taken into custody, who giving himself over for a lost man, resolves to put himself upon _Octavio_’. mercy, by telling him the motives that induced him to this violent and ungenerous course. It was some days before the Council thought fit to call for _Octavio_, to hear what he had to say for himself; in the mean time, he having not had permission yet to see _Sylvia_; and being extremely desirous of that happiness, he bethought himself that the messenger, having been in his father’s service, might have so much respect for the son, as to allow him to speak to that fair charmer, provided he might be a witness to what he should say: he sends for him, and demanded of him where those two fair prisoners were lodged who came with him in the morning; he told him, in a very good apartment on the same floor, and that they were very well accommodated, and seemed to have no other trouble but what they suffered for him. ‘I hope, my Lord,’ added he--’your confinement will not be long; for I hear there is a person taken up, who has confessed he did it for a revenge on you.’ At this _Octavio_ was very well pleased, and asked him who it was? And he told him a _French_ gentleman belonging to the Count _Philander_, who about six months ago was obliged to quit the town as an enemy to _France_. He soon knew it to be _Brilliard_, and comparing this action with some others of his lately committed, he no longer doubts it the effects of his jealousy. He asked the messenger, if it were impossible to gain so much favour of him, as to let him visit those two _French_ gentlemen, he being by while he was with them: the keeper soon granted his request, and replied--There was no hazard he would not run to serve him; and immediately putting back the hangings, with one of those keys he had in his hand, he opened a door in his chamber that led into a gallery of fine pictures, and from thence they passed into the apartment of _Sylvia_: as soon as he came in he threw himself at her feet, and she received him, and took him up into her arms with all the transports of joy a soul (more than ever possessed with love for him) could conceive; and though they all appeared of the masculine sex, the messenger soon perceived his error, and begged a thousand pardons. _Octavio_ makes haste to tell her his opinion of the cause of all this trouble to both; and she easily believed, when she heard _Brilliard_ was taken, that it was as he imagined; for he had been found too often faulty not to be suspected now. This thought brought a great calm to both their spirits, and almost reduced them to the first soft tranquillity, with which they began the day: for he protested his innocence a thousand times, which was wholly needless, for the generous maid believed, before he spoke, he could not be guilty of the sin of treachery. He renews his vows to her of eternal love, and that he would perform what they were so unluckily prevented from doing this