that, like Macbeth, he had seen but an ideal dagger; the instrument which he took for one in the hand of Mactalla being but a key, entrusted to him by Felisco, for the purpose of admitting himself into a remote part of the building, in which he had appointed to meet him, after his interview with his master, and which, for the better securing, Mactalla had drawn from his bosom on approaching the bed, and accidentally held in his hand, while groping about it.

On emerging from the building, Osmond happening to cast his eyes on the opposite terrace, upon which the moon shone full at the moment, was not a little startled at beholding the wall of it completely covered with armed men, whose weapons all appeared levelled against himself and his party.

Good Heavens !' he involuntarily exclaimed,' are we then betrayed? Yet if we are, what an extraordinary opinion must they have formed of us, to think it requisite to send such a number after us!'

What do you mean, Signor?' asked Felisco, somewhat surprised.

Mean! repeated Osmond, pointing across the court. 'What, you are speaking of the gentlemen yonder?' pursuing the direction of his eye. Ah, Signor,' with a loud laugh, believe me you never set eyes on a more harmless set. In a word, Signor, they are made of what one has often reason to believe the human heart made of....stone, as a clearer light would at once have permitted you to see.'

Osmond could not help joining for a moment in the laugh, which both Mactalla and his friend enjoyed at his expence. They then separated.

Osmond, as soon as he was left to himself, proceeded to take the range of the solitary courts: but neither their stillness, nor yet the soft and shadowy light which prevailed throughout them, could impart a charm to soothe the anguish, to allay the agitation he experienced on account of the Raymonds. He continued wandering about like a troubled spirit, literally taking no rest or note of time, until the grey dawn of the eastern clouds gradually began to redden: soon after which the tramp

ling of horses announcing the approach of the banditti, induced him to seek out a remote spot to secrete himà self in from their observation. As soon as he was

I convinced they had entered the hall, and that of course he need fear no interruption from them, he ventured from his hiding-place, and as he did, was struck with = mingled astonishment and awe at the splendid scene, rendered still more so by the rising sun striking full upon it, which the great body of the inner castle, surrounded with fair semicircular towers, proudly swelling to the eye, and magnificently adorned with pinnacles, statues, and battlements, presented to his view.

But with the admiration it inspired was mingled that feeling of regret and sadness, which a mind of taste and sensibility involuntarily experiences at beholding any superb monument of art sinking into decay, such as it was evident this noble edifice was hastening to. The ravages of time were every where discernible on it.... long grass overtopped its battlements, dusky weeds crept round its arches, and heaps of rubbish strewed its

courts.

'Yes,' said Osmond, under the influence of the feeling just alluded to,

Tears to mortality are not confined,

The fate of things affect the human mind.'

But to this decay and desolation,' he continued, all the works of man, sooner or later, come; yet a little while, and the pile sinks to the dust, after the hand that raised it; the monument, which pride hoped would perpetuate its name for ever, drops into oblivion, like the name it was intended to record.'

From the contemplation of the building he strolled away to the magnificent woods that rose above it.

Fitter haunts for meditation than were these, he could not possibly conceive....so impervious were their shades, so profound their solitude; a death-like stillness seemed to prevail throughout them; nor stroke of sturdy axe, nor woodman's cheerful carol, here met the listening ear; nor bleat of

............ Folded flocks pens'd in their watched cor,
Or sound of pestral reed with oaten stops;

Or wiustie from the lodge; or village cock,'

Here again the admiration of Osmond was excited, not only by the luxuriance of the trees, but the romantic bowers of fragant and beautiful shrubs, which he found scattered amongst the in, and the fine views they, through partial openings, admitted of the castle, which, notwithstanding its crumbling turrets, still, in every direction, wore a warlike mien,' an air of sullen grandeur, highly impres sive.

'As, midst the snow of age, a boastful air

Sull on the war-worn vetran s brow attends;
Sull his big bones his youthful prime deciare,

Tho' trembling o'er the feeble crutch he bends."

Anxious to ascertain whether, if they failed effecting their escape one way, there was any chance of accom. plishing it another, Osmond made his way, though not without the greatest difficulty, to the summit of one of these cliffs, whence a glance at the opposite side convinced him there was not the smallest, by discovering to view an extensive lake.

At length he returned to the hall. The first object he beheld on entering, was Felisco, who, hastily approaching him, said aloud.... You have had a long, and I hope pleasant, ramble, Signor; then, in a lower tone, I have got the keys....follow me.'

CHAP. V.

♦ He star'd, and roll'd his haggard eyes around.'

OSMOND joyfully obeyed. On getting some distance from the hall, Felisco stopt, and having looked about to see there was no one at hand to overhear them, I will myself attend you to the apartments,' cried he, ⚫ as I find I shall not be wanted for some time.'

Osmond thanked him for his complaisance; they then proceeded through several intricate passages to an immense folding-door, which throwing open, Osmond found himself in the rotunda they had previously visited: hence they ascended the fan staircase to another door, which Felisco unlocking, discovered to the view of Osmond a magnificent apartment, which he stiled the saloon, designed in the most elegant style of gothic architecture, and looking upon what had formerly been not only a spacious but delightful garden, and which still exhibited a beauty and richness highly attractive to the eye, and rendered still more so by the smiling contrast it formed to the dusky walls and battlements, begirt with ivy and long-streaming grass, which frowned above it.

From this apartment they entered a spacious drawing-room, which Felisco also had to unlock, and which they hastily passed through to a dining-room, the door of which, like those of the other apartments,was also secured.

·

Here, however, Felisco paused, and with something of the air of a master of the ceremonies.... Signor,' said he, if an admirer of ancient grandeur, I advise you to look about you, as we proceed, since finer specimens of the kind than what this building affords can scarcely any where, I fancy, be met with.'

True,' replied Osmond, it is indeed altogether a noble pile. Pray can you inform me to whom it belonged, or the cause of its abandonment to its present possessors?"

Not exactly, Signor; all I can inform you is, that it originally belonged to one of the first families in Italy.... that its last legal possessors deserted it in consequence of some dreadful catastrophe that took place in it....and that some years after, during which it remained without an inhabitant, owing to the terror and disgust this catastrophe caused it to be regarded with, its then proprietor was commanded by government to destroy it, since he did not choose to make it his abode, lest otherwise its neighbourhood should be rendered dangerous, owing to the refuge it was calculated to afford to banditti, from the loneliness and security of its situation. Instead, however, of obeying this command, he thought proper to dis

through. Round this he now eagerly went, in quest of the entrance he was so anxious to obtain ; but though nothing could exceed the diligence of this search, nothing of the kind met his view. At length, after pausing a few minutes in absolute despair, he cast his eyes upon a large statue in a corner of it. Instantly occurred to him this might conceal the object of his search; he accordingly approached it, and, though not without some difficulty, pushing it aside, discovered, to his unutterable transport, a large aperture, but, to his equal surprise, occupied at the moment by Mr. Raymond, muffled up exactly as he had seen him in the hall, and who instantly, as if struck by an invisible hand fell prostrate to the floor, with something like an exclamation of terror.

'For Heaven's sake, Sir,' cried Osmond, shocked as well as alarmed, and stooping, as he spoke, to raise him, 'what is the matter? are you ill?'

Ill!' groaned the other in a voice scarce articulate, and resisting the effort Osmond made to assist him: Oh that it was but illness I had to complain of! For what....what are the pangs of the body, compared to those of the mind? Gracious Heaven!' he continued, with encreasing vehemence,' is then the dreadful hour of retribution arrived? and, to aggravate, to render complete its horrors, is he....he, now beside me, the instrument thou hast fixed on to avenge thee? Oh, is there no shelter for this head? no hope to cling to?'

I entreat, I conjure you, Sir,' said Osmond, cruelly alarmed at the idea of all his benevolent intentions respecting the unfortunate man and his family being defeated by the desertion of his reason, for to this....to sudden madness, he imputed the speech he had just uttered.... to compose yourself.'

'What!' in a tone of the most malignant bitterness, but without raising his head from the ground to give you an opportunity of gratifying your revenge, by the renewal of my tortures?"

Revenge repeated Osmond. Pray try to recol· lect yourself, Sir. What revenge, stranger as you are to me, can you possibly have given rise to in my bosom?" But perhaps you mistake me for some other....for one