A Sicilian Romance

The nuptial morn, so justly dreaded by Julia, and so impatiently

awaited by the marquis, now arrived. The marriage was to be celebrated

with a magnificence which demonstrated the joy it occasioned to the

marquis. The castle was fitted up in a style of grandeur superior to

any thing that had been before seen in it. The neighbouring nobility

were invited to an entertainment which was to conclude with a splendid

ball and supper, and the gates were to be thrown open to all who chose

to partake of the bounty of the marquis. At an early hour the duke,

attended by a numerous retinue, entered the castle. Ferdinand heard

from his dungeon, where the rigour and the policy of the marquis still

confined him, the loud clattering of hoofs in the courtyard above, the

rolling of the carriage wheels, and all the tumultuous bustle which

the entrance of the duke occasioned.

He too well understood the cause

of this uproar, and it awakened in him sensations resembling those

which the condemned criminal feels, when his ears are assailed by the

dreadful sounds that precede his execution. When he was able to think

of himself, he wondered by what means the marquis would reconcile his

absence to the guests. He, however, knew too well the dissipated

character of the Sicilian nobility, to doubt that whatever story

should be invented would be very readily believed by them; who, even

if they knew the truth, would not suffer a discovery of their

knowledge to interrupt the festivity which was offered them.

The marquis and marchioness received the duke in the outer hall, and

conducted him to the saloon, where he partook of the refreshments

prepared for him, and from thence retired to the chapel. The marquis

now withdrew to lead Julia to the altar, and Emilia was ordered to

attend at the door of the chapel, in which the priest and a numerous

company were already assembled. The marchioness, a prey to the

turbulence of succeeding passions, exulted in the near completion of

her favorite scheme.--A disappointment, however, was prepared for her,

which would at once crush the triumph of her malice and her pride. The

marquis, on entering the prison of Julia, found it empty! His

astonishment and indignation upon the discovery almost overpowered his

reason.

Of the servants of the castle, who were immediately summoned,

he enquired concerning her escape, with a mixture of fury and sorrow

which left them no opportunity to reply. They had, however, no

information to give, but that her woman had not appeared during the

whole morning. In the prison were found the bridal habiliments which

the marchioness herself had sent on the preceding night, together with

a letter addressed to Emilia, which contained the following words: