1935-03-04 — Page 3

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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1935.

THE AFFAIRS OF CELLINI

The Story Of A Great Lover, A Great Artist-The Most Charming

Rascal Of All Time

(BY LEWIS ALLEN BROWNE)

"Go into hiding for a day," she ordered. "I shall argue the Duke into postponing action.

Benvenuto Cellini, a lorentine of the 16th century, wers famed as i goldsmith, feared ara pighter and notorious as a lover. Believing his only true love, Delin, to be dead, he findi her serving as a body in Waiting to the Duchess of Florence, the Duchess decides to make Benvenuto her lover. Because of his many killings, he is condemned to be hanged, and a noble-born girl of Venice is expected to make grave charges, but will not. The Duches piota to save Benvenuto and then word comes to the Duke that he has almost fatally assaulted "his nephew. To lay hands on a de Medici, is death.

"Indeed, he shall hang," Ottavanio echoed, delighted that at last he could have Benvenuto hanged, "or your Excellency has but a moment before sworn that his next offence should be his death warranti”

Duke Alessandro sighed and sat down again, sniffing at one of the more pungent of his collection of perfumes.

"By all the demons in Hades," he cried, like's fretful child, "I shall never get to the stables to see the new foal." He turned to the guard..

"Well, well-speak up, Why should Benvenuto assault my nep- hew? What about it? Where is my nephew now?"

"In bed, Excellency. In bed with spints on his nose, plasters on his lip, leeches on his eye and noxious medicines in fits stomach."

The Duke passed a scent bottle before his face to hide a smile. He had never liked his nephew, and the guard's description told him that Count Maffio must, indeed, be a funny sight at this moment.

"Well, well, am 1 to guess or shall you tell me all that happened?"

"The Count and one of his guards were set upon by Berive- nuto, who killed the poor fellow and "wrenched the sword from your nephew's hand. He then, so I am told by another guard who was an eye-witness, threw the Count into the muck of the Althy street, jumped upon his back and rammed his face with great vio lerice through the muck to the cobblestones!"

Two Files

XX

"Imagine," Ottavarilo sald, craf- tily, noting the Duke's inclination to laugh, "à de Medici being so humiliated! Imagine anyone dar- ing to lay violent hands on any member of Europe's greatest and most honourable House!"

"Imagine a mere goldsmith at- tacking a de Medical" Ottavanio replied.

V

"I shall not be put off! I am going to the stables-here, unfas- ten this sword, it is in the way when I go among my horses.”

"But "

"Will you be quiet, Ottavanic! First I go to the stables.".

"I can attend to it easily, your

The Duke, perforce, rating-him-Excellency"

self as the greatest of the de Me. "Must I beg of you?. Can't I ricis, had to agree, He jumped up do as I wish? I said that when from his throne,

we attend to Benvenuto Lwant to be there myself and see that it is properly done. Await me."

"Report to the Count that the dastard shall be hanged, forth with! This is the end-search the city for him-Wait-fetch me my sword!"

་

Ottavanio had nothing else to do other than obey and pace about the court and cool his heels. But Counsellor Palverino became quite busy. He secretly dispatched a messenger to ride, fast and over- note to the Duchess, telling the

take her if possible. Polvering was a close friend of the Duchess, pro-

The guard rode back to the city to make his report. He had to be clever about it, for Count Maffo had ordered him to wait for a while and then kill Benvenuto so that the Count could claim the--nting greatly thereby, honour of having avenged himself,

Upon reaching the Count's home the guard came in with a pretense of being angry.

"Some cursed tale-bearer, Bite, has spolled my pleasure," the guard cried, excitedly.

"Wha' ith your pleathure to me " the Count Hisped, through his ban

aged lips.

reached

Polverino's messenger the Duchess just outside the city gate, as she was returning to the no sign of her emotions. To the city palace. She read it but gave messenger she said, "Tell him, se- cretly, that it shall be attended

of state." -

in proper order, like all affairs

"Some numb-pate has told your

The messenger, bowed and kept august uncle," the Duke of Flor- read the note, since Polvering had a straight face, although he had ence, about Benvenuto's assault, had no time to affix a seal of wax. and he has ordered the man hang- The Duchess believed that", no-] ed at once. It would have made time was, to be lost and she went me so happy to have had the plea-with two guards, to the shop of "Unspeakable!" Ottavanio growl-sure of running him through his Benvenuto. She would not be so ed, wanting to shout with delight. cowardly heart":

"There must have been some

indiscreet as to enter unattended. reason for this," Alessandro ob-

first plate when she entered. The Benvenuto had completed the served.

guardz remained at the door. She went to the work bench to see the plate and its beauty amazed

"Benvenuto claimed that Count Maffio once, publicly called him. a nasty little 3, at a time when Benvenuto was alone and the Count had a dozen armed friends about him, and said that he should be exterminated. In any event,

Count Maio became furious at this, but he believed the lie his guard told, and finally managed a painful smile.

At the Summer palace a serving man had brought the Duke's sword, as commanded, and buckled it on. Ottavanio, amling with delight, started to call a guard."

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It was late when the Duke zin. ished his repast and again the Duchess was announced. As she

her. Doubly, now, she wanted to him. Only his apprentice, Ascanio, and I have no doubt but what he Save Benvenuts from the gallows knew where to find him............

she must have that set of plates,

would appreciate the "delay," the Alessandro, at this time, was out Duke said. she was more "But wait," Alessandro said, sud him than ever enamored of in his stables, admiring the foal Ottavanio started to protest and entered he gave her a rather short

of his favourite mare, Venus. His to storm.

"greeting.

my cou tend to remain here

or at the city palace, the night?"

“It doesn't matter. I may as well remain!! She started to leave, and

Excellency, this firebrand Benvenu denly, I had forgotten my little As she examined the plate she hostlers had much to report to him shall have no further need of "My Lord, it occurred to me that pretended to think of something, "of“

to was not satisfied with this hor- rible beating, he caught two files from the gutter and forced Count Maffio to swallow them'as

"To swallow them?" Alessan- dra cried, in amazement.

“To swallow them both of them, the guard repeated, solemn-

“Haw-haw! Ahem, I mean what I meant that is, whoever heard of such a thing?" and the Duke tried to cover up the fact that he had laughed at the thought of his unpopular nephew being made to swallow twd fies

told him what had happened.

mare, Venus, and her foal that I have not seen. First I shall go to the stables. return. I want the pleasure of befuto postponing action ing present at this hanging."

one of his best stallions had you, this day the Duke told him despite the story of the young "Go in hiding for a day, the neen injured in his stall and the Do nothing until I ordered T will argue the Duke Duke, extremely fond of his horses, warned those who knew his tem Vacci, we should send some word of with cold dignity that always daughter of the Venetian House of perintended the care of the per to quietly efface themselves,

sympathy with a slight hint of apo- But Excellency

Wlogy"

sides, I want to inquire into this

"Another day will do as well BeNo apology is needed!"

There are two sides to

Put Of

"It would take but a short time, Excellency and then you would have the day to yourself

until IN

have the plates Let your appren Uce know How to reach you, word will come through him

He bowed-low and for

of the distant gua rush the work.

"I have been put on enough with speed,, this petty thing and that, and a whisper he said silly girl talling a silly sto

the Saints, Ottavanio, imaging bes ing in a dark rose arbor with that renuto Ifitle beauty?!

of a friend who

Then came a discussion of the

at, with his stable más fter that the Duke discover

a sedderu

The Gold Plate

"Bend Antona the ordered. The serving youth came in.

she commanded

was but