ured a single syllable to myself so
fearful was I lest the slightest use of the glorious gift of speech
might render me weak in my purpose. And strange as it may seem to you,
dearest Fernand, not even on this island did I yield to the temptation
of suddenly breaking that long, that awful silence which I had imposed
upon myself. And, until this day, one human being only, save myself, was
acquainted with that mighty secret of ten long years, and that man was
the generous-hearted, the noble-minded Dr. Duras. He it was who aided me
in my project of simulating the forlorn condition of the deaf and dumb:
he it was who bribed the turnkeys to admit me unquestioned to your cell
in the prison of the ducal palace. And for years, perhaps, should I have
retained my wondrous secret even from _you_, dearest Fernand; for
through dangers of many kinds--in circumstances of the most trying
nature, have I continued firm in my purpose; abjuring the faculty of
speech even when it would have saved me from much cruel embarrassment or
from actual peril. Thus, when the villain Stephano Verrina bore me away
by force from my native city, I maintained the seal upon my lips,
trusting to circumstances to enable me to escape from his power without
being compelled to betray a secret of such infinite value and importance
to myself. But when I found that I was so narrowly watched at Leghorn
that flight was impossible, I seriously debated, in my own mind, the
necessity of raising an alarm in the house where I was kept a prisoner
for two whole days; and then I reflected that I was in the power of a
desperate bandit and his two devoted adherents, who were capable of any
atrocity to forward their designs or prevent exposure. Lastly, when I
was conveyed at dead of night on board the corsair-ship, the streets
were deserted, and the pirates with whom Stephano was leagued, thronged
the port. I therefore resigned myself to my fate, trusting still to
circumstances, and retaining my secret. But that incident of to-day--oh!
it was enough to crush energies ten thousand times more powerful than
mine: it was of so horrifying a nature as to be sufficient to loose the
bands which confine the tongue of one really dumb."

And a strong shudder convulsed the entire form of Nisida, as she thus,
by her own words, recalled so forcibly to mind that terrible event which
had broken a spell of ten years' duration.

Fernand pressed her to his bosom, exclaiming, "Oh, beloved Nisida,