of the cypress, plaintains, and palmetos, by which it was embosomed. Fancy pictured the little cell of Father Luitfrido, and friendship claimed a thought from sorrow.

"But one heart, in all this mighty universe," he exclaimed, "which feels an interest in my fate, but one heart which pities my afflictions-and that heart knows not their extent-Merciful Heaven, may it never know them!"

A tear stole from his eye; he turned mournfully from the contemplation, and, by the low postern in the rampart, entered the Castle.

He looks like a man who has some heavy weight upon his conscience," said a voice, as Di Rinaldini passed along the arcade winding round the servants' hall"he seems lost in reflection, wrapt within. himself."

"True," was the response" His solitary

rambles

rambles among the mountains, besides the hints

The low whispering in which the sentence was concluded, rendered the accents indistinct.

"That air of mystery, too,” rejoined the former; "the midnight music, and

$

"I like not the suddenness of her death."

Huberto involuntarily paused.

"Avarice, as says the confessor, has boundless influence in a sordid soul. All is not as it should be, or why would the spectre walk? Half the household has been terrified; and the Signor himself—”

"Blood was not spilt, 'tis true; but there are waysways”

"Poison may be administered with less danger than the dagger's point."

"Do you think she was poisoned then?” "Hush!

"Hush!-I did not say so."

The respiration of Huberto became laboured; cold, deathlike drops hung upon his forehead; his knees shook as though blasted by a mortal palsy; and, breathing a half-stifled groan, he clung to the wall for support. Shrill was the exclamation of horror and dismay which instantly succeeded: the involuntary groan, which burst from the agonized heart of Di Rinaldini, had reached the terrified ears of superstition, and conjured up a hydra form of ideal danger. Long was the pause which ensued. At length, a faltering accent articulated, "I am sure it sounded from the arcade. Holy Mary! Vannina said it kept to the oratory; but it comes, as it were, into our very arms.-Do open the door."

"Not to be vicar-general to his holiness the Pope," replied a voice, equally daunted. " I shall "By the mass!" shuddering, hear that groan to my dying day."

"You are a coward, Alberti," rejoined the

former,

former," and, in spite of all your boasted courage, possess but a woman's heart."

86

Open the door yourself, Cyril."

“ I—I—I will, if you bring the lamp; but, in the dark, the ghost may upset me; and I am old and helpless, and—and————”

Huberto, knowing himself the cause of alarm, yet unwilling to be discovered, moved swiftly on; and when secure in the solitude of his chamber, yielded unrestrained to his feelings.

CHAP. XI.

Here let me fix,

And gaze with wonder on thee.

ROWE.

How ill this taper burns! Hah! who comes here?

I think it is the weakness of mine eyes

That shapes this monstrous apparition.

SHAKESPEARE!

+

THE turret clock slowly chimed the hour of midnight, as Di Rinaldini sat at the opened casement, his eyes mechanically resting on the rich landscape, faintly illumined by the steady lustre of the polar star. Long had he returned from visiting the Camaldoli convent, where the good canon was again confined

VOL. I.

L