But the lady shrieked, and struggled to escape from that tender embrace, exclaiming, "What means this insolence? will no one protect me?" "That will I," said Francisco, darting forward, and tearing her away from the stranger's arms. "But, in the name of Heaven! let this misunderstanding be cleared up elsewhere. Lady--and you, signor--I call on you to remember where you are, and how solemn a ceremony you have both aided to interrupt." "I know not that man!" ejaculated Agnes, indicating the stranger. "I come hither, because I heard--but an hour ago--that my noble Andrea was no more. And I would not believe those who told me. Oh! no--I could not think that Heaven had thus deprived me of all I loved on earth!" "Lady, you are speaking of my father," said Francisco, in a somewhat severe tone. "Your father!" cried Agnes, now surveying the young count with interest and curiosity. "Oh! then, my lord, you can pity--you can feel for me, who in losing your father have lost all that could render existence sweet!" "No--you have not lost all!" exclaimed the handsome stranger, advancing toward Agnes, and speaking in a profoundly impressive tone. "Have you not one single relative left in the world? Consider, lady--an old, old man--a shepherd in the Black Forest of Germany----" "Speak not of him!" cried Agnes, wildly. "Did he know all, he would curse me--he would spurn me from him--he would discard me forever! Oh! when I think of that poor old man, with his venerable white hair,--that aged, helpless man, who was so kind to me, who loved me so well, and whom I so cruelly abandoned. But tell me, signor," she exclaimed, in suddenly altered tone, while her breath came with the difficulty of acute suspense,--"tell me, signor, does that old man still live?" "He lives, Agnes," was the reply. "I know him well; at this moment he is in Florence!" "In Florence!" repeated Agnes; and so unexpectedly came this announcement, that her limbs seemed to give way under her, and she would have fallen on the marble pavement, had not the stranger caught her in his arms. "I will bear her away," he said; "she has a true friend in me." And he was moving off with his senseless burden, when Francisco, struck by a sudden idea, caught him by the elegantly slashed sleeve of his doublet, and whispered thus, in a rapid tone: "From the few, but significant words which fell from that lady's lips, and from her still more impressive conduct, it would appear, alas! that my deceased father had wronged her. If so, signor, it will be my duty to make her all the reparation that can be afforded in such a case." "'Tis well, my lord," answered the stranger, in a cold and haughty tone. "To-morrow evening I will call upon you at your palace." He then hurried on with the still senseless Agnes in his arms; and the Count of Riverola retraced his steps to the immediate vicinity of the coffin.