Page:Cross, or, The Spanish champion.pdf/9

7 riches bestowed upon him by Murad quickly enabled him to repay, together with the most exorbitant interest charged upon it. It was during these meetings with the father that Alvar first beheld Seraphina, and the most ardent love for her succeeded. The heart of Seraphina received an equally strong impression, and their mutual passion was soon made known to each other, by means of a favourite and trusty servant of Seraphina, named Jacintha, who procured them frequent private interviews, in which they exchanged their vows. After the death of Olivarez, their intercourse was still more closely repeated.

It chanced, that one evening while the subtle Roderigo was musing on the surest means of furthering his views on Seraphina, amid a retired and shady part of the garden at the back of her house, he was roused from his reveries by the rustling of the leaves at no great distance from him. Starting, he wrapped his cloak closer round him, and concealing his face, he paced with cautious steps to the spot from whence the sound came. He approached near enough to hear the sound of voices, though in a low tone, and quickly after saw Jacintha conducting a man with great caution towards a private door which led into the fields. The moon, which had just before emerged from the clouds, now shone sufficiently bright for him to see the face of Alvar, which he well remembered, from having often seen him with his late master. Transported with fury, he revolved a thousand projects in his mind, to prevent Alvar's union with Seraphina, which he doubted not was on the point of taking place; but the situation of Alvar, and the high estimation in which he stood with Murad, occasioned him the utmost perplexity, and he could resolve upon nothing, but determined B