e
eyes and benumbed the senses, were now no longer resplendent, but wore
that chilling aspect which imparts to the mind a painful sensation of
melancholy and regret. Upon the long tables still remained the scattered
fragments, remnants of the banquet. Here the sumptuous display of the
looms of Valencia were stained with the waste of racy and highly
flavoured wines, and there broken goblets and ornaments of curious
workmanship were flung around in the reckless excitement of the
revellers. The lamps were out, and the few that still glimmered in the
sockets served but to heighten with their fitful and scanty light the
deserted and gloomy appearance of the scene.

Gomez Arias had retired to his chamber in a transport of delight; the
most pleasing reveries thronged upon his mind, and as he paced the
silent apartment, he inwardly congratulated himself on the near
completion of all his hopes--the speedy enjoyment of his fondest wishes.
In this ferment of expectation, not a single thought obtruded to damp
his ardour, or throw a partial shadow over so bright a picture. Every
thing around him contributed to his felicity,--for alas! he did not see
the sorrow that was busily destroying those charms by whose power he had
been once captivated: nor did he hear the wailings of that voice
designed by nature to convey the softest tones of innocence and delight.
No, Gomez Arias had no thought for his unhappy victim--far, far was he
from surmising that she was at that moment beneath the same roof.

In this delightful mood, Don Lope threw himself upon the superb couch,
to pass the night in the luxurious vision of his approaching happiness.
The silence was awful! the dull bluish glare of a solitary lamp flung
around the dim splendor of the chamber a charm of melancholy
tranquillity; the rich arabesque ornaments, the gorgeous tapestry, on
which the heroes of other times stood frowning in gloomy repose, were
now partially obscured in solemn shadows that might have imparted a
sensation of superstitious awe. More faintly now gleamed the expiring
light of the lamp, which looked a cold unearthly beam, colourless and
fixed, save when the chilling draft of nightly air found its way through
a crevice of the ponderous casement, and animated the languid flame with
a dull and sickly motion.

Hushed is every sound, when lo! the door gently opens, and a white
figure moves slowly forwards. It is a female form, and the lamp that
still glimmered in the ro