housand voices.

"His name?" impatiently demanded the Queen.

_Viva!_ Gomez Arias, _Viva!_ again burst on the ears of the Court, and
Monteblanco, with bitter emphasis, exclaimed:--

"Hear! hear his name honored with the strains of triumph: hear the name
which causes my misery and dishonor, now receiving the glorious reward
of the hero! Oh, shame on my withered arm; where is the strength of my
youth; and where the sons of my name?"

"Gomez Arias!" cried the queen and the courtiers with one simultaneous
cry of amazement--"Gomez Arias!"

"'Tis he!" replied Monteblanco, firmly and indignantly.

A dismal silence then succeeded, and the emotion of the queen became
strongly apparent. She felt that, in the person of a triumphant
conqueror, she was about to receive a criminal, and that the reward due
to his services could not avert the punishment incurred by his guilt.
The surrounding courtiers stood aghast, gazing in wonder on the queen.
They were well assured of the rigid impartiality which had swayed her
conducts through life; and aware that not even all the powerful voices
in the country could successfully plead against the claims of the
unprotected, or stay the decree of justice upon the oppressor and the
criminal.

Meantime Gomez Arias, with all the exultation of a conquering warrior,
entered the hall, attended by his principal adherents, and preceded by
Mohabed and other captive chiefs. He advanced in joyful expectation
towards the throne, when suddenly his course was arrested by a dreadful
vision.

Fixed in mute astonishment, he stood, as he gazed upon the group, at the
foot of the throne; an ashy paleness succeeded the glowing tints of joy
yet visible on his countenance. His confusion became apparent, and was
productive of the most injurious surmises in the minds of all around.
Yet Gomez Arias raised his eyes towards his sovereign, but from her
features he could augur nothing favorable; no encouragement could be
traced in their calm and distant expression.

A consciousness of guilt now mastered all his powers of dissimulation,
and the nature of Gomez Arias seemed, in a few moments, to have
undergone a total and inexplicable revolution. His joyous attendants
were surprised at these unwonted signs of consternation; and the sounds
of pleasure and triumph suddenly ceased. A deadly spell seemed to have
been suddenly cast over the scene, and every one remained in a state of
terrible suspense. At length Gomez Arias,