, accompanied by the bishop and by the Countess Frandina. Then
gathering around him those who were of his blood and kindred, he revealed
the outrage that had been offered to their house. He represented to them
that Roderick was their legitimate enemy; that he had dethroned Witiza,
their relation, and had now stained the honor of one of the most
illustrious daughters of their line. The Countess Frandina seconded his
words. She was a woman majestic in person and eloquent of tongue; and
being inspired by a mother's feelings, her speech aroused the assembled
cavaliers to fury.

The count took advantage of the excitement of the moment to unfold his
plan. The main object was to dethrone Don Roderick, and give the crown to
the sons of the late King Witiza. By this means they would visit the sins
of the tyrant upon his head, and, at the same time, restore the regal
honors to their line. For this purpose their own force would be
sufficient; but they might procure the aid of Muza ben Nosier, the Arabian
general in Mauritania, who would no doubt gladly send a part of his troops
into Spain to assist in the enterprise.

The plot thus suggested by Count Julian received the unholy sanction of
Bishop Oppas, who engaged to aid it secretly with all his influence and
means: for he had great wealth and possessions, and many retainers. The
example of the reverend prelate determined all who might otherwise have
wavered, and they bound themselves by dreadful oaths to be true to the
conspiracy. Count Julian undertook to proceed to Africa and seek the camp
of Muza, to negotiate for his aid, while the bishop was to keep about the
person of King Roderick, and lead him into the net prepared for him.

All things being thus arranged, Count Julian gathered together his
treasure, and taking his wife and daughter and all his household,
abandoned the country he meant to betray; embarking at Malaga for Ceuta.
The gate in the wall of that city, through which they went forth,
continued for ages to bear the name of _Puerta de la Cava_, or the gate of
the harlot; for such was the opprobrious and unmerited appellation
bestowed by the Moors on the unhappy Florinda.

When Count Julian had placed his family in security in Ceuta, surrounded
by soldiery devoted to his fortunes, he took with him a few confidential
followers, and departed in secret for the camp of the Arabian Emir, Muza
ben Nozier. The camp was spread out in one of those pastoral vallies which
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