These tidings troubled Amabel exceedingly, and the earl endeavoured to pacify her by promising to espouse her at daybreak, and, as soon as the ceremony was over, to introduce her in the character of his countess to her parents." "Villain!" cried Leonard; "but go on." "I have little more to tell," replied Nizza, "except that she consented to the proposal, provided she was allowed to remain till six o'clock, the hour appointed for the marriage, with Judith." "Bad as that alternative is, it is better than the other," observed Leonard.

"But how did you procure the key of the winding staircase ?" "I fortunately observed where Judith had placed it," replied Nizza, "and when she departed to the crypt near the charnel, with Amabel, I possessed myself of it.

For some time I was unable to use it, because the Earl of Rochester and Sir George Etherege kept pacing to and fro in front of the door, and their discourse convinced me that the marriage was meant to be a feigned one, for Sir George strove to dissuade his friend from the step he was about to take; but the other only laughed at his scruples.

As soon as they retired, which is not more than half an hour ago, I unlocked the door, and hurried up the winding stairs.

I searched every chamber, and began to think you were gone, or that Judith's statement was false.