"Oh! my Lord," said Jerome, "is my honesty the price I must pay for
this dear youth's safety?"

"For me!" cried Theodore. "Let me die a thousand deaths, rather
than stain thy conscience. What is it the tyrant would exact of
thee? Is the Princess still safe from his power? Protect her,
thou venerable old man; and let all the weight of his wrath fall on
me."

Jerome endeavoured to check the impetuosity of the youth; and ere
Manfred could reply, the trampling of horses was heard, and a
brazen trumpet, which hung without the gate of the castle, was
suddenly sounded. At the same instant the sable plumes on the
enchanted helmet, which still remained at the other end of the
court, were tempestuously agitated, and nodded thrice, as if bowed
by some invisible wearer.



CHAPTER III.



Manfred's heart misgave him when he beheld the plumage on the
miraculous casque shaken in concert with the sounding of the brazen
trumpet.

"Father!" said he to Jerome, whom he now ceased to treat as Count
of Falconara, "what mean these portents? If I have offended--" the