Page:Cross, or, The Spanish champion.pdf/13

11 forced at length to tear himself from her; but ere he departed she bethought her of the scarf which she had worked for him. On her presenting him with it he kissed it a thousand times, and reading the words took a most solemn oath to obey her injunctions: then, after fresh embraces and mutual vows, he reluctantly quitted her presence. Jacintha stood ready to conduct him throughthe garden to the gate which led into the fields; where, having joined his companions, who waited for him, they hastened forward on their journey.

Jacintha, on her return through the garden, met Roderigo; for that crafty Spaniard, who had been constantly on the watch ever since his first discovery of the intercourse between Alvar and Seraphina, had seen him enter, and by the aid of all-powerful gold, soon became acquainted with the cause of his visit at so late an hour.

The treacherous Roderigo lost not a moment in letting Murad know, by a secret agent whom he employed, of the flight of Alvar to join Alphonso, yet carefully concealing the name of Seraphina, and the love which Alvar held for her; well knowing, that such an information would lose him for ever his charming mistress.

Murad was thrown into the most violent transport of rage on gaining this intelligence. He instantly commanded Alvar's apartments in the palace to be searched, and finding him gone, doubted not the truth of what was thus imparted to him, and immediately dispatched a party of his soldiers, headed by a favourite Moor, whom he strictly charged to bring him the head of Alvar.

Meanwhile Seraphina remained under the most painful apprehensions for his safety, and every moment started with terror at some fresh idea of B3