Wrung to torture by her frenzy, Sebastian earnestly sued for permission to detain her. The man’s inclinations were in favour of compliance, but his life might have been risked by yielding, and promising to urge their suit in the morning to the Viceroy’s secretary, he reluctantly repeated his orders. The arguments and soothings of Sebastian, rather than the explanation and peremptory behests of the gaoler, allayed the ravings of Kara Aziek; suddenly she grew calm, started from the ground, and as if alarmed lest her obstinacy might endanger her husband’s safety, she cried out, “Now, now I am ready to go!”--a convulsive embrace was exchanged between her and Sebastian, and the next moment the door of the dungeon closed and divided them. “No further!” said she, in a low hurried voice, as the man would have led her from the spot, “Here is my bed this night--every night--here will I live till he is restored to me again--force me not from this sad lodging, if you have love or pity in your heart--I cannot get back to him--I may but hear his steps and his sighs, and know that he is near me.--Alas! is that too much of consolation?” The bitter tears which flowed down her cheeks, and the sorrowful wringing of her hands, presented so moving a picture, that the Neapolitan said kindly, “Well, stay here then, I will surely get you admitted in the morning--what shall I bring you to sleep on?” “O no sleep--no sleep”--she replied, with joyful wildness, “I will wake to bless you and to pray for him.” She lightly seated herself on the stone floor while speaking, and leaning her head against the door of Sebastian’s cell, remained drinking in at her ear each breath he drew. Frequently did she long to speak and tell him she was near; but then conscious that the idea of her being alone and unprotected in an open passage, exposed to the insults of the wandering guards, and doomed to rest only on a damp pavement, would overbalance the satisfaction of hearing her voice, she checked the wish, and relapsed into stillness. Morning was far advanced when Stephano appeared; he had been to the secretary and had returned successful. At this intimation, which Kara Aziek demanded even while he was afar off, she uttered a cry of transport; it was answered by the voice of Sebastian from within, “Kind heaven! my Aziek, art thou here again so soon?” “I have been here the whole night; I would not leave thy door.” While Aziek was speaking, Stephano unlocked the dungeon, and she flew into the melancholy, grateful embrace of her husband. It seemed as if Providence had allotted them this temporary privation only to make them sensible, that while undivided, they had no right to abandon themselves to despair. Kara Aziek with overflowing thankfulness acknowledged this truth, and promised henceforth to grieve no more.--Stephano passed his hands across his eyes, and replied to some anxious inquiries of Sebastian.