Judicious as these remonstrances were, Elvira only heard them with impatience; and not being able to answer them with any good reasons, she replied as one resolved, that her excessive love would permit her to follow no other counsels than those of her own heart. When Daraxa saw that there was no hope of diverting her from her design, she no longer opposed her, but promised that she would make proposals to Don Jaymé that very night. But she was somewhat discomposed when Elvira, either from mistrust or wishing to have so good an opportunity of forming her own opinion of the sentiments of the beloved object, said, that she wished to be present herself, unknown to that cavalier, during the conversation, and that she would conceal herself behind the curtain. Nothing was now wanting but to desire Ambrosio to repair to the window of the lower gallery at midnight, which the ladies requested by a letter which they wrote to him in common, in which they sent him word that they had something of the utmost importance to communicate. He failed not to be there at the hour appointed, and was much surprised to find Daraxa there alone. “Signor Don Jaymé,” said Daraxa, “I have, in the first place, some ill news to tell you, which is, that I am here alone. Your mistress wished me to have a private conversation with you, on which depend her happiness and your own.” After this preface, the cunning Moor glided her hand through the iron bars and pressed that of Ozmin, who understood immediately that this interview was not without mystery. Such was his quickness of penetration that he made a very shrewd guess of what was the subject; and no sooner had Daraxa entered upon the delicate proposals she had to make to him, than he knew well what would follow; but, so far from being discomposed by it, he turned every thing into raillery that was said or proposed to him. In vain did Daraxa protest that she was speaking seriously, requesting him to answer in the same serious manner; he still continued his tone of raillery throughout. Thus terminated this interview, to the satisfaction of Daraxa, who rejoiced sincerely that it had ended in this manner, and who, thinking that she had done her part, expected some acknowledgments from her friend. But Elvira was more inclined to reproach than to compliment her. In her ill humour she imputed to Daraxa all Don Jaymé’s ridicule, whence she inferred that it was most imprudent to act by proxy in love, when able to conduct one’s own cause, and made a vow that in future she would trust her affairs to nobody, but use every means in her power to induce Don Jaymé to elope with her. She behaved to Daraxa the next morning in the same manner as usual. They met without even mentioning what had passed the preceding evening, and took their usual walk together in the evening, concealing from each other their true sentiments, each occupied by her own meditations.