in almost frantic accents, as he tore his grey hairs from his aged head, he bade them fly to the rescue of his daughter. "Whither must we go?"-" Where shall go?"— we enquire for her?"-" Where shall we. seek her?" were the instant cries of the domestics, whom Dorothea had not stopped to acquaint with the particulars"The tower in the garden" was all that the Count could utter; and having pronounced these words, he dropped down. senseless.

CHAP

CHAP. IV.

AT the very crisis of this confusion,

Leopold returned from Cracow, and entered the hall. When he perceived the Count lying motionless on the floor, and all the domestics flying different ways in disorder, he drew one of his pistols from his belt, and threatened the first who stirred with instant death. Dorothea, who had thought proper to come to herself, and that instant entered the hall, exclaimed, "Oh, my mistress! my dear mistress!" "What of her?" demanded Leopold. "Gone, gone! irrecoverably lost!" "How? When?"

"Carried

"Carried off!”

"This instant tell me in what manner.". Dorothea related all the particulars, and Leopold, having recommended the Count to the care of the females, bade all the male domestics to fly and scour the forest. He himself instantly mounted his jaded horse, and guessing Lanfranco to have been the author of this plot, he rode as fast as possible to the skirt of the forest which overlooked the Castle of Vistulof. Here he alighted to give his horse rest, and to watch all who approached it. The remainder of the day, however, wore away without his seeing a single person approach or leave the castle; but as Leopold imagined they would take a circuit to avoid pursuit, and bring in their prey at night, he determined to remain at his post.

The sun was now at the antipodes, and his pale sister ruled the night with uncommon splendour. Silence reigned, except where the almost expiring breezes shook the foliage of the trees; and sleep had scat

tered

tered her drowsy poppies over all but the lurking assassin, the care or woe-worn wretch, and the beasts of prey-in plain English, it was midnight, when Leopold discerned the shadow of a man, who came from the castle directly towards him. He lay perfectly motionless till he saw him within his grasp, and then starting up, he seized him with one hand, whilst his other brandished his threatening sabre. The man instantly dropped on his knees, and begged him to spare his life.

"Your life is in no danger," replied Leopold, if you instantly answer me truly, such questions as I shall demand. First, who are you? and what brings you out at this unreasonable hour?"

"I am one of Count Rosomaski's domestics," replied the trembling wretch.. "Well, and your business?"

"That is my master's, who has ordered me to divulge it to no one. A servant may not, you know, disobey the commands of his master."

"True,"

"True," " cried Leopold, "and I am your lawful master: I am the true Count Rosomaski."

"You cannot be my master, however, till the law has established your claim.",

My claim has nothing to do with what I want to know of you. The daughter of Count Petrowitz has been carried off, this afternoon, by some villains, and I suspect that you know something of the matter. Therefore I shall carry you before the magistrates, who will make you give an account of yourself, and your midnight

rambles."

"You will gain nothing by that," replied the man-" Harsh means mostly prevent the effect which they are intended to produce."

"The choice betwixt harsh or gentle means lies with yourself," said Leopold. "The late Count Gustavus was a generous master," said the man, after some hesitation; and if you are his son, I suppose you are no less so."

." Those