pursuit of rebellious Apulian nobles, but also from the papal ban
which is threatening to depose him from his throne. Accompanied
only by a few faithful followers, she guides him through mountain
fastnesses, where one night the wearied son beholds the spirit of
Frederick II. passing with feudal array through the Abruzzi, and
beckoning him on to Luceria.

To this district, situated in the Papal States, Frederick had, by
a peaceful compact, transplanted the remnant of his Saracen
retainers, who had previously been wreaking terrible havoc in the
mountains of Sicily. To the great annoyance of the Pope, he had
handed the town over to them in fee-simple, thus securing for
himself a band of faithful allies in the heart of an ever-
treacherous and hostile country.

Fatima, as my heroine is called, has prepared, through the
instrumentality of trusty friends, a reception for Manfred in
this place. When the papal governor has been expelled by a
revolution, he slips through the gateway into the town, is
recognised by the whole population as the son of their beloved
Emperor, and, amid wildest enthusiasm, is placed at their head,
to lead them against the enemies of their departed benefactor. In
the meantime, while Manfred is marching on from victory to
victory in his reconquest of the whole kingdom of Apulia, the
tragic centre of my action still continues to be the unvoiced
longing of the lovelorn victor for the marvellous heroine.

She is the child of the great Emperor's love for a noble Saracen
maiden. Her mother, on her deathbed, had sent her to Manfred,
foretelling that she would work wonders for his glory provided