor points of vantage and entered properly into his scheme--the cities
of Limisso and, perhaps, of Costanzo--but that might be requiring too
much of the noble Lord of Costanzo, this could wait; he crumpled it in
his hand. As for this _Castel Dio d'Amore_, it was well.

Still another paper he folded in his pouch. That one must go first
beneath her signature lest the pretty little Queen should rebel.--But
she should not rebel!--By all the saints and devils, it was a good
night's work!

And for that session he wrote no more.

When the pouch, compact and hard, lay closely over the place of his
heart, it stirred a thought, and he laughed a short wild laugh, with no
melody in it. He did not know his own laugh, and it startled him.

"Perhaps," he thought, "when he should have presided over the
investiture of these cities and strongholds of Cyprus in the interests
of Naples and Alfonso, 'Prince of Galilee'--installing his own creatures
in all those places of power--if Naples were not properly subservient
and grateful--he, _holding the key to the land_--perhaps----"

It was a vision that pleased him even better than that of the noble Lord
Mutio di Costanzo, surrounded by his escort of cavaliers,
golden-spurred, delivering the keys of the city of Nikosia. But h