ject of his adoration in that elegant cavalier who now
stood before him.

Scarcely had the jailer closed and bolted the massive door again, when
Fernand rushed forward to clasp Nisida in his arms;--but, imperiously
waving her hand, she motioned him to stand back.

Then, with the language of the fingers, she rapidly demanded--"Will you
swear upon the cross that the young female who has been murdered, was
not your mistress?"

"I swear," answered Fernand in the same symbolic manner; and, as the
light of the lamp played on his handsome countenance, his features
assumed so decided an expression of truth, frankness, and sincerity,
that Nisida was already more than half convinced of the injustice of her
suspicions.

But still she was determined to be completely satisfied; and, drawing
forth a small but exquisitely sculptured crucifix from her doublet, she
presented it to her lover.

He sank upon one knee, received it respectfully, and kissed it without
hesitation.

Nisida then threw herself into his arms, and embraced him with a
fondness as warm, as wild, as impassioned as her suspicions had ere now
been vehement and fearfully resentful.

Her presence caused Fernand to forget his sorrow--to forget that he was
in a dungeon--to forget, also, the tremendous charge that hung over his
head. For never had his Nisida appeared to him so marvelously beautiful
as he now beheld her, disguised in the graceful garb of a cavalier of
that age. Though tall, majestic, and of rich proportions for a woman,
yet in the attire of the opposite sex she seemed slight, short, and
eminently graceful. The velvet cloak sat so jauntily on her sloping
shoulder;--the doublet became her symmetry so well;--and the rich lace
collar was so arranged as to disguise the prominence of the chest--that
voluptuous fullness which could not be compressed.

At length a sudden thought struck Fernand, and he inquired, in the usual
manner, how Nisida had gained access to him?

"A faithful friend contrived the interview for me," she replied, with
her wonted rapidity of play upon the fingers. "He led the jailer to
believe that I was a German, and totally unacquainted with the Italian
tongue. Thus not a word was addressed to me; and gold has opened the
door which separated me from you. The same means shall secure your
escape."

"Dearest Nisida," signaled Wagner, "I would not escape were the door of
my dungeon left open and the sentinels removed. I am innocent--and