"Some water, if you will, but no wine. I am athirst and feverish."
"You shall have water."
And thrusting the flambeau into the earth, between the crevices in the pavement, he left the room abruptly.
Scarce was he gone, leaving the whole apartment blazing with a bright light which rendered every object within clearly visible to any spectator from the farther side of the ravine, before a shrill voice with something of a feminine tone, was heard on the other brink, exclaiming in suppressed tones—
"Hist! hist! Julia?"
"Great Gods! who calls on Julia?"
"Julia Serena, is it thou?"
"Most miserable I!" she made answer. "But who calls me?"
"A friend—be wary, and silent, and you shall not lack aid."
But Julia heard the heavy step of the swordsmith approaching, and laying her finger on her lips, she sprang back hastily from the window, and when her gaoler entered, was busy, apparently, in arranging her miserable bed.