lover's
treachery, would afford a powerful obstacle to his views. The renegade
therefore seized the favorable opportunity which presented itself, to
accomplish the ruin of his hated foe, and determined to neglect no
means of accomplishing the revenge which had been his solitary pursuit
for many years. But his plan of operations was as deep and intricate as
the motive that directed him was dark and diabolical. Finding that Roque
absolutely refused to open his proposal to his master, he resolved to
break the matter to him in person, and with this intention had proceeded
to the public walks, as already mentioned. His artful and wily behavour,
assisted by the distracting position of Don Lope's affairs, had betrayed
the latter into that snare which the renegade had so cunningly devised,
and which, if followed up with success, would lead the unwary Gomez
Arias towards a labyrinth, in the mazes of which his destruction might
be easily completed.

Thus Bermudo could not conceal his inward satisfaction when he found
himself possessed of the ring of Gomez Arias--a ring which he well
recollected had been the gift of Queen Isabella,--a precious gage,
which, in the process of his fiendish machinations, might contribute
materially to their successful termination. While on the one hand the
renegade was thus awaiting with anxiety the result of every move in his
diabolical game, and Don Lope on the other was congratulating himself
upon the speedy close of his heartless compact, the lovely but
unfortunate subject of both speculations was happy in comparative
tranquillity at the palace of her preserver.

In perfect obedience to the urgent and repeated injunctions of her
lover, Theodora kept herself in seclusion in her apartment. Implicitly
confiding in the promises and vows of Don Lope, and fondly indulging in
dreams of future bliss, she nevertheless felt a degree of disquietude,
natural to the high excitement into which her feelings had been thrown.
The morning came--the morning of that eventful day, and the commotion
which prevailed throughout the palace, failed not to interest Theodora,
although the cause admitted of various interpretations. Now she fondly
imagined that Gomez Arias had already sought an interview with Aguilar,
and made the necessary disclosures; and then again she shuddered at the
idea that the fond wishes in which she had indulged might never be
realized.

This state of anxiety and suspense was fortunately interru