"I am afraid to sadden you still more, by telling you tidings delightful to me, though wretched for you, since you are my enemy." "Go on, I conjure you!" cried the terrified Fatkoura. "Well, then, the Prince of Figo's army, ably seconded by my men, has triumphed over the Prince of Nagato, who fought bravely, I must acknowledge. At this moment he is probably a prisoner. The latest bulletin informs me that, with barely a hundred men, Nagato intrenched himself in a small grove; my troops have surrounded him, and escape is impossible." Fatkoura bent her head in utter despair. He conquered! She could not believe it; she could not imagine him unhappy. In her eyes he was always triumphant, he was foremost,--the noblest, the handsomest of all; besides, how could he be a prisoner, when he might escape captivity by death? She raised her eyes to the lord of Tosa, doubting his words. "You are hiding the truth from me," she said, with a look of painful intensity; "you hope to prepare me for the fatal blow,--he is dead!" "I have spoken frankly," said Tosa; "he will be taken alive. But I would give you one piece of advice,--forget that fellow," he added, irritated by Fatkoura's distress. "Forget him! I!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands. "You must; all is over for him. Do you think that I would let him go free,--the man whom Hieyas detests so much that he will raise any one who shall rid him of that foe, to the foremost rank in the empire; the man who humbled us all by his luxury, his wit, his beauty; the man whom you love, and who is my rival?--for I love you." "You love me!" cried Fatkoura, in horror. "Yes," sighed the Prince; "and I came hither to tell my love; but you led me on to speak of things regarding which I would fain have been silent. I am well aware that my love must be odious to you at first. But you must accustom yourself to it; there is nothing offensive to you in it. I am free, and I offer to make you my wife. Think that the Prince of Nagato has ceased to exist." Tosa then withdrew, that he might not hear Fatkoura's reply. He was angry with her, and dissatisfied with himself. "I was brutal," thought he, "I did not speak as I should have done; but jealousy suddenly devoured my soul. It is a fierce pain, which I never knew before." He wandered all the rest of the day in the gardens, treating harshly all who approached him. "She will never love me," he said to himself, "I have no means of winning her heart; but if the Prince of Nagato falls into my hands I will take vengeance on him." Fatkoura was equally restless; she went from one room to another, wringing her hands and weeping silently. She dared not ask any further questions; but each hour as it passed added to her anxiety. One night she heard an unwonted noise in the castle; the drawbridges were lowered, the clash of arms rang out. She rose, and ran to the window; she saw lights shining through the trees.