The last sentence breathed in an agitated whisper over the soft hand he was pressing to his heart, thrilled through the frame of Aziek; she blushed, faltered, moved tremblingly away, and seeking the support of Benzaide, faintly pronounced a parting benediction:--her senses were in sweet disorder at so delightful and unexpected a confession; next to the bliss of possessing that noble heart, was the certainty that he believed her worthy of it. Transported with this assurance, she gave him a last look filled with gratitude and pleasure, and then departed.-- Compassion heightened by admiration, was the reigning sentiment left in the heart of Sebastian; long after the departure of his benefactress, her endearing image solely filled his thoughts:--without a single moment’s infidelity to the exquisite Gonsalva, he was yet deeply interested in the happiness of her rival, and could not refrain from thinking oftener of her than of himself.--Still hoping something from her interference, he commended himself to Providence, and lay down to sleep again, upon the floor of his dungeon. Sebastian had been awake some time the ensuing morning, when he heard a bell ring; at the sound of which he had been, told to prepare for punishment: as he listened, the blood forsook his face, and a horrid chill suddenly ran through his veins:--Kara Aziek had then failed!--recovering from the shock of disappointment (which had shocked him only because it was unforeseen) he knelt down with the crucifix clasped in his hands, fervently breathing over it a solemn supplication of forgiveness for all his sins and errors. He prayed the Lord of Heaven to forgive or to enlighten him, if the resistance he meditated, were an act of impious rebellion; he besought blessings for his friends and for his enemies; he commended his people to the protection of Him, who places Kings upon their thrones, and the names of Gonsalva and Aziek were mingling on his lips, when the prison door opened, and instead of guards to conduct him to a scene of blood, he beheld the smiling Benzaide. Her mission spoke in her face, as she put aside her veil, bidding him rise and follow her.--Sebastian obeyed: not before he had devoutly kissed the cross he wore;--boundless gratitude to Heaven, did indeed swell his heart, as he passed with his companion through the various courts, leading to Kara Aziek’s apartments: on reaching them, Benzaide threw a large mantle over him, in which she bade him wrap even his head, as he would then pass unnoticed by the female servants; at the same time she deposited a pair of slippers at the entrance, observing, that should the Almoçadem come and see them, he would retire according to the Moorish fashion, believing that some neighbouring lady was then visiting his daughter. Sebastian learnt from this, that in rendering him such services as these, Kara Aziek perpetually risked the displeasure of her father: this thought did but the more enhance the value of her protection.