of the black tower, and guard him strictly; scarce permitting the
father and son to exchange a hasty embrace at parting. He then
withdrew to the hall, and seating himself in princely state,
ordered the Herald to be admitted to his presence.

"Well! thou insolent!" said the Prince, "what wouldst thou with
me?"

"I come," replied he, "to thee, Manfred, usurper of the
principality of Otranto, from the renowned and invincible Knight,
the Knight of the Gigantic Sabre: in the name of his Lord,
Frederic, Marquis of Vicenza, he demands the Lady Isabella,
daughter of that Prince, whom thou hast basely and traitorously got
into thy power, by bribing her false guardians during his absence;
and he requires thee to resign the principality of Otranto, which
thou hast usurped from the said Lord Frederic, the nearest of blood
to the last rightful Lord, Alfonso the Good. If thou dost not
instantly comply with these just demands, he defies thee to single
combat to the last extremity." And so saying the Herald cast down
his warder.

"And where is this braggart who sends thee?" said Manfred.

"At the distance of a league," said the Herald: "he comes to make
good his Lord's claim against thee, as he is a true knight, and
thou an usurper and ravisher."

Injurious as this challenge was, Manfred reflected that it was not
his interest to provoke the Marquis. He knew how well founded the
claim of Frederic was; nor was this the first time he had heard of