A suspicion as to the designer, if not the actual doer of the deed, had indeed taken possession of him; but it was an idea so wild, so unfounded, that he dared not give it words.
From the idea of death, and such a death, his whole soul indeed revolted; but to avert it seemed so utterly impossible, that he bent his proud spirit unceasingly to its anticipation; and with the spiritual aid of the good and feeling Father Francis, in some degree succeeded.

It was not the horror of his personal fate alone which bade him so shrink from death.

Marie was free once more; nay, had from the moment of her dread avowal--made, he intuitively felt, to save him--become, if possible, dearer, more passionately loved than before.
And, oh! how terrible is the anticipation of early death to those that love!--the only trial which bids even the most truly spiritual, yet while on earth still _human_ heart, forget that if earth is loved and lovely, heaven _must_ be lovelier still.
From Don Felix d'Estaban, his friendly warder, he heard of Isabella's humane intentions toward her; that her senses had been restored, and she was, to all appearance, the same in health as she had been since her husband's death; only evidently suffering more, which might be easily accounted for from the changed position in which the knowledge of her unbelief had placed her with all the members of Isabella's court; that the only agitation she had evinced was, when threatened with a visit from Father Francis--who, finding nothing in the mansion of Don Ferdinand Morales to confirm the truth of her confession, had declared his conviction that there must be some secret chamber destined for her especial use.

As if shrinking from the interview he demanded, Marie had said to the Senora, to whose care she had been intrusted--"He need not seek me to obtain this information.

For my husband's sake alone I concealed the faith in which I glory.