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"Aye," sneered Roland; "dead!"

"So sudden!¾ So awful!" gasped the baron.

"We are rather used to sudden deaths here," said Roland.

"Peace," cried Count Durlack. "Peace, Roland; say no more."

There was a small chamber lamp burning on the altar, and Count Durlack taking it in his hand, advanced to the baroness, and carefully scrutinised her face.

"Is she?" gasped the baron. "Is it true?"

"She is dead!" answered the count.

"Aye, dead!" said Roland.

"God of heaven!" cried the baron; "I¾ I¾ did not kill her!¾ I¾ I¾ What did I say?¾ What did I do? You know, count; and you, Roland, I killed her not! This lies not heavy at my door!"

"What matters if it did?" growled Roland.

"But you know," continued the baron, "I¾ I¾ am innocent of this?"

"We are at least among friends," said the count. "How will you have the body deposited, baron?"

"I know not," answered the baron. "Before Heaven, I know not!¾ I did not kill her, you all know!"

"Psha," cried Durlack;¾ "who accuses you?"

"No one; oh, no one. And yet I thought¾ ¾ It might have been fancy; but I thought some one seemed to say I killed her!"

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"Will you assure yourself of her decease?" said the count, holding the lamp towards the trembling baron, whose lips even were of a ghastly paleness.

"No, no, no;" he cried, retreating further from the body.

"Lay her on yon tomb," said the count, to Roland.

Roland carried the body of the unfortunate baroness, and laid it by the side of the marble effigy of a mail clad warrior, who reclined upon a tomb in a corner of the chapel of his race.

"This has been sudden," said the baron; "very sudden, count."

"Rather so," said Durlack, indifferently.

"It�s the will of Providence," continued the baron, nervously. "No one did it;¾ no one killed her!¾ I did not do it!¾ No¾ no¾ I am guiltless of that!¾ I did not kill her!¾ Did I, count?"

"You know best," answered the count.

"I killed her not!¾ And yet �tis sudden!¾ Very sudden! You know, Roland, I have nothing to do with her death?"

"I don�t care if you had," growled Roland.

"Go," said Count Durlack, impatiently; "go, baron. This circumstance must not derange our plans. Go;¾ collect your men."

"Yes, certainly," said the baron; "It is a satisfaction though, that,¾ that you both know I did not kill her!"

"Away, away," said Durlack.

The baron, with an unsteady and trembling step, left the chapel.

CHAPTER XXXV.

CAROLINE had not fainted during the conflict between the Count Durlack and Claudio; but her faculties of speech and action were for a time chained up by her intense anxiety for the safety of her lover from the sword of the bad man who had already wrought her so much woe, and would now take the life of the only being upon the earth who she felt would supply to her the place of father, mother, and kindred.

She was in the arms of Maurice, and Claudio was by her side on the narrow staircase which led from the chapel to the vaults, before she could recover her speech.

"Dearest Caroline, fear nothing," cried Claudio; "you are safe,¾ safe, dearest, from all that would harm you."

"Claudio!" was all she could utter, and a flood of tears relieved the pent up feeling of her over-burthened mind.

"Oh, let us hasten forward," said Maurice; "our enemies are many, and we are few."

Claudio placed his arm round the slender waist of Caroline, and assisted her steps down the narrow staircase.

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"Whither, Claudio, are we going?" said Caroline.

"This is the passage, dear Caroline," replied Claudio, "that I told you we had discovered leading to the chapel."

"How can I thank you, Claudio," she said, fervently, "and you, too, Maurice, for rescuing me from dangers which were each moment assuming more awful characters? Oh, Claudio! by a mock ceremony, they would have forced me to become the wife of that man¾ ¾ "

"Think not of it, dearest," said Claudio. "Agitate yourself no further about a danger that we will hope is past."

"But how, Claudio,¾ how came you to my rescue?"

"From our turret chamber," answered Claudio, "we heard the sound of a high voice in your apartment, which said �to the chapel! to the chapel!"

"That was the baron�s voice, Claudio."

"I thought so; and on the moment I rushed down the turret stairs, and through the panel."

"Oh, Claudio, you might have incurred much useless danger," said Caroline.

"Could I," continued Claudio, "hear you threatened by any one, and not fly to revenge the daring insult? When I arrived in your chamber, it was empty."

"I was dragged from it," said Caroline.

"I waited not a moment," continued Claudio, "but retreating to the turret, Maurice and I immediately descended the trap-door, and thanking Heaven for my late discovery of the secret route to the chapel, I flew rather on the wings of fear and love¾ fear for safety, and the dear love which prompted me to rush to your defence."

"Shall we enter here?" said Maurice, as they arrived near the door which led into the large double dungeon, "or shall we proceed to the turret?"

"Oh, if we could find some outlet to the open air," cried Claudio, "we should be blessed indeed."

"The turret," said Caroline, "will be no place of safety."

"I fear not," replied Claudio. "Our only hope lies in the discovery of some outlet from these vaults other than we are at present aware of."

Maurice sighed as he pushed open the small arched door which led into the dungeon where lay the mouldering remains of the hapless being who had been starved to death in that desolate place.

"If we close the doors closely," said Maurice, "this place, even in the event of an immediate search, may not be visited."

"Caroline," said Claudio, "there is a spectacle of horror in this place."

"What is it?" said Caroline.

"The remains," answered Claudio, "of a poor being, who has died, I fear, of cruel wrong, and villany of the worst description, within this dungeon."

"Claudio," said Caroline, "with thee, I will fear nothing."

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"We cannot help shuddering," remarked Claudio, "when we behold these sad remnants of mortality; but the guilty alone feel that appalling sense of horror at such sights, which make the most hardened tremble."

"Let me see it at once," said Caroline, "and imagination will then have no power to add additional terrors to reality."

Claudio took her hand, and they passed through the dungeon doorway.

In his hasty descent from the turret, Maurice had snatched from the table the lamp which dimly lighted their little apartment, and when they neared the chapel, he had carefully placed it, in case of need, in a secure nook by the staircase. Without this care on his part, they would have had to encounter all the horrors and uncertainties of the vaults of Zindorf in total darkness, which would at once have put an end to all hope of ultimate escape; for, small as that hope even now was, still it sufficed to nerve Claudio to exertion which he could not otherwise have made, amid the gloomy and more than natural darkness which held its sway in those regions of dismay.

Maurice held the lamp, and Claudio, grasping Caroline by the hand, led her through the row of columns to the first compartment of the dungeon.

"Behold, Caroline," he said, "these poor remains of what was once a living breathing creature, like ourselves."

Caroline looked at the mouldering skeleton of the prisoner, with fixed attention.

"Alas! Claudio," she said, "sad spectacle as this is, I can feel no other sensation than that of pity, while I gaze upon it."

"Innocence, dearest," said Claudio, "such as thine, need fear no such sights as this. Let guilt alone tremble at the destruction it has wrought."

"Heaven help us!" cried Maurice. "I hear a footstep."

"Where?" asked Claudio.

"Hush!" said Maurice, "Some one is descending with a slow and cautious step from the chapel above us."

"I hear the step," said Caroline. "Who can it be?"

"The light alone can betray our place of refuge," said Claudio, "and I am most reluctant to extinguish it.¾ I will place it behind one of the columns."

He did so, and the little party waited in breathless silence for what might occur.

Slowly they heard the footstep approaching, and they could then distinctly note, that whoever it was that was exploring the vaults, had stopped at the door which led into the dungeon.

"Oh, Claudio," whispered Caroline, "we are lost!"

"Hush, dearest, hush," he said, softly. "Fear nothing; our enemies would not come singly to attack us, and I feel convinced that there is but one person besides ourselves in these underground habitations."

"See, Claudio," said Maurice, "the door opens."

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Claudio immediately extinguished the lamp, and taking Caroline by the hand, he drew her back into the broad shadow of a column.

A stream of light now came from the open door into the dungeon, and the slow step of one was heard approaching, who seemed by his hesitation, to be uncertain of his route, and who was picking his way cautiously.

Curiosity took the place of every other feeling in the breast of Claudio, as he became assured that the person¾ whoever he was,¾ who thus strangely broke upon their place of concealment, was most certainly alone.

The steps ceased for a few moments, as if the person had paused to survey the strange place in which he found himself, and Claudio could guess, by the shifting shadows of the columns upon the earthen floor, that the stranger was moving his light in various directions, the more thoroughly to examine the dungeon, which he had, doubtless, seen for the first time.

Suddenly he spoke in a low tone.

"At length," he said, "heaven has granted my prayer, and I have an opportunity of visiting the much-dreaded vaults of Zindorf Castle. I hope, and yet, oh, Heavens, how I fear to meet the object of my search."

"I know that voice," whispered Caroline to Claudio.

"Ha!" he replied, "whose is it?"

"He is called Euphoric."

"Euphoric?"

"Yes. He is page to the Count Durlack."

"Then he is an enemy," said Claudio. "Wherefore he comes here, and alone, passes my comprehension."

"Hush, he speaks again," whispered Maurice.

"Blood! blood!" said the page, for it was indeed he. "Blood has been shed, and where should it be spilt but in these dreary vaults, where the damp earth would drink it greedily, and hide the colour of the deed."

"He speaks in sorrow," said Caroline.

"He does," answered Claudio. "Hush! he approaches."

"If we shift our positions slightly, as he passes between the columns," said Maurice, "we shall easily escape observation."

As Euphoric approached the half of the dungeon in which were the fugitives, they slowly glided behind the column, close to which they were hiding, and stationed themselves noiselessly and securely in that part of the large vaulted dungeon which was nearest to the door at which the page had entered.

"This," said Euphoric, in a tone of solemn grief, "should be a fit place in which to perpetrate so foul a deed. Count Durlack, the hour of vengeance is at hand. Revel on for a time. Seethe thy soul in crime. Dream of security and success. The hour of waking is near. The hand that shall lay thy proud head low, is nerved to do the deed of justice."

"What can this mean?" whispered Claudio.

"He appears," said Maurice, in the same cautious tone, "to have sustained some grievous wrong at the hands of the Count Durlack."

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"It would, indeed, seem so," said Caroline. "He is a mere youth."

A dead silence now ensued for several minutes, during which Euphoric appeared to be examining the dungeon.

Suddenly a cry smote the ears of the three fugitives; a cry of so much bitterness and woe, that they involuntarily started as the sound rung through the dreary place.

The voice of Euphoric was immediately heard in the most heart-rending accents, exclaiming:¾

"God of Heaven! �tis here¾ here¾ here!"

Deep sobs,¾ sobs of unutterable anguish were then heard to burst from the bosom of the agonized boy.

"Father!¾ father!" he cried, in a tone of piercing anguish. "To lose you so long, and then to find you thus!"

"Great Heaven!" said Claudio, "this grief is terrible."

"The skeleton," whispered Caroline, "he has found the skeleton."

"Father! father!" screamed Euphoric.

"Can it be," said Claudio, "that in that poor remnant of humanity he recognises a father? God help the poor boy!"

"Horrible! horrible!" said Caroline.

Euphoric appeared now to be overcome by the violence of his feelings, and not a sound broke the stillness of that dungeon, but occasionally a low piteous moan from the unhappy and weeping page.

"Poor boy," said Claudio. "His agony is dreadful. I will speak to him, and such consolation as I can give him, he shall freely have."

"Do, Claudio," said Caroline. "My heart bleeds for his deep distress."

"I have seen and heard much sorrow," said Maurice, "but never aught like this. May I be spared from ever hearing the like again."

Still the same heart-rending moans burst from Euphoric, and he seemed to have cast himself upon the ground by the body of the murdered Montoni.

Before Claudio could accomplish his purpose of speaking to him, Euphoric himself spoke.

"By these sacred bones.¾ By these poor remains, I swear!¾ Four days¾ no food!¾ Could just Heaven look down upon such deeds? Revenge!¾ revenge!¾ Blood! blood!"

These last words were shrieked forth with appalling violence.

Claudio now hesitated no longer, but stepped forward from his place of concealment.

"Euphoric," he cried.

"Ha!" said Euphoric. "Who calls? Revenge!¾ I will, I will!¾ Oh, father, you need not come to urge me."

Claudio now approached within the circle of light cast by Euphoric�s lamp, which he had placed on the ground, close to the mouldering remains of what he avowed had once been his father.

"Euphoric," said Claudio again, "I come to offer you such consolation and assistance as are in my power."

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"Who are you?" said Euphoric, laying his hand on the hilt of his poniard.

"I am one, who with dear friends, fly from the oppression and tyranny of the Count Durlack and the Baron Zindorf."

"You are he called Claudio?" said Euphoric. "Where is the lady,¾ the Signora Caroline?"

"Here, Euphoric," said Caroline, stepping forward.

Euphoric glanced from one to the other, not omitting Maurice, who had joined the little group.

"I know you all now," he said; "I have heard much of you, sir," he said, to Claudio. "I hoped that I had been of some service to your lady."

"You have," said Caroline, much affected at the mournful and tender tone in which he spoke. "I thank you, sincerely, Euphoric."

Euphoric passed his hand across his brow, as if striving to recollect something, and then said:¾

"I had nearly forgotten:¾ you sought refuge here from persecution;¾ I recollect now; my mind has had a shock, and for a brief space I forgot all. But¾ but¾ ¾ "

He cast his eyes on the skeleton, and with convulsive sobs sunk down on the damp earth by its side.

"Rouse yourself, Euphoric," said Claudio. "The monsters who have done this deed, shall yet be brought to justice. Your poor father, if these sad remains be indeed his, as I am led to believe from your speech, is far happier than they who wrought him such a cruel wrong."

"See, sir," cried Euphoric. "Look on these fleshless bones. This was once my father. His name is on the column above his sad remains!¾ Eugenio Montoni!¾ See, sir, here were the eyes which have so often beamed love and joy to my heart!¾ Eyes now quenched for ever! Oh, God! where is their lustre? Lady, you shudder at these cold remains that I touch with reverence and love. Father! father! father!"

He burst into a passion of weeping, which was fearful to behold.

"Be patient, my poor Euphoric," cried Claudio. "The wicked shall not always triumph. My sword shall ever be at your service, to bring to justice the men who have committed this unheard of villany,"

"See, sir!" cried Euphoric, starting up, and with a wild gesture, holding the lamp close to the column. "See!¾ Read!¾ Oh, God!

�EUGENIO MONTONI!�

My father!¾ He who loved me as he loved Heaven!

�BETRAYED!¾ MURDERED!

FOUR DAYS!¾ FOUR!

NO FOOD!�

And see, still lower!--Lower, sir, for¾ ¾ Oh, Heaven! he lacked the strength to rise! My eye can read the characters! See, sir!¾ And you, lady!¾ Do you wonder I am mad?"

Claudio looked closely, and with difficulty saw the words,

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�GOD HELP MY CHILD!

MY EUPHORIC!�

Euphoric seemed trying to speak, but he could not. He would have dropped the lamp, but Claudio caught it from his hand.

"Father! father!" he shrieked, and fell insensible upon the ghastly remains of the murdered Montoni.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

While these stirring events were taking place within the Castle of Zindorf, Tristram Chablot and his little party were keeping careful watch and ward outside its walls.

The number of the inhabitants of the castle was so small, that it was only at tolerably long intervals that it became necessary that Roland, who was always sent on such occasions, should repair to the neighbouring village, about two miles distant, to procure a supply of provisions. Thus it had happened, that during the blockade of Zindorf Castle by Tristram, no one had attempted to pass the gates.

It was customary for some of the neighbouring peasantry, who owed a sort of feudal subjection to the barons of Zindorf, to bring occasionally game and venison from the forest to the castle, which kept a supply of fresh meat upon the table of the baron.

The greatest danger which Chablot and his party run of discovery, was from these sturdy hunters, who were wont to plunge into the recesses of the forest in search of the game which had been scared from its outskirts and open glades.

As yet, however, no such discovery had taken place, and as concealment, until the return of Sir Gaston de Beauvais was Tristram�s object, he offered no opposition to any one who approached the castle, using only the precaution to assure himself, from some thick, woody cover, that the same person and none other returned.

They were hardy soldiers who composed the little band which had been left by Sir Gaston de Beauvais, and it was no hardship to them to sleep beneath the waving boughs of the forest trees.

Food they procured in abundance; for, as they lay keeping their silent, cautious watch upon Zindorf Castle, the various animals who made the deep forest their home, would, unsuspectingly, pluck the sweet herbage within sometimes a few yards of the hardy veterans, and several fine bucks and one boar had already fallen silently beneath the deadly aim from the cross-bows with which most of the party were provided.

The second note which Euphoric had shot on to the little hillock had duly come to hand, to the great vexation and intense aggravation of Tris-