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6 spared neither pains nor expense, to render her complete in every accomplishment and attraction; and her assiduity fully answered his fondest hopes. The plague, which raged with the utmost violence, carried off her mother about the tine Seraphina had attained her sixteenth year; and her father, who had ever preserved the tenderest regard for that captivating female, who was in every respect highly worthy of his affection, remained inconsolable. Soon after her death, he took the first opportunity of conveying himself and his daughter to Spain; having, previous to his landing, laid aside the turban, and resumed the garb and religion of the Jew. When the Moors conquered Mursia, he again put on the turban, and became one of the most zealous of the true believers; but he did not long survive his settling in Mursia, to which city he had removed on its falling into the hands of Murad. On his death, he left his beloved daughter great wealth, together with the prudent advice of carefully secreting it, and spreading the report of his having died poor.

But it was not possible to conceal the truth from the penetrating eyes of Roderigo, a youthful Spaniard, whose subtility in bargains, and readiness in accounts, rendered him a most useful agent to this Jew, both with the Spaniards and the Moors. Long had he in secret cherished a tender flame for the lovely Seraphina; and he was not without hopes, that he might one day become the possessor both of herself and fortune.

But her heart was decidedly fixed on Alvar. The latter had been under the necessity of applying to Olivarez for a loan, to relieve the wants of numbers of his distressed countrymen, whom he found the secret means of aiding, and which the