retire to a distance by the explosion of another cask of
powder, which shook the old walls to their foundation, and he had
scarcely got to a secure position, when the remainder igniting, the
whole edifice came tumbling down at once, and lay a heap of smoking
ruins on the ground. Some of the burning embers had fallen on the roof
of the adjoining building, and that now blazed up, and being very dry
and rotten, burnt with equal fury, so that in a very short time it was
reduced to a heap of ashes: the old walls of the castle, against which
it was built, alone standing. It was thus that all traces of the means
by which the prisoners had made their escape were obliterated. The
islanders could do nothing to stop the progress of the flames, for the
only water procurable was from a deep well, whence only a small quantity
could be drawn up at a time, and there were no means at hand to get it
from the sea, over the cliffs.

The conflagration had the effect of attracting the population, far and
near, to the spot--the fishermen and other inhabitants of the
neighbouring village, the seamen from the vessels, and indeed everybody
in the bay, came rushing up the ravine to see what was taking place.

Zappa stood at a distance, contemplating the scene of havoc. He thought
of Nina in all her youth and beauty, of her fond affection, her deep
devotion, of all the sacrifices she had made for him--and callous and
bad as was his heart, a transient pang of bitter regret visited it, for
the cruel return he had made her.

"This, then, Nina Montifalcone, is the fate I have reserved for you. An
agonising death the only reward I can give you for that love which still
endured after I had torn aside the bright veil with which your fervid
imagination had clothed me, and showed myself to you in my real
colours--that love which I verily believed would have endured after you
knew that my heart had been captivated by one still younger, still more
beautiful, than yourself."

As he gave vent aloud to these feelings, so strange to his bosom, which
now agitated him, he suddenly stood like one transfixed, his breath came
thick, his eye dilated, for there before him, with the full glare of the
fire falling on her, stood the figure of Nina. Her countenance was pale
as death, and she neither spoke nor approached him.

"Who are you?" he exclaimed at length, in a voice trembling with
emotion; "speak, if you would not drive me to distraction. Tell me
when