with the blood of Rosomaski?" replied Lanfranco. Then turning to the domestics, he bade them put down their load.

The domestics approached Leopold, and placed near him a coffin, painted black, on the lid of which was the following inscription

"Leopold Byloff,

The pretended Count Rosomaski;

A notorious cheat

and

Impostor,

Died here."

"There," cried Lanfranco, pointing to the inscription, "you may read your destiny and your epitaph."

"If thou art really a Rosomaski," said Leopold, “thou wilt not suffer one of the same name and blood to perish like a malefactor. Restore me my sabre, and then do thou and thy attendants attack.me. Nay, if thou art afraid there will not be enough, F 4 send

send for all thy hot of myrmidons, and I will prove myself a true Rosomaski !”

Lanfranco bade the attendants remove the lid of the coffin; they did so, and Leopold beheld only a small quantity of straw, which covered the bottom. He now expected the fatal blow. "Here," said he to the attendants, "I bare my bosom to your daggers. I do not attribute my death to you, but to the cowardly assassin, your master: his is the hand which directs your weapons. Only bear witness that I die like a Rosomaski. I die in peace, since I am assured that the brave Ludowico, my friend, will never rest till he has revenged my death, by striking his own dagger into the heart of my murderer!"

The attendants appeared astonished at the undaunted firmness with which he uttered this discourse. Lanfranco evidently trembled at the latter part of it; he was not unacquainted with the daring soul of Ludowico; and the uplifted dagger, with

which

which Leopold had threatened him, seemed already to play before his disturbed imagination. Leopold beheld his confusion, and smiled.

"What is there," said he, " in the name of Ludowico, that should make Lanfranco tremble, as if an ague-fit shook him?"

"Thou wilt perhaps see him in the course of the few days which I shall permit thee to live," replied Lanfranco. "As you have been companions in life, you will then be so in death, and I shall smile at that vengeance in which thou seemest to hug thyself. When I have gained my law-suit, Leopold and Ludowico shall die. To increase thy present torment, I will tell thee that Rhodiska is mine.”.

""Tis false!" cried Leopold-"thine she never will be !”

66

That, or death," replied Lanfranco, will be her only alternative; but I have no more time to waste in words. That coffin will serve thee for a seat by day, and a couch at night, till it incloses thee for

ever. This basket contains bread and water, which will serve to prolong thy miserable existence, until, glutted with revenge, I give thee the coup de grace."

Lanfranco then put down the basket, and retired with all his attendants. He shut himself up in his chamber, not to seek repose, for that fled from him, but to contrive new schemes. He had guarded, as he imagined, against all possibility of Rhodiska and Leopold's being discovered by their friends; for although the cavern, in which they were confined, communicated with the subterraneous vaults of Vistulof, yet the communication was so artfully concealed, that he dreaded not the strictest search. In order to be completely secure, he thought that there only remained to get Byloff and his son into his power, to prevent the former from giving his evidence on the trial, and the latter from revenging his friend.

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

WHILST Lanfranco was thus employed, the inhabitants of Dorbalec were suffering under the effects of his treachery. Count Petrowitz no sooner recovered his senses, than those around him dreaded a relapse. They endeavoured to compose him, by telling him that Leopold had arrived during his insensibility, and had instantly left the castle with the greatest part of the domestics, in search of his daughter. This intelligence had somewhat of the desired effect. Ludowico, who was absent when the alarm was given, and did not return till Leopold had left the castle, immediately mounted