f bitter hatred, a maiden whose father and
two brothers have been killed before her eyes, a proud girl whom your
brothers have driven from their door with insulting words. This woman is
Zenobia, Ciprianu's daughter, once your brother Jonathan's sweetheart,
but now betrothed to me--or, at least, she fancies she is. While I keep
your armed forces busy, she will knock at the door of your house. At her
signal the work of carnage and destruction will begin. Your whole family
will fall into her hands."

Manasseh shuddered with horror, and drew a deep breath. His head was no
longer proudly erect, his self-confidence was gone. "God's will be
done!" he murmured.

"So I've found your tender spot, have I?" cried the other, with an
exultant laugh. "Just think what is in store for your wife (but what am
I saying? She is not your wife)--your mistress."

At this insult to his adored Blanka, Manasseh's wrath blazed up and
mastered him. He spit his burning cigar stump into the speaker's face.
It was the utmost he could do. The other swallowed his rage at the
indignity and wiped the ashes from his face, which presently broke into
a smile--a hideous smile.

"Very good, Manasseh! One more score to charge up against you. I don't
attempt to even the account on your unfeeling body, but on your soul,
which I know how to torture. For this last insult, as well as for a
hundred former injuries, I shall wreak ample revenge on Blanka Zboroy,
before your own turn comes."

"Do not count too confidently on that," rejoined Manasseh. "The moment
your ruffian crew break into our house, two women will put their pistols
to each other's hearts, and your men will find only a couple of dead
bodies."

"Ha, ha! To deprive you of even this last consolation, I beg to assure
you that the two women will not lay a finger on their pistols, because
Zenobia is to gain entrance to them before the men appear. She will come
to them in the guise of a friend and deliverer, promising to rescue them
for Jonathan's sake. She will furnish them Wallachian peasant clothes,
help them about their disguise, and, amidst the general confusion, bring
them away with her, alive and unharmed, to St. George, so that you will
have the pleasure of seeing Blanka Zboroy in my power. Further details I
will leave to your own imagination; and to enable you to pursue these
pleasant fancies undisturbed I will now say good night."

"Manasseh!" called a voice from the darkness, when Diurbanu