art, and how long thou hast been acquainted with the Princess--and
take care to answer with less equivocation than thou didst last
night, or tortures shall wring the truth from thee."

The young man, perceiving that his share in the flight of the
Princess was discovered, and concluding that anything he should say
could no longer be of any service or detriment to her, replied -

"I am no impostor, my Lord, nor have I deserved opprobrious
language. I answered to every question your Highness put to me
last night with the same veracity that I shall speak now: and that
will not be from fear of your tortures, but because my soul abhors
a falsehood. Please to repeat your questions, my Lord; I am ready
to give you all the satisfaction in my power."

"You know my questions," replied the Prince, "and only want time to
prepare an evasion. Speak directly; who art thou? and how long
hast thou been known to the Princess?"

"I am a labourer at the next village," said the peasant; "my name
is Theodore. The Princess found me in the vault last night:
before that hour I never was in her presence."

"I may believe as much or as little as I please of this," said
Manfred; "but I will hear thy own story before I examine into the
truth of it. Tell me, what reason did the Princess give thee for
making her escape? thy life depends on thy answer."

"She told me," replied Theodore, "that she was on the brink of
destruction, and that if she could not escape from the castle, she