e expiration of a few moments, he said: "Oh! yes--I
recollect you--I know that I had conceived a great friendship for you,
when some strange incident--I cannot remember what, and it is of no
matter--parted us!"

"Do not excite yourself too much by racking your memory to decipher the
details of the past," returned Wagner. "I dare not stay another minute
with you now: therefore listen attentively to what more I have to say.
Yield yourself not up to despondency--on the contrary, cherish every
hope that is dear to you. Within a few days Flora shall be yours!
Yes--solemnly do I assure you that all shall take place as I affirm. But
YOUR agency is not needed to insure her liberation: Heaven will make use
of OTHER means. Compose your mind, then,--and suffer not yourself to be
tortured by vain fears as to the future. Above all, keep my visit to
thee a profound secret--intimate not to thy sister Nisida that thou hast
seen me. Follow my counsel in all these respects--and happiness is in
store for thee!"

Fernand pressed the young count's hand warmly as he terminated these
rapidly delivered injunctions, and then retreated from the chamber ere
the invalid had time to utter a syllable indicative of his gratitude.

But how different was Francisco now--how different did Nisida find him,
on her return to his room, from what he was when she had left him two
hours before! Nor less was Dr. Duras astonished, at his next visit, to
perceive that his patient had made in those two hours as rapid strides
toward convalescence as he could barely have hoped to see accomplished
in a week.

In obedience to a hint rapidly conveyed by a signal from Nisida to the
physician, the latter touched gently upon the subject of Flora
Francatelli; but Francisco, resolute in his endeavors to follow the
advice of Fernand Wagner, and to avoid all topics calculated to excite,
responded briefly, and immediately spoke on another matter.

But he did not think the less deeply on that interesting subject. No; he
cherished the image of his Flora, and the hope of being yet united to
her, with an enthusiasm which a love so ardent as his passion alone
could feel.

And Nisida congratulated herself on the conviction which she now very
naturally entertained, that he had resigned himself to the loss of the
young maiden, and was exerting his utmost to banish her altogether from
his memory!

Throughout the day Francisco continued to improve rapidly, and on the
following mo