Under the Witches' Moon: A Romantic Tale of Mediaeval Rome

by Nathan Gallizier

  CHAPTER IX

  THE GAME OF LOVE

  The pattering of footsteps resounded on the marble floor of thecorridor and the hangings once more parted, revealing the form of aman sombre even in the shadows which seemed part of the darkness thatframed his white face.

  With eyes that never left the woman's graceful form the visitor slowlyadvanced and, concealing his chagrin at having been kept waiting like aslave in the anteroom, bent low over Theodora's hand and raised it tohis lips.

  She had seated herself on a divan which somewhat shaded her face andinvited him with a mute gesture to take his seat beside her. Persephoneand the eunuchs had left the chamber.

  "Fain would I have departed, Lady Theodora, when the maid Persephone,who has the devil in her eyes, told me that the Lady Theodora slept,"Basil spoke as, with the light of a fierce passion in his eyes, he sankdown beside the wondrous form, and his hot breath fanned her shoulder."But my tidings brook no delay. Closer, fairest lady, that your earalone may hear this new perplexity that does beset us, for it concernsthat which lies closest to our heart, and the time is brief--"

  "I cannot even guess your tidings," replied Theodora, withdrawingherself a little from his burning gaze. "For days mischance has emptiedall her quivers at me, leaving me not a dart wherewith to strike."

  "It is as a bolt from the clear blue," interposed the GrandChamberlain. "Yet--how were we to reckon with that which did happen?Every detail had been carefully planned. In the excitement and turmoilwhich roared and surged over the Navona the task could not fail of itsaccomplishment and he who was to speed the holy man to his doom had butto plunge into that seething vortex of humanity to make his escape.Surely the foul fiend was abroad on that night and stalked aboutvisibly to our undoing. For not a word have I been able to get out ofIl Gobbo who raves that at the very moment when he was about to strike,St. John himself towered over him, paralyzed his efforts, and gave himsuch a blow as sent him reeling upon the turf. Some say,"--the speakeradded meditatively, "it was a pilgrim--"

  "A pilgrim?" Theodora interposed, a sudden gleam in her eyes. "Apilgrim? What was he like?"

  "To Il Gobbo he appeared no doubt of superhuman height, else had he notaffrighted him. For the bravo is no coward--"

  "A pilgrim, you say," Theodora repeated, meditatively.

  "Whosoever he is," Basil continued after a pause, "he seems to scentample entertainment in this godly city. For, no doubt it was the samewho thwarted by his timely appearance the abduction of the Pontiff bycertain ruffians, earning thereby much distinction in the eyes of theSenator of Rome who has appointed him captain of Castel San Angelo--andGamba in whom we placed our trust has fled. If he is captured--if heshould confess--"

  The color had died out of Theodora's cheeks and she sat bolt upright asa statue of marble, gazing into the shadows with great wide eyes, as ina low voice, hardly audible even to her visitor, she said:

  "God! Will this uncertainty never cease? What is to be done?Speak!--For I confess, I am not myself today."--

  Basil hesitated, and a sudden flame leaped into his eyes as theydevoured the beauty of the woman beside him, and raising to his lipsthe hand that lay inert on the saffron-hued cushion, he replied:

  "The lady Theodora has many who do her bidding, yet is the heart ofnone as true as his, who is even now sitting beside her. Therefore askof me whatever you will and, if a blade be needed, your slightest favorwill fire me to any deed,--however unnameable."--

  Lower the man bent, until his hot breath scorched her pale cheeks. Butneither by word nor gesture did she betray that she was conscious ofhis nearer approach as, in a calm voice, she replied:

  "Full well do I know your zeal and devotion, my lord Basil. Yet therehangs in the balance the keen and timely stroke that shall secure forme the dominion of the Seven Hills and the Emperor's Tomb. For failurewould bring in its wake that which would be harder to endure thandeath itself. Therefore," she added slowly, "I would choose one whosedevotion is only equalled by his blind indifference to that which I amminded to bring about; not one only fired with a passion, which whencooled might leave nothing but fear and hesitation behind."--

  "Has all that has passed between us left you with so ill an opinionof me?" Basil replied, drawing back somewhat ostentatiously. "Thereare few that can be trusted with that which must be done--and trustedblades are scarce."

  "The more reason that we choose wisely and well," came the reply indeliberate tones. "How much longer must I suffer the indignity whichthis stripling dares to put upon his own flesh and blood,--upon myself,who has striven for this dominion with all the fire of this restlesssoul? How much longer must I sit idly by, pondering over the mysterythat enshrouds Marozia's untimely end? How much longer must I tremblein abject fear of him whom the Tuscan's churlishness has set up inyonder castello and who conspires with my rival to gain his sinisterends?"

  "By what sorcery she holds him captive, I cannot tell," Basilinterposed. "Yet, if we are not on our guard, we shall awaken one dayto the realization that even the faint chance which remains to us nowhas passed from our hands. I doubt not but that Roxana will enlist theservices of the stranger who in the space of a week, during the lordAlberic's absence, will lord it over the city of Rome!"

  With a smothered cry of hate, that drove from Theodora's face everytrace of her former mood, she bounded upright.

  "What demon of madness possesses you, my lord Basil, to taunt me withyour suspicions?" she flashed.

  Basil had sped his shaft at random, but he had hit the mark.

  In suave and insinuating tones, without relinquishing his gaze upon thewoman, he replied:

  "I voice but my fears, Lady Theodora, and the urgency of assemblingyour friends under the banners of your house. What is more natural," hecontinued with slow and sinister emphasis, "than for a beautiful womanto harbor the desire for conquest, and to profit from so auspicious athrow of fate as the stranger's espousing her part against an equallybeautiful, hated rival? Is not the inference justified, that, ignorantof the merits of the feud, which has been raging these many months, hewill take the part of the one whose beauty had compelled the Senator'sunwitting tribute--as it were?"

  He paused for a moment, watching the woman before him from underhalf-shut lids, then continued slowly:

  "Roxana is consumed with the desire to stake soul and body uponattaining her ends, humbling her rival in the dust and set her footupon her neck. Time and again has she defied you! At the banquet shegave in honor of the Senator of Rome, when one of the guests lamentedthe Lady Theodora's absence from the festal board, she openly boasted,that in youth as well as in beauty, in strength as in love,she would vanquish Marozia's sister utterly--and when one of theguests, commenting upon her boast, suggested with a smile that in thetime of the Emperor Gallus women fought in the arena, she bared herarms and replied: 'Are there no chambers in this demesne where a womanmay strangle her rival?'"

  "A strange look passed into Theodora's eyes"]

  Theodora had listened to Basil's recital, white to the lips. Her bosomheaved and a strange fire burnt in her eyes as she replied:

  "Dares she utter this boast, woman to woman?"--

  Basil, checking himself, gave a shrug.

  "Misinterpret not my words, dearest lady," he said solicitously. "Itis to warn you that I came. Alberic's attitude is no longer a secret.Roxana is leaving no stone unturned to drive you from the city, toencompass your death--and Alberic is swayed by strange moods. Roxanais growing bolder each day and the woman who dares challenge the LadyTheodora is no coward."

  A strange look passed into Theodora's eyes.

  "Three days hence," she said, "I mean to give a feast to my friends,if," she continued with lurid mockery, "I can still number such amongthose who flock to my bowers. I shall ask the Lady Roxana to grace thefeast with her presence--"

  A puzzled look passed into Basil's eyes.

  "Deem you she will come?"

  Theodora's lips curved in a smile.

  "You said but just n
ow, my lord, the woman who dares challenge Theodorais no coward--"

  "Yet--as your guest--suspecting--knowing--"

  "I doubt not, my lord, she is well informed," Theodora interposedwith the same inscrutable smile. "Yet--if she is as brave as she isbeautiful--she will come--doubt not, my lord--she will come--"

  "Nevertheless, I question the wisdom," Basil ventured to interpose. "Asudden spark--from nowhere--who will quench the holocaust?"

  "When Roxana and Theodora meet,--woman to woman--ah, trust me, my lord,it will be a festive occasion--one long to be remembered. Perchanceyou, my lord, who boast of a large circle know young Fabio of theCavalli--a comely youth with the air and manners of a girl. Persephone,my Circassian, could strangle him."

  "I know the youth, Lady Theodora," Basil interposed with a puzzled air."What of him?"

  "He once did me the honor to imagine himself in love with me. Did henot pursue me with amorous sighs and burning glances and oaths--mylord--such oaths! Cerberus would wince in Tartarus could he hear butone of them--"

  Basil's lips straightened and his eyelids narrowed.

  "Pardon, Lady Theodora, if I do not quite follow the trend of yourreminiscent mood--"

  Theodora smiled.

  "You will presently, my lord--believe me--you will presently. WhenI became satiated with him I sent him on his way and straightway hesought my beautiful rival. I am told she is very fond of him--"

  A strange nervousness had seized Basil.

  "I shall bid him to the feast," Theodora continued. "'Twere scantcourtesy to request the Lady Roxana's presence without that of herlover. And more, my lord. Since you boast your devotion to me in suchunequivocal terms--your task it shall be to bring as your honoredguest the valiant stranger who took so brave a part in aiding the LordAlberic to regain his prisoner, and who, within a week, is to be thenew captain of Castel San Angelo."--

  Basil was twitching nervously.

  "Lady Theodora, without attempting to fathom the mood which promptsthe request, am I to traverse the city in quest of a churl who hashypnotized the Lord Alberic and has destroyed our fondest hopes?"--

  "That it shall be for myself to decide, my Lord Basil," Theodorareplied with her inscrutable smile. "I do not desire you to fathom mymood, but to bring to me this man. And believe me, my Lord Basil--asyou value my favor--you will find and bring him to me!"

  Half turning she flung a light vesture from off her bosom and the faintlight showed not the set Medusa face that meditated unnameable things,but eyes alight with desire and a mouth quivering for kisses.

  As he gazed, Basil was suddenly caught in the throes of his passion.He clutched at the ottoman's carved arms, striving to resist the tideof emotion that tossed him like a helpless bark in its clutches and,suddenly bearing down every restraint, his arms went round the suppleform as he crushed her to him with a wild uncontrolled passion, bendingher back, and his eyes blazed with a baleful fire into her own, whilehis hot kisses scorched her lips.

  She struggled violently, desperately in his embrace, and at lastsucceeded, bruised and crushed, in releasing herself.

  "Beast! Coward!" she flashed, "Can you not bridle the animal withinyou? I have it in mind to kill you here and now."

  Basil's face was ashen. His eyes were bloodshot. The touch of her lips,of her hands, had maddened him. He groaned, and his arms fell limply byhis side. Presently he raised his head and, his eyes aflame with themadness of jealousy, he snarled:

  "So I did not go amiss, when I long suspected another in the bower ofroses. Who is he? Tell me quickly, that I may at least assuage thishatred of mine, for its measure overflows."

  His hand closed on his dagger's hilt that was hidden by his tunic, butTheodora rose and her own eyes flashed like naked swords as with setface she said:

  "Have you not yet learned, my lord, how vain it is to probe theclouds of my mind for the unseen wind that stirs behind its curtains?Aye--crouch at my feet, you miserable slave, gone mad with the dream ofmy favor possessed and wake to learn, that, as Theodora's enchantmentscompel all living men, nevertheless she gives herself unto him shepleases. I tell you, you jealous fool, that, although I serve thegoddess of night yonder, never till yesterday was my heart touched bythe divine enchantments of Venus, nor have the lips ever closed onmine, that could kindle the spark to set my breast afire with longing."

  "Ah me!" she continued, speaking as though she thought aloud. "WillHekate ever grant me to find amongst these husks of passion andplotting that great love whereof once I dreamed, that love which I amseeking and which ever flits before me, disembodied and unattainable,like a ghost in the purple twilight? Or, must I wander, ever loved yetunloving, until I am gathered to the realms of shadows, robbed of mydesire by Death's cold hand?"

  She paused, her lips a-quiver, the while Basil watched her withhalf-closed eyes, filled with sudden and ominous brooding.

  "Who is the favored one?" he queried darkly, "who came and saw andconquered, while others of long-tried loyalty are starving at thefount?"

  She gave him an inscrutable glance, then answered quickly:

  "A man willing to risk life and honor and all to serve me as I would beserved."

  Basil gave her a baffled look.

  "Can he achieve the impossible?"

  Theodora gave a shrug.

  "To him who truly loves nothing is impossible. You are the trustedfriend of the Senator who encompasses my undoing--need I say more?"

  "Were I not, Lady Theodora, in seeming,--who knows, but that your bloodwould long have dyed this Roman soil, or some dark crypt contained yourwonderful beauty? Bide but the time--"

  An impatient wave of Theodora's hand interrupted the speaker.

  "Time has me now! Will there ever be an end to this uncertainty?"

  "You have not yet told me the name of him whose sudden advent on thestage has brought about so marvellous a transformation," Basil saidwith an air of baffled passion and rage.

  "What matters the name, my lord?" Theodora interposed with a sardonicsmile.

  "A nameless stranger then," he flashed with a swiftness that staggeredeven the woman, astute as she was.

  "I said not so--"

  "A circumstance that should recommend him to our consideration," hemuttered darkly. "I shall find him--and bring him to the feast--"

  There was something in his voice that roused the tigress in the woman.

  "By the powers of hell," she turned on the man whose fatal guess hadbetrayed her secret, "if you but dare touch one hair of his head--"

  Basil raised his hand disdainfully.

  "Be calm, Lady Theodora! The Grand Chamberlain soils not his steel withsuch carrion," he said with a tone of contempt that struck home. "Andnow I will be plain with you, Lady Theodora. All things have theirprice. Will you grant to me what I most desire in return for that whichis ever closest to your heart?"

  Theodora gave a tantalizing shrug.

  "Like the Fata Morgana of the desert, I am all things to all men," shesaid. "Remember, my lord, I must look for that which I desire whereverI may find it, since life and the future are uncertain."

  There was a silence during which each seemed intent upon fathoming thesecret thoughts of the other.

  It was Basil who spoke.

  "What of that other?"

  Theodora had arisen.

  "Bring him to me--three days hence--as my guest. Thrice has he crossedmy path.--Thrice has he defied me!--I have that in store for him atwhich men shall marvel for all time to come!"

  Basil bent over the white hand and kissed it. Then he took his leave.Had he seen the expression in the woman's eyes as the heavy curtainsclosed behind him, it would have made the Grand Chamberlain pause.

  Theodora passed to where the bronze mirror hung and stood long beforeit, with hands clasped behind her shapely head, wrapt in deepestthought.

  And while she gazed on her mirrored loveliness, an evil light sprang upin her eyes and all her mouth's soft lines froze to a mould of dreamingevil, as she turned to where the im
age of Hekate gazed down upon herwith inhuman calm upon its face, and, holding out shimmering, imploringarms, she cried:

  "Help me now, dread goddess of darkness, if ever you looked with loveupon her whose prayers have been directed to you for good and for evil.Fire the soul of him I desire, as he stands before me, that he losereason, honor, and manhood, as the price of my burning kisses--that hebecome my utter slave."

  She clapped her hands and Persephone appeared from behind the curtains.

  "For once Fate is my friend," she turned with flashing eyes to theCircassian. "Before his departure to the shrines of the Archangel,Alberic has appointed this nameless stranger captain of Castel SanAngelo. Go--find him and bring him to me! Now we shall see," she added,"if all this beauty of mine shall prevail against his manhood. Youreyes express doubt, my sweet Persephone?"

  Theodora had raised herself to her full height. She looked regalindeed--a wonderful apparition. What man lived there to resist suchloveliness of face and form?

  Persephone, too, seemed to feel the woman's magic, for her tone wasless confident when she replied:

  "Such beauty as the Lady Theodora's surely the world has never seen."

  "I shall conquer--by dread Hekate," Theodora flashed, flushed byPersephone's unwitting tribute. "He shall open for me the portals ofthe Emperor's Tomb, he shall sue at my feet for my love--and obtain hisguerdon. Not a word of this to anyone, my Persephone--least of all, theLord Basil. Bring the stranger to me by the postern--"

  "But--if he refuse?"

  There was something in Persephone's tone that stung Theodora's soul tothe quick.

  "He will not refuse."

  Persephone bowed and departed, and for some time Theodora's darkinscrutable eyes brooded on the equally inscrutable face of the goddessof the Underworld, which was just then touched by a fugitive beam ofsunlight and seemed to nod mysteriously.