moment as though I had tried, and was enjoying its effects. My incontrollable mirth excited considerable surprise in my companion; he gazed at me for some time, and at length said, "Surely, you will not treat the authority and punishments of the holy tribunal, with levity and derision?"

"Certainly not." said I gravely, "Pray excuse me.-But, come now; you have no doubt been sent here, on perhaps a kind errand. Be candid; what is it?"

"I came here," said he, "because so commanded by the grand inquisitor, to soothe and mollify your excited and over-wrought feelings; and, of myself, would urge to you the propriety and advantages of making concessions to the holy tribunal."

"What?" I exclaimed, "make an indirect avowal of guilt? legalize a palpable forgery? -No!-never!"

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"A partial and modified confession," said he, "may nevertheless, effect more good than you seem to be aware of. Remember, means be found to authenticate your signature." may A sudden flash of thought filled my brainit might be possible-nay, 'twas even probable -a blank sheet of paper whereon I had inadvertantly written my name, had by some means been obtained by my enemies, (perhaps at the destruction of my house in Pisa) and was thus basely intended to be used to my injury. The more I reflected on it, my suspicions were confirmed, that I was to be the victim to the fiery

eyed stranger's rancor, enmity and hate. Yet, what motive could impel him to pursue me with such bitter malignity, it was impossible for me to conceive. Full of these oppressive thoughts, I desired my companion to leave me tomy own meditations.

He arose to depart; when he reached the door, he turned, and repeated his request, that I would act with calmness and docility; with renewed assurances of ultimate advantage to myself. I nodded acquiescence, and he then left me.

I was exceedingly puzzled to know the meaning of this visit of the familiar. His manner was frank and kind, yet there was a something about him that forbade my confidence. At all events, I was resolved to be as cautious and calm as my temper and circumstances would permit me to remain.

The next day I was brought up before the grand tribunal, and there commanded by the chief inquisitor to confess my crime.

I simply answered, "I am still unconscious of the commission of any crime."

"Do you then," said he sternly, "deny the proofs contained in the paper produced yesterday, and the consequent confusion of guilt, exhibited on its production?"

"Sir," I replied, "my confusion arose, not from guilt, but other causes; and, I cannot now prevent its operation to my prejudice. If the mere denial, however, will hasten the point at

issue, I utterly disavow all knowledge of its author, and the manner of its origin."

"How?" said he, "Is not this your signature?"

"My name, but not my signature," I replied. "I have reason to believe that name was written by myself long before the contents of the paper were artfully framed by another unknown hand. Conscious of the truth, and relying on my innocence, and the justice of this awful tribunal, I now boldly and fearlessly call for proofs of the authenticity of that paper." I looked around full on all present, hoping to detect in the looks of my fiery-eyed persecutor, some faint symptom of shame, and at once annihilate him: but, to my surprise and disappointment, he was not present. I now began to perceive there was little room to hope for favor, lenity, or even justice in my judges.

A long pause and consultation ensued, at the end of which, the grand inquisitor rose, and, in a loud, harsh and pompous tone, spoke to me as follows.

"Audacious, and contumacious wretch! we have borne with your humours, petulence and obstinacy, beyond the usual measure of our lenity and forbearance. Your behaviour to ourselves we pardon; but, for your offences against the canons of the church, we dare and will not relax one tittle of their punishments. As you are not, however, fully convicted of the charges for which you are arraigned, and you still persist in refusing a voluntary confession; we

order, that you be confined in solitude, there to subsist on coarse and scanty fare, till a proper sense of our mercy is awakened in you. If this should fail, remember, we have the sure and efficacious punishment of torture, now only withheld in mercy and compassion.".

He waved his hand in silence, and I was immediately led to my intended place of strict confinement. This was not exactly suited to my taste, but opposition or complaint would now avail me nothing. However, I still retained all my natural inflexibility of temper; and resolved to wait the operations of time, in the plausible hope, that they would at last become wearied of tormenting me, or, what might suit them better, find new and more tractable subjects for the exercise of their diabolical ingenuity and hypocritical cunning.

Here I remained about nine years, and finding they did not send for me any more, I concluded they were become indifferent about me, and so, I might as well endeavour to try the effects of money on the servant who brought me my food. Into his hands I resolved to put a carte blanche, that is, to bribe him until he was glutted with gold. But what was my surprise and grief, when on making the attempt, I learned that he was both deaf and dumb. Bribery was here of no use. Into what a position was I now! or rather into what a cursed hole was I at last! What was to be done? I never had been much inclined to consult the responses of my understanding; they could not avail me

now, so I sat down and began blubbering like a school-boy, which I think in my situation, was a very fine trait of nature.

When the first violent emotions of grief had somewhat subsided, I began to reflect on the fatal consequences of my possessing the secret for producing gold; how small a portion of real, substantial enjoyment had it procured to me! The unbounded indulgence it created and exhibited, had almost in the outset, involved me in suspicion, danger and difficulty. And though it was afterwards the means of extricating me from prison, yet, it would seem, that was only the prelude to other and more complicated calamities. I now almost regretted ever having been the depository of a secret which had been the cause of so much disappointment, vexation, and misfortune. As to the other grand mystery for the renovation of youth, I was rather pleased that its operations and effects remained still untried; and, in the secret musings of my dejected mind, fearing as I did, a long and rigorous confinement, protracted to age and infirmity, a dark, horrid sensation seized me, which at first impelled to self-destruction; but a better feeling soon prevailed. The buoyancy of hope forsook me, and left to me the bitter wish that my imprisonment and sufferings would speedily end in death. Even the stern maxims of cold philosophy failed to rouse me to a resolute and dauntless frame of mind, to bear the ills that gathered thickly round me; or view them with