494 Tfo White Spectre of Maltnanza : [MAY, 



among them he descried one or two eimple machines which could not be 

 mistaken : these were hand-fetters. 



Sensations, undefined, but far from soothing, haunted the brave 

 knight's bosom; and he stood, for some time, with his eyes fixed 

 on the moonlight, which, falling through the vertical bars of his window, 

 streaked the floor of the chamber. " 'Tis nothing," at length he said, 

 aloud. " My father without violence to filial duty be it spoken is a 

 man of dark brow and moody temper. I chafed his humour to-night by 

 holding in light esteem the feud that stirs our family-blood. I'll to bed, 

 and think no more on his strange bearing." He was about to cast off his 

 garments, when the words " Not to bed, lest you lie down to rise no 

 more" met his ear. ' Gracious Heaven I I am in the castle of some 

 enchanter !" exclaimed the knight. " Portia Portia di Baveno can it 

 be thy voice ? What white form do I see in the moonlight ? Say, 

 shadow of an angel, art thou of earth or of heaven?" " Of earth, and a 

 prey to all the miseries it groaneth under," answered Portia, gasping 

 for breath, and supporting herself with difficulty. " Hush ! hush ! for 

 mercy's sake speak softly/' fe In the name of every saint that walketh 

 earth and heaven, how came you hither ?" exclaimed Alberto, rushing to 

 her assistance. te I concealed myself at nightfal in your chamber," she 

 said, endeavouring to collect breath for explanation. " Alberto, thy 

 life hangs on a thread. The proud lord of this fearful dwelling hath had 

 his wakeful eye on thee, ever since thou enteredst the land of thy sires. 

 The treacherous escorts that met thee in thy homeward-path were not 

 the followers of thy father. They w r ere sent to beguile thee into the 

 hands of thy deadliest foe. Thou art now in the castle of Malinanza, 

 and in the power of its merciless lord !" ' ' Gracious power ! I see it all," 

 exclaimed Alberto ; " his dark words his fiendish gaze of triumph- 

 his parting salutation all are explained." The knight paused, and, 

 almost overpowered for a moment, covered his face with his hands. At 

 length he said " Alas ! my real, my desolated parent, thou shalt now 

 look for thy son thy last hope in vain ! He shall never behold thy 

 face, nor hear thy blessing. And thou, my beloved Portia, I must bid 

 thee farewell for ever. Thou hast not let my final hour come on me 

 without thy kind warning. I thank thee. In such coming peril, I 

 would send thee from my side, thou faithful and lovely one ; but exit is 

 denied thee, and the arms which Alberto would only have yielded with 

 his last breath, have been guilefully removed from his stout hand. But 

 conceal thyself, my Portia : it were ill fitting that thou shouldst be dis- 

 covered here ; nor would I that thy tender age should behold aught thou 

 wouldst hereafter shudder to think on/' The damsel drew a poniard 

 from beneath her white garment. " Alas ! dear knight," she said, in 

 that kindness of tone which, under such circumstances, was the nicest 

 proof of female delicacy " alas ! I know too well how little will avail 

 this single weapon, even in the hands of thy valour, against the whole 

 force of a castello armed against thee. But listen to me. 'Tis the fatal 

 packet that makes thy ruin. My cruel kinsman might not, even in this 

 wild age and country, dare to lay hands on thee, held he not a fearful 

 sanction to his utmost violence in the proofs of thy treasonable purposes. 

 Two hours after midnight, trusty messengers and a body of armed fol- 

 lowers will be secretly ready to convey thy fatal documents to our 

 jealous rulers in Milan, with the news that the loyal lord of Malinanza 

 holds thee in strict guard until their pleasure be known. Alas ! 'tis this 



