A Sicilian Romance

The servants, who had been sent in pursuit, returned to the castle

without any satisfactory information. Week after week elapsed in

fruitless search, yet the duke was strenuous in continuing the

pursuit. Emissaries were dispatched to Naples, and to the several

estates of the Count Vereza, but they returned without any

satisfactory information. The count had not been heard of since he

quitted Naples for Sicily.

During these enquiries a new subject of disturbance broke out in the

castle of Mazzini. On the night so fatal to the hopes of Hippolitus

and Julia, when the tumult was subsided, and all was still, a light

was observed by a servant as he passed by the window of the great

stair-case in the way to his chamber, to glimmer through the casement

before noticed in the southern buildings. While he stood observing it,

it vanished, and presently reappeared. The former mysterious

circumstances relative to these buildings rushed upon his mind; and

fired with wonder, he roused some of his fellow servants to come and

behold this phenomenon.

As they gazed in silent terror, the light disappeared, and soon after,

they saw a small door belonging to the south tower open, and a figure

bearing a light issue forth, which gliding along the castle walls, was

quickly lost to their view. Overcome with fear they hurried back to

their chambers, and revolved all the late wonderful occurrences. They

doubted not, that this was the figure formerly seen by the lady Julia.

The sudden change of Madame de Menon's apartments had not passed

unobserved by the servants, but they now no longer hesitated to what

to attribute the removal. They collected each various and uncommon

circumstance attendant on this part of the fabric; and, comparing them

with the present, their superstitious fears were confirmed, and their

terror heightened to such a degree, that many of them resolved to quit

the service of the marquis.

The marquis surprized at this sudden desertion, enquired into its

cause, and learned the truth. Shocked by this discovery, he yet

resolved to prevent, if possible, the ill effects which might be

expected from a circulation of the report. To this end it was

necessary to quiet the minds of his people, and to prevent their

quitting his service. Having severely reprehended them for the idle

apprehension they encouraged, he told them that, to prove the fallacy

of their surmises, he would lead them over that part of the castle

which was the subject of their fears, and ordered them to attend him

at the return of night in the north hall. Emilia and Madame de Menon,

surprised at this procedure, awaited the issue in silent expectation.