didst use his love as an escape from thine own dishonour--that thy very
child owned another father. I had learned, and I availed myself of the
knowledge, that it was born before its time. We had miscalculated the
effect of this representation, backed and supported by forged letters:
instead of abandoning thee, he thought only of revenge for his shame.
As I left thy house, the last time I gazed upon thine indignant eyes, I
found the avenger, on my path! He had seen me quit thy roof--he needed
no other confirmation of the tale. I fell into the pit which I had
digged for thee. Conscience unnerved my hand and blunted my sword: our
blades scarcely crossed before his weapon stretched me on the ground.
They tell me he has fled from the anger of the law; let him return
without a fear Solemnly, and from the bed of death, and in the sight of
the last tribunal, I proclaim to justice and the world that we fought
fairly, and I perish justly. I have adopted thy faith, though I cannot
comprehend its mysteries. It is enough that it holds out to me the only
hope that we shall meet again. I direct these lines to be transmitted to
thee--an eternal proof of thy innocence and my guilt. Ah, canst thou
forgive me? I knew no sin till I knew thee.

"ARRAEZ FERRARES."


Calderon paused ere he turned to the concluding lines of his wife's
letter; and, though he remained motionless and speechless, never were
agony and despair stamped more terribly on the face of man.


CONCLUSION OF THE LETTER OF INEZ.

"And what avails to me this testimony of my faith? thou art fled; they