It is an ascertained fact, that although our senses of he opened them to the day. He rose refreshed, and

touch and sight be for the time dead, yet our sleeping with a strange sentiment of calmness, that seemed more thoughts, and the visionary scenes that pass before us, the result of resolution than exhaustion. The incidents will be influenced, and materially influenced, by the and emotions of the past night had settled into distinct mere silent presence of some external object which may and clear impressions. He thought of them but slightly, not have been near us when we closed our eyes, and—he thought rather of the future. He was as one of of whose vicinity we have had no waking conscious- the Initiated in the old Egyptian Mysteries, who have crossed the Gate only to long more ardently for the Penetralia.

ness.

Oliver knew perfectly well that he was in his own little room, that his books were lying on the table He dressed himself, and was relieved to find that before him, and that the sweet air was stirring among Merton had joined a party of his countrymen on an excur the creeping plants outside, and yet he was asleep.sion to Ischia. He spent the heat of noon in thoughtful Suddenly the scene changed, the air became close and confined, and he thought with a glow of terror that he was in the Jew's house again. There sat the hideous old man in his accustomed corner pointing at him, and whispering to another man with his face averted, who sat beside him.

solitude, and gradually the image of Isabel returned to his heart. It was a holy-for it was a human-image: he had resigned her, and he repented. The light of day served, if not to dissipate, at least to sober, the turbulence and fervour of the preceding night. But was it indeed too late to retract his resolve? Too late!

'Hush, my dear!' he thought he heard the Jew say; terrible words! Of what do we repent, when the "it is him, sure enough. Come away.'

Ghost of the Deed returns to us to say-Thou hast no

He started impatiently from his seat, seized his hat and sword, and strode with rapid steps to the humble abode of the actress.

'He!' the other man seemed to answer; 'could I mis-recall?' take him, think you? If a crowd of devils were to put themselves into his exact shape, and he stood amongst them, there is something that would tell me how to point him out. If you buried him fifty feet deep, and took me across his grave, I should know, if there wasn't a mark above it, that he lay buried there. Wither his flesh, I should!'

The man seemed to say this with such dreadful hatred, that Oliver awoke with the fear and started up. Good God! what was that which sent the blood tingling to his heart, and deprived him of voice or power to move! There there at the window-close before him—so close, that he could have almost touched him before he started back—with his eyes peering into the room, and meeting his-there stood the Jew! --and beside him, white with rage, or fear, or both, were the scowling features of the very man who had accosted him at the inn yard!

It was but an instant, a glance, a flash before his eyes, and they were gone. But they had recognised him, and he them, and their look was as firmly impressed upon his memory as if it had been deeply carved in stone, and set before him from his birth. He stood transfixed for a moment, and then, leaping from the window into the garden, called loudly for help.

From the Monthly Chronicle.
ZICCI. A TALE.
(CONTINUED.).

CHAPTER XII.

The sleep of Glyndon, that night, was unusually profound; and the sun streamed full upon his eyes as

The distance was considerable, and the air oppressive. Glyndon arrived at the door breathless and heated. He knocked, no answer came: he lifted the latch and entered. No sound, no sight of life, met his ear and eye. In the front chamber, on a table, lay the guitar of the actress and some manuscript parts in plays. He paused, and, summoning courage, tapped at the door which seemed to lead into the inner apartment. The door was ajar; and, hearing no sound within, he pushed it open. It was the sleeping chamber of the young actress-that holiest ground to a lover; and well did the place become the presiding deity; none of the tawdry finery of the Profession was visible on the one hand, none of the slovenly disorder common to the humbler classes of the South on the other. All was pure and simple; even the ornaments were those of an innocent refinement:-a few books, placed carefully on shelves, a few half-faded flowers in an earthen vase, which was modelled and painted in the Etruscan fashion. The sunlight streamed over the snowy dra peries of the bed, and a few articles of clothing, neatly folded, on the chair beside it. Isabel was not there; and Glyndon, as he gazed round, observed that the casement which opened to the ground was wrenched and broken, and several fragments of the shattered glass lay below. The light flashed at once upon Glyndon's mind-the ravisher had borne away his prize. The ominous words of Zicci were fulfilled: it was too late! Wretch that he was! perhaps he might have saved her. But, the nurse, was she gone also? He made the house resound with the name of Gionetta, but there was not even an echo to reply. He resolved to repair

at once to the abode of Zicci. On arriving at the | heard the hoofs of a horse at full speed:-the sound palace of the Corsican, he was informed that the Signior ceased; there was a knock at the door. Her heart beat violently; but fear gave way to another sentiment when she heard a voice, too well known, calling on her name. She went to the door.

sure of thy love; that all sacrifice of womanhood's | The gates opened noiselessly:—a broad flight of steps, repute were sweet to me, if regarded as the proof and brilliantly illumined, was before her:-she was in the seal of affection. But to be bound beneath the weight palace of the Prince di of a cold obligation-to be the beggar on the eyes of Indifference to throw myself on one who loves me not-that were indeed the vilest sin of my sex. Ah! Zicci, rather let me die.'

She had thrown back her clustering hair from her face as she spoke; and as she now stood with her arms drooping mournfully, and her hands clasped together with the proud bitterness of her wayward spirit, giving new zest and charm to her singular beauty; it was impossible to conceive a sight more irresistible to the senses and the heart.

"Tempt me not to thine own danger-perhaps destruction,' exclaimed Zicci, in faltering accents. Thou canst not dream of what thou wouldest demandcome;' and advancing, he wound his arm round her waist, 'come, Isabel; believe at least in my friendship-my protection-"

'And not thy love,' said the Italian, turning on him her hurried and reproachful eyes. Those eyes met his, and he could not withdraw from the charm of their gaze. He felt her heart throbbing beneath his own-her breath came warm upon his cheek. He trembled-he!-the lofty—the mysterious Zicci-who seemed to stand aloof from his race. With a deep and burning sigh, he murmured 'Isabel, I love thee!'

CHAPTER XIV.

The young actress was led to, and left alone in, a chamber adorned with all the luxurious and half-Eastern taste that, at one time, characterized the palaces of the great seigneurs of Italy. Her first thought was for Zicci: was he yet living-had he escaped unscathed the blades of the foe: her new treasure-the new light of her life-her lord, at least her lover?

She had short time for reflection. She heard steps approaching the chamber: she drew back. She placed her hand on the dagger that at all hours she wore concealed in her bosom. Living, or dead, she would be faithful still to Zicci! There was a new motive to the preservation of honour. The door opened, and the prince entered in a dress that sparkled with jewels.

'Fair and cruel one,' said he, advancing, with a halfsneer upon his lip, thou wilt not too harshly blame the violence of love.' He attempted to take her hand as he spoke.

'Nay,' said he, as she recoiled, 'reflect that thou art now in the power of one that never faltered in the pursuit of an object less dear to him than thou art. Thy lover, presumptuous though he be, is not by to save thee. Mine thou art; but instead of thy master, suffer me to be thy slave.'

That beautiful face, bathed in blushes, drooped upon his bosom; and as he bent down, his lips sought 'My lord,' said Isabel, with a stern gravity, which the rosy mouth:―a long and burning kiss-danger-perhaps the Stage had conspired with Nature to belife-the world was forgotten! Suddenly Zicci tore stow upon her, 'your boast is in vain:-Your power! himself from her. I am not in your power. Life and death are in my own hands. I will not defy-but I do not fear you. I feel-and in some feelings,' added Isabel, with a solemnity almost thrilling, 'there is all the strength, and all the divinity of knowledge-I feel that I am safe even here: but you-you Prince di brought danger to your home and hearth!'

'Oh, what have I said?—It is gone,-my power to preserve thee to guard thee-to foresee the storm in thy skies-is gone forever. No matter. Haste-haste; and may love supply the loss of prophecy and power!' Isabel hesitated no more. She threw her mantle over her shoulders, and gathered up her dishevelled hair; a moment-and she was prepared-when a sudden crash was heard in the inner room.

have

The Neapolitan seemed startled by an earnestness and a boldness he was but little prepared for. He 'Too late!-fool that I was-too late!' cried Zicci, in was not, however, a man easily intimidated or deter a sharp tone of agony, as he hurried to the outer door. red from any purpose he had formed; and approaching He opened it, only to be borne back by the press of Isabel, he was about to reply with much warmth, real armed men: behind-before-escape was cut off! The or affected, when a knock was heard at the door of the room literally swarmed with the followers of the ra- chamber. The sound was repeated, and the prince. visher, masked-mailed-armed to the teeth. chafed at the interruption, opened the door, and de Isabel was already in the grasp of two of the myr-manded, impatiently, who had ventured to disobey his midons: her shriek smote the ear of Zicci. He sprang orders, and invade his leisure. Mascari presented forward; and Isabel heard his wild cry in a foreign himself, pale and agitated: 'My lord,' said he, in a tongue!—the gleam-the clash of swords. She lost whisper, 'pardon me; but a stranger is below, who in her senses; and when she recovered, she found her-sists on seeing you; and from some words he let fali, self gagged, and in a carriage that was driven rapidly, I judged it advisable even to infringe your commands." by the side of a masked and motionless figure. The 'A stranger-and at this hour! What business can carriage stopped at the portals of a gloomy mansion. he pretend? why was he even admitted?'

'He asserts that your life is in imminent danger. | accomplice or the tool of that most dexterous, but, at The source whence it proceeds he will relate to your present, defeated charlatan. And I suppose thou wilt Excellency alone.’ tell me that, if I were to release a certain captive I have made, the danger would vanish, and the hand of the dial would be put back.'

The prince frowned; but his colour changed. He mused a moment, and then re-entering the chamber, and advancing towards Isabel, he said,—

'Judge of me as thou wilt, Prince di I con'Believe me, fair creature, I have no wish to take fess my knowledge of Zicci, a knowledge shared but advantage of my power. I would fain trust alone to by a few, who-but this touches thee not.-I would the gentler authorities of affection. Hold yourself save-therefore I warn thee. Dost thou ask me why? queen within these walls more absolutely than you I will tell thee. Canst thou remember to have heard have ever enacted that part on the stage. To-night-wild tales of thy grandsire? of his desire for a knowfarewell! May your sleep be calm, and your dreams ledge that passes that of the Schools and Cloisters? of propitious to my hopes!'

With these words he retired, and in a few moments Isabel was surrounded by officious attendants, whom she at length with some difficulty, dismissed; and refusing to retire to rest, she spent the night in examining the chamber, which she found was secured, and in thoughts of Zicci, in whose power she felt an almost preternatural confidence.

Meanwhile, the Prince descended the stairs, and sought the room into which the stranger had been shown.

He found him wrapt from head to foot in a long robe-half gown, half mantle-such as was sometimes worn by ecclesiastics. The face of this stranger was remarkable: so sun-burnt and swarthy were his hues, that he must, apparently, have derived his origin amongst the races of the farthest East. His forehead was lofty, and his eyes so penetrating, yet so calm in their gaze, that the prince shrunk from them as we shrink from a questioner who is drawing forth the guiltiest secrets of our hearts.

a strange man from the East who was his familiar and master in lore, against which the Vatican has, from age to age, launched its mimic thunder? Dost thou call to mind the fortunes of thy ancestor? how he suc ceeded in youth to little but a name? how, after a career wild and dissolute as thine, he disappeared from Milan, a pauper and a self-exile? how, after years spent-none knew in what climes or in what pursuits-he again revisited the city where his progenitors had reigned? how with him came this wise man of the East-the mystic Mejnour? how they who beheld him, beheld with amaze and fear that time had ploughed no furrow on his brow-that youth seemed fixed as by a spell upon his face and form? Dost thou not know that from that hour his fortunes rose? Kinsmen the most remote died; estate upon estate fell into the hands of the ruined noble. He allied himself with the royalty of Austria, he became the guide of princes, the first magnate of Italy. He founded anew the house of which thou art the last lineal upholder, and transferred its splendour from Milan to the Sicilian

'What would you with me?' asked the Prince, mo- Realms. Visions of high ambition were then present tioning his visiter to a seat.

with him nightly and daily. Had he lived, Italy 'Prince of —,' said the stranger in a voice deep would have known a new dynasty, and the Visconti and sweet, but foreign in its accent, 'son of the most would have reigned over Magna-Græcia. He was a energetic and masculine race that ever applied god-man, such as the world rarely sees; he was worthy to like genius to the service of Human Will, with its be of us, worthy to be the pupil of Mejnour:-whom winding wickedness and its stubborn grandeur-de- you now see before you.' scendant of the great Visconti, in whose chronicles lies the History of Italy in her palmy day, and in whose rise was the developement of the mightiest intellect ripened by the most relentless ambition-I come to gaze upon the last star in a darkening firmament. By this hour to-morrow space shall know it Man! thy days are numbered.'

not.

The Prince who had listened with deep and breathless attention to the words of his singular guest, started from his seat at his last words. 'Impostor!' he cried, 'can you dare thus to play with my credulity? Sixty years have passed since my grandsire died, and you, a man younger apparently than myself, have the assurance to pretend to have been his contemporary!

'What means this jargon!' said the Prince, in visi-But you have imperfectly learned your tale. You ble astonishment and secret awe. "Comest thou to menace me in my own halls, or wouldest thou warn me of a danger? Art thou some itinerant mountebank, or some unguest-of friend? Speak out, and plainly. What danger threatens me?'

"Zicci!' replied the stranger.

'Ha! ha!' said the Prince, laughing scornfully, 'I half suspected thee from the first. Thou art then the

know not, it seems, that my grandsire-wise and illustrious indeed, in all save his faith in a charlatanwas found dead in his bed, in the very hour when his colossal plans were ripe for execution, and that Mejnour was guilty of his murder.'

'Alas!' answered the stranger in a voice of great sadness, 'had he but listened to Mejnour, had he but delayed the last and most perilous ordeal of daring