Adventure Magazine Cover — page 94: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

86 have whatever he claimed. “By the Holy Trinity, Lord Gui was my father!’ swore Matteo. “And I can say in all seriousness, he would have put you in his sorriest dungeon had he ever guessed vou would be willing to part with his prop- erty to any knave who carried Sinan’s signet-ring.”’ “Hush!” cautioned Messer Gambaglio, horrified. ‘‘Do not speak so! You can never tell who may hear. And would not you, yourself, abandon anything you own to the Command?” “T do not know,” replied Matteo. ‘You see,’ he added, realizing he must play a part, “I have not carried the signet long.” “Never let any of the followers hear you express doubt,” advised the merchant. “°Tis a mortal offense. But one thing more, lordling. Is your father truly dead?” “Do you deem all the world to be liars?” demanded Matteo, half angry, half amused. Messer Gambaglio shrugged. ‘‘What matters it if you lie?” he answered. “You have only to present the signet to take what you wish. Is it life? Then give me the dagger at your belt, and I will slay myself. Is it gold? Whatever I have in my strong-boxes is your’s. Is it service? Name your commands, and I will strive to cbey the most unreasonable.”’ “Why?” “You speak for the Lord of Death!” “But you are not one of the Assassins! You are a Christian, a Frank, are you not?” “Aye, but Sinan hath countless followers who are not of the Assassins—if by such you mean those who have been born into the creed of Islam.” “Hath he other agents such as you?” “°Tis plain you are new to our ranks, Messer Matteo. I am but one of many. We are everywhere, but few know us for what we are. And let me counsel you not to reveal me or others you may chance to meet. You are young. You have great favor in the possession of that ring. If you would live long, be discreet. I am an old man. I have served Sinan longer than you have lived. And I know.” “T thank you,” said Matteo gravely. “Now, prithee, tell me what moneys my father had with you.” Messer Gambaglio climbed to his feet, and drew from the breast of his robe a scroll. “Of moneys,” he began, “Lord Gui had TO BE Adventure outstanding with me 25,000 bezants, and in addition there are various stores of pre- cious stones and rich stuffs which he com- mitted to my care for sale when occasion serves. What is your wish as to them?” Matteo experienced a sensation of heart- warming comfort. Landless he might be, but henceforth he might scorn the world. “The moneys you will transfer to my name,” he directed, trying to speak as if such orders were customary for him to make. ‘Two hundred bezants you will furnish me for my immediate wants. A thousand more you will place to my order with a banker of Antioch. The gems and stuffs you will sell.” “All shall be duly attended to. You will find me diligent in your affairs, magnificent signor. Is there aught else?” “Not at the present,” replied Matteo with lordly indifference. ‘‘But stay! Will Kafur come this way again?” “Aye, he is one of the eyes of the Lord of Death.” ‘“‘When next you see him, tell him that Matteo, the son of the lord of Nerak, who saved him from the Templars, is at the court of Antioch.” “It shall be done, Messer Matteo. And prithee, if opportunity occurs, commend me to the Old One.” “T shall not forget,” promised Matteo. Messer Gambaglio genuflected somewhat stiffly, and backed from the room. Matteo leaped to the door and listened to his heavy tread as he descended the stairs, then sum- moned Ali from the stupor in which the old Turcople was cast. . “Ali, heard you what I heard?” “Why, lord, as to that—well—there was talk of this and that—and an old one— and treasure. But I had drunk overmuch.”’ Matteo heaved a deep sigh. “At the least, we heard the same things,” he said. ‘Nay, it must be true, Ali, for no two men could be drunk exactly the same.”’ “You have the right of it, Messer Matteo,” Ali decided at length. “Now I think of it I have never known another man to be quite so drunk in the same way as myself. Also, I see that you have the ring in your hand. All things happen for the ring. Nay, it must have been.” ‘“‘All things happen for the ring,” echoed Matteo. ‘ ’Tis in my mind that this ring is like to become a heavy charge upon me.” CONTINUED COMicaoo® <S) (©) iin