influence of considerable terror, the servant proceeded to state, that soon after they had reached the convent on the preceding evening, the cavalier had arrived attended by a single domestic. Of the former, however, Baptista had seen but little, for one glimpse at his dark and ill-favoured countenance, he said, was all he could obtain, and that it looked as little like a sick man as the expedition to Segesta"Tired as I was," continued the valet," I found up his attendant; but all I could make out from him was, that his master was in ill health, had left Palermo some hours later than he intended, and was much fatigued by the exertions he had made to reach Alcamo that evening. This, I assure you, signor, is all I could discover; though I communicated to the uncivil fellow all our intended movements, and confided to him all our plans, telling him that your excellenza-"

"Truly, Baptista, your communications to a stranger were highly discreet and laudable; it matters not indeed who knows

our route; but in future it may be as well not to proclaim to all the world who and

what we are."

"Your excellenza thinks then,” replied Baptista, with some emotion, "that they have some evil designs on foot-perhaps are part of don Sigismund di Luna's banditti."

"Count Luna can feel no personal enmity towards me, I should think," said Perollo, "nor can I perceive any possible connexion to exist between him and the perpetrators of the deed to which the muleteer was witness; for myself, I have been fortunately removed from Sciacca too early to be involved in the feuds of the families there, and sincerely hope that time will, ere long, altogether extinguish them."

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Impossible, signor, that the families of Luna and Perollo should forget their old grievances, and be friends; and unless the count and all his family should have shut themselves up in Bivonia, we shall not be long in Sciacca without feeling the effect of their hatred and malice: and who:

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does your excellenza suppose these persons to be, unless they belong to don Sigismund ?"

"Granting the cavalier to be the same gentleman of whom you yesterday heard the alarming history, I should suppose him to be some resident in this neighbourhood, entirely unconnected with the inhabitants of Sciacca, where the chieftains of Luna, I believe, have always resided; nor is even their castle at Bivonia often used by them as a place of abode."

"No, signor; formerly I have heard it was a stronghold belonging to the Peralta family, and the Castel di Luna being incapable of resisting any military assault, the counts of Luna have kept their mountain fortress as a place of resort, in case at any time their outrages should provoke their neighbours to punish them as they deserve, and they have continually been adding to its fortifications."

"By the recent death of the countess Lucretia, his wife, which was, I understand, sudden and unexpected," observed Perollo,

"the count must be occupied in other cares than those of enmity to our house, or hostility against his neighbours."

"Your excellenza will excuse me, but the case is quite the reverse. Don Sigismund is, I understand, again on the eve of matrimony."

"Matrimony!" exclaimed Perollo; "why his wife has not been dead above eighteen. months."

"No matter, signor; that she is dead, so much the better for don Sigismund, and so much the worse for the lady with whom he is now in treaty.".

"How so, Baptista ?"

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Why, signor, it is a well-known fact, that the last marriage of the count was an engagement entered into by the old contessa his mother, for the probable advantage of the family, without consulting the inclinations of the parties concerned; and the spirit of the late lady Lucretia resembling that of don Sigismund, all his quarrelsome dispositions found employment at home, without disturbing the old family

feuds the present treaty may be some time before it is brought to a conclusion, and the lady may be of a more gentle spirit than her predecessor; in either case count Luna will find his time hang heavy on his hands, unless he can renew his contests with your excellenza's family and friends."

"So then, in consequence of his wife's death, we are to arm ourselves for warlike measures, it being essential to the happiness of don Sigismund to have discord either at home or abroad.”

"Certainly, signor; but by this new treaty of marriage, he appears to be inclined to renew the internal commotions of his castle."

"He must then have sufficient employment upon his hands, and being interested in shewing a few symptoms of love and gentleness, we shall not find him so turbulent and hostile as you seem to expect."

"Well, signor, nothing, I perceive, can put you on your guard against the stratagems of your enemies.”