"

"But the audience with the Queen?"

"There was no audience. For I bethought me of somewhat I had _forgotten_
in the ante-chamber--not to miss the knowledge of what was passing--and
I sped me thither. And then there was naught left to do but to hide me,
somewhat weak of heart, in the tapestry of the ante-chamber; for the
door was wide into the Queen's salon, and there was His Excellency the
Bernardini, flashing scorn in his speech, so that one thought the air
would break into flames--he, the while, standing still enough for an
image of a wrathful Kinyras; the Queen's guard was around him, all in
full armor--a doughty corps of men to meet those three!--Alicia, white
as a spirit, weeping against Tristan; and Violante, shaken out of her
holy calm, kneeling to pray His Excellency's grace!"

"And then----?"

"And then they left the Queen's chamber and I dared not creep forth
until all was quiet again. But I heard His Excellency's speech as he
stood bowing in the doorway when the guards led Tristan forth--a model
of courtesy one would have said--for I could see him through a parting
in the arras though I risked my life in standing there--'Her Majesty'
said the Bernardini--very fair of speech--'doth surely owe such escort
to the Illustrissimo, the Seigneur de Giblet, for the attention he would
fain have offered in his own person to King Janus, in his Episcopal
Palace before he wore the crown of the realm.' And the Seigneur de
Giblet, not to be outdone--being Cyprian--answers him--very proud and
cold--'Is your Excellency ever so faithful to reward a service
_contemplated, but not achieved_?' For he had meant to smother the King
in his sleep that night, if Janus had not escaped to Egypt."

They were all silent until Ecciva, less overcome by these tragic
memories, resumed her story.

"And after that, Tristan came no more; nor his sister, the fair Alicia;
nor Rizzo, the dark-browed. Nor was it many days ere Violante, the most
holy sister, had left the court.--Ask the Provveditori!"

"But what message did they bring Her Majesty?"

"Am I a noble of _Venice_ that I should know this mystery which toucheth
our realm of Cyprus?" she answered scornfully. "Ask the Bernardini, or
the Dama Margherita--to whom he confesseth all his soul!"

"But Rizzo?" Eloisa asked, bewildered.

"And Rizzo--when he had lighted the signal fire on the
mountain--thinking perchance, there had been time for the meeting with
the Queen which Alicia ha