e."

"But it is the promise of a king, a Christian, and a knight," said the
king, with dignity rather mild than arrogant; "among monarchs, what
hostage can be more sacred? Let this pass: how proceed affairs in the
rebel city?"

"May this maiden withdraw, ere I answer my lord the king?" said Almamen.

The young prince started to his feet. "Shall I conduct this new charge
to my mother?" he asked, in a low voice, addressing Ferdinand.

The king half smiled: "The holy father were a better guide," he
returned, in the same tone. But, though the Dominican heard the hint, he
retained his motionless posture; and Ferdinand, after a momentary gaze
on the friar, turned away. "Be it so, Juan," said he, with a look meant
to convey caution to the prince; "Perez shall accompany you to the
queen: return the moment your mission is fulfilled--we want your
presence."

While this conversation was carried on between the father and son,
the Hebrew was whispering, in his sacred tongue, words of comfort and
remonstrance to the maiden; but they appeared to have but little of the
desired effect; and, suddenly falling on his breast, she wound her
arms around the Hebrew, whose breast shook with strong emotions, and
exclaimed passionately, in the same language, "Oh, my father! what have
I done?--why send me from thee?--why intrust thy child to the stranger?
Spare me, spare me!"

"Child of my heart!" returned the Hebrew, with solemn but tender
accents, "even as Abraham offered up his son, must I offer thee, upon
the altars of our faith; but, O Leila! even as the angel of the Lord
forbade the offering, so shall thy youth be spared, and thy years
reserved for the glory of generations yet unborn. King of Spain!"
he continued in the Spanish tongue, suddenly and eagerly, "you are a
father, forgive my weakness, and speed this parting."

Juan approached; and with respectful courtesy attempted to take the hand
of the maiden.

"You?" said the Israelite, with a dark frown. "O king! the prince is
young."

"Honour knoweth no distinction of age," answered the king. "What ho,
Perez! accompany this maiden and the prince to the queen's pavilion."

The sight of the sober years and grave countenance of the attendant
seemed to re-assure the Hebrew. He strained Leila in his arms; printed a
kiss upon her forehead without removing her veil; and then, placing her
almost in the arms of Perez, turned away to the further end of the tent,
and concealed his face wi