" Keep them safely until the morrow," said he, " they may form the basis of another experiment." As the Qneen of England left the prison, Procida follow-ed her and craved an audience. CHAPTER XI. THE JEWESS. THE conference between the queen and Procida was not limited to one audience. Day after day he sought her presence, under various pretexts—some unimportant busi-ness, some message from Alphonso—and each time he lingered as if anxious to prolong the interview ; till at length his strange manner convinced Eleanora that some-thing more momentous than philosophical researches de-tained him in Castile. When the mind is agitated upon any particular subject, fancy connects every mysterious appearance with the pre-vailing thought ; and the lovely queen became impressed with the idea that some impending danger threatened her royal brother. She therefore strove to win the confidence of Procida, and encouraged him to confide his secret to her keeping. " Is there aught," said she, " of interest to thyself or others in which I can aid thee ?" finding that his anxiety and hesitation seemed rather to increase than diminish. " Most gracious sovereign," returned Procida, apologeti-cally, "the despised outcasts of Israel have little hope to enlist the sympathies of Christians in their behalf." " Nay," replied the queen, " thou forgettest that our gospel saith, God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth." "And if /have forgotten it," said Procida bitterly, " it is because the practice of the church agreeth not with the precept." "It is true," returned Eleanora, with a sigh, " that our ELEANORA. 425