take care of the horses. In less than half an hour, the three men, who had entered the cave, returned without the female, and remounting their horses, they all rode off. I was, for some time after their departure, fixed to the spot with surprise and horror. “ Who knows,' exclaimed I, but that hapless female may be Zerbetta!'

'No-it must have been Rhodiska!' said 1, again starting up.

"Who?" said Irvan.

Rhodiska, the daughter of Count Petrowitz, who was carried off from her fa ther's house, on the evening before, by some villains. Should you be able to find. the spot again?'

Yes, readily,' replied Irvan.

Then you must accompany me to-morrow morning to Cracow,' said I, to give intelligence of this extraordinary affair to the magistrates, who will search into it.'

I have been thinking of doing so this whole day,' said Irvan'; but I reflected

that

that my strange appearance would cause me to be disregarded as a lunatic, or a dreamer and a visionary.'

'There is no danger of that now," said I; our stories, the time and place, all agree so exactly, that I am well assured that hapless female will prove to have been Rhodiska: if it should not be so, we shall rescue some other distressed female from wretchedness, and restore her to her parents, whose feelings must be no less acute than those of yourself and Count Petrowitz.'

"As soon as we had made our frugal supper, we retired to rest; and at daybreak the next morning, we walked to the nearest village, where I hired a couple of horses to carry us to Cracow. As we entered that city, we met my son and a party of police officers, who were then going to search the Castle of Vistulof; but we told them, that we had brought more certain information, and prevailed upon them to. turn back with us to the magistrate, where

Irvan

Irvan gave in his wonderful story on oath. The worthy and indefatigable magistrate thought this affair of so much consequence, that he ordered a chaise for himself, to investigate it in person. Irvan conducted us to the mouth of the cavern, where our journey was crowned with that success which renders us all happy."

CHAP. VIL

EVERY

one admired the strange interference of Providence, in bringing about this discovery. "Where is Irvan,” said the Count, "who has been the instrument made: use of to restore us to peace?"

"In spite of all our endeavours to bring

him

him with us," replied Byloff," he left us to return to his solitude, to enjoy, as he told us, the pleasure of having been useful to mankind, of whom he long ago thought he had taken leave for ever."

The Count then informed Leopold of the notice which he had received, and that there were only four days more to that appointed for the trial. "You see," added he, "how seasonable was your unexpected deliverance." After some consultation, it was agreed that Leopold, and all his witnesses, should set out for Cracow the next morning, in order to give time to the lawyers to make their final preparations for the occasion.

This matter being adjusted, the Count desired that every one might leave the room, except his daughter and Leopold. When they were all gone, he raised himself in the bed, and addressed them thus: "Leopold, if I am not mistaken, you

love my daughter."

"That

"That term is too presumptuous for me in my present situation," cried Leopold, throwing himself on his knees; " but I would readily yield my life to be of any service to her."

"Daughter," said the Count, "I think you are not indifferent in respect to Leopold."

She blushed, and cast down her eyes silence.

in

"I am not mistaken," continued the Count; " and I will confess, that I have witnessed your mutual attachment with pleasure. I think that I shall consult my daughter's happiness better, by giving her to a man of courage, virtue, and honour, than to one without either, whatever may be his rank. Leopold, the day approaches which is to create you Count Rosomaski, or to leave you Leopold Byloff for life. The event will make no difference in my

opinion; and, that you may not think I would grant that to Count Rosomaski,

which