to our
city."

"My dream comes true," thought Frederick as he bowed affirmatively to
the magistrate's enquiry.

"And you are also aware," pursued the burgomaster, "of the Stadtholder's
wishes as far as you are personally concerned?"

Frederick bowed again.

"Thanks to my humble supplications," continued Jansen Pyl, raising his
enormous head with an air of dignity, "our gracious governor has
condescended to honour our good town with his august presence for
twenty-four hours longer. But what ought to fill you with eternal
gratitude is this: that he has determined to hear you a second time when
he returns to-morrow from inspecting the works at Shravnag. I hope you
will redouble your efforts, and do all you can to please your
illustrious auditor; and, if any thing is required to stimulate your
ambition, and add to your endeavours to excel, I will add this--the hand
of Maina will be bestowed on the conqueror at this second trial."

"But, father!----" said the maiden.

"It is all settled," interrupted the burgomaster, looking astonished at
the girl's audacity; "you are the reward I offer to the protege of the
Stadtholder. You hear what I say, gentlemen?" he added, turning to the
rivals.

"I shall certainly not miss the appointment," said Castero, throwing
back his head proudly. "If to-morrow is not as glorious to me as to-day
has been, I will break my violin, and never touch a bow again as long as
I live."

"As for me," said Frederick, "if I do not make up for the check I
unluckily met to-day by a glorious victory, I swear I will renounce the
flattering name my countrymen have given me, and will hide my shame in
some foreign land. The Orpheus of his country must have no rival of his
fame."

"To-morrow, then," said the burgomaster.

"To-morrow!" repeated the rivals, casting on each other looks of proud
defiance.

"To-morrow!" whispered Maina and buried her face in her hands.

CHAPTER V.

I shall not attempt to describe the strange sensations of Frederick on
returning from the burgomaster's house It will have been seen from the
glimpses we have had of him already, that he was of a quick and
sensitive disposition, and that the chance of defeat in the approaching
struggle would sting him into madness. He pictured to himself the
ferocious joy of Castero on being declared the victor--the agony of
Maina--the misery of his own degradation; and there is no doubt if the
mysterious Unknown, whose appearance he now