It was in passing the open doors of the church that my ears were assailed with cries of female distresses:--nor could I doubt that even _that_ sanctuary (held sacred by our troops of Spain!) had been invaded by the impiety of the German or Burgundian legions!--As usual, the chief ladies of the town had placed themselves under the protection of the high altar. But there, even there, had they been seized by sacrilegious hands!--The fame of the rare beauty of the daughter of the governor of Dalem, had attracted, among the rest, two daring ruffians of the regiment of Cevray." "You sacrificed them, I trust in GOD, on the spot?"--demanded the prince, trembling with emotion. "You dealt upon them the vengeance due?" "Alas! sir, the vengeance they were mutually dealing, had already cruelly injured the helpless object of the contest! Snatched from the arms of the Burgundian soldiers by the fierce arm of a German musketeer, a deadly blow, aimed at the ruffian against whom she was wildly but vainly defending herself; had lighted on one of the fairest of human forms! Cloven to the bone, the blood of this innocent being, scarce past the age of childhood, was streaming on her assailants; and when, rushing in, I proclaimed, in the name of God and of your highness, quarter and peace, it was an insensible body I rescued from the grasp of pollution!" "Unhappy Ulrica!" faltered the prince, "and oh! my more unhappy kinsman!" "Not altogether hopeless," resumed Rinaldo; "and apprized, by the sorrowful ejaculations of her female companions when relieved from their personal fears, of the high condition of the victim, I bore the insensible lady to the hospital of Dalem; and the utmost skill of our surgeons was employed upon her wounds. Better had it been spared!--The dying girl was roused only to the endurance of more exquisite torture; and while murmuring a petition for 'mercy--mercy to her _father_!' that proved her still unconscious of her family misfortunes, she attempted in vain to take from her finger the ring I have had the honour to deliver to your highness:--faltering with her last breath, 'for _his_ sake, Don John will perhaps show mercy to my poor old father!'"-- Prince Alexander averted his head as he listened to these mournful details. "She is at rest, then?"--said he, after a pause. "Before nightfall, sir, she was released."-- "Return in all haste to Dalem, Rinaldo," rejoined the prince, "and complete your work of mercy, by seeing all honours of interment that the times admit, bestowed on the daughter of the Comte de Cergny!"