to Constantinople, unless I be able to
lay at his feet a sum adequate to meet the expenses incurred by this
expedition of a great fleet and a powerful army?"

"Your highness will at least accord us a few days wherein to obtain the
amount required," said the duke, "for it will be necessary to levy a tax
upon the republic!"

"I grant you until sunset, my lord--until sunset this evening." added
the grand vizier, speaking with stern emphasis. "And if you will permit
me to tender my advice, you will at once command the grand inquisitor
and the Count of Arestino to furnish the sum required: for the former, I
am inclined to suspect, is a most unjust judge, and the latter, I am
well convinced, is a most cruel and revengeful noble."

"The Count of Arestino is no more, your highness," answered the duke.
"The Marquis of Orsini murdered him before the very eyes of the grand
inquisitor, and will therefore head the procession of victims at the
approaching _auto-da-fe_."

"By the footstool of Allah! that shall not be!" exclaimed Ibrahim. "The
machinations of the Count of Arestino threw into the inquisition
dungeons those two ladies whom ye delivered up to me last night; and it
was my intention, when I spoke of releasing certain prisoners ere now,
to stipulate for the freedom of all those whom the vengeance of that
count has immured in your accursed prison-house. See then, my lords,
that all those of whom I speak be forthwith brought hither into our
presence!"

It may be proper to inform the reader that Flora had solicited her
brother to save the Marquis of Orsini and the Countess Giulia, to whom
the young wife of Francisco had been indebted for her escape from the
Carmelite Convent; for, as the secrets of the torture chamber were never
suffered to transpire, she was of course ignorant of the death of the
guilty Giulia, and of the assassination of the Count of Arestino by the
Marquis of Orsini.

At the command of Ibrahim Pasha, who spoke in a firm and resolute
manner, the duke summoned a sentinel from the corridor adjoining the
council chamber, and issued the necessary orders to fulfill the desire
of the grand vizier. Nearly a quarter of an hour elapsed during which
one of the councilors drew up the guaranty of peace and of the
commercial privileges demanded by Ibrahim. At length the door opened,
and several familiars made their appearance, leading in Manuel d'Orsini
and Isaachar ben Solomon, both heavily chained. The former wa