The unknown, as he came near the tower, was more cautious and stealthy in his approaches.  He was joined under a clump of trees by another person, and they had much whispering together.  A light was burning in the chamber of Inez; the curtain was down, but the casement was left open, as the night was warm.  After some time, the light was extinguished.  A considerable interval elapsed.  The cavalier and his companion remained under covert of the trees, as if keeping watch.  At length they approached the tower, with silent and cautious steps.  The cavalier received a dark-lantern from his companion, and threw off his cloak.  The other then softly brought something from the clump of trees, which Antonio perceived to be a light ladder:  he placed it against the wall, and the serenader gently ascended.  A sickening sensation came over Antonio.  Here was indeed a confirmation of every fear.  He was about to leave the place, never to return, when he heard a stifled shriek from Inez’s chamber.

In an instant, the fellow that stood at the foot of the ladder lay prostrate on the ground.  Antonio wrested a stiletto from his nerveless hand, and hurried up the ladder.  He sprang in at the window, and found Inez struggling in the grasp of his fancied rival; the latter, disturbed from his prey, caught up his lantern, turned its light full upon Antonio, and, drawing his sword, made a furious assault; luckily the student saw the light gleam along the blade, and parried the thrust with the stiletto.  A fierce, but unequal combat ensued.  Antonio fought exposed to the full glare of the light, while his antagonist was in shadow:  his stiletto, too, was but a poor defence against a rapier.  He saw that nothing would save him but closing with his adversary, and getting within his weapon:  he rushed furiously upon him, and gave him a severe blow with the stiletto; but received a wound in return from the shortened sword.  At the same moment, a blow was inflicted from behind, by the confederate, who had ascended the ladder; it felled him to the floor, and his antagonists made their escape.

By this time, the cries of Inez had brought her father and the domestic into the room.  Antonio was found weltering in his blood, and senseless.  He was conveyed to the chamber of the alchymist, who now repaid in kind the attentions which the student had once bestowed upon him.  Among his varied knowledge he possessed some skill in surgery, which at this moment was of more value than even his chymical lore.  He stanched and dressed the wounds of his disciple, which on examination proved less desperate than he had at first apprehended.  For a few days, however, his case was anxious, and attended with danger.  The old man watched over him with the affection of a parent.  He felt a double debt of gratitude towards him, on account of his daughter and himself; he loved him too as a faithful and zealous disciple; and he dreaded lest the world, should be deprived of the promising talents of so aspiring an alchymist.