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"Girl! Count Durlack dare do anything. You affect to know me, but you know me not if you imagine that I am to be turned aside from a cherished—a long cherished purpose by a woman’s tears. To my eyes they only lend a lustre to her beauty."

"Monster!" shrieked Caroline, clasping her hands wildly. "Be content. You have destroyed the parents oh, spare the child!"

"In you the child of Mecklenburgh," replied Count Durlack, passionately, "I see all that I adored in your mother. I could almost fancy that Time had been robbed of his power, or that I had slept and dreamt that years had flown by in a single night. The same vow which I made to my soul when first I saw your mother, that I would possess her, extends to you, for are you not her counterpart?"

"Oh, Heaven!" cried Caroline, "just Heaven, punish this man’s wickedness."

"Ha! ha!" laughed the count. "Your cries are in vain this place shall be thy living tomb till thou dost consent to be mine."

"What power dare keep me here?" cried Caroline proudly.

"Mine," replied Durlack, "mine, and thy kind uncle’s power will suffice to bend the haughty spirit of even Caroline Mecklenburgh."

"Never!" cried Caroline. "Even now, Heaven has lent me strength of mind and energy of purpose. As the associate of criminals, as the murderer of my parents, I abhor thee, and I defy thee, thou insatiate monster!"

" ‘Tis well," cried the count in a voice of thunder. "I would be braved

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by such as thee. My victory will be the greater my triumph more extatic. Ha! ha! I would not give that scornful look for one of the most melting tenderness."

"Heaven," said Caroline, "will not desert the innocent. Count Durlack, I might well believe you a fiend but you are but a man, and even your power is limited."

"Caroline Mecklenburgh," he cried, fiercely, "in vain thou mayest try to stem the torrent of thy fate. Mine thou shalt be. Nay, mine thou art even now, and if I spare thee at this moment, it is but because I know my prey to be within my clutch. There is no escape for thee, and thou shalt yield in utter hopelessness."

Caroline sunk on a chair and wept bitterly.

"Ha!" cried Count Durlack, with a mocking laugh, "proud beauty, art thou tamed so soon? Where now is thy vaunted firmness?"

"Here!" said Caroline, rising and placing her hand upon her heart. "Bad man, it is still here, to thy confusion. Think not my tears flowed at thy menaces no, no. Thoughts of my murdered mother were crowding to my mind—I—I had forgotten thee."

" ‘Tis false!" cried Durlack, his eyes flashing fire, and his countenance distorted with rage.

"Count Durlack," said Caroline, calmly; " ‘tis I that triumph over thee. Thy black heart is even now racked with torments. The chastening hand of Heaven is upon thee even now, in this hour of thy boasted power."

A deadly paleness came over the countenance of Count Durlack, as Caroline spoke, and he tried to interrupt her but seemed unable to utter a word.

"You mock yourself, Count Durlack," she continued, "when you talk of power and enjoyment. Even now a vulture is gnawing at thy heart."

"Peace! peace!" he cried.

"Thy soul is blackened with guilt."

The count trembled and his very lips turned white.

"The name of Mecklenburgh is written on thy brain in characters of fire."

"Hell!" shrieked the count.

"Thy nightly couch is haunted with the spirits of thy victims. Their groans of anguish ring in thy ears—I—even I pity thee!"

"To-morrow!" cried Durlack, "vengeance! vengeance! to-morrow!"

He dashed through the panel and disappeared from before the eyes of Caroline.

For a moment Caroline Mecklenburgh stood in the same commanding attitude she had assumed when addressing the count. Her feelings were over wrought a sickness came over her the various objects in the apartment swam before her eyes and she sunk upon the floor in a state of insensibility.

CHAPTER XV.

We must now turn our attention to Claudio and Maurice, whose mysterious disappearance from the turret had given Caroline much uneasiness.

Having shared between them the breakfast with which Caroline had with such forethought conveyed to them, Claudio paced with cautious steps the little chamber in deep rumination upon the circumstance of his situation.

Of an affectionate and ardent temperament the youthful Claudio had imbibed the most tender and enthusiastic attachment to Caroline. To his more fervid imagination she was everything that was enchanting, and truly the charms of Caroline Mecklenburgh might well have kindled the flame of love in a far less susceptible bosom than that of the young and handsome Claudio.

"Is she not most beautiful?" he cried, addressing Maurice. "There is a noble dignity about her, tempered by such angelic sweetness that the reason at once lends its sanction to the eyes delight."

"God bless her!" said Maurice. "She is really beautiful and I’ll warrant as good as she is lovely."

"You give me pleasure, Maurice," replied Claudio, "to hear you say so. In the midst of my sorrow, doubt, and anxiety for the fate of one so dear to me as a brother; kind Heaven has surely thrown this piece of dear perfection in my way to gild my griefs and lend a charm to my existence."

"Poor young lady," replied Maurice, "she is like a bird in a cage in this dreary and black-looking castle."

"Let us trust to providence," cried Claudio; "my coming here was as singular as the various circumstances which have occurred since my arrival. I cannot but believe that kind Heaven has directed me to this gloomy fortress to develop mysteries and succour distress."

"We will hope so," replied Maurice. "The wicked may triumph for a time but judgment will overtake them at last even in this world. The looks of the Baron Zindorf proclaim the guilt of his soul. He is a bold bad man."

"Of that there can be no doubt," said Claudio. "I would fain imagine that Providence has chosen me as the humble instrument of bringing to the light of day the dark deeds which have been perpetrated within these cold and gloomy walls."

"Heaven," replied Maurice, "chooses well its instruments, and you, Claudio, are as pure and good, as you are brave and noble."

"My honoured friend," said Claudio, "my more than father, for such you know yourself to be, although passing, for the present, as my servant, I owe to you all that I can claim as good in the sight of Heaven. Should I succeed in unravelling the complicated mysteries which invest the life and

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actions of this Baron Zindorf, how rich may be my reward. The fair and gentle niece of the baroness, may, perchance, look with an eye of favour upon even thee, poor Claudio."

"Let us, my dear Claudio, seek for the trap-door which the young lady mentioned as leading to the vaults," said Maurice.

"Alas," said Claudio, "my mind is so possessed with the image and rare perfections of that fair and gentle being that I had nearly forgotten all other things."

Maurice smiled, and he and Claudio immediately commenced a search for the trap-door. By narrowly examining the boarding, they at length discovered the object of their search.

"Is it possible," said Maurice, "without proper tools for us to raise the door?"

"Do not despair, my good Maurice," replied Claudio; "we have one weapon which has been known to overcome all obstacles, and that is determination."

"I rejoice," said Maurice, "to perceive in you such a frame of mind. Never to doubt, is the first element of success."

"I think," said Claudio, "that with the sharp point of my poniard, I could do something to raise this trap."

He then introduced in the narrow crevice, between the trap-door and the surrounding flooring, the point of a small poniard, of exquisite temper and workmanship, which he wore, according to the fashion of the period, suspended by a gilt chain from his neck.

The highly tempered steel was of sufficient strength to raise the trap-door about an inch on one side.

"Hold it but a moment," cried Maurice, "and I will thrust into the opening the hilt of my sword."

This was done, and then, by their united strength, they succeeded in raising the trap-door entirely. When they had done so, they found that the great weight and difficulty arose from a massive iron bar which had been suspended from below to a hook in the under side of the trap.

They now perceived a narrow flight of steps which seemed to lead into impenetrable darkness.

"It is well," said Claudio, "that we have the means of procuring a light."

"This lantern," said Maurice, "will be most useful," at the same time producing one. "It will not be liable to be extinguished by any sudden draught of air."

"There is a sickly nauseous air comes from the gloomy caverns into which we are about to plunge," said Claudio, "which even now sensibly affects me as I stand over the open trap-door. Let us pause a moment to allow some of the bad air to escape."

Maurice struck a light and put the lantern in readiness, by which time the worst of the noxious exhalations from the vaults of the castle, with

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which the little staircase communicated had passed off, and Claudio prepared to descend.

"I will go first," he said, drawing his sword, "and do you, Maurice, hold the lantern as high as you can."

"We had better," said Maurice, "close the trap-door behind us, in case of any one accidentally coming into the turret."

"That is well thought of," replied Claudio. "This heavy weight, however, we will unhook and leave in the turret."

The trap-door without the iron weight was very light, and when Claudio and Maurice had descended a few steps, so that their heads were level with the turret floor, the former adjusted the trap-door, and then taking the lead he rapidly descended the stairs.

The light which Maurice carried shed a dim and uncertain ray around it, and it was evident from the dullness and flickering of the flame that the air of the place was much vitiated.

With the strongest feelings of anxiety and curiosity, Claudio descended step by step the narrow staircase, which finally ended at a depth of about twenty feet upon the cold damp earth.

"Here is an earthen floor," said Claudio, "but I feel convinced that we are not sufficiently low down to be on the earth. There is some concealment attempted here."

"Let us remove some of the loose earth then," replied Maurice.

They scraped a quantity of gravelly soil from the floor and soon discovered that large flag stones were underneath, in one of which was an iron ring of great strength.

"I know not," said Claudio, "which course to pursue. Whether to follow the windings of yon narrow dark passage, or attempt to raise this stone and see what is beneath."

As Claudio spoke, a low groan sounded from the narrow passage to which he alluded, and he and Maurice looked at each other, for a moment, in horror and surprise.

"That was a tone of deep anguish," cried Claudio. "Good heavens! what iniquitous deeds may we be destined to bring to the light of day."

"There, again," said Maurice, "hark!"

A groan, which was terminated by a stifled shriek, now burst upon their ears, and despite his courage the dew of perspiration stood upon the brow of the young Claudio, and the sounds seemed to strike a chill to his very heart.

In a moment, however, he recovered his presence of mind, and exclaiming to Maurice, "Come on! forward my friend!" he dashed along the narrow passage in the direction of the sounds.

The walls of this passage were damp and mouldering, and Claudio felt, as he advanced, that the air grew more and more loaded with noxious vapours. Still, however, he persevered, followed closely by Maurice. The passage seemed of interminable length, and to grow narrower and nar-

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rower as they proceeded, until there was just space sufficient for them to pass onwards without actually coming into contact with the damp crumbling walls.

Claudio held his drawn sword before him as he proceeded, for the light from Maurice’s lantern was very feeble, and he could hardly see the length of his trusty blade into the black obscurity before him.

Suddenly he paused, for his sword struck against some obstacle in the path.

"Advance the light, my good Maurice," said Claudio; "here is something which impedes our further progress."

Maurice thrust forward his arm over the shoulder of Claudio, with the lantern, and they saw that they had arrived at what appeared to be the termination of the narrow passage, for nothing presented itself to their view but a wall of hammered earth similar to the sides of the tortuous path they had been pursuing.

"This seems," said Maurice, "to lead to nothing."

"We may have reached the termination of the passage," said Claudio, "but these subterraneous excavations are seldom made for so purposeless an object, as merely to terminate abruptly thus. You may depend, Maurice, that in our haste to push forward we have passed some opening or doorway, either to the right or left of us."

"Then," said Maurice, "we had better retrace our steps carefully."

"We will," replied Claudio, "and do you closely examine the wall to your left and I will do the same to my right."

Much more carefully and slowly than they had advanced they now retraced their steps, and they had not proceeded above a hundred yards when Claudio, who was placing his hand upon the wall at every step, found suddenly that he ceased to feel it.

"The light the light," he said.

Maurice held the light towards the spot, and they observed a small arched opening which was but just of sufficient height to enable a moderate sized man to walk upright in. The floor appeared to descend from the entrance and the place presented the most dismal and uninviting aspect.

Claudio and Maurice stood for a few moments contemplating the opening before they should plunge into its dark recesses.

"My dear son," said Maurice, "let me go first and ascertain where this passage leads to before you risk so precious a life as your own by entering it. If I should not return shortly, give one tear to the memory of your faithful Maurice, and hasten to the upper day."

"Never, Maurice," cried Claudio; "do you suppose for an instant that I would expose you to danger from which I should myself shrink? No, no; rather might my breast be the shield which should ward off all danger from you. We will proceed as before. There can be but little to apprehend in these gloomy passages. Imaginary terrors appall us not, and we

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have hearts and weapons to protect ourselves against mortal foes. Come, Maurice. Follow me as before."

Claudio had taken but one step into the arched passage, when a low moan smote his ear, and he involuntarily paused upon the threshold.

"What can this mean, Maurice?" he said, "If these melancholy sounds be mortal they must proceed from some one in bitter agony."

"I never," said Maurice, trembling, "heard a groan so agonizing."

"It seemed, indeed," replied Claudio, "to betray the very extremity of despair. I will call to whoever may be uttering such sounds of woe. Whoever you be," cried Claudio, after a pause of some moments, "know that we are friends to the unfortunate!"

Claudio’s words echoed through the vaulted passage, and seemed to be repeated in whispers from far off, in the recesses of the subterranean place.

"No one answers," said Maurice.

"We will at once proceed then," said Claudio. "If there be any person near here suffering the horrors of imprisonment we may, by the assistance of heaven, restore them to liberty. The moans we have heard may even proceed from the venerable prisoner mentioned to us by the baroness’s niece."

The passage, which Claudio now immediately entered, descended so rapidly that he had considerable difficulty to prevent himself from slipping upon the damp clayey soil which formed the flooring.

Still, however, notwithstanding the difficulty of the proceeding, Claudio, with his sword, as before, extended in his hand, pursued his way, pausing ever and anon to listen if any sounds, save the dull echo of their own footsteps, disturbed the stillness of the place.

In this manner, they continued to descend to a great depth. The dampness of the floor increased as they proceeded, and now and then they came to pools of water, across which they stepped, but these, as they penetrated still further, increased so much, that at length Claudio paused uncertain how to act.

"Maurice," he said, "do you hear anything?"

"I hear," said Maurice, "a low sound like the wash of water."

"So do I," replied Claudio, "and see there is a constant dripping of water from the roof of this place."

"There is," said Maurice, "I fear for the safety of our light."

"The air," continued Claudio, "is here heavy with moisture, and from the stench of stagnant water, I am inclined to believe that we are actually under the moat of the Castle of Zindorf."

"It is a fearful place," said Maurice shuddering.

"There appears," said Claudio, "by the reflection of the light to be quite a pool of water in the front. Hark! What was that?"

A dull heavy splash sounded in the collected water.

"Give me the lantern," continued Claudio.

He took it from Maurice, and holding it at arms length before him, its

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faint rays fell upon the surface of a pool of water which had collected from the constant drippings from the roof.

The water was agitated into a thousand petty waves, for legions of rats were swimming across it and splashing about in all directions.

"This place," said Claudio, "is crowded with reptiles."

He held the lamp down to the ground as he spoke, and he saw that both the floor and the walls were teeming with slimy reptiles and insects.

"We have no resource, Maurice," he said, "but to go back again. This pool of water seems to extend far in front of us."

"I feel sick at heart in this place," said Maurice.

"Let us leave it then," replied Claudio. "We cannot pursue inquiry further in this direction. We may find some other opening from the first passage which may present less obstacles in its explorations."

"Beware!" said a hollow voice, which sounded from behind them.

Claudio started and turned instantly round. He tried to pierce with his eyes into the obscurity of the passage through which he had passed, and his heart beat with excitement as the word rung in his ears.

"Beware of what?" he cried. "If you be human, shew yourself. Nay, if a being of another world, I am innocent and fear you not."

"This is awful" said Maurice, "as it is inexplicable."

A dead silence now ensued for several minutes, and neither Claudio nor Maurice moved a limb, but waited in wrapt expectation of again hearing some sound which should influence their movements but no all was still save the monotonous pattering of the water, as it dropped from the roof, with a sullen sound, into the pool below.

Claudio drew a long breath as he said, "There are, indeed, horrors and mysteries connected with the Castle of Zindorf, which can by Heaven alone be unravelled. We are innocent, Maurice, and need fear nothing. Let us proceed, my friend, and put our trust in the Providence which ever throws its shield over the just and the true hearted. Our errand here is an errand of love and mercy. We come to succour not to oppress."

"The sound," said Maurice, whose trembling betrayed the agitation of his mind, "seemed to me to come from a part of this passage which must be near its entrance."

"We will examine the walls carefully as we go back," said Claudio. "The light burns but dimly, Maurice."

"It is the damp air," replied Maurice. "The sooner we are out of this gloomy passage the better. My very bones are chilled."

"I ought not, my good Maurice," said Claudio kindly, "to have exposed you to the inconveniences of this adventure."

"Claudio," replied Maurice, "say not so. Where you are there would I be."

"Let us hasten then," said Claudio, "from this spot, for I begin myself to feel a chilling dampness through my frame."

Up the steep slippery ascent of the floor of the passage they now slowly