uty: look, look
at that lovely countenance; it is certainly bathed in grief, and defaced
with weeping; but that does not detract from its charm."

"Fair Christian," he added, in a condescending tone, "droop not thus
like the humble and neglected flower of the valley, since thou art
called to a brighter destiny; thou shalt flourish like the cultured
lily of the garden, for thou hast found grace in the eyes of Caneri, and
he has the power to render thee happy."

These words of kindness, far from tranquillizing the mind of Theodora,
served but to increase its agitation.

She hastily shrunk back as she perceived the Moor make a motion to take
her hand. Malique, in the meantime, exhibited much satisfaction in
having thus rendered himself useful to the pleasures of Caneri, and thus
acquired indisputable claims to his notice and gratitude; for, with the
petty despot, as with the greater tyrants of whom he was the miserable
copy, the base ministrants to his private gratifications were generally
more abundantly remunerated than those who gloriously served their
country.

"Malique," exclaimed Caneri, his eyes glowing with joy, "I am so well
pleased with thy zeal, that I will assuredly enable thee to hold the
most confidential offices near my person."

Then, turning to the renegade, who was as stubborn in his silence as the
chief appeared eager in lauding the attractions of the captive, "Curse
upon such apathy, Alagraf," he said with affected glee, "thou art a man
of marble, if such a woman is not capable of moving thee."

"Yes," sternly responded the renegade, "I am in sooth a man of marble,
and pity there are so few to resemble me: better it were for the
prosperity of our enterprize. What have I to do with the charms of
woman? they have proved the bane of my existence. Once, indeed, I knew
their value, but that is past, and now they are hateful to my sight:
they recall the unfortunate and innocent cause of the horrors which
surround me. Moor," he then added, "abandon not thyself to such
unreasonable joy; for, learn that the hopes which we conceived from the
possession of our captive are already vanished. She is not the woman we
had supposed."

"What meanest thou?" asked Caneri.

"She is not the daughter of Aguilar," replied Bermudo.

"Well," rejoined the Moor, "we must then submit to the disappointment;
but will this circumstance detract from the charms which you see render
her so lovely?" He cast an enamoured glance,