He was sitting one evening at one of his solitary vigils, wrapped up in meditation; the hour was late, and his neighbour, the owl, was hooting from the battlement of the tower, when he heard the door open behind him.  Supposing it to be his daughter coming to take her leave of him for the night, as was her frequent practice, he called her by name, but a harsh voice me this ear in reply.  He was grasped by the arms, and, looking up, perceived three strange men in the chamber.  He attempted to shake them off, but in vain.  He called for help, but they scoffed at his cries.  “Peace, dotard!” cried one:  “think’st thou the servants of the most holy inquisition are to be daunted by thy clamours?  Comrades, away with him!”

Without heeding his remonstrances and entreaties, they seized upon his books and papers, took some note of the apartment, and the utensils, and then bore him off a prisoner.

Inez, left to herself, had passed a sad and lonely evening; seated by a casement which looked into the garden, she had pensively watched star after star sparkle out of the blue depths of the sky, and was indulging a crowd of anxious thoughts about her lover, until the rising tears began to flow.  She was suddenly alarmed by the sound of voices, that seemed to come from a distant part of the mansion.  There was, not long after, a noise of several persons descending the stairs.  Surprised at these unusual sounds in their lonely habitation, she remained for a few moments in a state of trembling, yet indistinct apprehension, when the servant rushed into the room, with terror in her countenance, and informed her that her father was carried off by armed men.

Inez did not stop to hear further, but flew down-stairs to overtake them.  She had scarcely passed the threshold, when she found herself in the grasp of strangers.—­“Away!—­away!” cried she, wildly, “do not stop me—­let me follow my father.”

“We come to conduct you to him, senora,” said one of the men, respectfully.

“Where is he, then?”

“He is gone to Granada,” replied the man:  “an unexpected circumstance requires his presence there immediately; but he is among friends.”

“We have no friends in Granada,” said Inez, drawing back; but then the idea of Antonio rushed into her mind; something relating to him might have call her father thither.  “Is senor Antonio de Castros with him?” demanded she, with agitation.

“I know not, senora,” replied the man.  “It is very possible.  I only know that your father is among friends, and is anxious for you to follow him.”

“Let us go, then,” cried she, eagerly.  The men led her a little distance to where a mule was waiting, and, assisting her to mount, they conducted her slowly towards the city.