ing it yield, he tried the handle, and the door opened.
Silently and swiftly he ascended a large, stone staircase, and took
refuge in the first apartment which he found before him. A beautiful
young girl, the only occupant of the room, starting at the fearful
apparition of a stranger flying for his life, in the robe of the _san
benito_, fell upon her knees and crossed herself repeatedly, as her
dark eyes were fixed in terror on the intruder.

"Lady!" cried Landon, "for the love of that Being whom we both
worship, though in a different form, take pity on a wretched
fellow-being. Save me! save me!"

"You are accursed and condemned," she answered, rising and recoiling.

"I am! I am!--but you know my offence. If you ever loved yourself, you
know how to pardon it. Think of the horrid fate which awaits me, if
you are pitiless."

The lady paused and reflected, Landon watching the expression of her
countenance with the most intense anxiety. At length her brow cleared
up; there was an expression of sweetness about her rosy lips that
revived hope in the heart of the fugitive.

"I will save you if I can," she answered.

"Heaven's best blessing on you for the word!" exclaimed the
Englishman.

"But you have come to a dangerous place for shelter and safety," she
continued, sadly. "Do you know whose house this is? It is the dwelling
of my father, Don Rodrigo d'Almonte, the governor of Valencia."

Landon started back in terror, but he instantly recovered from that
feeling.

"You, then," he said, "are Donna Florinda, in praise of whose beauty
and goodness all Valencia is eloquent. I feel that I am safe in your
hands."

"I will never betray you," said the lady. "You are safe here. It is my
bed chamber," she continued, blushing; "but I resign it to you--sure,
from your countenance, that you are a cavalier of honor, who will
never give me cause to repent of the step."

"Be sure of that."

"Swear it," she said, "upon this trinket, which my father took from
your person in the hall of the Inquisition."

Landon took from Florinda's hand the diamond star given him by
Estella, and thus mysteriously restored, and pressed it to his lips.

"By this talisman," he said, "by this token, which I prize so highly,
I pledge myself not to abuse your confidence, but to repay the
priceless service you render me by a life of gratitude."

"You may remain here, then, for the present," said Florinda, "till I
can think what can be done for you