had intimated to Signora Francatelli (Flora's
aunt) that Alessandro had abjured the faith of his forefathers and had
embraced the Mussulman creed. It was also stated that the young man had
entered the service of grand vizier; but whether he had become a
renegade through love for some Turkish maiden, or with the hope of
ameliorating his condition in a worldly point of view, whether, indeed,
self-interest or a conscientious belief in the superiority of the Moslem
doctrines over those of Christianity, had swayed Alessandro, no one
could say.

His aunt was almost heart-broken at the news. Father Marco, through
whose influence he had obtained the post of secretary to the Florentine
Envoy, was shocked and grieved; and Flora was not the less afflicted at
an event which, as she had been taught to believe, must inevitably place
her much-loved brother beyond the hope of spiritual salvation.

Amidst the gloomy reflections excited by the Lady Nisida's coolness, and
the disagreeable tidings which had been received concerning her brother,
there was nevertheless one gleam of consolation for Flora Francatelli.

This was the love which Francisco entertained for her, and which she so
tenderly, so sincerely reciprocated.

Yes, a maiden's first love is ever a source of solace amidst the gloom
of affliction; because it is so intimately intertwined with hope! For
the soul of the innocent, artless girl who fondly loves, soars aloft in
a heaven of her own creation, dove-like on the wings of faith!

It was already late when Flora began to unbraid and set at liberty her
dark brown tresses, preparatory to retiring to rest, when a low knock at
the chamber-door startled her in the midst of her occupation.

Thinking it might be the Lady Nisida who required her attendance she
hastened to open the door; and immediately three women, dressed in
religious habits and having black veils thrown over their heads so as
completely to conceal their faces, entered the room.

Flora uttered a faint scream--for the sudden apparition of those
specter-like figures, at such a late hour of the night, was well
calculated to alarm even a person of maturer age and stronger mind than
Signora Francatelli.

"You must accompany us, young lady," said the foremost nun, advancing
toward her. "And beware how you create any disturbance--for it will
avail you nothing."

"Whither am I to be conducted?" asked Flora, trembling from head to
foot.

"That we cannot inform yo