o, let me be taken and placed upon
those secret paths known to you, that I may join your bands, and be
engaged in enterprises for which my soul yearns."

"H'm!" said Empecinado, in a tone approaching mockery. "Do _you_ then
hold with the crack-brained populace, who prefer death to doing homage
to the Grand Nation? Have not your friends taught you better?"

"Don Empecinado," said Edgar, "you do not understand the German mode of
looking at matters. It is not known to you that German courage, which
burns on for ever inextinguishably, like a pure naphtha flame, and
German faithfulness, firm as the primeval rock, form the most
impenetrable coat of mail, from which all the poisoned darts of
treachery and wickedness fall back harmlessly. I beg you once more, Don
Empecinado, to let me go out into the open country, that I may prove
myself deserving of the good opinion which I believe myself to have
already earned."

Empecinado looked at Edgar in amazement, whilst a low murmur circulated
amongst the assemblage. Don Rafaele moved forward to speak to
Empecinado, but he motioned him back, and going to Edgar, took his hand
and said with emotion--

"Another fate was in store for you. You had another destiny reserved
for you to-day. However, Don Edgar, think of your own country. The
enemies who have covered it with shame are here to-day before you.
Remember that your German peoples, too, will raise their eyes to the
Phoenix which will soar, with shining plumage, from the flames which
are kindling here, and their despair give place to warm longing, the
parent of dauntless courage, of battle to the very death!"

"I thought of all this," said Edgar, "before I left my own country, to
shed my blood for your freedom. All my being dissolved itself into lust
for vengeance, when Don Baldassare di Luna lay dying in my arms."

"If you are serious in this," cried Empecinado, as one suddenly
breaking into fury, "you must set forth this very night, this very
moment. You must not enter Don Rafaele's house again." Edgar declared
that this was precisely what he desired, and was immediately conducted
away by a man named Isidor Mirr (who afterwards became a guerilla
chief), and Father Eusebio.

As they went the good Eusebio could not sufficiently express his
delight at Edgar's escape.

"Heaven!" he said, "seeing your goodness put courage into your heart--a
divine miracle, in my belief."

It was much closer to Valenzia than he expected, or than