The marquis, immersed in the dissipations of Naples, seldom remembered

the castle, or its inhabitants. His son, who had been educated under

his immediate care, was the sole object of his pride, as the

marchioness was that of his affection. He loved her with romantic

fondness, which she repaid with seeming tenderness, and secret

perfidy. She allowed herself a free indulgence in the most licentious

pleasures, yet conducted herself with an art so exquisite as to elude

discovery, and even suspicion. In her amours she was equally

inconstant as ardent, till the young Count Hippolitus de Vereza

attracted her attention. The natural fickleness of her disposition

seemed then to cease, and upon him she centered all her desires.

The count Vereza lost his father in early childhood. He was now of

age, and had just entered upon the possession of his estates. His

person was graceful, yet manly; his mind accomplished, and his manners

elegant; his countenance expressed a happy union of spirit, dignity,

and benevolence, which formed the principal traits of his character.

He had a sublimity of thought, which taught him to despise the

voluptuous vices of the Neapolitans, and led him to higher pursuits.

He was the chosen and early friend of young Ferdinand, the son of the

marquis, and was a frequent visitor in the family. When the

marchioness first saw him, she treated him with great distinction, and

at length made such advances, as neither the honor nor the

inclinations of the count permitted him to notice. He conducted

himself toward her with frigid indifference, which served only to

inflame the passion it was meant to chill. The favors of the

marchioness had hitherto been sought with avidity, and accepted with

rapture; and the repulsive insensibility which she now experienced,

roused all her pride, and called into action every refinement of

coquetry.

It was about this period that Vincent was seized with a disorder which

increased so rapidly, as in a short time to assume the most alarming

appearance. Despairing of life, he desired that a messenger might be

dispatched to inform the marquis of his situation, and to signify his

earnest wish to see him before he died. The progress of his disorder

defied every art of medicine, and his visible distress of mind seemed

to accelerate his fate. Perceiving his last hour approaching, he

requested to have a confessor.

The confessor was shut up with him a

considerable time, and he had already received extreme unction, when

Madame de Menon was summoned to his bedside. The hand of death was now

upon him, cold damps hung upon his brows, and he, with difficulty,

raised his heavy eyes to madame as she entered the apartment. He

beckoned her towards him, and desiring that no person might be

permitted to enter the room, was for a few moments silent. His mind

appeared to labour under oppressive remembrances; he made several

attempts to speak, but either resolution or strength failed him. At

length, giving madame a look of unutterable anguish, 'Alas, madam,'

said he, 'Heaven grants not the prayer of such a wretch as I am. I

must expire long before the marquis can arrive. Since I shall see him

no more, I would impart to you a secret which lies heavy at my heart,

and which makes my last moments dreadful, as they are without hope.'

'Be comforted,' said madame, who was affected by the energy of his

manner, 'we are taught to believe that forgiveness is never denied to

sincere repentance.' 'You, madam, are ignorant of the enormity of my

crime, and of the secret--the horrid secret which labours at my

breast. My guilt is beyond remedy in this world, and I fear will be

without pardon in the next; I therefore hope little from confession

even to a priest. Yet some good it is still in my power to do; let me

disclose to you that secret which is so mysteriously connected with

the southern apartments of this castle.'--'What of them!' exclaimed

madame, with impatience. Vincent returned no answer; exhausted by the

effort of speaking, he had fainted. Madame rung for assistance, and by

proper applications, his senses were recalled. He was, however,

entirely speechless, and in this state he remained till he expired,

which was about an hour after he had conversed with madame.




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