"Silence--silence, I implore you!" continued she, in the rapid, low, and yet distinctly audible whisper, "for _your_ sake--for _mine_, betray me not! Deaf and dumb must I appear--deaf and dumb must I yet be deemed for a short space. But to-night, at twelve o'clock, you will meet me, Demetrius, in the garden of the Riverola mansion;--and then I will conduct you to an apartment where we may confer without fear of being overheard--without danger of interruption." "I will not fail thee, lady," said the Greek, scarcely able to recover from the amazement into which Nisida's sudden revelation of her power of speech and hearing had thrown him: then, as an oppressive feeling seized upon his soul, he demanded, "But Calanthe, lady, in the name of heaven! one word more and let that word give me hope that I may see my sister again!" "Demetrius," answered Nisida, her countenance becoming ominous and somber, "you will never behold her more. The lust of Ibrahim Pasha--nay, start not so violently--brought destruction and death upon Calanthe!" The features of the young Greek were at first distorted with anguish, and tears started from his eyes: but in the next moment their expression changed to one denoting the fiercest rage. Nisida understood all that was passing in his soul; and she bent upon him a significant glance, which said more eloquently than language could have done--"Yes, vengeance thou shalt have!" She then rose from the velvet cushions which had been spread upon the ground within the tent, and waving her hand in token of temporary farewell to Demetrius, hastened forth, mounted her horse, and departed, alone and unattended, toward Florence.