lost himself in sad rumination, the name of Aliande
now and then escaping from his laboring bosom with many a sigh. At
length a lively contention arose outside his prison door. A female
voice was heard in earnest solicitation, and a manly one opposing;
finally he heard the clinking of gold, and the bolts were withdrawn.

In the most seductive night dress, with streaming hair, tearful eyes
and pale cheeks, which increased her beauty a thousand fold, Rosamunda
tottered into the prison. With a trembling and mournful voice she said
to him, 'you have rejected me when you were yet free to choose; but I
come not now to speak of myself, of my love, or of the grief inflicted
by your rejection. Your welfare alone has induced me to seek you once
more. Your life, which is dearer to me than my own,--dearer even than
my eternal happiness,--stands upon a cast.'

'I am sorry that such a momentary hallucination should be followed by
such serious consequences,' said Ryno.

'The lioness robbed of her young, is a lamb in comparison with my
father when the honor of his family is concerned. You have only the
cruel choice between my hand and a miserable death.'

'That is a hard alternative!' said Ryno with a shudder.

'Reflect that you are forever lost to Aliande. If your wife loves like
Rosamunda, she would rather yield you to another's arms than deliver
you up to a horrible death.'

'No artful sophistry, or seductive blandishments, can change my
resolution. Your father must cite me before a court of honor, if he be
an honorable knight. There will I answer his charge, and give him all
the satisfaction he has a right to claim. If he do not that, if he be
determined to destroy a chained and defenceless man in a secret
dungeon, he is a despicable assassin.'

'Ryno!' cried Rosamunda, again clasping him with wild self-abandonment.
Gently releasing himself from her embrace he bore her as far as his
chains would permit, and called the sentinels. Upon their entrance he
committed the weeping maiden to their care and commanded them to
conduct her to her father.

'A night of torment!' sighed Ryno, throwing himself back upon his
straw: 'but I have one consolation amid all my sorrows. By my death I
shall seal that fidelity which I have heretofore but ill kept, and
expiate the tears which my inconstancy has cost Aliande,--thus becoming
purified and prepared for the joys of Walhalla. The gods bless and
protect my wife and children!'

Again were