I spoke in one of my preceding chapters of the tyrannical power exercised by sleep over all organizations, and especially in those situations when man is least disposed to yield to it. Never had this absolute master exercised a more despotic power; this pitiless god seemed to place his iron thumb on the eyes of the prisoner, and to close them by force. A strange oppression of his limbs, an increasing disturbance of his memory and thought, a kind of invincible torpor, rapidly took possession of the young man. Then commenced a painful contest between mind and body,--the latter succumbed. He felt his body powerless, his reason grow dim, and his strength pass away. In vain he sought to see, to hear, to watch, to live, to contend with an enemy which sought to make him senseless, inert and powerless. His head fell upon his bosom and he sank to sleep. Just then, he heard a light noise, the rustling of a silk dress, and a timid step. With a convulsive effort he opened his eyes, and saw La Felina within a few feet of his bed. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and fell upon the white hand of the singer. She touched Rovero's face to assure herself that he was in reality asleep. END OF PART II. [From the Gem.] "THE TWICKENHAM GHOST." Come to the casement to-night, And look out at the bright lady-moon; Come to the casement to-night, And I'll sing you your favorite tune! Where the stream glides beside the old tower, My boat shall be under the wall,-- Oh, dear one! be there in your bower, With Byron, a lamp, and your shawl. Oh! come where no troublesome eye Can look on the vigil love keeps; When there is not a cloud in the sky, What maid, _but an old maiden_, sleeps? And you know not how sweet is the tone Of a song from a lip we have press'd, When it breathes it "by moonlight alone," To the ear of _the one_ it loves best. Oh! daylight love's music but mars, (As it breaks up the dance of the elves!) The moon and the stream and the stars, Should hear it alone with ourselves: And who'd be content with "_I may_," If they only would think of "_I might_?" Or _who'd_ listen to music by day, That had listened to music by night? The Opera's over by one, Lady Jersey's grows stupid at two; I'll dance just one waltz, and have done, Then be off, on the pony, for Kew! My boat holds a cloak--a guitar, And it waits by that dark bridge for me: And I'll row, by the light of one star, Love's own, to the old tower, by three! I'll bring you that sweet canzonette, That we practiced together last year; And my own little miniature set Round with emeralds--tis _such_ a dear! You promised you'd love me as long As your heart felt me close to it, there; And, dear one! for that and the song, _Won't_ you give me the locket of hair?