Pagina 595 di 1118

At the castle, the Unknown was waiting her arrival with

extraordinary solicitude and agitation of mind. Strange, that he

who had coldly and calmly disposed of so many lives, and had

regarded as nothing the torments he inflicted, should now feel an

impression of remorse, almost of terror, at the tyranny he

exercised over an unknown girl, an humble peasant! From a high

window of his castle, he had for some time looked down upon the

valley beneath; at last he saw the carriage approaching slowly at

a distance, as if the horses were wearied with their rapid

journey. He perceived it, and felt his heart beat violently.