36 Miranda d'Aragon ; QJuly, 



The terrific man stood pale and trembling, fixing his basilisk eyes upon 

 them both ; Mira's excessive beauty, and the cheerful countenance of 

 her husband, shewed him what he had lost; his newly awakened 

 passion roused him to the most dreadful resolution. " There they are !" 

 fell from his pale lips, " but they are now in my power !" 



Miranda made a sign which his people understood ; ere they could 

 regain their dwelling they were seized on by the minions of the inqui- 

 sition, and before they had time to conceive what was required of them, 

 the iron doors of separate dungeons had closed behind them. 



In the full sense of his tremendous power, Miranda swore their per- 

 dition ! The love he had felt was not to be rendered an illusion to him 

 with impunity — no one should rob him of his happiness unrevenged ! 

 The two innocent beings were given up to the judgment of the inqui- 

 sition. Miranda himself urged the accusation against them. The 

 principal crime of which Mira was accused, was her being the daughter 

 of an infamous gipsy, and of her having induced Henrico to marry her, 

 and his initiation into her blasphemous ways. As they could not deny 

 they had seen Zagurina, principally under the disguise of a gipsy, little 

 other proof was wanting. They were pronounced guilty, and placed 

 amongst the number of those condemned to death. 



IMiranda feasted on the despair of his victims. The unfortunate pair 

 were doomed to know by whose hand they died ; they were to know 

 the avenger who had risen, like a spectre from the grave, to destroy 

 their bliss. 



As Henrico and JMira were conducted, after their last examination, 

 to their dungeons, ]\Iiranda ordered them to be first led to his apart- 

 ment. They entered at separate doors, and, on seeing each other, 

 ruslied forward with open arms ; but he sprang furiously between them, 

 exclaiming, "Do you know me ?" 



They recognized Aliranda, but felt no fear, as, in their innocence, 

 they rather hoped that their newly-found friend would be their deli- 

 verer. They cried out, in an imploring tone, " Father, save your chil- 

 dren !" The name of father, formerly so delightful to his ear, now 

 only fanned his rage afresh ; he dashed Mira from him, loaded her with 

 curses and reproaches, and assured hei', that it was his poAverful hand 

 alone that had devoted her to death ! He then quitted the unhappy 

 victims, who Avere conducted back to their gloomy dungeons. As 

 Henrico sat on his damp straw in deep thought, and vainly endeavoured 

 to console himself, the gaoler entered with a light and some provisions. 

 As he set them down before Henrico, he recognized the son of his old 

 master, who had protected him under circumstances of deep suspicion 

 against his character, and had subsequently saved him from being exe- 

 cuted as a spy. " Sir," said he, " I will now discharge part of the 

 debt of gratitude I owe you, in aiding your flight from the dreadful 

 hands into which you have fallen. The road from this prison leads but 

 to death !" Henrico rejoiced to find a friend in his distress, but how 

 could he leave IMira behind .'' The grateful gaoler convinced him they 

 could only be saved one at a time, and solemnly promised to venture 

 every thing for JMira's liberty, if he would but comply with his plan 

 for enforcing the belief that he had committed suicide, which, after 

 a great many struggles, was acceded to. The plot succeeded ; and 

 St. Lorent was enabled to gain the frontiers, where it was promised his 

 wife should join him. 



