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To explain to the reader the true character of these suspicious

wanderers, we must recur to Don Roderick, whom we left alone, in

the hall of his palace, at the departure of Father Christopher.

The more he reflected on his interview with the friar, the more

was he enraged and ashamed, that he should have dared to come to

him with the rebuke of Nathan to David on his lips. He paced with

hurried steps through the apartment, and as he gazed at the

portraits of his ancestors, warriors, senators, and abbots, which

hung against its walls, he felt his indignation at the insult

which had been offered him increase. A base-born friar to speak

thus to one of noble birth! He formed plans of vengeance, and

discarded them, without his being willing to acknowledge it to

himself. The prediction of the father again sounded in his ears,

and caused an unaccustomed perplexity.