"I should only think of you as my own dear Fernand!" He shook his head--as much as to say, "It cannot be!"--and then once more embraced her fondly--for he beheld, in her anxiety for his escape, only a proof of her ardent affection. At this moment the jailer returned: and while he was unbolting the door, Nisida made one last, imploring appeal to her lover to give his assent to escape, if the arrangements were made for that purpose. But he conveyed to her his resolute determination to meet the charge, with the hope of proving his innocence: and for a few moments Nisida seemed convulsed with the most intense anguish of soul. The jailer made his appearance; and Wagner, to maintain the deceit which Nisida informed him to have been practiced on the man, said a few words aloud in German--as if he was really taking leave of a brother. Nisida embraced him tenderly; and covering her countenance, as much as possible, with her slouched hat, the waving plumes of which she made to fall over her face, this extraordinary being issued from the cell. CHAPTER XVIII. FLORA FRANCATELLI--THE THREE NUNS--THE CHAIR. Nisida regained her apartment, by the private staircase, without any molestation. Having laid aside her male attire, she assumed a loose wrapper, and then, throwing herself into an armchair, gave way to her reflections. These were apparently of no pleasurable nature; for they were frequently interrupted by convulsive starts and rapid glancings around the room--as if she were fearful lest some terrible specter were present to scare her. Once or twice her eyes lingered on her mother's portrait; and then profound sighs escaped her bosom. Presently the beautiful Flora Francatelli entered the apartment; but Nisida made her a sign of dismissal. The maiden withdrew; and we must now follow her to her own chamber. On reaching her bedroom, Flora did not immediately retire to rest. She felt that she should not sleep, even were she to seek her pillow: for she had much--very much to ponder upon! There was a marked, undisguised reserve about her mistress which materially affected her. Although she could not control her affections, yet she felt as if she were acting with duplicity toward the Lady Nisida in having listened to the love-tale of Francisco, and, retaining that revelation of his affection a secret in her own breast. Yet--had he not implored, had he not enjoined her to keep that avowal to herself? Yes, and when she looked at the matter, as it were, face to face, she could not justly reproach herself:--nevertheless, that secret love weighed upon her conscience like a crime! She could not understand wherefore Nisida's manner had changed toward her. Francisco had assuredly made no communication to his sister; and nothing had transpired to excite a suspicion of the real truth in her mind. Still there _was_ a coolness on the part of that lady:--or might it not be that Flora's imagination deceived her?