n
of the writings which had produced so strange an effect upon her a few
hours previously, she turned abruptly toward Flora; and, imperiously
confronting the young maiden, pointed to the paper in a significant
manner.

Flora immediately indicated by a sign that she had found it on the
floor, beneath the arm-chair.

"And you have read it!" was the accusation which, with wonderful
rapidity, Nisida conveyed by means of her fingers--fixing her piercing,
penetrating eyes on Flora's countenance at the same time.

The young maiden scorned the idea of a falsehood; although she perceived
that her reply would prove far from agreeable to her mistress, she
unhesitatingly admitted, by the language of the hands. "I read the first
four lines, and no more."

A crimson glow instantly suffused the face, neck, shoulders, and bosom
of Nisida; but instantly compressing her lips--as was her wont when
under the influence of her boiling passions, she turned her flashing
eyes once more upon the paper, to ascertain which leaf of the manuscript
it was.

That rapid glance revealed to her the import, the dread, but profoundly
mysterious import of the four first lines on that page; and, again
darting her soul-searching looks upon the trembling Flora, she demanded,
by the rapid play of her delicate taper fingers "Will you swear that you
read no more?"

"As I hope for salvation!" was Flora's symbolic answer.

The penetrating, imperious glance of Nisida dwelt long upon the maiden's
countenance; but no sinister expression--no suspicious change on that
fair and candid face contradicted the assertion which she had made.

"I believe you; but beware how you breathe to a living soul a word of
what you did read!"

Such was the injunction which Nisida now conveyed by her usual means of
communication; and Flora signified implicit obedience.

Nisida then secured the page of writing in her jewel casket; and the
details of the toilet were resumed.

CHAPTER IV.

THE FUNERAL--THE INTERRUPTION OF THE CEREMONY.

Eight days after the death of the Count of Riverola, the funeral took
place.

The obsequies were celebrated at night, with all the pomp observed
amongst noble families on such occasions. The church in which the corpse
was buried, was hung with black cloth; and even the innumerable wax
tapers which burned upon the altar and around the coffin failed to
diminish the lugubrious aspect of the scene.

At the head of the bier stood the yo