with me. But he urged me on, and said, oh yes, there would be plenty of fun in letting him know how I was proceeding. Still I believe I should have resisted, but that one day in a conversation upon the subject he insinuated suspicions that I was afraid; this settled the matter; I was put upon my mettle, and was resolved on the adventure. I got from him such particulars, that when I came to examine the premises I found no difficulty in making myself thoroughly acquainted with the secret of the door, and with the means of ascending into the long corridor by the ruined turret. The way in which he became acquainted with the secret door was, that while he was in Presburg he was one day scrambling among the rocks in which is the hole that leads into the vaulted passage; it was then so overgrown with bushes and brambles as to be scarcely visible, and his foot slipped in, so that he recovered himself with difficulty. This induced him to examine the place; and having a large clasp knife in his pocket, he cut away the bushes, so that he could get into the hole with ease. He however soon found that there was no possibility of penetrating far without a light, and he thought he would return the next day with a lanthorn, and explore the cave. In the mean time, inquiring of some people who lived in a cottage near, they told him that a troop of banditti once inhabited the place, but that it had been cleared of them some years, and nobody since had thought about it. "When he came to examine the cave with his light, he proceeded at length to the little staircase, which ascending, still groping about with the lanthorn, he saw the spring by which the secret door is opened, and which, as you may perhaps have observed, is very obvious on that side, though so artfully concealed on the other. From From the chamber he proceeded into the great room, and through that to the corridor, when he did not dare to go any further. He soon after discovered that the premises he had visited formed a part of the great inn, and thence had sufficient opportunity, by taking up his quarters there awhile, of making himself fully acquainted with the whole mystery of the secret door and the long passage. Of this information, when obtained, he had absolutely purposed making the use I have since made of it to play upon the superstition of any body who might inhabit the chamber, for he found that the thing did not appear known to the people belonging to the inn. But his regiment being hastily called away from Presburg, there the matter ended, and he thought no more of it. "I had no fixed plan when I arrived at Presburg: I took up my lodging at an obscure public-house in the suburbs, and thence visited the cave and the chamber, revolving in my mind what notable feat I should perform. I had gone through, at Vienna, the routine of almost every thing within the ordinary sphere of received superhuman beings, and I wished to do something of an entirely novel cast. At length I determined on the plan I pursued: I ascended the turret, and waited at the door into the corridor till I heard the clock begin to strike twelve; then proceeding towards your mess-room, having previously learned that the officers in the inn always assembled there in the evening, I opened the door as the last stroke of twelve sounded, and marched forwards, not without some palpitation of heart, yet relying strongly on the impression of astonishment my appearance would make to get through the apartments with success. How was I startled when I heard one of the company address me as count Molziewitz! This was a thing for which I was wholly unprepared, and I had some difficulty to command myself so far as not to notice it. I did, however, subdue the something like awe with which it inspired me, and proceeded on my way successfully till I got through the secret door. Then drawing out a dark lan thorn, which I had concealed under my coat, I sat down upon the staircase to recover myself; for indeed at that moment I was unable to proceed. "You will perhaps not readily believe how much I was thunderstruck at being addressed by the name of Molziewitz. You have probably supposed that I knew at that moment of my brother's death, and wished to impress the belief that I was his spirit. I can assure you solemnly that this was not so; it was wholly chance that led me to appear that night. For two or three days I had been prepared for my enterprize, but my heart failed me, and I had then only wound myself up to it by drinking wine pretty liberally. I had not even a thought of making myself like my brother, nor was I aware that there was so much resemblance between us as that this mistake could be made. I had endeavoured, by marking strong lines in my face and by some other expedients which I employed, to make myself much older, and perhaps this had contributed to creating the likeness. I was sure, however, that I was not addressed in my own person; since the officer who spoke said, I thought you had been with Khevenhuller's army, which in fact my brother then was. "As I sat upon the staircase to recover myself, I heard a sudden rush into the chamber, and listening soon perceived that the whole party whom I had visited were examining the room. My fears being then cruelly awakened lest the secret door should be discovered, I stole very softy to the bottom of the stairs, and there stopped again to listen; but after some time I found, to my no small satisfaction, that the search was abandoned without any discovery being made. Emboldened by this escape I continued to linger about, that I might see what further was done, and at length heard some one come into the room; but now it was evidently one person only. He, however, as I could plainly distinguish, was looking about and examining every part of the room; and this he continued for a great length of time, when I was pretty sure that I heard him get into bed. I had two or three times a strong inclination to present myself before him, but determined at last that this would be very hazardous, and I contented myself with exciting his alarms by a gentle tap against the wainscot, repeating it again after a short interval. And now being satisfied with my frolic for this one night, I descended the staircase, and pacing along the subterraneous passage, walked out at its mouth, and returned quietly to my inn. I "Afraid of being seen in the town lest I might be recognised by any of the company I had alarmed, I set off very early in the morning to a village not far off, and taking up my abode at a small public-house, remained there three days without stirring from it, so extremely satisfied with the success of my first experiment, that I was all the time laying plans for a second. then ventured to go to the inn in the suburbs at which I had taken up my quarters, when I found the whole town ringing with my exploit, and heard also the afflictive tidings of the death of my brother. You will perhaps smile when you hear me say the afflictive tidings, and think that my subsequent conduct did not evince any great affliction at the event. Yet I can assure you that I was deeply affected with it. But my mind was rought up to such a state of intoxication by the success of my first experiment, that none of the reflections which the death of my brother ought to have awakened, could deter me from involving myself still further in the hateful labyrinth. "Instead of being deterred, this circumstance only inspired me with a new idea for my disgraceful sport.Since I found that I must have a strong resemblance to my brother, my passion now was to appear as his spirit. I thought that if I could do this successfully, my name would be immortalized among our incorporeal party,-that it would obtain the very highest place in the list of dealers in fun. I resolved, nevertheless, that the moment this second frolic was accomplished, I would make my appearance where decency and my own interests required, as the successor to my brother's titles and es tates. "On the event of my second attempt I have no occasion to descant ;yet to one thing I must allude, to the voice which you heard,' support him in his good resolution; but to effect this it was necessary that I should adhere to my plan of resigning my commission: it was resigned accordingly. "Shall I own it?-yes, why, disguise any thing?-I believe the affecting interview of that morning with the lady Frederica had its share in confirming me in my purpose. I think, however, that without it I should have acted the same; for I could not conceive but that I was performing a meritorious part in sacrificing my own interests to the prospect of saving a fellow-creature from perdition. Yet certainly I was not the less inclined to it in the thought that this fellow-creature was brother to the angel whom I had just seen so bowed down in affliction, and whose life as well as reason must probably fall a sacrifice, had the affair been allowed to transpire. I gave count Adolphus a full account of his sister's situation, in the hope that it might contribute to confirm and increase his deep sense of his fol "That voice,' I said, 'so terrible to the rest of the company, was the very thing which convinced me that the figure I saw was my former friend count Adolphus. When we were together at Prague, I had known you more than once entertain the company you were with, by giving them specimens of your power of ventriloquism, and I had often warned you against indulging in it, as a thing which had a very dangerous tendency. Before this I had believed the impostor (for such I had always decidedly considered the person we had seen) to be one who assumedly, perhaps I ought to call it guilt; and the appearance of count. Molziewitz for some sinister purpose; but since ventriloquism is a faculty not possessed by many, I was on a sudden struck with the dreadful conviction that it was indeed a Molziewitz I beheld, though not the Molziewitz generally supposed.' Indeed, indeed, count Lowenstein, it was impossible not to be deeply affected with the situation in which I saw this young man. I had many times before known him make vows and promises of reformation, but they were wildly made: I knew him, and I never expected them to be kept. There was however at this moment an earnest ness, a fervour in his manner, which spoke his mind so deeply impressed with his situation that I could not resist cherishing hopes of his reformation, such as I had never dared to cherish before. These hopes made me resolve upon devoting myself for a time to a close attendance upon him, that I might do all in my power to strengthen and indeed such was the effect it produced. "After giving him my solemn assurance that, provided I saw his conduct really changed, his secret should be safe with me, I suggested that it was better, since his being at Presburg had never been known to any one, that it should still be kept a secret, and recommended our going together to some distant place, whence at the proper time he would be better able to appear publicly before the world as his brother's heir. To this he assented, yet expressing great anxiety to learn some further tidings of his sister, I proposed our retiring to a town I named not far off, and remaining there a short time, when I would endeavour, by going sometimes in disguise to Presburg, to obtain the information he wanted. This was agreed upon; when, learning by these inquiries how much the idea of her brother's departed spirit being troubled seemed to dwell upon the lady Frederica's mind, I determined to try whether some salu story. tary effect might not be produced by thing favoured the concealment of the the letter I wrote. She had called upon me for her brother; she seemed to connect the idea of me constantly with that of her brother's spirit. I knew that a state of delirium was not a moment when the voice of reason could be heard; on the contrary, I thought that to soothe fancy with which she was possessed might contribute to restoring her reason, and when that was re-established, the truth might be told her with safety, and she might be undeceived. "The experiment, as far as it has been tried hitherto, has happily been crowned with success; and I look upon it as one of the most exalted blessings Heaven could confer upon me, that it has permitted me to be instrumental in alleviating the sufferings of so charming a creature. The remainder will come in fime, perhaps it is hardly yet time that she should be wholly undeceived. But to return to count Adolphus. "When the amendment of the lady Frederica appeared certain, and it was obvious that hopes might be entertained of her entire restoration, I recommended the prosecution of our plan, and we set off with that intent. We travelled on horseback, when just as we arrived at the frontiers of Hungary the young count had the misfortune to fall from his horse, by which accident he was so much hurt that I was at first seriously alarmed for his life. This detained us at the town, whence the information of his accident, and his being consequently in a state that he could not be moved, was sent to his brother's agent in Austria, and by him communicated to his friends. Here it was that we first saw an accurate list of the officers, both superior and inferior, who had fallen in Khevenhuller's late action. Among them was captain Luckner, the officer who had been the occasion of count Adolphus's mad undertaking, and whose death seemed wholly to secure our secret ;-thus every "Adolphus indeed went through great sufferings from his accident, but he is now so far amended that we have every reason to hope his health will soon be entirely restored. During the whole of his illness the late affair has dwelt very severely upon his mind; he has talked of it perpetually with the most bitter self-reproaches; it has indeed been almost our only theme as I sat constantly watching by his bedside. I have never endeavoured to extenuate his fault, for I wished him to feel it in its full magnitude; at the same time I have always assured him that if in future his conduct is altered, his secret shall be preserved; but that if he relapses into like follies all shall be known. I have also uniformly told him that since it was necessary some measures should be taken to allay the ferment which had been raised in the public mind, I must impart the story to you, count Lowenstein, and to baron Kiezerhausen; relying upon your faith and honour for keeping the secret, and trusting to your judgment and discretion for finding some means, without poor Molziewietz being in any way implicated, to remove all idea that there was any thing supernatural in the figure twice seen. For this purpose I have waited upon you, and am also commissioned by the young count to say, that since he is now capable of travelling, he is very desirous of coming hither to pay his respects to his sovereign upon his accession to his new honours, and to tender her the same services as she received from his late brother; provided always this meets with your approbation, for to that he submits himself entirely, and that it can be done consistently with preserving his secret inviolate." Here captain Storkenheim ceased speaking, when count Lowenstein and Kiezerhausen broke out into expressions of admiration of his conduct throughout this most singular affair, which would be little interesting in the detail, and might perhaps be thought to border on extravagance. Pass we them by then, and proceed to say that a promise was made by count Lowenstein to guard the young Adalphus's secret faithfully; he only required permission to impart every thing to the queen, and to this Storkenheim readily consented. The count also engaged to manage in the best manner he was able the proposed visit of the new count Molziewitz to pay his homage to his sovereign, as also to make some communication upon the subject to the lady Frederica; and Storkenheim departed to relate to his friend the success of his mission. The queen was no less struck than Lowenstein and Kiezerhausen with the 'conduct of Storkenheim. He had shewn a penetration of mind far beyond his years, combined with equal courage and steadiness in the pursuit of his object, and a noble zeal to save and retrieve his friend; all of which, considering his early youth, gave promise of every thing illustrious in future. These feelings her majesty expressed to Lowenstein very warmly, and concluded with saying that some recompense must be bestowed upon him adequate to his high deserts, consulting in what way her favour could be shown so as to avoid any hazard of Molziewitz's secret being betrayed by it. Lowenstein felt very warmly, from what had passed in their late conversation, that there was a recompense with which Storkenheim would think his services acknowledged far beyond even his most sanguine hopes; yet it was a subject which he saw would require the utmost delicacy in handling, though the hint by which it should be first suggested were ever so remote. Storkenheim was of a good family, but a younger brother and destitute of fortune ;while the lady Frederica von Molziewitz, the favourite of the queen, the daughter of one of the most illustrious houses in Austria, might reasonably look to a very splendid alliance.-Impressed as he was with the disinterested manner in which Storkenheim had condemned himself to silence, under circumstances of which many men would have availed themselves to urge a sort of claim upon the object sighed forhe felt no little desire, provided the lady's inclinations were favourable, to manage the affair so that such disinterestedness might not remain unrewarded. He would not however be precipitate; and having made his communication to the queen, and received her approbation of the proposed visit to the court, he suffered the other matter to remain dormant till the count and Storkenheim should arrive. With respect to the ghost, he caused it to be published about the town that the whole matter had been satisfactorily explained by captain Storhenheim, who had absented himself from the city only with a view to investigate it the more fully, following a clue which he had obtained. That on doing this he had possessed himself of the fullest proof that the figure seen was no apparition, but a human form, whose name for state reasons could not be brought forward, any more than the motives by which he was actuated. To confirm this, the count had the secret door in Wingerode's chamber opened after the manner directed by Storkenheim, before a number of respectable witnesses in the first instance, and ordered that any person who desired ocular conviction of the fact of this door and the long passage leading from it, should have the fullest satisfaction given them. For some days the inn was, in consequence, crowded with visitants to see the door, but the rage soon subsided;-that the ghost was pure flesh and blood was now a truth universally received; the reputation of the chamber and the inn was fully re-established, and the affair was soon suffered to go quietly to sleep. In the mean time the Man of the Mountain had not been entirely neglected: philosophic speculation was ex |