hope, and one night, the short space allotted to save him from destruction. The prison in which Ubaldo was confined, was a building of very ancient structure, and used, in former days, for the purposes of fortification; the variety of cells, concealed passages, and stupendous height of the whole, at length, however, induced the legislature to have it repaired, and formed into a prison for criminals convicted of capital offences; and in a dark and loathsome dungeon, at the very summit of one of its towers, lay extended, on his bed of straw, the once prosperous and admired Ubaldo; a small grated window, looking over a river, which flowed round that part of the edifice, made it hopeless for him to think of escape; and he watched the setting of the sun, and the approach of night, without gaining any tidings of

the

the Marchese, or foresceing the smallest prospect of deliverance. The sums with which he was constantly and amply supplied by Morano, had, however, secured to him two advantages: his letter had been safely conveyed, and the gaoler, dazzled by the profuseness of his offers, and trusting in the security of the cell, had consented. to remove the heavy chains which manacled his limbs. Now he traversed the narrow boundary of his dungeon! now he raved in execration on the name of Moraldi! vainly his cager eye rested on the grating of his window ! vainly his strong arm shook the rusty bars on their foundation! ineffectual were all his efforts; and, in an agony of frenzied despair, he dashed himself prostrate on the earth! Morano, in the interim, had, by the most earnest application, obtained permission

for Ubaldo to converse one half hour alone, with a religious, before he slept; this request being accorded, in the disguise of a Carmelite Monk he hastened to the prison, and presenting his order to the Governor, was admitted to Ubaldo.

"CONCEAL these!" he exclaimed, drawing some iron instruments from under his garment, "and in the dead of night force your way through the grating, dare to brave the stream, and I, with Corvino, will wait to succour you." He could add little more; the rest of the time was spent in united efforts to loosen the middle bar, and thereby effect an opening, which they had just concluded, when the entrance of the gaoler announced the expiration of the stated period.

"REMEMBER,

"REMEMBER, son, my instructions," said the pretended Friar, as he left the prison, "and hope may still be yours."

He now repaired to an obscure lodging, hired in the city, for the better carrying on of many infamous designs; and there changing his habit for that of a fisherman, was soon, with Corvino, on the border of the stream, where their little bark quickly conveyed them under the window of Ubaldo's prison. All now was hush, while the uncommon darkness of the night seemed to favour an enterprise, which was once more to prove the better genius of Ubaldo; already the aperture was effected, by the strength and ingenuity of his operations; the gaoler had gone his rounds; and the distant beat of the low muffled drum, D 4 proclaimed

proclaimed the midnight hour, and warned each wretched inhabitant to prepare for approaching death! Now, in hollow sounds, he caught the echoes of the workmen employed in erecting his scaffold at that moment a smile of malignant triumph flashed-over his countenance. "Man!" he exclaimed, as he concluded his work at the grating, "how vain thy boasted security! power, how insignificant thy attributes! a little stratagem destroys them all; and Ubaldo yet shall live, to compleat his vengeance, and fulfil his vow!" He now raised his signal, which was immediately answered; and then climbing, by means of the broken and projecting stones, to the window, looked around him; he saw the boat, he distinguished the persons of his confederates, but the depth was frightful! and his bold, undaunted spirit, almost