es. Your
case, Aliande, may possibly be remedied; yours, poor Daura--never! That
you may not doubt the truth of my words, I will now commence the trial
of both husbands, and wo to him who shall prove base!'

She concluded with a voice of thunder, and disappeared. The unhappy
sisters silently embraced each other, and then slowly returned to their
splendid prisons.

CHAPTER X.

Idallan was restlessly tossing upon his solitary bed on the first
anniversary of his marriage night, whilst the repudiated and suffering
Daura rested in a distant chamber, steeping her pillow with her tears.

Idallan's heart was radically bad, as might be inferred from his
conduct in the contest for the veil. Savage and boisterous passions
tarnished the splendor of the many knightly virtues which adorned his
nature; and his real character appeared, when fortune, from her
cornucopia, suddenly poured the full stream of love, wealth and
splendor upon him. This unexpected and overabundant fulfilment of all
his wildest hopes, gave the finishing touch to his temperament. The
beauteous woman, whom unreflecting love had conducted to his arms, he
valued merely as the slave of his rough and savage will. The princely
treasures which Hiorba's generosity had heaped in his coffers, had only
excited his thirst for gold. Hundreds of families who had sought the
protection of his castle, and converted the surrounding forest into
fruitful fields, were happy to be considered his subjects, and thus
ministered to his love of power and dominion. Schemes of ambition
disturbed his brain. He already in imagination saw himself a prince,
perhaps of the whole earth, with Ryno his vassal, and an emperor's
daughter for his wife; but he looked upon his gentle and faithful Daura
as the greatest obstacle in the way of his success. His undisguised
scorn and contempt had taught her to weep the rash choice made during
the brief intoxication of love. There lay Idallan, disturbed by dreams
which naturally took the tone of his daily thoughts and the color of
the black soul whence they emanated. A glimmering light suddenly
disturbed his uneasy sleep. Idallan leaped wildly from his bed, and
before him stood the monster Rasalkol, surrounded by a pale sulphurous
light, and horribly disfigured by the wound which Ryno gave him in the
oak forest.

'Your first matrimonial year is ended!' said the fearful phantom in a
sepulchral tone, 'and thank the Go