All this while Florinda, as little suspecting the fraud that had
been played upon them as Carlton himself, was quite contented and
happy in the anticipated success of their plan, and dropped to
sleep, thinking of him, after humbling herself before the throne of
grace in fervent prayer-that key to the gates of Paradise.

Florinda was naturally of a devotional character; and this feeling
had grown and strengthened by her companionship with the late
duchess, who was noted for her piety and goodness-and in fact came
to her death, as is well known, by too much rigor imposed upon
herself in devotional penance!

Petro, after satisfying himself that the ruse had not been
discovered, sought his own apartment in the palace to read the
letter he had thus possessed himself of. He hesitated for a moment
before he broke the seal-we will do him the justice to say so-even
in this stage of his conduct, his sense of honor had not entirely
left him. It had not yet become so blunted as to render him entirely
reckless in the debasing deed he was about to perform. With a sort
of desperate resolution-for he had never before done so mean an
act-he opened the seal. The letter was brief, and ran as follows:

DEAR CARLTON:-I leave every necessary arrangement to you. I will
meet you as you propose to-morrow evening at the hour of ten. I
would for certain reasons that it might be later, but the gates of
the city I am aware close at that hour. Have a care for your own
health and safety, Dear Carlton. I will meet you with a single
attendant on whom I can rely, at the appointed time, and at the gate
opening upon the Borg' ognisanti. Affectionately thine, "FLORINDA."