1831.] . a Milanese Legend. 499 



may yet float. A thousand zecchini to him whose hand shall yet secure 

 it/' 



The sudden relinquishment of the baron's grasp in the midst of her 

 struggle for release, would probably, by its abruptness, have precipitated 

 the maiden into the lake below, had not her entangled garments proved 

 a timely check to her fall. Heaven had granted her an instant for 

 escape, and given her strength to use it. With a courage which despe- 

 rate circumstances rather kindles than extinguishes in characters of a 

 certain tone, she extricated her raiment, and clinging for support to 

 every tangible substance that presented itself to her grasp, passed from 

 before the casement, and concealed herself in the first dark recess the 

 turret afforded secure, at least, that no inmate of the castello could 

 follow her. Here the damsel paused. She stood to recover her breath 

 to listen to what passed in the dwelling, and to wait till the restored 

 tranquillity of the castle, the renewed strength of her limbs trembling 

 with recent agitation and a streak or two of returning light should 

 enable her to prosecute her strange path with less danger. She heard a 

 confusion of voices and busy feet in the castle ; she heard the plashing of 

 oars in the quiet waters of the lake ; she heard the return of the success- 

 less adventurers. Stilness succeeded ; and, in the silence of the night, 

 the voices of her kinsman and one or two of his confidants reached the 

 maiden's ear. She ventured to draw a little nearer to the casement. 



" It must have been a form of earth," observed the Castellan, who, 

 like many persons superior to the vulgar credulity of accepting a 

 revealed religion, was the subject of a scarcely avowed superstition 

 " it must have been a form of earth : I felt its garments I held them in 

 my grap ; and if a form of earth then a woman's form, for no other 

 could pass between those bars. But what woman ? It could not be 

 the meek and timid girl, my kinswoman. The thought is idle. She 

 starts at her own shadow, and would dream not of such fearful em- 

 prize. Nay, as a good guardian, I have ever cared for her safety. Her 

 window opens not at all, nor does it even look on this giddy parapet ; 

 and, for her door, I turned its locks and bolts as I passed from the 

 prison-chamber of yon hopeful cavalier. Thou sayest, Vincenzo, that 

 she sleepeth even now in her chamber ?" " God of mercy ! then I have 

 found a friend !" ejaculated the maiden to herself. " What, then, was 

 that form ?" continued the Castellan, in a deep and troubled voice. 

 f< Vincenzo, we may not now safely do our work to-night. Lay not thy 

 hands on him. There be those may now call on us to answer for the 

 deed." " Merciful Heaven ! I thank thee ; thou hast crowned my pur- 

 pose," again ejaculated Portia. " Dream on, young sir, a few more 

 hours in safety," pursued the Castellan, in the tone of a baffled demon, 

 " my vengeance only slumbereth to fall the surer. Power that rulest 

 all things, and kindlest our dark and deep passions ! why why hast 

 thou placed in my keeping the treasure my vengeance hath so long 

 craved at thy hands, only to let it elude my grasp ? There is something 

 strange on my soul to-night. What could be that form ? Thinkest 

 thou, Vincenzo, yon knight hath agents we wot not of? I have the 

 thought. Melcurio, go get me some half-score of picked men. I will 

 forthwith visit that young gallant's chamber. I will see whether he 

 still slumbereth in unsuspecting security. If he still calleth me by my 

 most soothing paternal name, I shall know how to deal with him. He 

 may yet give me knowledge that shall crush him and his sire. Not to 



3 S 2 



