sorely afflicted as she was;
and this fact forced upon him the painful conviction that even when
contemplating his departure to another world, his father had not
softened toward his son!

But, on the other hand, Francisco was pleased that such consideration
had been shown toward a sister whom he so devotedly loved; and he
hastened, as soon as he could conquer his first emotions, to request the
notary-general to permit Nisida to peruse the will, adding, in a
mournful tone, "For all that your excellency has read has been, alas!
unavailing in respect to her."

Signor Vivaldi handed the document to the young count, who gently
touched his sister's shoulder and placed the parchment before her.

Nisida started as if convulsively, and raised from her handkerchief a
countenance so pale, so deadly pale, that Francisco shrank back in
alarm.

But instantly reflecting that the process of reading aloud a paper had
been as it were a kind of mockery in respect to his afflicted sister, he
pressed her hand tenderly, and made a sign for her to peruse the
document.

She mechanically addressed herself to the task; but ere her eyes--now of
burning, unearthly brilliancy--fell upon the parchment, they darted one
rapid, electric glance of ineffable anguish toward Dr. Duras, adown
whose cheeks large tears were trickling.

In a few minutes Nisida appeared to be absorbed in the perusal of the
will; and the most solemn silence prevailed throughout the apartment!

At length she started violently, tossed the paper indignantly to the
notary-general, and hastily wrote on a slip of paper these words:

"Should medical skill or the mercy of Heaven restore my speech and
faculty of hearing, I will abandon all claim to the estates and title of
Riverola to my dear brother Francisco."

She then handed the slip of paper to the notary-general, who read the
contents aloud.

Francisco darted upon his sister a look of ineffable gratitude and love,
but shook his head, as much as to imply that he could not accept the
boon even if circumstances enabled her to confer it!

She returned the look with another, expressive of impatience at his
refusal: and her eyes seemed to say, as eyes never yet spoke, "Oh, that
I had the power to give verbal utterance to my feelings!"

Meantime the notary-general had written a few words beneath those penned
by Nisida, to whom he had handed back the slip; and she hastened to read
them, thus: "Your ladyship has no power to