A Sicilian Romance

On examination he perceived, to his extreme surprize, that the

key was in the lock. For a moment he hesitated what to do; but

curiosity overcame other considerations, and with a trembling hand he

turned the key. The door opened into a large and desolate apartment,

dimly lighted by a lamp that stood on a table, which was almost the

only furniture of the place. The Count had advanced several steps

before he perceived an object, which fixed all his attention. This was

the figure of a young woman lying on the floor apparently dead. Her

face was concealed in her robe; and the long auburn tresses which fell

in beautiful luxuriance over her bosom, served to veil a part of the

glowing beauty which the disorder of her dress would have revealed.

Pity, surprize, and admiration struggled in the breast of Hippolitus;

and while he stood surveying the object which excited these different

emotions, he heard a step advancing towards the room. He flew to the

door by which he had entered, and was fortunate enough to reach it

before the entrance of the persons whose steps he heard. Having turned

the key, he stopped at the door to listen to their proceedings. He

distinguished the voices of two men, and knew them to be those of the

assassins. Presently he heard a piercing skriek, and at the same

instant the voices of the ruffians grew loud and violent. One of them

exclaimed that the lady was dying, and accused the other of having

frightened her to death, swearing, with horrid imprecations, that she

was his, and he would defend her to the last drop of his blood. The

dispute grew higher; and neither of the ruffians would give up his

claim to the unfortunate object of their altercation.

The clashing of swords was soon after heard, together with a violent

noise. The screams were repeated, and the oaths and execrations of the

disputants redoubled. They seemed to move towards the door, behind

which Hippolitus was concealed; suddenly the door was shook with great

force, a deep groan followed, and was instantly succeeded by a noise

like that of a person whose whole weight falls at once to the ground.

For a moment all was silent. Hippolitus had no doubt that one of the

ruffians had destroyed the other, and was soon confirmed in the

belief--for the survivor triumphed with brutal exultation over his

fallen antagonist. The ruffian hastily quitted the room, and

Hippolitus soon after heard the distant voices of several persons in

loud dispute. The sounds seemed to come from a chamber over the place

where he stood; he also heard a trampling of feet from above, and

could even distinguish, at intervals, the words of the disputants.

From these he gathered enough to learn that the affray which had just

happened, and the lady who had been the occasion of it, were the

subjects of discourse. The voices frequently rose together, and

confounded all distinction.