“Wrap a blanket round you, then, and follow me,” said Nizza, taking up the lamp and hastening to the door.  “Ah!” she exclaimed, with a cry of anguish—­“it is locked.”

“This building is destined to be my prison, and that treacherous woman my gaoler,” groaned Leonard, sinking backwards.

“Do not despair,” cried Nizza; “I will accomplish your deliverance.”

So saying, she tried, by knocking against the door and by loud outcries, to give the alarm.  But no answer was returned, and she soon became convinced that Judith had fastened the door of the charnel, which, it will be remembered, lay between the vault and the body of Saint Faith’s.  Hence, no sound could teach the outer structure.  Disturbed by what had just occurred.  Leonard’s senses again wandered; but, exerting all her powers to tranquillize him, Nizza at last succeeded so well that he sunk into a slumber.

Almost regarding his situation as hopeless, she took up the lamp, and searching the vault, found the pan containing the half-made poultice.  The fire smouldered on the hearth, and replenishing it from a scanty supply in one corner, she heated the poultice and applied it to the tumour.  This done, she continued her search.  But though she found several phials, each bearing the name of some remedy for the pestilence, her distrust of Judith would not allow her to use any of them.  Resuming her seat by the couch of the sufferer, and worn out with fatigue and anxiety, she presently dropped asleep.

She was awakened after awhile by a slight noise near her, and beheld Judith bending over the apprentice, with a pot of ointment in her hand, which she was about to apply to the part affected.  The poultice had already been removed.  Uttering a loud cry, Nizza started to her feet, and snatching the ointment from the nurse, threw it away.  As soon as the latter recovered from her surprise, she seized her assailant, and forced her into the seat she had just quitted.

“Stir not till I give you permission,” she cried, fiercely; “I wish to cure this young man, if you will let me.”

“You intend to murder him,” replied Nizza; “but while I live you shall never accomplish your atrocious purpose.  Help! help!” And she uttered a prolonged piercing scream.

“Peace! or I will strangle you,” cried Judith, compressing Nizza’s slender throat with a powerful gripe.

And she would, in all probability, have executed her terrible threat, if a secret door in the wall had not suddenly opened and admitted Solomon Eagle.  A torch supplied the place of his brazier, and he held it aloft, and threw its ruddy light upon the scene.  On seeing him, Judith relinquished her grasp, and glared at him with a mixture of defiance and apprehension; while Nizza, half dead with terror, instantly rushed towards him, and throwing herself at his feet, besought him to save her.

“No harm shall befall you,” replied Solomon Eagle, extending his arm over her.  “Tell me what has happened.”