At length, raising her head, she conveyed this wish to her companion: "Thou hast given me an idea which may render me ridiculous in your estimation; but it is a whim, a fancy, a caprice, engendered only by the profound affection I entertain for thee. I would that thou shouldst say, in thy softest, tenderest tones, the words '_I love thee!_' and, by the wreathing of thy lips, I shall see enough to enable my imagination to persuade itself that those words have really fallen upon my ears." Fernand smiled assent; and, while Nisida's eyes were fixed upon him with the most enthusiastic interest, he said, "I love thee!" The sovereign beauty of her countenance was suddenly lighted up with an expression of ineffable joy, of indescribable delight; and, signaling the assurance, "I love thee, dearest, dearest Fernand!" she threw herself into his arms. But almost at the same moment voices were heard in the adjacent room: and Wagner, gently disengaging himself from Nisida's embrace, hastily conveyed to her an intimation of the vicinity of others. The lady gave him to understand by a glance that she comprehended him; and they remained motionless, fondly gazing upon each other. "I know not how it has occurred, Flora," said the voice of Francisco, speaking in a tender tone, in the adjoining room--"I know not how it has occurred that I should have addressed you in this manner--so soon, too, after the death of my lamented father, and while these mourning garments yet denote the loss which myself and sister have sustained----" "Oh! my lord, suffer me to retire," exclaimed Flora Francatelli, in a tone of beseeching earnestness; "I should not have listened to your lordship so long in the gallery of pictures, much less have accompanied your lordship hither." "I requested thee to come with me to this apartment, Flora, that I might declare, without fear of our interview being interrupted, how dear, how very dear, thou art to me, and how honorable is the passion with which thou hast inspired me. Oh, Flora," exclaimed the young count, "I could no longer conceal my love for thee! My heart was bursting to reveal its secret; and when I discovered thee alone, ere now, in the gallery of pictures, I could not resist the favorable opportunity accident seemed to have afforded for this avowal." "Alas! my lord," murmured Flora, "I know not whether to rejoice or be sorrowful at the revelation which has this day met my ears." "And yet you said ere now that you could love me, that you did love me in return," ejaculated Francisco. "I spoke truly, my lord," answered the bashful maiden; "but, alas! how can the humble, obscure, portionless Flora become the wife of the rich, powerful and honored Count of Riverola? There is an inseparable gulf fixed between us, my lord."