"I have heard enough, sir; and as such is your mandate, I suppose I must submit. But where is my secretary ?— what have you done with him?-is he likewise your prisoner ?",

"No, my lord,” replied the officer, to this question of the count's; "signior Lusignan, on hearing that you were put under an arrest, departed with much precipitation."

L

"That is as it should be," answered Anselmo. "I am obliged to him for thus early disclosing his true character. You will now perceive, captain, the truth of the following reflection—that adversity is the only test by which you may know a friend or an enemy: so farewell to my worthy secretary, signiør Lusignanand," continued he, in an ironical tone, well, gentlemen, what can Loffer for your amusement? Come,

come,

come, with your leave, we will adjourn into the saloon to breakfast-you shall not want for good cheer, depend on it;" which being readily agreed to, Luzzara, the head officer, and his companion, partook freely of the fare provided for them; and for some hours, by their facetious discourse, they relieved the count from the agony with which he was so deeply oppressed.

Rubinelli, who had been industriously employing himself in regulating the affairs of the household, before he set out on his secret expedition, now entered the apartment to hand more refreshments to these unwelcome guests; and on presenting some sherbet to his master, by a sign informed Anselmo every thing was prepared for his journey; which was then differently returned by the count, as a token of satisfaction of his steward's prudent conduct. Soon after, Rubinelli left the saloon; and by a private door which

which led from the garden into the road, he mounted his horse, and set off for Tuscany.

In the evening, Luzzara, whose spirits were greatly exhilarated by the generous treatment he had met with from Anselmo; and being naturally of a more communicative turn of mind than his companion, he related to his noble prisoner the history of his life. Several of the adventures were not devoid of interest; the count therefore listened with much complaisance and attention to the following relation:

"I am, my lord," said Luzzara," a Sardinian by birth, belonging to the town of Cagliari. My mother was the only daughter of a merchant of that place, named Sorreno. This old man's happiness chiefly consisted in amassing Fiches for an intended son-in-law of his, a Polish nobleman, called Lovinski, whó was very proud and very poor. His circumstances, however, were looked over

by

by the merchant, in the consideration, that by uniting, his daughter Isabel to his friend, it would aggrandize the name of Sorreno for ever.

"Love, my lord," continued Luzzara, with a deep sigh, "often makes sad havock in the human breast. My father, at that period, was employed by signior Sorreno as an amanuensis; he likewise adored the youthful and beauteous Isabel; nor was his passion unreturned: she gave him so many unequivocal testimonies of her regard (which was heightened by the rásh determination of Sorreno for his daughter's immediate union with the duke Lovinski), that Isabel consented to my father's proposal of eloping from parental tyranny. They embarked for, Italy-a priest joined their hands and the marriage of Luzzara and Isabel was publicly announced at Cagliari, to the great discomfiture of signior Sorreno and his friend, who had arrived in Sardinia, only the day preceding the flight of the lovers.

"By

By this fatal act, however, my mother was left portionless; for at the demise of her father, which took place soon after, the immense fortune of the merchant devolved, by his express command, to a sister that came to reside with him immediately on departure of his daughter, whose disobedience Sorreno never would pardon.

Every hope was then at an end of Isabel being enabled to return with her husband into Sardinia; and as a situation offered for his acceptance in Paris, my fa ther," continued the young man, “eagerly embraced it, and for many years supported my mother, whom he tenderly loved, although not in affluence, with a sufficiency to render her contented. From too excessive an application to study, however, his health declined; and the increasing expences of a young family so greatly depressed his spirits, that at length my father was obliged to give up the place he occupied.

"At