“Another name! oh, speak it?” she cried, in a trembling voice.
“He was long known as Tiburcio Arellanos.”
A cry of joy escaped the young girl, who rose from her seat, and approaching the bearer of this good news, seized his hand.
“Thanks! thanks!” she exclaimed, “if my heart has not already spoken them.”
Then she tottered across the chamber, and knelt at the feet of a Madonna, which, framed in gold, hung against the wall.
“Tiburcio Arellanos,” continued the narrator, “is now Fabian, and Fabian is the last descendant of the Counts of Mediana—a noble and powerful Spanish family.”
The young girl continued on her knees in prayer without appearing to listen to Gayferos’ words.
“Immense possessions, a lofty name, titles and honours. All these he will lay at the feet of the woman who shall accept his hand.”
The young girl continued her fervent prayer without turning her head.
“And, moreover,” resumed the narrator, “the heart of Don Fabian de Mediana still retains a feeling which was dear to the heart of Tiburcio Arellanos.”