THE NINTH MAN
"What now, cousin?"
And she looks up at me with a wan smile. "Dying, I please myself, cousin."
" 'Dying'?" says I, gaping at her.
"Aye," says she, "for my two gallants love me so well that each would kill me for the other's spite, and now they have so much for which to kill me, and I have had my heart's desire."
So whether in my mother's house or the palace of the Conti, Death brooded. But his darkness was blackest at the palace. Mazzaleone's long shadow was ever at our door and the whole town gaped at the trio of them—my lady, rosy as with love, between Mazzaleone, lean and pale as a drawn sword, and Count Bartolommeo, red and powerful in his lusty joy of life. The town talked openly that my lady would kill Bartolommeo and that then Mazzaleone would find a bride, but none doubted that Bartolommeo's heavy fist would fall first. So the shadow of death distorted the faces of all dear to me.
On my dear lady's it cast a softness and joy more terrible than aught else. She grew young in the presence of Mazzaleone,
41
