This they crossed towards a door, after opening which, they

were to find their way, through various passages, to a remote part of

the castle, where a private door opened upon the walls. Ferdinand

carried the several keys. They fastened the hall door after them, and

proceeded through a narrow passage terminating in a stair-case.

They descended, and had hardly reached the bottom, when they heard a

loud noise at the door above, and presently the voices of several

people. Julia scarcely felt the ground she trod on, and Ferdinand flew

to unlock a door that obstructed their way. He applied the different

keys, and at length found the proper one; but the lock was rusted, and

refused to yield. Their distress was not now to be conceived. The

noise above increased; and it seemed as if the people were forcing the

door. Hippolitus and Ferdinand vainly tried to turn the key. A sudden

crash from above convinced them that the door had yielded, when making

another desperate effort, the key broke in the lock. Trembling and

exhausted, Julia gave herself up for lost. As she hung upon Ferdinand,

Hippolitus vainly endeavoured to sooth her--the noise suddenly ceased.

They listened, dreading to hear the sounds renewed; but, to their

utter astonishment, the silence of the place remained undisturbed.

They had now time to breathe, and to consider the possibility of

effecting their escape; for from the marquis they had no mercy to

hope. Hippolitus, in order to ascertain whether the people had quitted

the door above, began to ascend the passage, in which he had not gone

many steps when the noise was renewed with increased violence. He

instantly retreated; and making a desperate push at the door below,

which obstructed their passage, it seemed to yield, and by another

effort of Ferdinand, burst open. They had not an instant to lose; for

they now heard the steps of persons descending the stairs. The avenue

they were in opened into a kind of chamber, whence three passages

branched, of which they immediately chose the first. Another door now

obstructed their passage; and they were compelled to wait while

Ferdinand applied the keys. 'Be quick,' said Julia, 'or we are lost.

O! if this lock too is rusted!'--'Hark!' said Ferdinand. They now

discovered what apprehension had before prevented them from

perceiving, that the sounds of pursuit were ceased, and all again was

silent. As this could happen only by the mistake of their pursuers, in

taking the wrong route, they resolved to preserve their advantage,

by concealing the light, which Ferdinand now covered with his cloak.

The door was opened, and they passed on; but they were perplexed in

the intricacies of the place, and wandered about in vain endeavour to

find their way. Often did they pause to listen, and often did fancy

give them sounds of fearful import. At length they entered on the

passage which Ferdinand knew led directly to a door that opened on the

woods. Rejoiced at this certainty, they soon reached the spot which

was to give them liberty.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024