Leonard and the old woman instantly flew to the poor girl’s assistance, and restoratives being applied, she speedily opened her eyes and fixed them tenderly and inquiringly on the apprentice.  Before replying to her mute interrogatories, Leonard requested the old woman to leave them—­an order very reluctantly obeyed—­and as soon as they were left alone, proceeded to explain, as briefly as he could, the manner in which he had discovered her place of captivity.  Nizza listened to his recital with the greatest interest, and though evidently suffering acute pain, uttered no complaint, but endeavoured to assume an appearance of composure and tranquillity.

“I must now tell you all that has befallen me since we last met,” she said, as he concluded.  “I will not dwell upon the persecution I endured from the king, whose passion increased in proportion to my resistance—­I will not dwell upon the arts, the infamous arts, used to induce me to comply with his wishes—­neither will I dwell upon the desperate measure I had determined to resort to, if driven to the last strait—­nor would I mention the subject at all, except to assure you I escaped contamination where few escaped it.”

“You need not give me any such assurance,” remarked Leonard.

“While I was thus almost driven to despair,” pursued Nizza, “a young female who attended me, and affected to deplore my situation, offered to help me to escape.  I eagerly embraced the offer; and one night, having purloined, as she stated, the key of the chamber in which I was lodged, she conducted me by a back staircase into the palace-gardens.  Thinking myself free, I warmly thanked my supposed deliverer, who hurried me towards a gate, at which she informed me a man was waiting to guide me to a cottage about a mile from the city, where I should be in perfect safety.”

“I see the device,” cried Leonard.  “But, why—­why did you trust her?”

“What could I do?” rejoined Nizza.  “To stay was as bad as to fly, and might have been worse.  At all events, I had no distrust.  My companion opened the gate, and called to some person without.  It was profoundly dark; but I could perceive a carriage, or some other vehicle, at a little distance.  Alarmed at the sight, I whispered my fears to my companion, and would have retreated; but she laid hold of my hand, and detained me.  The next moment I felt a rude grasp upon my arm.  Before I could cry out, a hand was placed over my mouth so closely as almost to stifle me; and I was forced into the carriage by two persons, who seated themselves on either side of me, threatening to put me to death if I made the slightest noise.  The carriage was then driven off at a furious pace.  For some miles it pursued the high road, and then struck into a lane, where, in consequence of the deep and dangerous ruts, the driver was obliged to relax his speed.  But in spite of all his caution, one of the wheels sunk into a hole, and in the efforts to extricate it, the