wn, that her partisans were
secretly gathering strength. There was evidently some hostile influence
at work in the innermost circle of the Court.

And now, when Cyprus was at extremity, Venice alone--alert, powerful,
resourceful--could be relied upon for aid: her protection of the island
in the time of Rizzo's conspiracy, had given her the right to a voice in
the government--or so she claimed, and there were none to gainsay it.
Her _Provveditori_ were armed with the plenary power that was not
invariably used to the advantage of Cyprus, yet the vigilant Signoria
were ever ready with fresh instructions--if the paw were of velvet, it
was no longer sheathed!

Letters of condolence were duly sent from the Serenissimo; so, also,
came without delay the declaration that the Queen had inherited the full
rights vested in her son, and should reign alone; with the further
announcement, so simply stated that it might well seem beyond
refutation--_that Venice was heir to her beloved daughter, Caterina
Veneta_.

* * * * *

No wonder that the Cypriotes gnashed their teeth in their powerlessness
to dispute this insolent assertion, while their indignation effervesced
in petty intrigues!

But Dama Ecciva's spirits had revived.

"It is more like the olden days," she said, well content; "for if there
is no splendor of court-life such as our good Janus loved, at least
there is matter for gossip to brighten the mortal dulness of a court in
mourning! The Ambassador hath returned from the Court of Alexandria, and
hath made relation of his mission and declared the favor of the Sultan,
which, to the surprise of some"--she paused and glanced about her to
make sure that all were listening--"hath been granted to Her Majesty the
Queen Caterina--and _not_ to Queen Carlotta."

"There is no Queen Carlotta!" a chorus of indignant young voices
answered her. "If the Lady of the Bernardini were here----"

"Aye--but she is not." Ecciva returned placidly: "The Madonna be praised
for a moment's liberty to utter one's thought! She and the Dama
Margherita who knoweth more surely to tie one's honest speech than even
the great Lady of the Bernardini, are gone to the Sala Regia to
represent Her Majesty and receive the splendid gifts which His
Excellency the Ambassador hath brought from Alexandria. And this am I
sent to tell you, by the Lady of the Bernardini--who is a gracious
tyrant and would save a bit of pleasure for our