! Emily was furprifed and concerned, when fhe heard of his intention, and was frequently inclined to mention what fhe had witneffed in the north apartments to the Count, for fhe could not entirely divest herself of fears for Ludovico's safety, though her reason represented these to be abfurd. The neceffity, however, of concealing the fecret, with which Dorothée had entrusted her, and which must have been mentioned, with the late occurrence, in excufe for her having fo privately vifited the north apartments, kept her entirely. filent on the fubject of her apprehenfion; and fhe tried only to footh Annette, who held, that Ludovico was certainly to be deftroyed; and who was much lefs affected by Emily's confolatory efforts, than by the manner of old Dorothée, who often, as fhe exclaimed Ludovico, fighed, and threw up her eyes to heaven. CHAP. VI. "Ye gods of quiet, and of fleep profound! THOMSON, THE Count gave orders for the north apartments to be opened and prepared for the reception of Ludovico; but Dorothée, remembering what fhe had lately witneffed there, feared to obey, and, not one of the other fervants daring to venture thither, the rooms remained fhut up till the time when Ludovico was to retire thither for the night, an hour, for which the whole household waited with impatience. After fupper, Ludovivo, by the order of the Count, attended him in his closet, where they remained alone for near half an hour, and, on leaving which, his Lord delivered to him a fword. "It "It has feen fervice in mortal quarrels," faid the Count, jocofely, "you will use it honourably, no doubt, in a fpiritual one. To-morrow let me hear that there is not one ghoft remaining in the chateau." Ludovico received it with a respectful bow. "You fhall be obeyed, my Lord,” faid he; I will engage, that no spectre. fhall difturb the peace of the chateau after this night." They now returned to the fupper room, where the Count's guefts awaited to accompany him and Ludovico to the door of the north apartments, and Dorothée, being fummoned for the keys, delivered them to Ludovico, who then led the way, followed by most of the inhabitants of the chateau. Having reached the back ftaircase, feveral of the fervants fhrunk back, and refused to go further, but the reft followed him to the top of the ftaircafe, where a broad landing place allowed them to flock round him, while he applied the key to the door, during which they watched him with as much eager curiofity as if he had been performing fome magical rite. Ludovico, unaccustomed to the lock, could not turn it, and Dorothée, who had fingered far behind, was called forward, under whose hand the door opened flowly, and, her eye glancing within the dusky chamber, fhe uttered a fudden fhriek, and retreated. At this fignal of alarm, the greater part of the crowd hurried down the stairs, and the Count, Henri and Ludovico were left alone to pursue the enquiry, who inftantly rushed into the apartment, Ludovico with a drawn fword, which he had just time to draw from the fcabbard, the Count with the lamp in his hand, and Henri carrying a basket, containing provifion for the courageous adventurer. Having looked haftily round the first room, where nothing appeared to justify alarm, they passed on to the second; and, here too all being quiet, they proceeded to a third in a more tempered step. The Count had now leifure to fmile at the dif compofure, into which he had been farprifed, and to afk Ludovico in which room he defigned to pass the night. "There are several chambers beyond these, your Excellenza," faid Ludovico, pointing to a door, " and in one of them is a bed, they fay. I will pafs the night. there, and when I am weary of watching, I can lie down." "Good;" faid the Count, "let us go on. You see these rooms fhew nothing but damp walls and decaying furniture. I have been fo much engaged fince I came to the chateau, that I have not looked into them till now. Remember, Ludovico, to tell the housekeeper, to-morrow, to throw open thefe windows. The damafk hangings are dropping to pieces, I will have them taken down, and this antique furniture removed." "Dear fir!" faid Henri, "here is an arm-chair fo maffy with gilding, that it resembles one of the ftate chairs at the Louvre, more than any thing elfe." 66 Yes," faid the Count, ftopping a mo ment |