paused for a moment to meditate upon the wisdom of pursuing the attempt which was before me, and to plan the course which I would pursue. The place was possessed by those to whose passions or interest, if detected, the sacrifice of my life would be a trifling consideration. And, indeed, I ran great risk of incurring a recognition which was so likely to prove fatal. On the other hand my curiosity to learn something of the mysterious brotherhood which inhabited these walls was extremely great. And as well my interest as my feelings, prompted me to the enterprise; for the paper which had disappeared so strangely from my chamber, had probably been taken by some of this party, and I felt anxious to obtain a clue which might lead to its recovery, for its value to me was of course very great. These motives, as well as a strong ambition to conquer, if possible, the ruthless enmity by which the interests of my house were opposed, and disappoint the schemes that now seemed triumphing in their malignity, urged 'me to proceed. The danger I regarded lightly, for there is something in the presence of peril which rouses a boldness and confidence within the breast which makes toil and risk a pleasure rather than a dread. I trusted that the resources of a fertile mind, and a heart which knew not what it was to fear, would carry me safely through the difficulties which were before me: and I, therefore, opened the gate and went into the yard.

There was a small door in the rear of the house which was open, and a man was standing within it. Assuming a bold and indifferent air I walked directly up to him, but before I had reached the steps he left his position and came towards me. I happened to remember the name of one of the persons who had been spoken of by the men whom I had overheard on a former evening in the vestibule of this building; and as the chances were considerably in favour of its successful employment, I determined to make use of it.

"Good night!" said I, in a careless tone, as I brushed past him, and I endeavoured to imitate the tones of one of the speakers on the occasion alluded to,

1

for his voice still lingered in my ear; "this is a clever disguise: by-the-by, is Morton still in the room?"

For aught that I knew, the person himself, whom I addressed, was Morton; but I had nothing else to do than to throw myself upon the probability, and trust to its supporting me. Fortunately it succeeded entirely. The person eyed me for a moment rather dubiously, and then replying in a refined and courteous tone that he believed he was, he continued his course and left the yard. I did not expect to encounter in that place, any but men of a coarse and common aspect; but both the appearance and the speech of this man convinced me that he was a gentleman.

When I had reached the entry which issued in the small door I have spoken of, I paused to listen if there was any one else in the passages by whom my presence might be discovered. But I heard no one; the whole building seemed to be silent. I made my way cautiously along and with as little noise as it was possible. Passing one or two rooms, which from their silence and darkness, appeared to be unoccupied, I presently reached a large intersecting hall occupied by a broad and massive flight of steps, and dimly lighted by a lamp which hung in the centre. Leaning upon the large carved post which terminated the balusters, I again stopped to try to ascertain in what part of the building were the persons for whose whereabout I was seeking. I thought that if I could approach their place of assembling, or put myself in a situation to overhear their conversation as they were going out, I might possess myself of such knowledge as would be valuable for the future.

I ascended the stairs slowly and noiselessly, until I reached the entry of the second story in which they terminated. The rooms which stood near the head of the flight appeared to be as deserted as those which I had left below. Crossing the direction of the staircase was a long passage, into which several apartments opened, and at either end of which was a flight of stairs leading to higher parts of the building; a lamp near the

middle of this hall flung a faint light along it. I walked forward a little distance through one of the arms of this entry, and had gone about half-way to the termination of it when I heard the sound of some one coming out of one of the chambers in an upper story, and descending to pass apparently through the place where I stood. The house, as I have already said, had the air of having once been the abode of wealth and magnificence, and the entry which was a noble arch was flanked on both sides by large pairs of columns standing with a small interval between them which was about large enough to conceal the figure of a man. Into one of these niches I hastily threw myself to find a hiding-place until the person who was approaching should be past. He came along with rather a hurried step, and walking directly in front of my position reached the staircase and descending it left the house. I was standing sideways in my narrow concealment, and being unable to turn without fear of arresting attention, I did not see the figure of the man.

Supposing that there might be other persons coming from the same place, I remained for a few minutes where I was, without moving. In a little while a number of men issued from the same room, so far as I could judge, from which the first had come, and descended in the same direction. Leaning forward from my lurkingplace, I perceived a bright and increasing light in the quarter in which they were, and I inferred that some of them were bearing lamps or candles. The size of the columns by which I was protected, was barely sufficient to hide me from view even under the duskiness that was then shading the entry, and I could scarcely hope to escape observation, when so many were passing in so strong a light. I thought of rushing from my concealment and escaping from the building before they reached the staircase, but as I was about to put this intention in effect, I caught sight of the figure of one of the persons already turning on to the landing which gave a view of the passage in which I was. I drew

hastily back, and pressing as closely as possible against the wall I awaited the result.

As they drew near, so strong a glare was thrown upon the walls and pillars that I felt that my detection was inevitable, and I stood in that shrinking dread in which one hides from that danger which is yet absent although certain. When the company had arrived almost in front of my position, they paused: feeling certain that they saw some part of my dress, although they were yet beyond my own range of sight, I was about to come out and reveal myself to them. To my infinite relief one of the party opened a door which was in the wall of the entry, and all of them went into the room. As the door was closed and bolted I saw that it was of extraordinary thickness, and I heard the sound of an inner door also fastened. There was no keyhole or other aperture by which it might be possible to hear what was said within.

I remained for a few minutes in my shelter pondering what course would be best to pursue, and making up my mind that I must retire without accomplishing the object for which I had come, when my attention was arrested by the footstep of some one coming very quietly and slowly up the great staircase from the lower hall. I listened, and the sound was so stealthy that it was clear that the person, whoever he might be, was anxious to escape notice, and was perhaps engaged in much the same undertaking as had brought me there. I drew back, and remained motionless. The stranger came along the entry noiselessly and deliberately, and as he passed me I perceived that he was closely muffled in a long cloak. There was something in his appearance which, combined no doubt with the association which several incidents led me to form between the persons connected with this house and those whom I had encountered at the sea-shore, that I thought resembled the man who had passed me under the trees on that occasion. But if that conjecture were correct, what could cause in this place the concealment which he manifestly courted, or could induce him to assume, as

my own case led me to suppose, the office of a spy upon his own fellows?

When he came to the door at which the others had entered he paused a moment before it, and placing his ear close to it listened for some time. He then moved a few steps and laid his finger upon a part of the panelling of the wall. A tall but narrow door flew open, sufficiently large to admit a single person; he went in and closed it behind him. This extraordinary conduct surprised me extremely. The proceedings of those who were connected with this establishment resembled the operations of magic rather than of human power. But it was impossible to render any explanation of the incident which I had just witnessed. If the individual who had thus secreted himself was a friend and fellow of those who were in the room, why did he bear the character and court the concealment of a spy? If he was an enemy, how did he possess the intimate knowledge which he displayed with the construction of the building? While these thoughts were passing through my mind, the panelled door again opened, and the same person came out and fastened the spring as before. Without a moment's delay he moved quickly along the entry, and, descending the stairs, left the house. As soon as I had satisfied myself that he was out of hearing, I walked towards the private door which he had closed, in the hope that I should be able to enter it and, as I presumed that he had done, observe the proceedings of those who were within. As I laid my finger upon the door to feel for the spring, I heard the bolt of the great inner door withdrawn, and a sound of voices which indicated that the company were coming out. I passed my hand in nervous embarrassment several times over the spot where I had seen the other lay his touch, without being able to find the spot. The door, which had been unbolted swung heavily open, and the handle of the outer door was raised, while I yet stood exposed in the ineffectual attempt to enter the secret door. The ponderous iron bar grated roughly as it moved back, and I saw that but one escape was