THE VARANGIANS. 203 



time with pleasure to his conversation, and even to view him with 

 some degree of interest and regard. Emboldened by this, he began 

 at length to imagine that he might venture to prefer his suit (for he 

 was as yet ignorant of her love for Redwald), and availing himself of 

 a temporary absence of Lesbia (with whom he was an especial fa- 

 vourite) from an apartment where she and her young ward had been 

 conversing, he poured into the ear of the latter an eloquent and ardent 

 declaration of his passion, nor would he be denied until she confessed 

 the existence of a previous attachment. 



To the mansion of which Evadne was an inmate there appertained 

 a spacious garden, which opened upon a road, shaded on one side by 

 a small grove, and on the other commanding a view of open heaths, 

 which communicated with the great western way to the city, at the 

 distance of two or three miles. It was the practice of our heroine 

 frequently to walk in this garden, and sometimes, when accompanied 

 by her female attendants, she would even venture to advance into 

 the country beyond the grove, of which we have made mention. 

 This was not unknown to Galahautin, who had been assiduously 

 watching the movements of the family, a pursuit in which he was 

 mainly assisted by Cario, one of the domestics, who was easily per- 

 suaded, by dint of an occasional bribe, to afford almost any informa- 

 tion in his power, which could be acceptable to the stranger. 

 Thinking himself sure of this man's fidelity to his own rogueries, or 

 thrown off his guard by passion and jealousy, the Frank promised 

 him a reward, which seemed at variance with his supposed straight- 

 ened fortunes, if he would give him correct information of the next 

 visit of Evadne to her favourite haunts. The crafty Greek accepted 

 the terms, and fulfilled his promise, but having at the least a strong 

 suspicion that there was mischief in the intentions of the stranger, he 

 had no sooner secured his reward, than he hastened to apprize Red- 

 wald of the probable danger his mistress had incurred, taking care, 

 however, to be silent as to his own share in the transaction. He , it 

 was whose arrival caused the abrupt departure of the Varangian, who 

 did not, however, omit, together with hasty thanks, to bestow another 

 donation on the fortunate Cario, with a promise of future favours. 

 Not a few gifts had the latter already received from the same quar- 

 ter, for his apparently zealous attachment to our heroine a sentiment 

 which was not, indeed, entirely feigned. 



In the meantime Evadne, without fear or suspicion, strayed 

 through the mazes of the beautiful and fruitful garden, now tinged 

 with red by the glow of the almost setting sun. As the enamoured 

 Frank had hoped, she passed through its extremity, and wandered 

 forth upon the adjoining road, which was rarely used, except by the 

 inmates of the abode she had quitted. She was a few paces in ad- 

 vance of her two attendant maidens, when just as they had so far 

 skirted the grove on their right that an angle in the road placed them 

 out of sight of any habitation, three horsemen emerged from the trees 

 which had concealed them, two of whom seized the terrified attend- 

 ants, and preventing their shrieks, hastily raised them from the 

 ground, and placing them before them, followed him who appeared 

 to be their leader, who, admirably mounted, was flying with Evadne, 



