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 recognized by Semovit, who saluted most respectfully, Boppo entered and placed himself at the head of the visitors. Rudolph sat apparently oppressed with thought, and filled with displeasure, his face half turned away, and his clenched right hand on the table. Slowly turning his countenance, the grand presence of Lord Boppo, to his amazement, rose before him. Perplexity amounting almost to consternation confused and suppressed his utterance.

“Your majesty will allow me,” began the old man, “to take final leave of former comrade and commander. Full fifty years of acquaintance, much of that time in good-fellowship, entitle me to pay my last respects. I hope I may doso with all the knightly and fraternal feeling that I enjoyed of old. Profoundly shall I grieve if the sudden imprisonment of the good Lord Zawis is due to imperial purpose enforced by the methods adopted to deceive and ensnare him. Is the statement true that a knight still unconvicted of offense has been enticed, by a false pretense of hospitality, and in the name of his prince, into the palace where that hospitality was proffered, and was then seized violently and immured in a felon’s dungeon, when he trusted to the sacred word of his king according to the confidence of a brave knight and true? Had your majesty a share in that transaction?”

“Zawis was not apprehended by my orders,” replied Rudolph, suddenly required to defend himself; “but I approve of what has been done.”

“Sir,” said Boppo, “I have seen my baronial fortress reduced to ashes by the Tartars, and have