1831.] a Tale of the Inquisilion. 37 



In the mean time, Henrico and JMira were condemned to death ; the 

 auto-de-fe was fixed, when their lives were to become a prey to the 

 flames. IMiranda was impatient for the day of execution. Since the 

 sentence of death had been pronounced, and that it was supposed Hen- 

 rico had destroyed himself, sleep had forsaken his pillow ; he desired the 

 arrival of that moment when he could fully glut his revenge ! IMiranda 

 had arisen very early the morning of this last day, when a lay-sister of 

 a nunnery requested to speak with him ; and upon being admitted, 

 delivered a verbal request from the abbess, begging him to repair to her 

 immediately, as she had sometliing of great consequence to impart 

 to him. IMiranda instantly followed her. She conducted him to the 

 convent of the Sisters of jNIercy, and shewed him into the parlour, say- 

 ing, she would go fetch the abbess. Finding himself alone, he cast his 

 eyes on a portrait on the wall, representing a beautiful woman in the 

 habit of a nun. As he continued observing it, his heart beat quickly, 

 for he recognized the features ; and it appeared to him as though the 

 lovely lips would open, and call him by his name. As he stood doubt- 

 ing, not knowing to decide whether he saw Mira's picture, or whether 

 he saw a form out of past time before him, some one touched him on 

 the shoulder, saying, " How does this picture please you .''" IMiranda 

 started, for behind him stood the gipsy Zagurina. 



" Stand off, sorceress!" cried he, in a rage; "I have nothing more 

 to do with thee. I canne here to speak to the abbess of the convent ; 

 how darest thou penetrate this sanctuary ?" 



"Sir," said Zagurina, " the abbess has just sent me to you, for you 

 have much to explain to me ere she can see you ! Sir," continued 

 she, " by all that is sacred, tell me the truth ; do you know aught of 

 Mira and her husband ? I found her like an apparition, but lost her 

 again ; and after having sought her every where with inexpressible 

 anxiety, the idea at last struck me, and I fear it is not without founda- 

 tion, that they have fallen into the hands of your dreadful tribunal." 



Miranda looked at her with an infernal smile, and said — "Yes! to 

 you they are now lost I my powerfid hand has at last reached the infa- 

 mous M-retches, and will also annihilate you !" 



" Sir," said Zagurina, in a supplicating tone, " by the remembrance of 

 yonder picture, I imjjlore you to tell me what crime my poor children 

 have committed.''" 



" And canst thou still ask me that, thou gipsy hag ?" cried Miranda. 

 " They have robbed me of all my happiness, I will therefore crush them. 

 Listen ! thy daughter was once dearer to me than aught on earth, she 

 was the angel I worshipped ; but tiie perfidious St. Lorent, the only 

 one to whom I was weak enough to entrust my secret, broke, like a 

 robber, into my house, during my unfortunate imprisonment, and stole 

 the affections of my destined bride; she followed him, and left me in 

 beggary to hunt her up and down the world, and bury the best affec- 

 tions of my heart beneath a monkish cowl." 



" And is this her only crime .''" asked Zagmuna. 



" It is a crime which calls for vengeance I" said Miranda : " but the 

 tribunal of the Inquisition has condemned them to death, because they 

 are thy children, tliou iieretical sinner ! — The cowardly St. Lorent has 

 already destroyed himself, and to-morrow thy daughter shall meet her 

 doom \" 



" Merciful God \" cried a voice beliind the grating, and IMiranda be- 



