le proposals to her on behalf of the
Signora Flora--and that it was intended to sustain the mystery which
veiled the young lady's existence and safety in the cottage, until the
marriage should have been privately effected, when it would be too late
for the count's friends to interfere or renew their persecutions against
your lordship's sister. Your highness' aunt dropped hints intimating her
suspicion that the Lady Nisida was the principal, if not indeed the sole
means of those persecutions which had consigned the innocent young
maiden to the Carmelite Convent. And the more I reflect on this point,
in view of all I know of the affairs, and of Donna Nisida's strange and
resolute character, the more I am convinced that she really perpetrated
that diabolical outrage."

"Were it not for young Francisco's sake, and that I should bring
dishonor into a family with which my sister will, I hope, be soon
connected with marriage ties," exclaimed Ibrahim, "I would avenge myself
and my sister's wrongs by forcing the cruel Nisida to yield herself to
my arms. But no, it must not be."

And Nisida, who overheard every syllable, curled her lips, while her
eyes flashed fire at the dark menace which the renegade had dared to
utter, qualified though it were by the avowal of the motive which would
prevent him from putting it into execution.

"No, it must not be," repeated Ibrahim. "And yet, she is so wondrously
beautiful that I would risk a great deal to win her love. But proceed,
Demetrius--we now come to that portion of the narrative which so nearly
concerns my present proceedings."

"Yes, my lord, and God give your highness success!" exclaimed the young
Greek. "Having taken leave of your excellent aunt, who invited me to
visit her again, as I had casually observed that business would detain
me in Florence for some time, and having promised the strictest secrecy
relative to all she had told me, I repaired to the inn at which I had
put up, intending to devote the next day to writing the details of all
those particulars which I have just related, and which I purposed to
send by some special messenger to your highness. But it then struck me
that I should only attract undue attention to myself by conducting at a
public tavern a correspondence having so important an aspect, and I
accordingly rose very early in the morning to sally forth to seek after
a secluded but respectable lodging, I eventually obtained suitable
apartments in the house