rself and your companion."

"My companion!" replied the Prince of Athens, pale and passionate. "My
companion! Am I ever to be reminded of my companion?"

"Nicaeus!" said Iduna; "if you forget what is due to me, at least
endeavour to remember what is due to yourself?"

"Beautiful being!" said the prince, advancing and passionately seizing
her hand; "pardon me! pardon me! I am not master of my reason; I am
nothing, I am nothing while Iduna hesitates!"

"She does not hesitate, Nicaeus. I desire, I require, that this
conversation shall cease; shall never, never be renewed."

"And I tell thee, haughty woman," said the Prince of Athens, grinding
his teeth, and speaking with violent action, "that I will no longer be
despised with impunity. Iduna is mine, or is no one else's."

"Is it possible?" exclaimed the daughter of Hunniades. "Is it, indeed,
come to this? But why am I surprised! I have long known Nicaeus. I quit
this castle instantly."

"You are a prisoner," replied the prince very calmly, and leaning with
folded arms against the wall.

"A prisoner!" exclaimed Iduna, a little alarmed. "A prisoner! I defy
you, sir. You are only a guest like myself. I will appeal to the
Seneschal in the absence of his lord. He will never permit the honour
of his master's flag to be violated by the irrational caprice of a
passionate boy."

"What lord?" inquired Nicaeus.

"Your friend, the Lord Justinian," answered Iduna. "He could little
anticipate such an abuse of his hospitality."

"My friend, the Lord Justinian!" replied Nicaeus, with a malignant smile.
"I am surprised that a personage of the Lady Iduna's deep discrimination
should so easily be deceived by 'a passionate boy!' Is it possible that
you could have supposed for a moment that there was any other lord of
this castle, save your devoted slave?"

"What!" exclaimed Iduna, really frightened.

"I have, indeed, the honour of finding the Lady Iduna my guest,"
continued Nicaeus, in a tone of bitter raillery. "This castle of
Kallista, the fairest in all Epirus, I inherit from my mother. Of late
I have seldom visited it; but, indeed, it will become a favourite
residence of mine, if it be, as I anticipate, the scene of my nuptial
ceremony."

Iduna looked around her with astonishment, then threw herself upon a
couch, and burst into tears. The Prince of Athens walked up and down the
hall with an air of determined coolness.

"Perfidious!" exclaimed Iduna between her sobs.