s cruelly alive to the helplessness of her situation. She
cast a hurried glance around, but could find no signs of comfort; yet
she fixed her last hopes on Marien Rufa, this decayed piece of blanched
mortality, like the drowning wretch who snatches at a withered branch,
though conscious of the frail support to which he clings.

From the little previous intercourse with Marien Rufa, Theodora had
discovered that her disposition was not altogether so inhuman as her
exterior naturally seemed to indicate. Though a renegade, she did not
appear completely divested of compassion towards those to whom she had
once been endeared by the ties of religion and country; a latent feeling
of remorse lurked within her heart, and she did not seem to feel much
interest in the affairs of the Moors. These considerations, together
with the imminency of her danger, led Theodora to throw herself on the
protection of the crone, and beseech her pity and commiseration. But
before she could try the effect of her persuasion, the door suddenly
swung open, and the dreaded figure of Caneri presented itself to her
sight.

He dismissed his attendants, and waved his hand to Marien Rufa, who
slowly retired muttering some half formed inaudible sentences. The door
closed, and Theodora shuddered as she found herself alone with the
odious and detested Moor.

He approached her mildly, and endeavoured with soothing words to calm
her apprehensions.

"Nay, fair Christian," he said, "thou art too much dejected, nor is thy
grief reasonable. The chances of fortune threw thee into my power, and
thou art now my slave: this, as well as the circumstance of thy
belonging to the race of our accursed enemies, might naturally make thee
apprehend but indifferent treatment from the Moor. I might, indeed, have
delivered thee to the brutality of my soldiers; I might have heaped upon
thee all the horrors of such a degradation; but I have taken compassion
upon thy youth and beauty (his eyes glistened with savage joy), and
instead of that, thou shalt have the honor of being the partner of my
own pleasures."

Theodora covered her face with her hands, and her whole frame shook
violently, whilst Caneri, in an agitated and angry tone, proceeded--

"This contempt of my generosity may prove prejudicial to thy future
fortunes. Many, many are the women amongst the faithful who would feel
proud to accept the offers which thou seemest to treat with unbecoming
disregard. But trifle not