ner at last slept through sheer
exhaustion. Then Christianus Rosencrux appeared to him in a dream and
said:--"Heaven hath chosen thee as the instrument to defeat the
iniquitous purposes of Riverola in respect of two guiltless and
deserving women. Angelo Duras is an upright man; but he is deluded and
misled by the representations made to him by Nisida, through his
brother, the physician, relative to the true character of Flora. In the
evening at nine o'clock, hie to Angelo Duras--command him in the name of
justice and humanity, to do his duty toward his clients--and he will
obey thee. Then, having performed this much, speed thou without delay to
Leghorn, and seek the grand vizier, Ibrahim Pasha. To him shalt thou
merely state that Demetrius is a traitor, and that tremendous perils
hang over the heads of the vizier's much-loved relatives. Manifest no
hatred to the vizier on account of his late treacherous intention with
regard to the honor of Nisida: for vengeance belongeth not to mortals.
And in these measures only, of all the deeply ramified plots and designs
which thou didst hear discussed between Nisida and Demetrius, shall thou
interfere. Leave the rest to Heaven."

The founder of the Rosicrucians disappeared: and when Fernand awoke late
in the day--for his slumber had been long and deep--he remembered the
vision which he had seen, and resolved to obey the order he had
received.

Beneath the massive and heavy tower of the Palazzo del Podesta, or Ducal
Palace of Florence, was the tribunal of the holy inquisition. Small,
low, and terribly somber in appearance was this court--with walls of the
most solid masonry, an arched roof, and a pavement formed of vast blocks
of dark-veined marble. Thither the light of heaven never penetrated; for
it was situate far below the level of the earth, and at the very
foundation of that tower which rose, frowning and sullen, high above.
Iron lamps diffused a lurid luster around, rendering ghastly the
countenance alike of the oppressors and the oppressed; and when it was
deemed necessary to invest the proceedings with a more awe-inspiring
solemnity than usual, torches, borne by the familiars or officers of the
inquisition, were substituted for these iron lamps. Over the
judgment-seat was suspended a large crucifix. On one side of the court
were three doors,--one communicating with the corridor and flight of
stone steps leading to and from the tribunal; the second affording
admission int