ABSTRACT
The following evening was an eventful one for the rash unwary Angelo; though his mind, ill at rest, was teeming with suspicion, he determined to be faithful to his engagement with Oriana, because he would neither have the appearance of yielding to a mere unsupported assertion, or of evincing cowardice by remaining absent; any imputation on his natural courage he could not have endured; sooner would he have run the risk of a meditated attack, and trusted to fortune for victory, or deliverance. At the appointed hour, therefore, accompanied by Eugene, with whom, although he was in perfect harmony, he had for some time past maintained a slight reserve, he repaired to the residence of his mistress. She appeared so charming, and welcomed them with so much vivacity, that already Angelo began to feel his doubts dissipating like fogs before the sun, and looked towards Eugene with an eye somewhat expressive of reproach, which did not however occasion the latter to change countenance. Fiorenza, who was present, received them likewise with the utmost cordiality, and a collation, light and elegant, was prepared in a chamber, brilliantly illuminated, which resembled more an earthly palace fitted up for the reception of a heavenly visitant, than the baleful den of treachery and murder! To the raptured eyes of Angelo, Oriana appeared as one of the fabled Houri,3 and the bright fantastic appearance of the room, in which her figure lightly moved, reminded him of those brilliant pictured abodes, where eternal pleasures are said to await the true followers of Mahomet.
