erfidie avec tant de courage?
De crimes, de vertus, quel horrible assemblage!

_Voltaire._

After the defeat of his companions at Alhacen, and the total
annihilation of their hopes and resources in that quarter, Bermudo the
renegade had prudently fled to Granada. He knew he should be in greater
security in that city, from the mixed intercourse of Moors and
Christians, than by continuing in the wandering habits of a mountain
life, now circumvented with numberless dangers from the active searches
which the Christians were making to destroy every rebel that might be
surprised lurking in suspicious places. The same course had been pursued
by a considerable number of the dispersed Moors, whilst others, less
enterprising or more cautious, had concealed themselves in obscure
caverns and hiding places.

The renegade was one of the first that had arrived at Granada; and
prudently mingling with the crowd of joyous Christians, feigned to be
exceedingly interested in the solemnity of the day, when his attention
was forcibly attracted by the appearance of a cavalcade in which he
recognized an object already familiar to his sight. Great as his
surprise was, he could not entertain a doubt that it was Theodora
herself, Caneri's fair captive, who now unexpectedly struck his view. An
impulse of curiosity induced him to follow her, until he perceived that
she was safely lodged in the mansion of Aguilar. From that instant,
Bermudo had unremittingly devoted his time to investigating this
occurrence. He learnt with pleasure that his hated foe was still alive.
Nay, he had actually seen him; and, fervently bent on prosecuting every
scheme that might hold out a probability of forwarding his views of
vengeance, he had succeeded in his first inquiries to the full extent of
his wishes. He had learnt the approaching wedding of Gomez Arias, and,
remembering the circumstance of Theodora's lamentations and despair on
the supposed death of that individual, he naturally concluded that there
was some mystery, which, if discovered, might be easily converted to his
own advantage.

He had therefore artfully sought an acquaintance with Roque, the
acknowledged servant of Gomez Arias, and partly by insidious questions,
and partly by his own penetration, he had drawn the conclusion that
Theodora was the forsaken mistress of Gomez Arias, brought by chance to
the very scene of his expectations, and who, if apprised of her