ch him, whoever he may be, to watch his wife narrowly--and will teach
_her_ what it is to prove unfaithful to a fond husband! To both, the
lesson will be as useful as the manner of conveying it will be
frightful, and they will hand down the tradition to future scions of the
Riverola family. Francisco, too, shall learn the secrets of the cabinet;
he shall be taught why he is disinherited--why I have hated him: and
thus even from the other world shall the spirits of the vile paramour
and the adulterous wife behold the consequences of their crime
perpetuated in this.'

"Such were my thoughts--such were my intentions. But an appalling
calamity forced me to change my views. Nisida, after a long and painful
illness, became deaf and dumb; and Dr. Duras gave me no hope of the
restoration of her lost faculties.

"Terrible visitation! Then was it that I reasoned with myself--that I
deliberated long and earnestly upon the course which I should pursue. It
was improbable that, afflicted as Nisida was, she would ever marry; and
I felt grieved, deeply grieved, to think that you, Francisco, being
disinherited, and Nisida remaining single, the proud title of Riverola
would become extinct; I therefore resolved on the less painful
alternative of disinheriting you altogether; and I accordingly made a
will by which I left you the estates, with the contingent title Count of
Riverola, under certain conditions which might yet alienate both
property and rank from you, and endow therewith your sister Nisida. For
should she recover the faculties of speech and hearing by the time she
shall have attained the age of thirty-six, she will yet be marriageable
and may have issue; but should that era in her life pass, and she still
be deaf and dumb, all hope of her recovery will be dead!

"Thus if she still be so deeply afflicted at that age, you, Francisco,
will inherit the vast estates and the lordly title which, through the
circumstances of your birth, it grieves me to believe will ever devolve
upon you.

"Such were my motives for making that will which you are destined to
hear read, doubtless before the time comes for you to peruse this
manuscript. And having made that will, and experiencing the sad
certainty that my unfortunate daughter will never become qualified to
inherit my title and fortune, but that the name of Riverola must be
perpetuated through your marriage, I have determined that to you and to
your bride alone shall the dread secrets