rning he was enabled to leave his couch. Indeed, his
recovery was so marvelously quick that Dr. Duras considered it to be a
perfect phenomenon in the history of medicine; and Nisida looked upon
the physician, whom she conceived to be the author of this remarkable
change, with unfeigned admiration.

It was verging toward the hour of sunset, the 2d of October, when a
rumor of a most alarming nature circulated with the celerity of
wild-fire through the city of Florence. At first the report was received
with contemptuous incredulity; but by degrees--as circumstances tended
to confirm it--as affrighted peasants came flying into the town from
their country homes, bearing the dread tidings, the degenerate and
voluptuous Florentines gave way to all the terrors which, in such cases,
were too well adapted to fill the hearts of an emasculated people with
dismay.

For, while the dwellers of the City of Flowers were thinking only of the
gay festival which invariably commenced their winter season, while the
nobles and wealthy burghers were whiling their time pleasantly in the
regilding and decoration of their palaces or mansions, while the duke
was projecting splendid banquets, and the members of the council of
state were dreaming of recreation and enjoyment, rather than of the
duties of office, while, too, preparations were being made for the
approaching _auto-da-fe_--that terrible spectacle which the inquisition
annually offered to the morbid tastes of a priest-ridden people--while,
in a word, Florence seemed wrapped up in security and peace--at such a
moment the astounding intelligence arrived, that a mighty army was
within a few hours' march of the sovereign city of Tuscany!

Yes; this was the news that suddenly spread confusion and dismay
throughout Florence, the news which told how the Ottoman fleet, for some
days past moored off the port of Leghorn, had vomited forth legions, and
how the formidable force was approaching at a rapid rate, under the
command of the grand vizier in person, the seraskier and sipehsalar of
the armies of the sultan!

The moment these things were bruited abroad in the city, Demetrius, the
Greek, fled secretly; for he too well understood that his treacherous
intentions had, in some unaccountable manner, transpired, and reached
the ears of Ibrahim Pasha. Nisida was perfectly astounded; and, for the
first time in her life, she felt her energies paralyzed--all her powers
of combination suddenly laid pr