opposed your union, but threatened to immure her in a convent, if you dared to persist in your designs-under those circumstances then how would you act?" "Take her by force," said Ortano. "But then," said Leopold "you might miss your aim for her father might recover her, and at all events, he might deprive you of herfortune.” "Undersuch circumstances,” said Ortano, with a most significant look, directed full upon Leopold, “I should take your advice how to act." "And will you promise to abide by that advice?" Leopold asked. "I will," said Ortano. Hush," said Leopold, looking cautiously around him, "heard you no noise in the Castle ?” "A mere gust of wind," said Ortano. "It appeared to sound beneath us," said Leopold. "All the effect of fancy," said Ortano, to whom the sudden agitation of Leopold was strikingly apparent. "Methought I saw a gleam of light shoot across the window," said Leopold. "A faint flash of lightning, perhaps," said Ortano, going towards the window. " I see "What! What!" exclaimed Leopold, hastily. Only some black clouds rising in the east?" Or tano answered, "they portend a stormy night." “Would it were over,” said Leopold. “I hate this silence of the midnight-the brain then conVOL. 1. No 4. L jures up a thousand forms, and terror in their parent." "Would terror be the parent of your midnight thoughts," asked Ortano, were "Maria Orisini with you ?" "Heaven!" exclaimed Leopold, "that name rouses every passion of my soul-what foolish weakness has seized me for a moment?" 'tis merely one of those depressing fancies which at times seize upon the heart of man, and turn his best resolves into childish inanity. Are not our prospects such as would almost give vitality to the marble statue? Adeline in your arms-and Orsini in mine, we have then reached the pinnacle of human bliss-and though the road to it be here and there stained with blood, the traces of it will soon be effaced-but morning soon will dawn-we will to work immediately; now hear me-I have succeeded in extracting from my old father a portion of the money sufficient to satisfy my immediate wants-and he may now amuse himself if he can, by counting his grey hairs, or measuring the wrinkles of his hand; we will leave the doting curmudgeon to talk to monks about their celibacy, and their fleshly mortifications, and hasten to complete our plans." 2 If courage, and determined resolution be wanting to effect our purpose, we may consider it as already gained," said Ortano. "O, I will so play the saint before the old do tard," said Leopold, "that he shall clap his hands for joy at my reformation-I will tell him how much I am grieved to leave him for a short time, but that I will hasten my return: in the mean while, I will make a merit of having solicited the abbot to come and comfort him with his holy, and spirtual conversation-the old man will thank me for that mark of my attention to his happiness. Now for Zurich.” "For Zurich !" exclaimed Ortano. Yes," said Leopold, "is not your Adeline there? but I will impart my plans more fully to you on our journey-see it already brightens in the east, repose yourself for a few hours-then for Zurich and Adeline." "And for Orsini," exclaimed Ortano, 66 may you see her in your dreams-good night." The villains parted, the one with the full assurance of having obtained an able coadjutor in all his plans, and the other congratulating himself with soon being in possession of the beautiful Adeline. CHAPTER VIII. deemest thou indeed, THE Old Count lay on his bed of sleep-nobaneful images disturbed his slumbers-no sudden starts declared the guilty conscience-he lay the image of a saint in death, free from -a mortal's sius; on this night, before he repaired to rest, he had knelt in prayer, and with feelings of the purest gratitude, had thanked his God, that ere he was laid with his fathers, ke had lived to see a dissolute son reformed, and restored to virtue. Thou good deluded man, be happy in the depth of thy error-enjoy the sun-beam while it shines upon thee, and cast not thy look towards the dark and turbulent clouds, which are rising on the horizon of thy bliss; thy happiness is like the meteor in a murky night, gone, ere we can say it was-for a moment it shines, to cheer the darkened scene, then swift evanishes, never to return. I see that sinile of joy, resting on, thy face, old man-I see the serenity which sparkles in thine eye, like a wandering sunbeam, gilding for a moment the desart snows which crown thy native hills. A few days more, and the storm which is gathering, will burst upon thee, and who can say if thou wilt not be crushed by its fury. "And will you not stop with me till your brother returns," said the old Count, as they sat at breakfast. "Most unwillingly do I leave you, my dear father," said the hypocrite, "but my friend has requested me to accompany him to the nearest pass in the mountains-in a few days I will return to Niolo." "Fail not my son," said the old Coupt, "few and slender are the props which now sustain my drooping life; I would not have them fall, and my children at a distance- I should not die in peace, did I not bless them on my death-bed." 66 'I will hasten my return, father, but do not let us dwell upon the melancholy subject of your death, let us hope that there are many years in store for you; and it shall be the study of Frederic and myself to make each year more pleasant than the former." "Thank you, my son, thank you," said the good father, with an evident degree of emotion, |