m richer than he who disdains me.'

'Strange and more strange! And thou lovest him who loves not thee?'

'I know not if I love him,' answered Julia, haughtily; 'but I know that
I would see myself triumph over a rival--I would see him who rejected me
my suitor--I would see her whom he has preferred in her turn despised.'

'A natural ambition and a womanly,' said the Egyptian, in a tone too
grave for irony. 'Yet more, fair maiden; wilt thou confide to me the
name of thy lover? Can he be Pompeian, and despise wealth, even if
blind to beauty?'

'He is of Athens,' answered Julia, looking down.

'Ha!' cried the Egyptian, impetuously, as the blood rushed to his cheek;
'there is but one Athenian, young and noble, in Pompeii. Can it be
Glaucus of whom thou speakest!'

'Ah! betray me not--so indeed they call him.'

The Egyptian sank back, gazing vacantly on the averted face of the
merchant's daughter, and muttering inly to himself: this conference,
with which he had hitherto only trifled, amusing himself with the
credulity and vanity of his visitor--might it not minister to his
revenge?'

'I see thou canst assist me not,' said Julia, offended by his continued
silence; 'guard at least my secret. Once more, farewell!'

'Maiden,' said the Egyptian, in an earnest and serious tone, 'thy suit
hath touched me--I will minister to thy will. Listen to me; I have not
myself dabbled in these lesser mysteries, but I know one who hath. At
the base of Vesuvius, less than a league from the city, there dwells a
powerful witch; beneath the rank dews of the new moon, she has gathered
the herbs which possess the virtue to chain Love in eternal fetters.
Her art can bring thy lover to thy feet. Seek her, and mention to her
the name of Arbaces: she fears that name, and will give thee her most
potent philtres.'

'Alas!' answered Julia, I know not the road to the home of her whom thou
speakest of: the way, short though it be, is long to traverse for a girl
who leaves, unknown, the house of her father. The country is entangled
with wild vines, and dangerous with precipitous caverns. I dare not
trust to mere strangers to guide me; the reputation of women of my rank
is easily tarnished--and though I care not who knows that I love
Glaucus, I would not have it imagined that I obtained his love by a
spell.'

'Were I but three days advanced in health,' said the Egyptian, rising
and walking (as if to try his strength) across the chamber, but