n the head of Wagner, who regained his chamber
without disturbing the other inmates of the house: but with the
conflicting emotions of ardent hopes and appalling fears, and holy
aspirations, filling his breast. By degrees, however, as he was enabled
to reason to himself with increasing calmness, the fears and the doubts
became fainter and fainter, while the hopes and the aspirations grew
stronger and stronger: and at length, throwing himself upon his knees,
he exclaimed fervently, "O Lord, deal with me as thou wilt--thy will be
done!"

It was late in the afternoon of a sultry day, toward the close of
September, or, to be more particular, on the 25th of that month, that a
numerous and brilliant cavalcade, on emerging from a grove which bounded
one of the sinuosities of the Arno, came within sight of the towers and
pinnacles of Florence.

On the white felt turbans of a hundred and fifty Ottoman soldiers
glistened the crescent, the symbol of Islamism; and their steel-sheathed
scimiters and the trappings of their horses sent forth a martial din as
they were agitated by the rapidity of the march.

Forty-eight slaves, also mounted on steeds procured at Leghorn, followed
the soldiers with a short interval between the two corps, and in the
space thus left, rode the Greek Demetrius and Lady Nisida of Riverola.
The latter wore the garb of her sex, and sat upon her horse with the
grace of an amazonian queen.

The moment the cavalcade came in sight of the fair City of Flowers, a
flush of joy and triumph suddenly diffused itself over Nisida's
countenance; and her lips were simultaneously compressed to prevent the
utterance of that exclamation of gladness which her heart sent up to her
tongue.

Demetrius now commanded a temporary halt; addressing himself to a
Turkish youth, who had been attached to his person in the capacity of
secretary, he said, "Yakoub, hie thou in advance, with an escort of two
soldiers and two slaves, and push on to Florence. There seek an
immediate interview with the president of the council of state, and
acquaint that high functionary with the tidings of my approach. Thou
wilt inform him that I am about to enter Florence in the peaceful
capacity of envoy from the puissant and most glorious Ibrahim Pasha, the
vizier of the sultan, to treat on divers matters interesting to the
honor of the Ottoman Porte and the welfare of all Italy. In the
meantime, I shall so check our speed that we may not reach the city