That rapid glance revealed to her the import, the dread, but profoundly mysterious import of the four first lines on that page; and, again darting her soul-searching looks upon the trembling Flora, she demanded, by the rapid play of her delicate taper fingers "Will you swear that you read no more?" "As I hope for salvation!" was Flora's symbolic answer. The penetrating, imperious glance of Nisida dwelt long upon the maiden's countenance; but no sinister expression--no suspicious change on that fair and candid face contradicted the assertion which she had made. "I believe you; but beware how you breathe to a living soul a word of what you did read!" Such was the injunction which Nisida now conveyed by her usual means of communication; and Flora signified implicit obedience. Nisida then secured the page of writing in her jewel casket; and the details of the toilet were resumed. CHAPTER IV. THE FUNERAL--THE INTERRUPTION OF THE CEREMONY. Eight days after the death of the Count of Riverola, the funeral took place. The obsequies were celebrated at night, with all the pomp observed amongst noble families on such occasions. The church in which the corpse was buried, was hung with black cloth; and even the innumerable wax tapers which burned upon the altar and around the coffin failed to diminish the lugubrious aspect of the scene. At the head of the bier stood the youthful heir of Riverola; his pale countenance of even feminine beauty contrasting strangely with the mourning garments which he wore, and his eyes bent upon the dark chasm that formed the family vault into which the remains of his sire were about to be lowered. Around the coffin stood Dr. Duras and other male friends of the deceased: for the females of the family were not permitted, by the custom of the age and the religion, to be present on occasions of this kind. It was eleven o'clock at night: and the weather without was stormy and tempestuous. The wind moaned through the long aisles, raising strange and ominous echoes, and making the vast folds of sable drapery wave slowly backward and forward, as if agitated by unseen hands. A few spectators, standing in the background, appeared like grim figures on a black tapestry; and the gleam of the wax tapers, oscillating on their countenances, made them seem death-like and ghastly. From time to time the shrill wail of the shriek-owl, and the flapping of its wings against the diamond-paned windows of the church, added to the awful gloom of the funeral scene. And now suddenly arose the chant of the priests--the parting hymn for the dead! Francisco wept, for though his father had never manifested toward him an affection of the slightest endearing nature, yet the disposition of the young count was excellent; and, when he gazed upon the coffin, he remembered not the coldness with which its inmate in his lifetime had treated him--he thought only of a parent whom he had lost, and whose remains were there!