A Sicilian Romance

'It is now then my turn to be satisfied,' replied the marquis, 'and

till I am, not one of you shall stir. Open me that door.'--'My

lord!'--'Nay,' said the marquis, assuming a look of stern

authority--'dispute not my commands. I am not to be trifled with.'

They now stepped forward, and applied their strength to the door, when

a loud and sudden noise burst from within, and resounded through the

hollow chambers! The men started back in affright, and were rushing

headlong down the stair-case, when the voice of the marquis arrested

their flight. They returned, with hearts palpitating with terror.

'Observe what I say,' said the marquis, 'and behave like men. Yonder

door,' pointing to one at some distance, 'will lead us through other

rooms to this chamber--unlock it therefore, for I will know the cause

of these sounds.' Shocked at this determination, the servants again

supplicated the marquis to go no farther; and to be obeyed, he was

obliged to exert all his authority. The door was opened, and

discovered a long narrow passage, into which they descended by a few

steps. It led to a gallery that terminated in a back stair-case, where

several doors appeared, one of which the marquis unclosed. A spacious

chamber appeared beyond, whose walls, decayed and discoloured by the

damps, exhibited a melancholy proof of desertion.

They passed on through a long suite of lofty and noble apartments,

which were in the same ruinous condition. At length they came to the

chamber whence the noise had issued. 'Go first, Robert, with the

light,' said the marquis, as they approached the door; 'this is the

key.' Robert trembled--but obeyed, and the other servants followed in

silence. They stopped a moment at the door to listen, but all was

still within. The door was opened, and disclosed a large vaulted

chamber, nearly resembling those they had passed, and on looking

round, they discovered at once the cause of the alarm.--A part of the

decayed roof was fallen in, and the stones and rubbish of the ruin

falling against the gallery door, obstructed the passage. It was

evident, too, whence the noise which occasioned their terror had

arisen; the loose stones which were piled against the door being shook

by the effort made to open it, had given way, and rolled to the floor.

After surveying the place, they returned to the back stairs, which

they descended, and having pursued the several windings of a long

passage, found themselves again in the marble hall. 'Now,' said the

marquis, 'what think ye? What evil spirits infest these walls?

Henceforth be cautious how ye credit the phantasms of idleness, for ye

may not always meet with a master who will condescend to undeceive

ye.'--They acknowledged the goodness of the marquis, and professing

themselves perfectly conscious of the error of their former

suspicions, desired they might search no farther. 'I chuse to leave

nothing to your imagination,' replied the marquis, 'lest hereafter it

should betray you into a similar error. Follow me, therefore; you

shall see the whole of these buildings.' Saying this, he led them to

the south tower. They remembered, that from a door of this tower the

figure which caused their alarm had issued; and notwithstanding the

late assertion of their suspicions being removed, fear still operated

powerfully upon their minds, and they would willingly have been

excused from farther research. 'Would any of you chuse to explore this

tower?' said the marquis, pointing to the broken stair-case; 'for

myself, I am mortal, and therefore fear to venture; but you, who hold

communion with disembodied spirits, may partake something of their

nature; if so, you may pass without apprehension where the ghost has

probably passed before.' They shrunk at this reproof, and were silent.