been some hopes for me with my partner, who, as I learnt from her, was only the attendant of yours; but I believe it will be best for you to think no more of the mis

tress."

"Think no more of her!" exclaimed Leopold, looking on the miniature—" I could as easily forget that I exist.”

"Well then," said Ludowico, "only remember, at the same time, whose daughter she is, and whose son you are.

may save you some heart-aches."

Prudence

This caution plunged Leopold into a train of melancholy reflections, which lasted till they reached home.

Byloff, who had prepared their meal, and wondered at their unusual stay, was gone into the forest to look for them. Some time elapsed before he returned; and the instant he entered, and beheld Leopold, whose thoughts had been too much absorbed to permit him to think of wiping the sanguinary stains from his dress, he exclaimed

"How's

"How's this! there's blood upon your clothes!--God preserve us from sin! what have you been about?”

At that instant they heard the trampling of horses.

They are coming again, to be revenged of us," exclaimed Leopold, catching up his axe, still clotted with gore-" but let us sell our lives like men !"

"Oh, my sons," cried Byloff, " ye have shed blood, and it cries out against you! Why have I lived to see this unfortunate hour!"

He was interrupted by a number of armed men, who rushed into the cottage. They looked earnestly at Leopold and Ludowico, and, at length, one of them said- These answer the description which has been given us; besides, there is blood on the clothes of one of them. You must go with us," added he, addressing himself to Leopold.

"Whither?" demanded Leopold.

"To Dorbalec," replied the person— "Count

c 3.

"Count Petrowitz has ordered us to bring

every person we could find in the forest before him."

"We will go with you," said Leopold, "but not by force."

"We have no orders to use force, unless we are compelled to do so," replied the person.

"Lead on then," said Leopold, "and we will all attend you."

Byloff groaned, and lifted up his eyes to heaven-"My sons," cried he, "are you guilty or innocent ?"

"We are spotless as the sun," replied Leopold We have done nothing but what you will commend us for doing." Enough," cried Byloff" then let us

go.'

They all left the cottage, the horsemen surrounding Byloff, Leopold, and Ludowico; the two latter of whom, fearing some perfidious design, refused to be disarmed, and carried their axes on their shoulders. When they arrived at the castle,

they

they found the Count in the great hall, surrounded by his domestics, and numbers of his vassals, whom he had summoned on the occasion. At his side were seated the two females whom Leopold and Ludowico had preserved. The Count turned to his daughter, and asked if these were the persons. She answered in the affirmative.

Who are you?" demanded the Count,

looking stedfastly at Leopold.

"I only know," replied he, " that I reside in the adjoining forest, and that those you see with me, are my father and brother."

"Is this true ?" said the Count, turning to Byloff.

"Part is true, and part is not," replied Byloff" He is not my son-the other is."

Why," said the Count to Leopold, "do you tell me what is not true?"

"I scorn it," replied Leopold, astonished.

"He does not know but he has told you

the truth," said Byloff" Till this instant, he never doubted that he was my son." "Whose son is he then ?" demanded the Count.

"He is the only son of the late Count Gustavus Rosomaski," replied Byloff.

"Have a care, old man," cried the Count" I have heard that that child died in its infancy."

"So it was falsely reported by his uncle and guardian, the late Theodoric Rosomaski, in order to get the title and estate into his own family," said Byloff" This is the real heir, whom I rescued from the untimely grave to which he was doomed by his unnatural uncle."

"Who are you?" demanded the Count, "and what proofs have you of the truth of so bold an assertion ?"

"I was one of the domestics of the good Count Gustavus Rosomaski," replied Byloff, "who died suddenly, leaving this son an infant and an orphan, as his lady had preceded