to meet, without censure or impediment, beautiful and affectionate mistresses; but her lot was endless misery (for her tyrant was certainly immortal), unless the supreme Disposer of events should, by some miracle, suspend the listlessness of her existence.  She had scarcely finished this ejaculation, when the shadow of a bird, which nearly intercepted all the light proceeding from the narrow window of her room, arrested her attention, and a falcon of the largest size flew into the chamber, and perched at the foot of her bed.  While she gazed, it gradually assumed the figure of a young and handsome knight.  She started, changed colour, and drew a veil over her face, but still gazed and listened, with some fear, much astonishment, but more pleasure.  The knight soon broke silence.  He begged her not to be alarmed; confessed his mode of visiting was new, and rather mysterious; but that a falcon was a gentle and noble bird, whose figure ought not to create suspicion.  He was a neighbouring prince, who had long loved her, and wished to dedicate the remainder of his days to her service.  The lady, gradually removing her veil, ingenuously told him, he was much handsomer, and apparently more amiable, than any man she had ever seen; and she should be happy to accept him as a lover, if such a connection could be legitimate, and if he was orthodox.  The prince entered at large into the articles of his creed; and concluded by advising that she should feign herself sick, send for his chaplain, and direct him to bring the host; “when,” said he, “I will assume your appearance, and receive the Sacrament in your stead.”  The lady was satisfied with this proposal; and, when the old woman came in, and summoned her to rise, she professed to be at the point of death, and entreated the immediate assistance of the chaplain.  Such a request, in the absence of her lord, could not be regularly granted; but a few screams, and a fainting fit, removed the old lady’s doubts, and she hobbled off in search of the chaplain, who immediately brought the host; and Muldumaric (the falcon-prince) assuming the appearance of his mistress, went through the sacred ceremony with becoming devotion, which they both considered as a marriage contract.  The lady’s supposed illness enabled the prince to protract his visit; but at length the moment of separation came, and she expressed her wish for the frequent repetition of their interviews.—­“Nothing is so easy,” said Muldumaric; “whenever you express an ardent wish to see me, I will instantly come.  But beware of that old woman:  she will probably discover our secret, and betray it to her brother; and I announce to you, the moment of discovery will be that of my death.”  With these words he flew off.  His mistress, with all her caution, was unable to conceal entirely the complete change in her sensations.  Her solitude, formerly so irksome, became the source of her greatest delight; her person, so long neglected, again was an object of solicitude; and her artful and jealous husband,