394 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



them with unhesitating confidence ; and, favoured 

 by the darkness of the night, succeeded in getting 

 Antonio unobserved through a back entrance of his 

 father's palace. 



The first impulse of the terrified youth on finding 

 himself thus in at least temporary security, was to 

 destroy the picture of the mysterious old woman, 

 which, if found by the agents of the Inquisition, 

 might bear false but fatal witness against him. 

 "\Vith pallid cheek, and still trembling with alarm, 

 he was hurrying to his chamber to execute his 

 intention, when he encountered his father, who 

 advanced to meet him, and grasping his arm, fixed" 

 upon him for some moments his stern and searching 

 gaze. 



" The picture, father ! " exclaimed the terror-stricken 

 Antonio. " For the love of Heaven, stay me not ! 

 Let me destroy that fatal picture ! " 



Regardless of his son's agitation and terror, the 

 Proveditore half led, half forced him to a seat in a 

 part of the room, when the red blaze from the larch 

 logs that were crackling on the hearth, lit up the 

 young man's features. 



" What means this, Antonio ] " he said ; " what 

 has befallen during my absence at Gradiska? The 

 familiars of the Inquisition have been seeking you 

 here you, the last person whose name I should ex- 

 pect to hear in such mouths. Alarm me it did not ; 

 for well I know that you are too scant of energy and 



