burst suddenly upon
me last night at the funeral of my sire. Moreover, had accident revealed
to Nisida the existence of the connection between my father and your
sister, signor, she would have imparted the discovery to me, such is the
confidence and so great is the love that exists between us. For habit
has rendered us so skillful and quick in conversing with the language of
the deaf and dumb, that no impediment ever exists to the free
interchange of our thoughts."

"And yet, if the Lady Nisida _had_ made such a discovery, her hatred of
Agnes may be well understood," said Wagner; "for her ladyship must
naturally look upon my sister as the partner of her father's
weakness--the dishonored slave of his passions."

"Nisida has no secret from me," observed the young count, firmly.

"But wherefore did Dame Margaretha deceive my sister in respect to the
personal appearance of the Lady Nisida?" inquired Wagner.

"I know not. At the same time----"

The door opened, and Nisida entered the apartment.

She was attired in deep black; her luxuriant raven hair, no longer
depending in shining curls, was gathered up in massy bands at the sides,
and a knot behind, whence hung a rich veil that meandered over her
body's splendidly symmetrical length of limb in such a manner as to aid
her attire in shaping rather than hiding the contours of that matchless
form. The voluptuous development of her bust was shrouded, not
concealed, by the stomacher of black velvet which she wore, and which
set off in strong relief the dazzling whiteness of her neck.

The moment her lustrous dark eyes fell upon Fernand Wagner, she started
slightly; but this movement was imperceptible alike to him whose
presence caused it, and to her brother.

Francisco conveyed to her, by the rapid language of the fingers, the
name of their visitor, and at the same time intimated to her that he was
the brother of Agnes, the young and lovely female whose strange
appearance at the funeral, and avowed connection with the late noble,
had not been concealed from the haughty lady.

Nisida's eyes seemed to gleam with pleasure when she understood in what
degree of relationship Wagner stood toward Agnes; and she bowed to him
with a degree of courtesy seldom displayed by her to strangers.

Francisco then conveyed to her in the language of the dumb, all those
details already related in respect to the "mysterious lady" who had so
haunted the unfortunate Agnes.

A glow of indign