On what a trifle sometimes hangs the destiny of man-a city has ere now, been buried with its inhabitants by the fluttering of the wings of a fly -and little did the proud wearers of the coats of mail which adorned the recess suppose, that their habiliments were one day to be the means of preventing the most important secret which ever concerned their family, from being promulgated to the world. Now, whether the governess had originally placed herself in an uneasy posture, and wished to change it, and in so doing, some protuberant part of her body came in contact with a coat of mail or whether the nail which had supported it for above a century unfortunately. gave way at this most critical juncture, cannot now be ascertained-but certain it is, that one of the above causes must have taken place, for a coat of mail fell to the ground with a horrible erash. The Seneschal started-in doing which, he overthrew the wine on the table, and hurried off, stumbling over every thing which stood in his way; and as certain circumstances had lately taken place in the Castle, which gave food to fear and superstition, he now believed the crisis of things was at hand--and leaving Rosenheim to investigate the cause of their sudden interruption, he hastened out of the room as fast as his aged limbs would carry him. Rosenheim thus finding himself alone, determined to explore the cause of the crash, and drawing up the curtain, the governess stood before him in all her charms,

which were heightened by the blush of shame which adorned her countenance.

Rosenheim could not forbear smiling at the ridiculous figure which the governess made, and she stammered out the best excuse, which female invention could devise, for her appearance in such an uncommon situation. One source of satisfaction however remained for her, which was, that the Seneschal had made such a precipitate retreat, for the secret of her shame now rested solely in the breast of Rosenheim, and from the general goodness of his disposition, she had every reason to expect that he would not promulgate it. Such, however, is the singularity and perverness of the human heart, that after this unfortunate discovery, Rosenheim daily lost ground in the good opinion of the governess, and I would always be upon my guard with that person, whom I have entrapped in a mean or vicious action, for it is contrary to the natural disposition of man, to benefit those who are privy to his moral aberrations, and who have it in their power to spread the knowledge of them to the world. It is upon this same principle that the injurer always entertains a secret enmity for those whom he has injured, and the forgiveness of those injuries, as it lessens us in our own estimation, rather tends to increase that enmity than to allay it.

The governess left the recess with very opposite feelings to those with which she had entered

it, and Rosenheim went in search of the Seneschal. He found him still under the influence of fear, and nestling as close to Deborah as was consistent with good manners. Rosenheim en

tered the room with a smile on his countenance, but the gravity of the Seneschal could not be relaxed, and he inquired, in a fearful tone, "if the cause of the crash had been ascertained?"

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"A mere trifle," said Rosenheim, one of the coats of mail fell to the ground."

Is that all," said the Seneschal, "I thought it was something of that kind-but I dare say you thought I ran away from fear."

"O no," said Rosenheim, "I could not suspect you of such a thing."

It was, however, most rude in me," said the Seneschal, to leave you in such a hasty manner--but I just then remembered that I had left -the keys in the cellar door. The crash, however, came very suddenly upon me, and it was enough to terrify me--was it not?"

"Certainly, certainly," said Rosenheim, "but my time is precious-I will not detain you long."

Deborah rose and left the room, and Rosenheim explained to the Seneschal, the purport of his visit; but as no governess was concealed in the apartment to report the subject of their conversation, I can only relate, that on opening the door, the Seneschal said, "it is a bold step, but

if you will persist in it, you have only yourself to blame for the consequences.'

"And will you not accompany me?" said Rosenheim.

"It is not from fear that I refuse," said the Seneschal," but my old heart would break, were I again to behold the coffin of my good old mas

ter."

"Then give me the keys," said Rosenheim.

"It is a sad dismal place," said the Seneschal, "but here are the keys, and I will await your return in the hall-be careful when you open the door, that the wind does not extinguish your light."

"I thank you for that precaution," said Rosenheim, and taking the keys, he directed his steps towards the vault, according to the instructions which the Seneschal had given him. No sound told of life in the Castle-the palpitation of the coward heart might have been heard, as he paced the arched passages, and his shadow, as it flitted along the walls, would have called up to his imagination, forms uncouth, and spirits of the With an undaunted heart, and a bold

dead. and resolute step, Rosenheim reached the door of the vault. The cold air of the mansions of mortality met him as he opened the door the silence of the grave was around him-the fear of the dead rested not on his soul-he descended the steps, and proceeded to that part of the vault, where the Seneschal had informed him that the