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Cr.ua pin.r lihodc.r jniip 
 
 DOV-VLOOXAH . 
 
 f.*>n </< m JuNishiii June, j.jfioi 
 
&cnBoru 
 
 Printed for T. Hurst, No. 32, and sold by J. Wallis, No. 46, Pater- 
 noster-Row; C Chappi e, Pall-Mall; T. I) v. a n , IS ewgate-street ; 
 J. Dingle, Bury ; T. Gibbons, Bath ; 1’. Rich ah us, and YV. Gray, 
 Plymouth ; and Messrs. Clarke and Co. Manchester, and Harrow 
 und Turner, Nottingham, 
 
 DON ALGONAH; 
 
 Sorcerers of Jtflonttllo. 
 
 A ROMANTIC TALE. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 Did shapes of dun and murky 
 In train tumultuous, all of gesture strange. 
 And passing horrible 1 
 
 ClIARACTACUS, 
 

 ■ 
 
 J' Cur. 
 
 ^ r. 
 
 •V 
 
DON 
 
 ALGONAH 
 
 J^lMONG the noblemen who were distinguished for splen- 
 dor and festivity in Madrid, the Duke d'Axala ranked fore- 
 most. On the event of a grand fete, he gave a brilliant en- 
 tertainment at his palace in the capital, and invited every 
 person whose nobility or birth entitled them to notice. The 
 serenity of the night, and the enchanting music of the or- 
 chestra, added to the refulgence of innumerable lighted 
 tapers, reflected in mirrors of uncommon extent and beauty 
 gave the scene an appearance of a paradise formed by arL 
 About midnight a stranger stalked in, who appeared to be 
 between fifty and sixty years of age* and of an erect stature. 
 A heavy darkness sat on his brow ; and the attention of the 
 assembly seemed divided between his austere figure and that of 
 a young lady whom he conducted, whose fine form half eluded 
 inspection under the concealment of a long veil. 
 
 “ What an incomparable lady !'" exclaimed the Marquis 
 Rondolos to the Marquis d’Antares, who had turned pale 
 at their entrance, but now recovering himself replied, “ Ah, 
 my friend Olivaro, can you penetrate the veil which con* 
 ceals the better half of die r face ?— I must see more of her 
 features before I can hazard an opinion of her beauty !” At 
 this juncture the veil of the lady was lifted up, perhaps to 
 satisfy their curiosity, and she took a timid glance at the 
 company, and the two strangers, whose visible emotion 
 betrayed their feelings. “ Now, Marquis !’’ exclaimed 
 Olivaro, “ is my opinion good or bad ? — What eyes ! — Did 
 you mark the smile she beamed upon me ? What tenderness 
 it expressed ?— But I see you look a little jealous, my good 
 friend !" “ I will give you leave*" replied the Marquis 
 
 d’Antares, “ to solicit a priority in her favour ; and this the 
 more readily as I believed she is engaged." “ How !" cried 
 H 2 
 
4 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 Olivaro, " Engaged ! to whom ?” 44 To one,” replied his 
 
 friend, “ whose claims are irresistible--- -a rival who is your 
 superior, whom no earthly power can resist. I learnt this 
 intelligence not many hours since.— The appearance here, 
 in this festive scene, of the gloomy Cavalier who accompa- 
 nies her, is very strange.” " Do they quit Madrid soon r” 
 eagerly asked the Marquis Rondolos. “ Remember, >oung 
 friend,” replied D'Antares, “ she may remain in Madrid, 
 and he for ever secluded from you. ° Ha!” exclaimed Oii- 
 varo, “ a convent — is it so :” “ Yes,” replied the Marquis, 
 
 tf I know Don Roderigo Algonah too well to hesitate a 
 moment on this head. — No offer that you could make, neither 
 of rank, title, nor estate, would he accept. — You are igno- 
 rant of the turpitude of his character, the crime that preys on 
 his soul !” “ What crimes r” demanded Olivaro. The Mar- 
 
 quis started, and then waved the explanation of the subject to 
 a more convenient opportunity ; adding, that, if he wished to 
 form an acquaintance with this dogmatic and haughty being, he 
 had his own talents to abide by, and the opportunity now pre- 
 sented itself. 
 
 The Marquis d’Antares then withdrew, and left Olivaro 
 overwhelmed with surprise; and, contemplating the words of 
 d’Antares, he thought he traced in them the spleen of a 
 disappointed lover, fearful of his more fortunate success. 
 Under this impression he advanced towards the strangers, and 
 requested permission to pay his respects to Don Algonah, 
 and dance with the lady. “ It is not my pleasure that she 
 should dance,” replied Algonah, haughtily. The Marquis at- 
 tempted to apologize, and directed his eyes towards the lady, 
 who remained siient without daring to look up. Do you 
 live at Madrid ?*’ said the Marquis, inarticulately. “ I am 
 new in Madrid,” said Don Algonah, 44 but you are very inqui- 
 sitive, young man : — you are ignorant who I am. — Senor, 
 this lady will not dance.” The visible distress which seemed 
 to agitate the lovely face of the lady inspired Olivaro with ef- 
 frontery to offer his services in introducing them at court, if 
 they were .strangers there. “ Your familiarity, Senor,” replied 
 the lather, compels me to desire that you will immediately 
 leave us.” Olivaro bowed to the lady, and then returned to a 
 corner of the saloon, to contrast the different manners of the 
 father and daughter, and to invoke heaven to protect her from 
 the solitude of a mouldering cloister. The si rangers had with- 
 drawn, before he perceived their exit. — He tlew after them, 
 and discovered a female figure walking by the moon-light. 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 5 
 
 whom he mistook for the lady he sought. After paying her 
 many gallant compliments, her easy manner encouraged him to 
 lift up her veil, but his eager curiosity was readily satisfied, 
 when he beheld the haggard visage of an old lady, whose va- 
 nity and dress had made her the jest of half Madrid. — Disgust- 
 ed, he turned her away, and had sauntered gloomily down one 
 of the avenues, when repeated screams suddenly alarmed him, 
 and a burst of confusion, mingled with the cries of distress 
 impelled his footsteps towards the spot whence they proceeded. 
 One of the lattices of the saloon was in flames ; to which he 
 immediately hastened, but was prevented from entering by 
 the crowd pressing to get out. With a strong arm he tore 
 down one of the window frames, and in this manner effected 
 an entrance. The Marquis d’Antares, whom he had sup- 
 posed to have retired, was busily engaged in extinguishing 
 the flames ; and, at a little distance on a sofa, lay the lady 
 whom he had been so eagerly seeking. Raising her inani- 
 mate form in his arms, he endeavoured ineffectually to bear 
 her through the crowd. \\ ith the assistance of D Antares 
 they lifted her through the window into the garden, when 
 the change of air renewed her recollective powers. “ Ah> 
 .Cavalier," said she tenderly, “ is my obligation due to you ? 
 But where is my father ?" “ He was not in the room, 
 
 replied D’ Antares, “ when the accident happened.* Be 
 assured, however, Amaranta, of his safety. — But how is it 
 that I see you in Madrid w-hen I thought you were many 
 leagues distant? And how is your sister r" The Marquis 
 Rondolos, during this conversation, held the half-recovered 
 fair one in his arms, while he imbibed a pang of jealousy that 
 reached his heart. “ Ah, Marquis," said he, “ 1 thought 
 you were not so well acquainted wuth this lady?"-" Is this 
 your friend ?" said Amaranta, turning to D’Antares : "par- 
 don me if I omitted him in my thanks to }ou ; but in the con*- 
 fusion, I lost every recollection." 
 
 The Marquis d’Antares now introduced his friend, and 
 gave him the opportunity of asking where he might have 
 the pleasure of enquiring after her health, and rekindling 
 his almost extinguished hopes. " At present," said Ama- 
 ranta, “ I am at the palace of the Count de Bellara, with 
 my father ; but I feel so much recovered, that I hope the 
 fright will produce no farther ill effects." The Marquis 
 d’Antares now left them alone, and Olivaro lost no time in 
 asking the question which most interested him. “ Lady," 
 said he, tf is it true that you are about to retire from the 
 H 3 
 
6 
 
 A LG ON AH. 
 
 ivorld — to forget the duties you owe to society for the inac- 
 tivity of monastic seclusion ?” Alas/’ said Amaranta, 
 
 all human happiness is transcient ! — Where is the festivity 
 so recently exhibited on this spot ! Pain follows pleasure, and 
 reflection would embitter my days if I were to refuse perfect 
 obedience to the rigid commands of my father.” 
 
 Ohvaro had taken her hand, which he suddenly dropped 
 on the appearance of Don Algonah, who sternly ordered 
 his daughter to follow' him, and stalked away without deign- 
 ing to notice Olivaro. The latter, finding the company had 
 left the gardens, retired, intending the next morning to call 
 on his friend for an explanation of several sentences which 
 appeared mysterious; these he supposed might arise from 
 his incomprehensible character, which was a mixture of the 
 deepest gloom and most lively gaiety. 
 
 Proceeding homewards Olivaro saw two men, whom he 
 supposed to be robbers, in close conversation at the corner 
 of a street. — While he observed them from the side of the 
 way unenlightened by the moon, a third man joined them. 
 The three then crossed the street to the spot where Olivaro 
 stood, who, conscious that he was discovered, drew his sword 
 and stood in a posture of defence. — The first person who ap- 
 proached whispered to Olivaro to follow him, “ For what 
 purpose r” said Olivaro. “ For my pleasure and your own 
 too!” rejoined another voice, which he immediately knew 
 to be that of his friend. “ When I quitted the room,” said 
 D’Antares, “ I set your servant and mine upon finding the 
 residence of Don Algonah, not imagining that we should our- 
 selves make the discovery. — So now, therefore, remember 
 I am your friend, and bury your suspicions without enquiring 
 my motives/ 1 They soon after arrived at the Marquis d'An- 
 tare's, where the servants were dismissed to rest, and he 
 carefully locked the dcor. — Why all this precaution?” said 
 Olivaro. “ What are you going to disclose that requires such 
 midnight security and silencer” <f Look at the hour of the 
 clock,” said d’A ntares , et the hand is now at one — at this dread 
 hour promise me secrecy. — Swear!” Olivaro swore he never 
 would reveal the sacred truth he was about to confide in him. 
 “ Know/' said d'A ntares, “ that the levity I display is all as- 
 sumed : a corroding poison gnaws my heart and damps all my 
 joys. — I had once a friend, now lost to me, and it is you alone 
 i would have to supply his place. — I am in love, but not with 
 Amaranta ; believe me, I am too honourable to deceive 
 )ou; and, if the progress of my narration stagger your be- 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 7 
 
 lief, remember that it is the Marquis d'Antares who asserts 
 its veracity. — You recollect that your sick cousin, Marano 
 de Pinato, was my juvenile and most intimate friend, whose 
 death report has falsely assigned to the Moors. — Brought 
 up in the camp together, we were inseparable either in dan- 
 gers or amusements. Having been to chastise some mal- 
 contents, our troop was quartered in (he city of Grenada ; 
 near which laid the beautiful and extensive mountain of 
 Sierra Nivada, covered at its summit with eternal snow ; and 
 the rocks of the adjacent country, from whose height the 
 shores of the Mediterranean, touching the horizon, are just 
 visible. One day, as we were following the winding banks 
 of the Darro, we sat down to enjoy the variety of the sur- 
 rounding scenery. — We were regretting the fate of the 
 Morescos, nine hundred thousand of whom were banished 
 by a cruel and impolitic edict, to the deserts of Africa, 
 when we perceived a small boat floating down the stream, 
 without any guide in it. The eddy of the current drove it 
 to the shore, and, from a spirit of knight errantry and 
 amusement, we. entered it. — It had but one oar, which 
 served to steer us in the centre of the river: the tide wafted 
 us by romantic castles and over-hanging rocks, till the 
 spires of Grenada were lost to our view, and the approach 
 of night required us to return. — This, however, became im- 
 possible from the current being against us, and having but 
 one oar: in the mean time dark clouds began to gather, 
 and the wind to agitate the water : a heavy rain succeeded, 
 and we in vain sought for shelter, while the boat, driven, 
 by the tide, moved rapidly on. — In half an hour we came 
 in sight of a ruined Moorish castle, boldly projecting to the 
 water’s edge — Its fragments seemed to cover a large space 
 cf ground, and its main tower was still standing. Hither 
 the water drove us from the opposite point of the river, to 
 the stairs w’hich led up the rock to the castle. — Marano, 
 who w^as impressed with the superstitious mysteries of ruin- 
 ated recesses and subterranean caverns, expressed some alarm 
 from the danger of robbers. The awful lightning bolted 
 through the arched windows of the tower, and served to con- 
 duct them to a small porch, leading to the main part of the 
 fortification. — Advancing arm in arm, with their swords drawn, 
 they mounted a narrow staircase which led to the turret. 
 
 “ The flight of steps led us to a chamber, in which the 
 lightning shewed us no other furniture than a broken bench, 
 a rusty pike, and a Moorish turban. Amid the peals of 
 
3 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 thunder, we imagined that voices floated through the ave- 
 nues, which were again deadened by the fury of the waves 
 and the rustling of the trees. We had scarcely seated our- 
 selves on the bench, when a continued blaze of lightning 
 illuminated the chamber, and Marano, in a hollow voice,, 
 bid me look in the corner to the right .” — €< It is either a 
 murdered traveller, or a robber,” continued he. “ If so,” 
 replied 1, “ let us plunge our swords into him before he does 
 us any mischief : yet hold! — as there is but one to two, we 
 will examine him before his comrades take the alarm, if he 
 have any !” 
 
 “ We moved along the creaking floor, and I stooped 
 down and took hold of the object, when a sudden burst of 
 thunder made me loose my hold, and Marano suggested 
 that the mysterious power which had conducted us into this 
 adventure had reserved the examination for him . — He then 
 cautiously lifted up the supposed robber, and found it was 
 only a bundle, encircled with a leathern belt, which he 
 cut with his sword, whence a heavy piece of metal dropped 
 out, and rolled to a distance.— In endeavouring to recover 
 what had fallen, my foot struck against a pointed instru- 
 ment, and, on taking it up, I found it to be a dagger, with^ 
 out a case : from its roughness, it appeared to be rusty. — 
 t( Rusted with ihe blood of some poor innocent, doubtless!” 
 said Marano, “ But give me the dagger, I will preserve it at 
 every hazard !” 
 
 “ The storm had now proceeded beyond us, and we 
 thought of returning; but our unfortunate bark had been 
 beaten to pieces against the rocky shore. “ Never mind l” 
 said Marano, “ the same invisible agent that led us here, 
 will conduct us back to Grenada. — Though you are ready, 
 I know 7 , to ridicule my belief in magic, I am more con- 
 firmed in it, from the recollection of an event that harrows, 
 up my imagination.— -Nine months ago, the day on which I 
 came of age, instead of enjoying a feast I had prepared for 
 my comrades, I was ordered out to forage. Our way lay 
 through a deep and unbrageous defile, so intricate that we 
 every moment dreaded an ambuscade. I had hailed in the 
 rear to push forward the stragglers, when the sound of steps 
 behind caused me to turn round, and I perceived a lame 
 soldier, whom I had not observed before.— I halted till he 
 came up, and then said, “ What ac cident makes you loiter 
 so iar behind your comrades ?” — “ Marano de Pinato,” said 
 he, in the tone of a dying man, u I have received a deadly 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 % 
 
 blow! — My hurt lies deep at my heart. — You, Marano, you 
 alone can cure me !” €t Who ! what are you ?” exclaimed I, 
 surprised at such an address from a common soldier.— 
 “ Who or what I am signifies not — but what I am may you 
 never be! — Swear by the rolling orbs above us, that you 
 will redress my wrongs. — Swear, or a dark and terrible fate 
 hangs over your house. — Your future fortune depends on 
 the decision of this moment. — Consent or die!” Impelled 
 by the little danger I thought there was to be apprehended, 
 and his injunctive manner, I granted his request. “ Bravely 
 said!” he eagerly exclaimed, and he extended his hand; 
 which I took in mine, but it felt like the cold touch of 
 death.-— At that moment the music struck up a quick march ; 
 and I turned round to look at the wounded soldier, but no 
 one stood near me. — The apparition recurs to my remem- 
 brance so strongly on this night, that 1 fear it will call on 
 me for my promise of revenge: and the dagger — but, hark 
 the sound of a step approaches !” A slow step now ad- 
 vanced up the stairs, and slowly traversed the chamber, making 
 its exit, at the opposite avenue. “ Who goes there?” ex- 
 claimed Marano. Who goes there ?” returned a voice, <* If 
 you be a friend,” cried I, “ advance !” “ Advance !” re- 
 
 peated the voice, which somewhat alarmed us ; but, other 
 questions being repeated, we found it was the echo of our- 
 selves that answered. 
 
 <f We waited now till the morning light, and after inspect- 
 ing various parts of the fortification, which we afterwards 
 learned had been partly destroyed by fire by the order of 
 Philip, to prevent resistance from the Moors, we returned to 
 the chamber, where the bundle we had half examined in the 
 night attracted our attention.— Near to it lay a small portrait; 
 Marano took it up, and seemed absorbed in the contemplation 
 of its beauties. “ If the original live,” said he, “ I will 
 make her mine for life!— Ah! but where can I find her?” 
 “ Most probably,” said I, “ as she is drawn in a Moorish 
 dress, she has suffered by the cruel edict of Philip: some 
 rufiian-hand may have closed those smiling lips for ever !” 
 
 “ On opening the bundle we perceived it to be a Moorish 
 dress, stained with blood : it did not appear from its fashion 
 to have lain there any length of time; and Marano suggested 
 that it might belong to the person who had crossed the cham- 
 ber.-— We therefore mounted to the battlements and searched 
 all the upper chambers, carrying the bloody habit, the dag- 
 ger, and the portrait, with us : and, except that we traced 
 
JO 
 
 ALGONAH; 
 
 muddy footsteps on the floor of the second chamber, we re- 
 turned uninformed ; and immediately after commenced our 
 journey on foot back to Grenada, where we safely arrived in 
 the morning. 
 
 “ Marano, every day more enraptured with the portrait, 
 sought for the original every where : lamenting the singularity 
 of his fate, which precluded him from knowing if his mistress 
 were old or young, dead or alive. Quitting Grenada in about 
 a fortnight after this adventure, we entered the inn yard of a 
 village in Andalusia. — Here a travelling fortune-teller, mounted 
 on a tub, was amusing the gaping countrymen with his nos- 
 trums and gestures. Observing us to smile, he turned to us 
 and said, Senors. I know that which one or both of you 
 would give the world to know ; mark t hat, Senors!” Marano 
 immediately whispered me that the speech applied to himself, 
 and,” continued lie, “ I will have this man to sup with us 
 when the villagers are gone.” 
 
 “ The landlord was a person of much whimsicality, and 
 when we informed him it was our wish that the conjurer 
 should sup with us, he invited himself to be of the party.— 
 In a few minutes after the host introduced the nostrum ven- 
 der, and when we were seated he began to rally the doctor 
 on his occult occupation. “ Let us first get our supper,” 
 said the conjurer; “ after that, landlord, do you bring in 
 three candles ; th e occult science does not fear light.” When 
 the host had quitted the room, the conjurer begged of his 
 guests to dismiss him, when he had shewn him a few leger- 
 demain tricks.— The candle being brought in, he exhibited 
 some philosophical experiments with quicksilver and other 
 metals ; after which the landlord received his conge to retire. 
 “ Now,” said Marano, who had conceived a high opinion 
 of the conjurers ability, “ for the prophetic part of your 
 business.— I earnestly wish to know my future destiny.” 
 4< Let me see the palm ofyour hand, said the fortune-teller.— 
 “ You will travel long before you find rest. You will live to 
 old age if you escape a clanger that will await you, of perishing 
 by the sword of violence. — Some lurking secret even now em- 
 ploys your thoughts, and— ” “ Look at this picture !” said 
 Marano, interrupting him ; ft Look and tell me it that lady 
 exists !” Kimanez (the conjurer) took the picture, and start- 
 ed as he gazed upon it. “ Where did you get this ?” he ex- 
 claimed wildly.— Dim are those beautiful eyes ! — Dead is that 
 lovely form !— Gone for ever ! — Vanished, flown !” While 
 he continued this rhapsody, he stalked about the room ; and 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 U 
 
 at length, laying down the portrait, he disappeared in an in- 
 stant. “ Why there now !” exclaimed I, “ these arc the very 
 tricks of a conjurer : — Is not a soldier always in danger of long 
 journies and violence. — Your countenance is itself a gloomy 
 picture, and the fashion and workmanship of the miniature 
 is sufficient to hazard an opinion upon it.” Even Marano 
 abated something of his confidence in Rimanez, when he 
 learned that he departed with all his equipage early on the fol- 
 lowing morning. 
 
 “ Our route continued till we arrived at an inn atToIosa; 
 and here we slept in separate beds in the same room. My 
 rest however was twice interrupted by the superstitious bodings 
 of my friend, who felt assured that some misfortune w 7 as pass- 
 ing over him. Indeed there proved to be truth in his conjec- 
 ture ; for he had scarcely closed his eyes, before the midnight 
 clock struck, and a weight I felt on my breast induced me to 
 open my eyes. — By the light of a lamp I saw a figure leaning 
 over me, with his left hand resting on my arm. “ Marquis 
 d’Antares,” said he, “ follow me!” " Marquis,” said I, “1 
 am not the Marquis, while my father lives.” “ He is no more !” 
 said the unknown, and he sat himself down on the bed, while I 
 •rose to dress. “ What is it you require ?” said I ; “ What is 
 your purpose ?” *' Ask no question,” said he, “ but follow 7 me 
 by yourself!” 
 
 “ By the twinkling of the lamp I saw he was a common 
 soldier, and his countenance looked horribly cadaverous. 
 My friend's story rushed into my mind, as he stepped on with- 
 out noise, and I followed. We passed several bye-paths and 
 crossed two bridges ; at length we entered into the bowels of 
 a mountain, through which an aperture conducted us amidst 
 the gloom of total darkness to a forest. — 4f Do you note this 
 spot ?” said my conductor. “ But let us advance a little far- 
 ther.” We were now in a close recess of trees, a place 
 which appeared adapted for the concealment of robbers, wait- 
 ing to attack the unsuspecting traveller. —The stranger again 
 spoke : “ Marano is your friend and mine ; he has sworn to be 
 faithful attend to me !” “ For what purpose !” I demanded 
 
 in a firm voice. u Ascend that tree,” said he, t€ and there, 
 hid among its branches, observe in silence what will soon pass 
 below you. Be silent if you would be secure !” As I touch- 
 ed his hand in ascending, it felt like the coldness of a corpse ; 
 and when I had taken my station, and looked round the foot of 
 the tree for him, he had disappeared. — In about half an hour I 
 heard two men approach, who sat down on the grass beneath 
 me. While one of them with a rapier examined the bushes. 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 12 
 
 the other opened a wallet, whence he drew some bread 
 and garlic, which he spread on a cloth. While they partook 
 of their repast, one of them said, “ Perez, our services for- 
 merly were better paid than they are now; but he shall repent 
 it ! — His borrowed dignities shall be wiped away ! — The 
 Moorish castle, that is the secret which — ” “ Aye, 0 replied 
 Pedro, “ that secret must for a time remain within our own 
 breasts. — But, were my suspicions well founded, by the thun- 
 der of heaven they should swallow this rapier !” “ I have ray 
 doubts,” replied his comrade, “ but if I had not then heard 
 two voices, I would have amply satisfied myself. — That cham- 
 ber, and yet I am not a coward, that chamber quite un- 
 manned me !° “ Fool that you were!” cried Pedro, (t to 
 
 let two simple travellers carry off the only positive evidence 
 we could bring. — The dagger alone would have confounded 
 him, and proved a princely provision for us ! — -The old Don 
 has not yet returned, I hear; but when he does, let him be- 
 ware! — Pie thought he had gotten rid of us when we were 
 captured by the Turkish galley!” “ Ah!” replied Perez, 
 trembling, “ I shall never forget that dreadful night. — I 
 shall never forget how he struggled, and near this spot too ! — 
 I felt some repugnance at the horrid deed !” “ Why, as for 
 
 that,” said Pedro, in a rough voice, “ many a man stops short 
 of the journey he set out upon. — It seems the Don has dis- 
 posed as easily of his second wife, as he did of the first. — - 
 Yet, if he had not meanly cut off our salary, I would not have 
 been his enemy.” “ Nor I,” replied Perez . — te But you 
 know' the hint I gave you the other day: the ladies are both 
 delicate creatures, and old Aigonah, no doubt, to save his 
 neck would consent. — The nephew indeed, who is the only 
 male heir, and lately come of age, may be an obstruction.. — In 
 that case he must be put out of the way ; therefore, as D'An- 
 tares is now at Tolosa, we w ill directly — ” 
 
 <* Overcome by rage and horror, 1 exclaimed, “ Villains ! 
 murderers!” and leaped from the tree sword in hand. — My 
 weight brought one of the robbers to the ground, whom I 
 pierced through the heart. While I was extricating my 
 sword, his comrade, Pedro, wounded me in the arm, and 
 I fell on the body I had killed. Unable to distinguish me in 
 the dark from his companion, he buried his dagger deeply in 
 him ; and, after receiving a blow from the butt end of his 
 pistol, which deprived me of sense, he went away, fully satis- 
 fied that he had avenged his comrade's death by mine, 
 
 1 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 13 
 
 It was morning before I recovered my recollection ; and I 
 lay in the most helpless state, when the balking ot‘ a little 
 dog, who had discovered me, attracted the notice of two 
 ladies to the spot. After the first emotions of pity and 
 surprise had subsided, I addressed them. “ Ladies, 0 said I, 
 “ I have been attacked by robbers. — I have a brother officer 
 at Toiosa, if you will have the goodness to send for him, he 
 will come to my assistance/' “ it is fifteen miles from here to 
 Toiosa," said dementia. “ Senor, you must have immediate 
 assistance, and I and my sister will hasten it." 
 
 “ In ten minutes they returned with several servants, who 
 carried me on a litter of boughs to a large and magnificent 
 Gothic structure. — Here 1 had a chamber and a hoary- 
 headed domestic allotted me, from whom I learned that the 
 castle bore the name of Montillo, and its owner was called 
 Don Roderigo Algonah. “ How strange !” I exclaimed ; 
 “ but pray is the Don at home ?" “ No,” replied the ser- 
 
 vant, “ he is gone to Grenada for a month, according to his 
 annual custom, a fortnight of which has elapsed. — The ladies 
 who assisted you are his daughters. — Ah ! they would make 
 us happy ; but the castle, when he is present, is but a dun- 
 geon, and he is so mad and melancholy at times. Indeed such 
 horrid tales are told about ghosts gliding along its under-ground 
 caverns, that they would make your hair stand on end. — In- 
 deed 1 have heard groans, and clasping of swords and rattling 
 of armour, in the eastern chambers, but the Don will not suf- 
 fer them to be entered." et Pray is Don Algonah married 
 “ No," said Michael, but he has had two wives, and 
 would have had a third, but the lady was afraid to venture; — 
 Now, Senor, 1 should like to die in my peaceful bed, you 
 perhaps in the field : — but not in the way report speaks of 
 them, Senor : — but I'll say no more, Senor, except that old 
 Vertola, who is as gloomy and reserved as his master, knows 
 more than any one." 
 
 “ Being overcome with sleep, I dismissed the domestic, 
 and enjoyed a sound repose for two hours. — When I awoke 
 Marano was at my side ; his countenance had something por- 
 tentous in it, as he demanded of me if I had received news 
 from Madrid. “ My dear friend," said I, < e I have learnt 
 my father's death some hours since at Toiosa." I then related 
 the manner in which 1 had heard it, and the subsequent cause 
 of my illness. “ This," replied Marano, <c is an extraordi- 
 nary business; and you and I are selected to be the instruments 
 in it, — Don Algonah, I know, is my uncle, the younger bro- 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 14 
 
 ther of my mother; and I am his sole heir if his daughters die 
 without issue. — His first wife died when 1 was very young, 
 from a surfeit at a feast : he immediately after married a se- 
 cond wife.” “ What was the name of his first wife ?” en- 
 quired I, eagerly. “ Her name,” he replied, “ was Juliana, 
 daughter of the then Governor of Lima.” “ Holy powers !” 
 I cried, “ she was my mother’s sister, — a sister whom she has 
 lamented as destroyed by an earthquake with her husband, 
 after she herself had returned to Spain, and married the Mar- 
 quis, my father.” i( She might remain for ever concealed 
 with Don Algonah,” replied Marano, “ because he never 
 quits the castle. — My mother was his sister — My father died 
 directly after his marriage, and my mother terminated her life 
 at the hour which gave me birth ; since which I fell under the 
 guardianship of the Marquis Rondolos, who procured me the 
 commission I now enjoy, till I am of age to claim my father’s 
 property. — Respecting Don Algonah, 1 only know that shortly 
 after his sister’s death, he went abroad to repair his extrava- 
 gance, and returned from our Colonies more rich than respect- 
 ed. His second wife was a lady from Grenada, whom he 
 married about the time of Philip’s persecution of the Moors ; 
 and she died in less than a twelvemonth, leaving a daughter, 
 the Lady Amaranta.” 
 
 t€ Our conversation after this reverted to the inn at Tolosa. — 
 My friend informed me that he had dreamed during my absence, 
 that the wounded soldier had stood over him, and reproached 
 him with the disregard of his promise ; that he then bid him 
 rise, and revenge his friend, if he fell. — The soldier after this 
 opened his ccat and displayed a Moorish robe, streaming with 
 blood ; the terror of which awakened him, and which was in- 
 creased on actually finding that I was absent from my bed, 
 without the knowledge of any one. — His anxiety was after- 
 wards relieved by my messenger, whom he immediately fol- 
 lowed to fly to my assistance. 
 
 u While Marano and 1 were discoursing upon the words 
 of the magician Rimanez, the strange reports circulated 
 about the eastern range of the apartments, and the favourable 
 opinion we seemed to hold in the minds of Algonah’s two 
 daughters, old Vertola entered the room. Marano had just 
 pulled out the portrait to gaze on it; which he presented to 
 the old steward, and asked him if. he had any knowledge of 
 the features. “ Know' it 1” exclaimed he, as the tears fell 
 down his cheeks ; “ why it is the very likeness of Lady Ju- 
 liana, my Lady Amaranta’s mother, whose portrait is in the 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 15 - 
 
 picture-gallery. — I will shew them to you, Senor, but we 
 must tread very secretly.” I should like to see my aunt. 
 Lady Cieona,” exclaimed Marano : “ I am of the family 
 of the Pinatos, and nephew to Algonah.” 
 
 The old man then conducted Marano through some 
 windings to the gloomy gallery, at the end of which hung 
 two portraits. “ This to the right,” said Vertola, is Algo* 
 nah’s first wife ; she died very young, and it is reported of" a 
 surfeit. — This is Lady Cieona, his second wife — she died too; 
 but, Senor, a close tongue, as the saying rs, makes a wise 
 head.” “ True/' said my friend, “ and a word to the wise 
 is sufficient.” In the mean time he had unfolded the dagger, 
 and presented it to Vertola, who started at the sight, and 
 asked where he had obtained it. (t This dagger,” replied 
 Marano, “ I found in the castle of Montillo, in a Moorish 
 habit, clotted with blood : now dare you trust me with your 
 confidence ?” “ Listen then, and I will be brief:” said the 
 
 old steward .- — (< Of the death of Lady Juliana I know nothing 
 certain, as I lived at that time with my Lady Cieona in Gre- 
 nada. — I had a sister named Lucilla., who was waiting maid 
 to Lady Juliana, and lived with her in the castle. — Don AI- 
 gonah, since their return from New Spain, became jealous of 
 her ; and Philip’s persecutions breaking Qut, he was frequently 
 absent for a long time together — no one knows where. One 
 night he suddenly arrived in very good humour, and supped 
 with my lady off an elegant entertainment lie had ordered.— 
 Now, Senor, whatever was the cause, she died the same 
 night. The body afterwards laid in state ; and though Don, 
 Algonah remarked to every one that she was little changed by 
 death, it did not quite silence suspicion. On the fourth day 
 the coffin was screwed down, and interred in the chapel 
 vaults under the castle.— Now, Senor, comes a very odd cir- 
 cumstance my sister Lucilla, half distracted for the loss of 
 her mistress, wandered about one night after putting the little 
 Clementia to bed, tiil she came to the chamber where Juliana 
 used to sleep when Algonah was absent —-The door stood 
 ajar, and she pushed it open , there she beheld the figure of 
 her late mistress kneeling, at the foot of a table before a cm* 
 cifix. — While Lucilla stood immoveable with terror, Don Al- 
 gonah seized her, and carried her into her chamber, where 
 she related this circumstance to me; since which time I have 
 never heard any thing of her.” Dreadful suspicions awaits 
 on Algonah !” said Marano : “ but now my old friend, let 
 us turn to the picture which resembles this miniature.’* 
 
16 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 “ Hark!” said Vertola: <c was that a footstep ?— Senor, let 
 ns separate: I will meet you in your apartment at twelve !” 
 Marano, after having gazed a nv ment on the picture of 
 Lady Cleona, returned to inform me of the conversation with 
 the steward ; and, big with expectation, we counted the tedious 
 hours till his rap at the door announced that all was secure. 
 
 ■ €t After a cheerful glass or two of wine, Vertola began: 
 €< Lady Cleona was of Moorish lineage, but married early in 
 life to Count Alvarez, by whom she had a daughter. They 
 1 ved at the once-beautiful castle on the banks of the Darro. 
 Don Algonnh was the friend of the Count, notwithstanding 
 which he fell in love with his lady: now, when the edict of 
 Philip exiled and ruined the Moorish families, Don Algonah 
 came one night with two soldiers ; and Don Alvarez set out 
 for the castle of Montillo, as a place of safety, disguised in a 
 soldier’s dress. — On the road, however, my unfortunate mas- 
 ter was murdered ; and the soldiers, who looked like assassins, 
 have never been heard of since.— The garb he wore has lately 
 been found in a wood near this castle, torn and bloody. Don 
 Algonah then conveyed the Countess and her daughter to Gre- 
 nada, and ordered me to bring all the valuables to my master 
 in his retreat : then it was 1 learned the death of Lady Juliana, 
 and the murder of my master ; the loss of my sister Lucilla 
 quickly followed. One night, shortly after I had resided with 
 the Don, I heard high words between Algonah and Barnardo, 
 his old steward. — I secreted myself, and heard his master 
 threaten to strike him dead at his feet, unless he quitted the 
 castle instantly ; “ and,” the Don added, “ I shall send a 
 trusty guide with you,, to see that you actually return to your 
 relations in Murcia/’ 
 
 “ Barnardo was then heard of no more at the castle, and I 
 was appointed to his place; and received an order to fit up the 
 apartments of Lady Juliana, for the reception of my lady the 
 Jate Count’s wife, who was immediately after married in the 
 castle to the Don. A splendid entertainment was given on 
 the nuptials, and many of the nobility were invited. — At 
 twelve o’clock, the dances being finished, the company as- 
 sembled in the large Gothic hall to supper. — In the midst of 
 the entertainments, which were truly brilliant, and just as the 
 castle clock tolled one, a fearful cry was heard : the lights be- 
 came instantaneously extinguished — the company rose in dis- 
 may, while I hid myself behind the tapestry, and no one re- 
 mained but the new married lady and her husband. — In a mo- 
 ment the tapers were re-lighted, and presented the figure of 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 17 
 
 the murdered Alvarez at the head of the table, clothed in the 
 dress of a soldier. “ Behold me !'' said the spectre to Algo- 
 nah ; “ Know me ! — and tremble for thy fate hereafter !” The 
 spectre then raised his hand in a menacing posture ; the lights 
 were extinguished, and suddenly burnt again — but the spectre 
 was gone. In the general horror which ensued, 1 came in 
 for my share. The Don discovered me, and, drawing his 
 poinard, seized me by the throat. (C Villain,” said he, “ for 
 a less crime than this Barnardo was ]iut azvay : — If thou pryest 
 into my secrets, again thou shalt not esca/ie ! — Go, carry thy 
 mistress to the bridal chamber : not all the ghosts of all the 
 Counts that ever lived shall deprive me of enjoying her. — 
 Go !” I bore her inanimate body away ; but from that hour 
 she has never recovered her spirits, 
 
 “ Don Algonah, after the birth of Lady Amaranta, be- 
 came disgusted at her reserve, and hated her. The daughter 
 of the late Count Alvarez the Don placed out at Grenada ; 
 and, till my lady's death, it was thought she was well pro- 
 vided for. — There has been a report of her death since, but 
 how that happened we must ask Don Algonah !'' “ For this 
 
 thou shalt not escape me 1” said a hollow voice behind us : we 
 knew by this we must be discovered, but all our efforts could 
 trace no person in the avenues leading to our apartment. Af- 
 ter we had spent some time in discoursing upon this mysterious 
 admonition, Vertola retired, and we passed the night without 
 interruption. On the following day the ruffian Perez, was bu- 
 ried on the spot where I had killed him:, 
 
 (C On the fifth day of my residence at the castle of Mon- 
 tillo, I found myself so nearly recovered, that I took a 
 walk in the garden with Marano, where we met the amiable 
 ladies Amaranta and Clementia. — A general conversation en- 
 sued, which ended in the latter accepting my profession of 
 immutable affection, and equal regrets that we were com- 
 pelled so soon to leave them. They appeared to be ignorant 
 of the general history of the castle, nor could we fix upon any 
 mode of safely corresponding with them.. 
 
 “ At supper I received a letter from, my mother, requiring 
 my presence at Madrid, and detailing the particulars of my 
 father's death. — I was ruminating on this event at my cham- 
 ber window, when by the light of the moon I saw a man 
 with a dead body on his shoulders, whom I took ior the 
 assassin Pedro, bearing away the corpse of his comrade.-— 
 I felt some alarm for myself, if this man knew 1 was an in- 
 habitant of the castle. — The castle clock had reverberated 
 1 3 
 
1* 
 
 A LG ON AH. 
 
 twelve, and the tale of old Vertola had absorbed me in reflec- 
 tion, when the feeble light of the moon shone on a large pic- 
 ture.— It was a tournament; and, as I sat at the table with 
 my eyes fixed on it, I thought I saw the canvass move, and 
 the two contending knights draw back from each other, leav- 
 ing a vacancy, which was immediately occupied by the figure 
 of a man, who advanced with a bloody poinard in one hand 
 and a red lamp in the other. — Finding every thing still and in 
 darkness, he quitted the aperture in the canvas, and advanced 
 slowly to my bed. — Supposing I was there, he raised his arm 
 to strike, just at the moment I had recovered from my terror 
 sufficiently to rush to the place where my sword lay ; alarmed 
 by the sound of my footsteps, in a moment the light was ex- 
 tinguished, and he escaped through the private entrance at the 
 instant my sword divided the belt of his girdle. — I pursued 
 him by the sound of his tread, till I heard no more of him ; 
 from the windings which I had made, I conjectured I was on 
 the east of the castle; the moon occasionally lighted me 
 through a passage ieading to a suite of apartments on the 
 ground floor, all of which were fastened, except one ; this I 
 entered, and continued through three chambers, groping my 
 “Way with my sword drawn. 
 
 fs The moon beams set full through the window into the 
 fourth chamber, which I now opened, and recoiled with 
 horror, drawing the door too again instinctively. — My blood 
 curdled in my veins : the terrible and detestable reality I 
 had seen fixed me for some minutes motionless to the spot. 
 It was no illusion, fora loud cry immediately followed, and 
 the door was shut too beyond my efforts to open it again. — 
 1 had been bewildered in following the assassin, whom I 
 doubted not was Pedro ; and I experienced the same dreadful 
 embarrassment in returning. — Having seated myself in the 
 middle of a large staircase till the morning light returned, I in- 
 sensibly fell asleep, from fatigue ; and continued in that state 
 till I was awakened by my friend, who informed me that he 
 had been to my chamber to invite me to take a morning walk, 
 but, perceiving the aperture in the canvass, and suspecting 
 some extraordinary discovery had detained me, he took his 
 pistols, determined to follow and succour me if in danger. 
 Like me he had wandered in the mixtures of light and shade, 
 till he entered a large antique hall on the eastern side of the 
 castle; in the middle of which stood the vestiges of an un- 
 finished banquet, confirming the account which Vertola had 
 delivered of the Count Alvarezinterru piing the nuptial enter- 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 tciinment given by Algonah. — We afterwards returned to our 
 chambers, and I secured the aperture from being again opened. 
 
 “ In the afternoon, being somewhat recovered from my 
 fright, I joined Marano and the ladies, who entertained us 
 with their instrumental and vocal performances. — My friend 
 was playing with the miniature which hung at his breast, 
 when it attracted the eye of Amaranta. u Good Senor V* 
 she exclaimed, “ how came you by the picture of my mo- 
 ther? — Though neither my sister nor I ever knew the blessings 
 of maternal affection, and the deaths of our mothers are hid- 
 den in mystery to us, yet we pay our respects to the canvas 
 which bears their resemblance. — But, Senors, you shall go 
 with us, and view the picture gallery, if Vertola will give us 
 the keys: there can be no danger now my father is so far dis- 
 tant !” 
 
 “ When the old steward was called, he opposed entering 
 the forbidden gallery, and dementia expressed her fears of a 
 discovery ; but Amaranta, Marano, and I, laughed them out 
 of their apprehensions; and, except Vertola, who again re- 
 peated to them their imprudence, we all went to the gallery. 
 Amaranta had scarcely withdrawn the curtains, and exposed 
 the pictures, when Vertola entered in the greatest perturba- 
 tion, announcing that Don Algonah had returned, and bidding 
 us descend the back stairs into the dining-room. Before, how- 
 ever, we could reach the door, Don Algonah had entered. 
 The terror of Amaranta and dementia was depicted in their 
 countenances. — He frowned as we entered. Don Algo- 
 nah/’ said J, “ we are not here from any trivial motive : — the 
 hospitality I have experienced has counteracted the assassin’s in- 
 tention, who left me for dead near your castle ; and I should wish 
 that a better acquaintance — ” “ Who are you ? — and who is this 
 fellow* your comrade ?” said Algonah, surveying us contemp- 
 tuously’ — Marano, advancing indignantly to him, replied, 
 €t Don Algonah, it is for murderers and assassins who have 
 comrades 1 — You shall know soon that I know you /” Don Al- 
 gonah at these words drew his sword, and made a push di 
 Marano, which was arrested by the arm of Amaranta, while I 
 ran to separate the combatants. — “ Don Algonah/'' said I, 
 “ this is a scandalous outrage upon persons of our rank ; and 
 it is equally reprehensible of you, Marano de Pinata, not to 
 govern your resentment. — I, as the Marquis d’Antares, the son 
 of your first wife’s sister ; and my friend, who is your nephew, 
 the son of your sister Leonora, might have expected a better 
 reception from their relation ” 
 
20 
 
 A LG ON AH: 
 
 “ Don Algonah shewed evident marks of chagrin at the 
 knowledge of who were his guests ; but, endeavouring to 
 conceal his vexation in a tone of complacency, he enquired 
 the accident which had brought me to the castle. I recounted 
 the particulars to him, not forgetting to lay a strong emphasis 
 on the determination of the assassins to dispatch him ! — He 
 turned pale at this circumstance, and when I had done mut- 
 tered an ungracious welcome; and added, If you had slain 
 them both, you would have made me eternally your friend 
 
 The intelligence I had conveyed to the Don naturally 
 drew this remark from him, as he, till this moment, had no 
 doubt but the bravos he had hired were slaves in Turkey. — 
 A pause of half an hour ensued, during which time Lady 
 dementia had recovered from a fit into which she had fallen, 
 and with her sister was ordered out of the room. “ As yon 
 seem so well recovered,” said the Don, <e and the troops are 
 under marching orders from Tolosa, I suppose you will imme- 
 diately join your corps ?” I understood the hint, and replied 
 that my father’s death required my attendance at Madrid ; and,, 
 being his heir, I should remove from the army and the castle 
 of Montillo very soon. 
 
 u After some conversation between my friend and the Don, 
 the object of which was too personal to be mistaken, the lat- 
 ter retired to give orders, and inspect the castle since his ab- 
 sence. — When he was gone, Marano burst into a transport of 
 rage, which I endeavoured to soothe by intreating him to re- 
 flect on the power of Don Algonah, and how tenderly my heart 
 was engaged to his daughter dementia. — “ Enough,” said 
 Marano ; “ 1 am also under the most sacred engagements. — 
 But we have yet some important discoveries to be confirmed 
 in. — The horrid chamber you mentioned — we must see' if the 
 terrific and diabolical business of that place be only the dream 
 of your disfurbed fancy or a reality. — At twelve to-night I 
 will be with you.” At this instant old Vertola came in, and 
 informed us that his master bad discovered that we had been 
 in the gallery, and had scolded the young ladies . — “ And, 
 Senor,” added he, “ I much suspect there is some spy in the 
 castle, by the strange voice which interrupted us last night. — 
 Now if I should be found cut — ” “ Never fear the savage!” said 
 Marano. “ Do you be a safeguard to the ladies ; and, if any 
 harm be threatened to them or you, on sending word to my 
 palace at Madrid, we will return, and bring a troop of cavalry 
 that shall pull the old building about his ears.” Vertola then. 
 
ALGONAH, 
 
 21 
 
 departed, and left us pleased with thus having opened a means 
 of communication with the ladies. 
 
 ,r Determining to travel for Madrid the following day, 
 Marano and I at night prepared our pistols, and trimmed a 
 lamp to explore the recesses of the castle. — Marano took also 
 a lighted taper, and his sword; thus armed we had no fear 
 of t-he assassin Pedro, though supported by Don Algonah. 
 Passing the niche concealed by the canvas picture, we reached 
 the Gothic Hall. — Wo thought a footstep followed us, but on 
 listening a!i was hushed. — We then descended the staircase, on 
 which Marano had found me asleep, and passed on till we 
 came to the hellish chamber. The kev was gone, and the 
 door was fast.— After trying in vain to force an entrance, we 
 paused on the propriety of returning or proceeding. — At this 
 juncture a light darted across the end of the passage, and dis- 
 covered a narrow flight of stairs we had not noticed. Marano/* 
 said I, “ our lights may betray us. — To be secure, I will a r « 
 cend in the dark, while you remain at the foot of the stairs, 
 ready to fly to my assistance. ” He at length consented to this 
 plan, and I reached the top of the stairs, when a stream of 
 light shone full down the gallery, and a person looked out 
 from a door to see if any one were near.-— When he retired I 
 advanced ; and, standing close by the door, I heard Algonah 
 and Pedro inclose dialogue. It was planned between them 
 to invite us to stay a few days longer, during which the assas- 
 sination Pedro had intended forme was to be effected ; and 
 Marano, who the Don remarked had a claim from his ancestors 
 upon the Montillo estate, was to be murdered also. “ This 
 being determined, Pedro,” said Algonah, “ let us go. — Have 
 you the key ? — You know we must perform the necessary 
 duty.” I immediately descended the stairs in search of my 
 friend, that we might follow, and see if this “ necessary 
 duty” had any thing to do with the horrible chamber. — The 
 lamp and taper were burning on the pavement, but Marano 
 was gone. — The great clock now tolled one, and I was pon- 
 dering on the cause of my friend's absence, when a luminous 
 steady blaze darted from a door on the right hand, and march- 
 ed along at about a foot above the pavement. — In a few mo- 
 ments it was followed by a tall figure, encircled in a long 
 cloke, whose arms were crossed on the breast. — It moved for- 
 ward in a musing posture till it came near me, and then un- 
 folding the hood of the cloke, and stretching out its right arm, 
 
 I beheld the dress of a soldier stained with blood. — -This, I 
 doubted not, was the murdered spirit of Count Alvarez,— 
 
52 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 As he majestically passed me, he pointed to the door from 
 which I had seen him enter. — Never but once had I seen this 
 dreadful vision of restless immortality, and that was on the 
 night when the phantom announced the death of my father. — 
 When it had disappeared at the top of the staircase, I entered 
 the door to which it had pointed, thinking that perhaps it 
 warned me to pursue my friend Marano. — Arrived at a wind- 
 ing passage, I descended six steps through a narrow door, 
 and found myself in a chapel.— All was silent as death, and 
 my lamp, as it waved, projected tall and gaunt shadows on 
 the walls : I called to Marano, but his voice replied not.— By 
 the side of the crucifix at the altar I perceived an iron door in 
 the floor; this I lifted up, and descended the steps to find 
 him.— My lamp, from the damp atmosphere, expired, and I 
 groped about to find my way back— but my terrors increased — 
 piles of mouldering and quivering coffins so obstructed my pro- 
 gre ss ; and, turning round to move to the opposite side, I 
 stumbled and fell down.- -I felt a human body lie beside me ; 
 and as I traced my fingers over its visage, it felt warm, and 
 seemed to palpitate. — I immediately conceived it was Marano; 
 and, impelled by the horrors of the moment, I drew him up 
 the steps', and then raised the body upon my shoulders..— Re- 
 gardless of darkness and every incident, i ran through the 
 apartments, and deposited him safely in my chamber on the 
 bed, where I administered to him all the medical assistance I 
 was able. When he began to recover, I was fearful he was 
 deranged, every exclamation consisting of the same repeti- 
 tions, “ O the dreadful vision ! — save me, shield me from it — 
 hide me, my friend ! my D’Antares !” 
 
 “ While 1 sat beside my friend, the morning rapidly ad- 
 vanced, and he fell into a gentle slumber, during which I 
 opened the door, and descended to the garden. — No one was 
 yet stirring in the castle, and 1 was surprised to find Clementia 
 sitting in a small room on the ground floor. — I blessed the op- 
 portunity which enabled me to have a few minutes conversa- 
 tion before finally leaving her. — I questioned her upoi#the re- 
 ports circulated ; and particularly upon the nature ofM v e noise 
 heard in the eastern side of the castle. — To these she replied in 
 the unsuspecting language of credulity, that her mother’s sud- 
 den death was, as old Vertola had said, owing to the inebriety 
 of a boatman, who overset the boat in the Darro ; and as to the 
 noises in the castle, they proceeded from the knights in the tour- 
 nament picture, who formerly inhabited it, and had a sister. — 
 They had challenged and vanquished many knighfs in honour 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 23 
 
 of Her, and at last fell in love with Her themselves.—' They 
 then threw the glove to each other, and in a rencounter were 
 mutually killed, as well as the lady, who in endeavouring to 
 part them had received her death . — “ Indeed,” said I, “ this 
 is a terrible tragedy ! but the story is altogether very improba- 
 ble. — This side of the building has been deserted twent y years; 
 yet your mother. Lady Juliana, lived here once without any 
 interruption from these martial visitants; and even, if they did 
 haunt that side of the castle, Don Algonah lived on peaceable 
 terms with them till his wife disappeared or died ; but since that 
 event he cannot bear the persecution of the knights. Ah, de- 
 mentia, better reasons are to be assigned lor his mysterious 
 conduct.— But enough of this ; and now let us talk of the 
 means of correspondence, before we take a long adieu !” 
 dementia however rejected any clandestine communication 
 whatever; and, after exchanging a mutual promise of affec- 
 tion, and losing myself in the admiration of her filial duty, I 
 took my leave, and returned’ to my friend.- - When he awoke 
 he gave orders for our departure that day, and proposed to ac- 
 company me the first day's journey on my way to Madrid, after 
 which he should proceed to Tolosa* 
 
 “ At breakfast Don Algonah invited us to stay a fortnight 
 with him ; and seemed maliciously disappointed when he un- 
 derstood we intended to leave the castle in the afternoon. --He 
 then asked the different destinations we meant to pursue, and 
 added, “ as the mountains are infested with banditti, I sup- 
 pose you go well armed, as well as your servants; but, spite 
 of every precaution. Marquis, travellers have been murdered 
 in traversing the mountains from here to Madrid.” “ True,” 
 replied Marano, “ castles and mountains are equally the lurk- 
 ing places of the murderer, Don ” “ Come, come,” said 
 
 I, “ you are relapsing, Marano, into a wild fit, which may pre- 
 vent the ladies from obtaining leave to bid us farewel ; and 
 prevent Don Algonah from visiting me at my palace at Madrid, 
 where I should be happy to return the hospitality 1 have re- 
 ceived.” Don Algonah, however, would not suffer the ladies 
 to take leave of us, and we quitted him abruptly in the after- 
 noon, not without some suspicion, that he meant to way-lay 
 us on the road by the means of Pedro, from the sarcastic vsushes 
 he expressed for our safety. 
 
 “ As we passed on to the spot where the spirit of Count 
 Alvarez had conducted me, Marano related the supernatural 
 incidents of the preceding night. — He had followed the spec- 
 tre as I suspected ; “ and nothing,” continued Marano, “ could 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 C* 
 
 have induced me to have descended into the mansions of the 
 dead, but the solemn promise I had made the wounded soldier. 
 — Turning my eyes to the left, a light sprung out from the 
 earth, and a female ascended from an opening grave. — Her 
 face and dress resembled a fury ! — She uttered a dreadful 
 scream at the sight of me, and sunk down again, leaving me in 
 total darkness.' — The shock laid me prostrate on the floor, in 
 which state you found me.” 
 
 “ When we came to the spot where the assassin Perez had 
 been killed and buried, we found the earth had been dug up, 
 and the body removed: this confirmed the suspicion 1 had 
 entertained of Pedro, when in the castle, who had thereby 
 destroyed the proofs which the corpse might have furnished. 
 
 “ Finding our mules and guides ready, we ascended the 
 fountains, and soon lost sight of the turrets of Montillo. — 
 After passing the night in some scattered huts, the next morn- 
 ing Marano and I separated. — Our parting was truly melan- 
 choly, and I fancy I saw him for the last time — At noon I en- 
 joyed a repast amidst the rocky and barren scenery ; and pro- 
 ceeded amidst a terrible storm of rain to the next house on 
 the road, which we reached at dark. — Wretched as the accom- 
 modations were, I slept soundly from fatigue, and on the fol- 
 low ing night we arrived at Calatrava ; where I discharged the 
 muleteers, and hired a carriage for Toledo, determined to de- 
 part early the second morning. — Strolling round the city in the 
 evening, I entered during vespers the great Gothic church ; a 
 stranger soon after came in, whose features were hidden by the 
 folds round his head, and he seemed absorbed in devotion. — 
 From time to time he wiped a tear from his eyes, and I felt 
 interested in his sufferings. — Observing him move to a more 
 gloomy part of the church, I followed. — He was still enveloped 
 in the most profound contemplation “ Senor,” said I, “ I 
 ever feel for the affii&ed. — I perceive traces of grief which I 
 would willingly, if possible, remove. — I myself am not exempt 
 from unpleasant accidents !” “ I know this,” said the stranger, 
 solemnly “ but to what do you refer, Marquis r” “ How 1 
 cried 1, amazed, “ do you know me ?” — “ I do,” replied he, 
 and he lifted his fore finger to his mouth to indicate silence. 
 “ 1 know you. Marquis d’Antares ! — 1 know your secrets! and 
 am no stranger in Don Algonah’s castle !” Horror crept over 
 me as he uttered a hollow groan — “ Tell me,” said 1, “ da 
 you know the terrible secrets of the infernal chamber r 
 Speak !” Three times I essayed to detail what I had seen 
 there, and as many times did a drop of blood fall from my nose 
 1 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 55 
 
 x>n my hand, and closed my lips with horror. u I know every 
 secret of that place,” replied the figure. — “ But who I am is 
 for ever hidden from you. — That knowledge would be death 
 to you ! — Remember my injunctions : Depart in a chaise wait- 
 ing at your inn : — hire it, and begone in an hour ! — Don 
 Algonah’s agent will be here at midnight 1” 
 
 “ The figure then moved from me, and I immediately 
 repaired to the inn, where I found the warning verified. — A 
 chaise stood in the yard, and the poflillion said he was going 
 to Toledo in an hour ; and that the gentleman he had brought 
 from there said he was to carry another person back : but he 
 could find nobody disengaged. “ Pray,” said I, “ how was 
 he dressed ?” — In a long cloke, and muffled up,” he replied. 
 
 I am the person he meant,” said I: “ so prepare: we will- 
 travel all night. 0 
 
 " My servant Rondo stared when I ordered our arms to be 
 gotten ready, and told him that perhaps we should be attacked 
 on the road . — ■“ Nevermind,” said Rondo, as he mounted his 
 horse, “ a good heart and a good cause is ten to one in our fa- 
 vour, though the robbers be three to one against us.” We 
 then began our journey, and drove on furiously for three hours. 
 Some time after this, while I was lost in a profound reverie* 
 Rondo rode up, and informed me that two men on horseback 
 were advancing. — In a few minutes they came up with us; 
 and, suspiciously looking into the carriage, they rode on. — 
 te Perhaps,” said I, * f they mean to wait lor us. Rondo, in a 
 narrow defile we have soon to pass.” “ Very like, master,” 
 replied my brave servant ; il and I think if we halt a bit it 
 will not be amiss ; for I observed some signs pass between the 
 driver and these ill-looking fellows — HI just take a peep at my 
 pistols, to see if they be all ready 1 — Ah, Santo Sjikito! here is 
 a fine business ! — the priming is out of both, and l cannot find 
 the powder flask !” “ Impossible 1” cried I : you say you 
 
 loaded all the pistols before setting out — let me examine 
 mine!” — On doing this, I found they had nothing in them but 
 ashes, without any ball. “ Rondo,” whispered I, we are 
 betrayed ! — and here is the villain who is in the plot.” — As I 
 said this, I seized the postillion by the throat, and pointed my 
 sabre to his teeth. “ Scoundrel,” cried I, “ confess in- 
 stantly ; or I will strew your flesh on the highway, and tear 
 you piecemeal.” “ Spare my life ! spare me but, Senor, and 
 \ will tell all,” he replied, as he fell at my feet. He then con- 
 fessed, that a gentleman and his servant came to his lodging at 
 Calatrava, and hired him to go to Toledo. — That they said 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 26 
 
 they had an order to arrest a gentleman on the road in return- 
 ing, who would go back in his carriage, previously to which, 
 they bribed "him to unload the pistols w hile Rondo was gone to 
 look after his horse. — This, they said, would prevent bloodshed 
 and danger. When they rode by us on the road, if all remained 
 right he was to cry halloo! and smack his whip. — But, if the 
 treachery had been discovered, he was to cry. Who goes there ! — 
 After this they were to meet us in the defile, where our servant 
 could not assist, and secure their prisoner. From the man’s des- 
 cription of their persons I had no doubt they w r ere Don Algonah 
 and Pedro, and when I remembered the adventure in the church, 
 I conjectured that the mysterious stranger w as Pedro, who had 
 thus seduced me to promote his diabolical scheme. — The three 
 drops of blood 1 interpreted differently to what I had done, no 
 longer considering them as injunctions of silence, but warnings 
 of my approaching death 1 — “ Now, villain," cried I, still 
 grasping him tight by the throat, “ I grant you life on following 
 my orders ; w'e will exchange dresses, and, clad in my scarlet 
 mantle, you shall occupy my place in the chaise, and, if you be- 
 tray us a second time, my vengeance shall follow." — This being 
 done, I mounted the postillion’s mules, and placed Rondo be- 
 hind me, ready to charge with our swords on the first assault. 
 
 “ As we travelled on to the defile, the situation of Marano 
 oppressed my mind. — Fears for his safety crowded rapidly on 
 me, and I thought I saw him actually fallen beneath the sabres 
 of Algonah and Pedro, whom he must have met on the road. — 
 These considerations, how r ever, gave way, as we reached the 
 middle of the narrow pass, overhung by bushes and shady trees. 
 
 • — In a moment a pistol was fired at the carriage, and another 
 at the supposed muleteer, possibly for not answering their sig- 
 nal; it shot one of the mules, which became ungovernable : — 
 Tw o carbines w r ere next discharged into the chaise, and a loud 
 groan from the postillion led them to conclude they had dis- 
 patched me.— Rondo and I now climbed up the bank, sw ord in 
 hand, and entered the hanging thicket. — We made lunges at 
 every step, but our pursuit was unavailing: — The darkness of 
 the night had favoured their escape, and, w'hen we descended 
 to the road, the chaise had gone away, not improbably from 
 the wounded mule communicating its fright to its companion. 
 This was an unpleasant event, as it contained my baggage and 
 letters ; and the only chance that remained of overtaking it was 
 for Rondo and I to mount his horse, and proceed without de- 
 lay.* — Towards the daw n of day we arrived at a little farm-house 
 by the road side. The owner of the cottage came up to us. 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 27 
 
 and asked if we were the persons who had been robbed on the 
 road. I demanded the motive of his asking that question. — 
 u Why,” said the peasant, “ about two hours since, just as I 
 had risen, I was coming out at the door with my lantern, to see 
 what was the matter, when two men, muffled up and disguised 
 so that I could not know them, ordered me to put it out, and 
 follow them, or I was a dead man.— A chaise stood at the road 
 side, and there was somebody laid along in it. Here said one 
 of them, take these trunks and parcels, and give them to the 
 next travellers who will own them.” — The bundles were stained 
 with blood, and I heard them mutter something about a dead 
 body. — When I returned for the last parcel, I found it on the 
 ground, but the chaise and men were gone .” — (< These,” said I, 
 Cf my honest fellow, were not robbers, but assassins ! — The dis- 
 guise I have assumed has saved me; the parcels bear the name 
 of the Marquis d’Antares, and this is my faithful servant Rondo.” 
 — I then pulled off the postillion's garb, and we entered the 
 hospitable cottage, where I enjoyed a homely but secure meal ; 
 mingled with gratitude to the divine Protector, who had so visi- 
 bly interposed to counteract the designs of such a well planned 
 scheme of extermination. — After a few hours rest I dispatched 
 Rondo to Toledo to procure a chaise, who quickly returned 
 with one, and at night we continued our route to my paternal 
 home, which I at length reached after two years absence. My 
 mother received me with a transport of joy, and at her entreaty 
 I relinquished my command in the army, and became again a 
 civil member of society. Immediately after the arrangement of 
 my affairs, I employed a nobleman, whom the Don Algonah 
 respected, to make the most liberal and princely proposal for an 
 union w’ith his daughter dementia. I knew that he hated me, 
 and that I only wanted proof a little more positive to strip hint 
 of all his possessions ; the answer was therefore only such as I 
 expected — “ that he would sooner hang his daughter on a tree 
 than consent to her marriage with me.” 
 
 “ After a lapse of a twelvemonth since my arrival at Madrid, 
 I received a letter from my friend Marano. It satisfied me 
 that he w r as personally safe, and in Formed me that he had 
 changed his regiment, and was under orders; of embarkation 
 for Ceuta, in Barbary ; — and all the information I have since 
 been able to learn is that he was made prisoner in a sally by the 
 Moors. 
 
 “ But to return to Olivaro, and what more immediately inte- 
 rests myself.* -You know I am the slave of superstitious opinion ; 
 and the following strange and inexplicable event served only to 
 
 K 2 
 
129 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 root it the more deeply. — Lying one day on a bank of flowers 
 shaded by an orange grove, the beautiful Tagus murmuring as 
 at my Feet, I heard a clear and sonorous voice distinctly pro- 
 nounce my name three times. I turned round, to ask who cal- 
 led. — 1 saw no one ; but heard a second summons. “ Listen \” 
 it now repeated thrice in a soft voice. — I arose, and instantly 
 sunk appalled on the ground, on hearing the words which fol- 
 lowed ; Listen, thou Marquis d’Antares ! thy death is or- 
 dained !” — No awful phantom approached to notify whence 
 the prophecy proceeded; — I searched, but neither saw nor 
 heard any thing more. — The prediction fastened on my very 
 soul, and impelled me to visit my favourite bank the following 
 day. — The same dreadful and visionary mandate was repeated 
 on this and the third. day, after which I heard it no more. — 
 The exterminating threat followed me every where. — Unde- 
 fined as it was as to any precise period, it neverthelesss drove 
 me from public amusements to a more close attendance on the 
 duties of religion. — One Sunday evening I had been at vespers 
 when a funeral dirge was chanted. — I returned home, and 
 went to sleep under the serious reflections of my own mortality. 
 
 * — At midnight a loud sigh, twice repeated, awakened me, and 
 I started up, but perceived no object in the room. — Again the 
 same voice I heard in the garden at Aranjuez alarmed me. — 
 *'* Listen, thou Marquis d’Antares, thy death is ordained !” — I 
 sunk back on the bed with terror, and on opening my eyes be- 
 held on the opposite wall, in a scroll of illuminated death’s 
 heads, the same words in legible characters of fire. — My senses 
 fcow faded away before the phenomenon, and I lay without 
 moving till the morning bell announced breakfast. — On the 
 same day I set about arranging all my temporal concerns, and 
 wrote a long letter of love and separation to my beloved Cle-f 
 mentia, to be delivered by Rondo after my death. — Indeed, I 
 sometimes thought from the silence of Vertola she was dead; 
 and dwelt with delight on her having entered the immortal re- 
 gion to which I was hastening. — Hence I visited no part of my 
 palace but the chapel, and my friends, ignorant of my secret, 
 concluded I was sinking fast into insanity. — About a month 
 after this, I took to my bed ; a violent fever burnt me by day, 
 and fearful dreams harrowed me up by night. — My mother and 
 Rondo hung over the last appearance of animation with the 
 most profound sorrow, and only waited for the parting breath 
 to convey the emaciated skeleton to the silent tomb of its ances- 
 tors.— r-I lay myself in expectation of the awful change one 
 night, and had raised my eyes, to take a last farewell of them. 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 29 
 
 thinking they were beside me, when, by the dim light of a 
 fleeting taper, I beheld a person clothed in white, of a singular 
 fashion, sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed. — I saw distinctly 
 the venerable features of my deceased father. — As I regarded 
 the beloved object with delight and reverence, for fear had 
 now lost all power over me, he stood up, and in a solemn and 
 majestic manner stretched out his hand affectionately towards 
 me. — A smile overspread his features, and he uttered these 
 words in a hollow soft voice : u My son , thy death will not yet be! 
 — We shall not meet in heaven for a season !” Then pointing 
 to a table on which stood some fine fruit, which I had hitherto 
 from weakness been unable to taste, he again smiled, and, 
 with a look of the religious resignation, slowly glided across the 
 chamber and disappeared. — On the exit of this paternal and 
 ghostly physician, I called to Rondo to hand me the fruit 
 pointed at. The pomegranate alleviated my burning thirst, and 
 the assurance, that my days were no longer numbered, calmed 
 the agitation of my soul. — My cure was rapidly effected, and 
 my friends considered my recovery as a resurrection from the 
 dead. — Wordly motives, with the return of health, resumed 
 their force, and T recollected that I had neglected to fulfil a par- 
 ticular injunction of my father’s will, which was to repair his fa- 
 vorite summer mansion-house on the banks of the Tagus. I 
 had dispatched Rondo, with orders to see one of the wings 
 thoroughly repaired, when the melancholy event of my mother’s 
 sudden death took place in my family. — In a few days after her 
 interment I received the following letter from my old house- 
 keeper in the country. 
 
 “ Most honoured Senor : A sad terrible accident has happened 
 here; Rondo came down, and began to. repair the west wing 
 of the old mansion : but, your Excellenza, there is an end of the 
 wing and him together. A terrible hurricane rose last night, 
 blew down that side of the building, killed two men, almost 
 frightened me to death, and has buried poor Rondo in the ruins 
 — -So now we wait for your Excellenza’s farther orders.” 
 
 “ You may naturally suppose, my dear Rondolos, I was more 
 afflicted at the loss of my faithful Rondo than the fallen wing of 
 the old mansion . — u Surely,” said I, “ Don Algonah has deal- 
 ings with the devil, and he sets him to haunt me!” — Idle as mis 
 speech was, it led to a train of thoughts, which gave some co- 
 lour to the remark, as my recollection surveyed the horrors of 
 the hellish chamber in Montillo castle. 
 
 “ The next morning I went to look after Rondo, and survey 
 the ruin. — No trace of him could be found, and I almost be- 
 
 K3 
 
30 ALGONAH. 
 
 lieved the report of the servant, that Lucifer had whisked him 
 avvav in a whirlwind.— Here I remained three weeks, durino- 
 which I learned jour return from Portugal. I had heard so 
 rnudi in your favour, added to the event of last night, and the 
 sunn arity you bear to my lost Marano, that I have determined 
 to make you my friend. 
 
 " You now see, Olivaro, that my introduction to Don AIcr 0 - 
 nah could have been of no service to you, and with our joint 
 council and courage, we will endeavour to counteract the de- 
 signs of the old tyrant.” “ I am your’s,” exclaimed Rondolos: 
 
 o rescue Amaranta and dementia, I am ready to hazard my 
 person and fortune.”— They discoursed together till the broad 
 Jignt of morning appeared, when they separated, and agreed to 
 meet again in the evening. D’Antares then retired to his gar- 
 den, pleased with the passion Olivaro had conceived for Ama- 
 ranta, as it would form a double link of friendship between 
 them, and contemplating the means of procuring an interview 
 with that lady, through Count de Bellara’s acquaintance with 
 the Don* 
 
 In the midst of his reverie, he started at the sight of Rondo, 
 who presented himself, covered with dust, as if he had just ter- 
 minated a long journey. “ Ha! my brave fellow !” cried the 
 Marquis d’Antares “ where have you hidden yourself, whence 
 come you, and what have you been about?” “ About a foolish 
 business, as it has turned out,” said Rondo; “but it was all 
 for your good, noble Sir, though it has turned out good for no- 
 thing.— You remember you gave me orders to fit up the old 
 mansion.— Now, thought I, to make the job complete I must 
 look out for a lady to it, and who is so fit as my master’s own 
 choice. Lady dementia. — Then there will be an end of his 
 pining and illness. — Old Vertola never sending any news, I 
 set off privately in search of some, and so reached the hamlet 
 about a league from Montillo castle.— I took up my lodging at 
 an honest cottager’s, one of whose daughters carried curds and 
 cream to the castle; — “ Look ye,” friend, said I, “ Iw T ant a 
 billet conveyed to the ladies in the castle, and if I could make 
 
 V>ur daughter the bearer- ”, “ It is an ugly business/* 
 
 said tlie cottager. — “ Never mind that,” said I, “ here is some- 
 thing w ill make it look handsomer.” At the same time I put a 
 double doubloon into his hand.—' “ Pray,” continued I, “ is 
 Don Algonah married again?” “No,” replied he: “but not 
 from his own disinclination. His visits to Grenada have now 
 come out : he courted a young wife, and had actually led her 
 to the holy altar, when the nuptials were broken off in confusion 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 31 
 
 by the arrival of a stranger. No one knows who he was, but 
 as soon as he had delivered his message he remounted his horse, 
 and rode away. Some say it was the same ghost which 
 frightened aw r ay the guests on his marriage with Lady 
 Cleona.” 
 
 “ Finding this was all I could learn, I dispatched my pretty 
 postman w ith my billet, announcing my business and appoint- 
 ing a place of interview in the evergreen temple at twelve. — 
 Accordingly I climbed the garden wall, and repaired to the 
 appointed spot ; but the midnight bell struck, and then the 
 half-hour chimes rang, without any one approaching. — Pre- 
 sently l heard a light footstep and a whispering voice, calling 
 out Rondo! Rondo ! — “ Here am I,” faid I, starting up. 
 “ How does your master and Marano ?” said Lady Amaranta : 
 4< My sister has mislaid the letter, and is so much flurried she 
 cannot come — -I run a thousand hazards, and must return in a 
 moment.” “ Lord,” said I, €€ Lady, I have formed a plan to 
 effect your escape by a boat on the Darro ; for, surely, you 
 would rather live wfith such gentlemen in Madrid, than be with 
 the dismal Don in this castle.” “ Indeed,” replied Amaranta, 
 i( If I could persuade my sister, I would willingly go, I am so 
 tired of this dreary frightf ul place !” Say you so !” cried Don 
 Algonah, as he advanced from behind ; “ then, by the deeps 
 of hell, you shall soon quit it !” He immediately drew his 
 swmrd, but I escaped in the confusion, as he fell over the body 
 of Amaranta, who had fainted. 
 
 i€ I returned to the cottager, who was alarmed at this termi- 
 nation of the business, fearful that he and his daughter might 
 be brought under the Don’s displeasure. On the following day 
 he met the fisherman who supplied the castle w ith fish ; and 
 from him he learned that the report there w>as, that Donna 
 Amaranta was ill, and that the Don had given orders for a 
 journey to Madrid, to place her in a convent, with the Lady 
 Abbess of which he w^as intimately acquainted. 
 
 “ Thinking this was only a feint to conceal the real place 
 of her imprisonment, I waited till he set out, and hung upon 
 his rear till* he arrived in Madrid— So now, your Excellenza, 
 if I have done wTong, I hope it will be the last time V* 
 D’Antares, readily forgave him, and in the evening visited his 
 friend Olivaro. — They repaired to the Prada, w>here they saw 
 the Count de Rellara, walking with Algonah. “ Now,” said 
 the Marquis d’Antares, ‘ f for ruse cotUre ruse.— While you throw 
 yourself in their way, and detain them in conversation, I will 
 .fly to the Count’s and effeft an interview with Amaranta. — 
 
32 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 Olivaro approved of the scheme, and, wishing the Marquis 
 success, he accosted the Count, and politely noticed the Don. 
 
 In the course of a conversation on the ladies present at the 
 Duke d’Axala’s entertainment of the preceding evening, the 
 subject of marriage was introduced. “ And now we are on 
 the topic,” said the Count to Algohah, “ let me introduce the 
 Marquis Rondolos as an eligible son-in-law for your daughter 
 Amaranta!” In vain did the Count urge the propriety and 
 eligibility of such a match. — The Don put his haughty negative 
 upon the proposal, and declared that he had doomed her to a 
 more holy life in a convent. During what passed on the Prada, 
 the Marquis d’Antares hastened to the palace of the Count de 
 Bellara, where he found Lady Mara, the Count’s sister, and 
 Amaranta. — He requested a moment’s audience of Lady 
 Amaranta in private, which Lady Mara very willingly com- 
 plied with ; and added, as she went out, “l have been regret- 
 ting the want of some spirited and amiable nobleman to 
 make this fair creature his wife, who, unless this happen, is 
 likely to be confined to a cloister for the whim of a tyrannical 
 father !” “ When Lady Mara had retired,” said the Marquis, 
 €< I eagerly enquired of Lady Amaranta, what followed Ron- 
 do’s visit to the Castle, and if dementia had forgotten me !” 
 €t No,” replied Amaranta, “ you are ever in her memory — But 
 where is your friend Marano “ I know not,” replied the 
 Marquis, “ I have not heard from him for a long time: — but I 
 have another friend, to whose merits I would wifli you to do 
 justice. — Marano, my dear cousin, was not exactly what you 
 could have wished him to be!” “ I understand who is your 
 friend,’’ said Amaranta; tc 1 own my gratitude to him — nay 
 something more, — for rescuing me from the flames. — I confess 
 I could have wished for such a brother to share our confine- 
 ment in the castle.- — But now. Marquis, that is over, — and I 
 am condemned to a place more dreary than the castle of Mon- 
 tillo — to the routine of a convent ; and that, of all convents, the 
 Dominician nuns! My father’s rage daily increases, and my 
 sister’s life is even in danger when I am away !” “ I swear by 
 every thing sacred,” said the Marquis, “1 will protect her. — 
 And,” he added, as he took Amaranta’s hand, “ let my friend 
 Olivaro Rondolos also protect you — his life is at your service.” 
 “ Ah,” said Amaranta, “ but Marano” — “ Cannot be your’s,” 
 replied the Marquis; “ he was always indifferent to you — but 
 Olivaro’s love is better than taking the veil.” 
 
 Our farther conversation was interrupted by the return of 
 Lady Mara, who announced that she expected her ifrothe* 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 33 
 
 ev£ry moment, the clock having struck nine. — The Marquis 
 immediately retired, and in a few minutes the Count and 
 Algonah entered. We have met with a lover for you, 
 Amaranta,” said the Count, 9t in our walks; he has made pro- 
 posals to your father not a quarter of an hour ago.” What 
 signify his proposals !*’ said Lady Mara; “ when we have had 
 a more successful lover, who has hut just departed.’* “ Indeed/* 
 said Amaranta, “ he is no lover of mine.” “ Not the Marquis 
 d*Antares your lover !” exclaimed Lady Mara. “ The Marquis 
 d*Antares !” vociferated Don Algonah ; “ Amaranta, were you 
 not aware of my utter detestation of him ? — Hell and furies, is 
 he always to thwart me unrevenged ? — Amaranta, for this you 
 shall prepare for the convent this very night !” He then stalked 
 about the room till his rage was exhausted, and the evening* 
 terminated in his usual gloominess, and the determination that 
 Amaranta should begin her noviciate on the following day. 
 
 Olivaro met D’Antares the same evening, and learned what 
 had passed, after which some future plans were discussed ; and 
 a serenade, given by the former, under the apartment of Ama- 
 ranta, in the palace of Count de Bellara, concluded the night 
 
 The lady however did not appear, and an elegant present of 
 fruit, which Olivaro sent to Algonah the following morning, 
 remained equally unnoticed. 
 
 Early in the morning the Don conducted his daughter to the 
 convent of the Dominician Nuns, where the severe Abbess 
 faithfully promised she should be invisible to the eye of every 
 inquirer except himself. 
 
 i he Abbess herself had been driven from her lover to a con- 
 vent when young, and now vindictively retaliated upon the 
 unfortunate sisters the severity she had experienced. Under such 
 a superior Amaranta could expect no indulgence ; the gloom of 
 the castle was more supportable than the religious routine of 
 the convent. Amaranta sighed for a companion with whom 
 she could share the pleasures of friendship.— She had placed 
 her affections on her cousin Marano, not from any comparative 
 preference, but from his having been the only one with whom 
 she had been in any way familiar ; and his coolness and indif- 
 ference had increased that preference. 
 
 Among the sisterhood Amaranta could distinguish no friend, 
 but amongst the boarders was a young lady named Selina, whose 
 lively manners and innocent conversation afforded her amuse- 
 ment and pleasure. — They read together, and rambled through 
 the dreary gardens; but every effort to shake off the monastic 
 load was unavailing. — Amaranta could account for the silence 
 
31 
 
 ALGONAII. 
 
 of Marano more readily than that of the Marquis Rondolos, 
 who pretended to be so deeply enamoured. — Ignorant that he 
 used every ingenuity to convey a few lines to her, which were 
 always interrupted by the sagacity of the Abbess, Amaranta’s 
 prospects of liberation began to be dimmed by the gloom that 
 enveloped them. 
 
 This hopeless dejection was farther heightened by the de- 
 cline and death of her young friend Selina, whose fine form 
 sunk under the altered mode of life to which she had been 
 accustomed. — When this event took place, Amaranta was in- 
 consolable ; she threw herself on the corpse of the departed 
 saint, and could be scarcely torn from it, till the efforts of 
 Emelina withdrew her from her friend, and, by her sharing her 
 grief, reconciled her sooner to the melancholy loss. This young 
 lady had been received as a boarder but a few days before 
 Selina’s death : her consolatory visits to Amaranta in her cell, 
 and her interesting manner cemented a friendship between 
 them, and induced the latter to bless the goodness of Provi- 
 dence which had replaced the friendship she had lost by ano- 
 ther. — A solemn requiem was performed by torch-light to the 
 remains of Selina, after which she was consigned to the burial 
 vault of the convent. 
 
 Amaranta had bidden her friend good night, and was sitting 
 in her cell, with her lamp and crucifix before her, ruminating on 
 the awful ceremony of death, when she thought she heard soft 
 and solemen music stealing upon her ear. — In a little time the 
 sound melted into words, and she heard herself distinctly 
 called. — She started up, and opened the door, but no one ap- 
 peared ; the lamp in the mean while expired, and amid the 
 darkness a gradual light shone into the chamber, increasing its 
 brightness to a smiling and lovely angel became visible, clad in 
 robes of azure and white, and crowned with a beaming radi- 
 ance. — It was Selina’s spirit, on which Amaranta looked with 
 astonishment and delight. — The figure spoke smilingly : “ My 
 friend, you will shortly be with me ! In nine days you will go 
 hence !” The spirit then retired with a look of delight, and the 
 lamp recovered its extinguished brightness. 
 
 The more Amaranta mused upon the words of the vision, the 
 less able was she to determine their support if they bore a gene- 
 ral ora literal figmfication. — The conversation of Emelina was 
 formed to relieve the mind from sadness. “ Would you believe 
 (said Emelina to Amaranta, on the third evening after the fune- 
 ral of Selina,) that a convent is my aversion ? Much less do you 
 think that Oiivaro Rondolos is my cousin. I know also the 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 35 
 
 Marquis d'Antares, and the adventure which introduced him 
 to your acquaintance.” Amaranta eagerly enquired if she 
 knew the Marquis's friend the Count Marano de Pinato. — 
 Emelina sighed deeply, and said, “ Yes, my friend, I do.— I 
 think I may trust you with a secret. The object of your choice 
 is the same : but he is perhaps for ever lost.” €€ What ! is 
 Marano dead 1” exclaimed Amaranta.” — If such be his fate, I 
 am ready to take the vows with you.” — “ Indeed,” replied 
 Emelina,” this would not augment your happiness. The Marquis 
 Rondolos doats on you. — Your love for Marano is but of a 
 weak growth, cherished mostly by solitude, while the affe&ion 
 of myself for Marano has been considerable from infancy. — 
 To an impartial eye, Rondolos is the preferable lover of the 
 two. When his generous offers are contrasted' with the unna- 
 tural and tyrannical conduct of your father, you must be either 
 more or less than a woman to reject him.” — Discourses like 
 these had their effect on the mind of Amaranta, which natu- 
 rally loved gaiety. On the following day Emelina was called 
 to the grate, and in half an hour returned with a letter for 
 Amaranta from Oiivaro. The letter breathed the most ardent 
 affection, and pressed for a favourable reply. The natural ope- 
 ration of the love of life, and the little prospect of any return of 
 affection from Marano, added to the arguments of Emelina, 
 induced Amaranta to return a kind of negative approbation of 
 his suit. 
 
 Oiivaro, on the evening following the serenade, paid a visit 
 to the Count de Bellara, in the hope of being admitted into the 
 company of Amaranta, and changing the determination of Don 
 Algonah, who petrified him with the intelligence that he had 
 that morning immured her in the convent. — From this unfa- 
 vourable interview Oiivaro flew to his friend D’A ntares, to 
 unbosom his grief. iC You come very opportunely,” said the 
 Marquis, “ to relieve me from the tortures of reflection. This 
 morning early I awoke, and went into my garden to enjoy its 
 cooling shade.— In a few minutes I heard a rustling among the 
 laurels, and beheld a tall person, shrouded in a black cloke, 
 advance ; his figure was the same with that I had accosted in 
 the church at Calatrava. — After gazing upon me for a moment 
 with the malice of a fiend, he drew from his cloak a letter 
 sealed with black, and which bore my father's signet. — While 
 I looked at the well-known hand-writing of my parent, the 
 strange messenger had departed. The letter contained an in- 
 junction for me instantly to repair to the mansion on the banks 
 of the Tagus, and not to undertake the journey I had pro- 
 

 ALGONAHr 
 
 jected without his permission; — After a pause of some minutes, 
 I was certain that the disguised could be no other than Pedro, 
 by whom I suspected I had been deceived in the church ; but 
 how AJgonah, or his agent, could know my intention of visiting 
 the castle ofMontillo, I cannot imagine. — However, 1 am re- 
 solved to comply with the order of the letter, and I will go 
 well armed, that I may know whether I have to do with body 
 or spirit.” 
 
 Before the friends separated, D’Antares advised Olivaro to 
 bribe one of the monks attending the convent ; and the latter 
 on the following day attended the grate : but all his intreaty 
 and remonstrances were insufficient to soften the obdurate 
 abbess; nor was his promise of preferment more successful 
 with the monk to whom he applied. At last, finding that his 
 own efforts were his beft friends, he determined to examine the 
 situation of the building, and see if he could scale the frowning 
 walls.- — One part of the garden adjoined to several low houses, 
 situated in an obscure and narrow street. — Upwards of two 
 months had passed away, without having effected an entrance 
 into the garden of the convent, when, one day, as he was set- 
 ting pensively in his study, thinking of Amaranta, his cousin 
 Emelina ran into the room. — She rallied him at first by asking 
 him if his wild appearance did not arise from his being in love, 
 and concluded by asking him if she were acquainted with the 
 object of his choice. — “ I believe not,’’ said Olivaro ; “ and, 
 to my grief, I fear you never will, for she is immured in a con- 
 vent, where every attempt to get a sight of her is vain, and 
 hitherto all my stratagems have proved unsuccessful.” — * 
 Olivaro then related the history of his affection for Amarant.a, 
 and Emelina kindly promised to exert her ingenuity in relieving 
 his distress. — “ My dear cousin,” said she, “ knowing what I 
 have felt for the sake of Marano, I will assist you by entering 
 as a boarder into the Dominician convent. The faded hopes 
 of my younger years renders the monastic life somewhat con- 
 genial to my disposition ; thus, you may arrange a plan of com- 
 munication, and escape without suspicion.” — Olivaro embraced 
 his cousin, who entered into the convent, and gained the affec- 
 tion of Amaranta, as has been before related. 
 
 By this channel the lovers for awhile corresponded ; till 
 Olivaro requested Amaranta to meet him at the bottom of the 
 garden on the Second day from the date of his last letter. This 
 was absolutely necessary if Amaranta intended to quit the con- 
 vent, and she reluctantly consented. The fearful prediction of 
 Selina alarmed her mind, as she numbered the days from the 
 
ALGONAII. 
 
 37 
 
 appearance of the vision to that of her elopement, which she 
 found to be the ninth. Olivaro had resolved in his own mind, 
 that their meeting should be decisive, if he could prevail on 
 Amaranta to seize the opportunity ; for which purpose he had 
 provided a chaise and every necessary for immediately quitting 
 Madrid. As Olivaro was returning to his palace on the after- 
 noon before the eventful night, he was suddenly accosted by 
 the Marquis d’Antares, covered with dust, and his countenance 
 marked with the passions of grief and horror. — He hurried 
 Olivaro to his palace without saying a word, and the moment 
 he had entered his library, and locked the door — “ Marquis," 
 said he, “you see before you one of the most unhappy and mi- 
 serable of men ! — O my friend, I have steeped my hands- in 
 the blood of Clement ia, and perhaps at this instant she breathes 
 her last, look at this crimsoned sword, stained with the blood 
 of that innocent angel ! — O heaven ! pour out thy pity upon 
 me!"— -The Marquis here dropped his sword in an agony of 
 grief, while Olivaro eagerly demanded how the fatal misfor- 
 tune had happened. “ I have ridden post for a surgeon," 
 replied d’Antares, “ and have no time to tell you ; but before 
 I leave you, my friend, let me caution you, to beware of Don 
 Algonah and his spies. He arrived at the Count de Eellara’s 
 last night, where I have just been. Your visits around the 
 convent are talked of every where: pray beware." The sur- 
 geon now arriving, the friends separated to hasten to their dif- 
 ferent destinations. 
 
 The Marquis d’Antares, in obedience to the contents of the 
 letter, bearing his father’s signet and hand-writing, quitted 
 Madrid, and repaired to the country seat. To prevent any 
 attack from the assassin Pedro, whom he strongly suspected as 
 the agent of the business, he had the lower apartments of the 
 house secured, and determined never logo abroad unarmed, or 
 unattended by Rondo. — The first week passed without inter- 
 ruption, but on the second, his mind was disturbed by finding 
 the flowers and fruit which beautifully adorned his garden all 
 withered up and blasted. No visible cause appeared for this 
 singular phenomenon, and the servants considered it as an 
 omen of their master’s premature death. Another month passed 
 quietly, during which the Count fortified his mind for the issue 
 of every event, and consulted the best books on magic, to see 
 how far the acts of infernal spirits were allowed to operate on 
 men. — He was sitting one day at noon in his library, occupied 
 by these topics, when the door slowly opened, and the figure 
 of a man wrapped in a long Spanish cioke advanced. He had 
 
3 $ 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 never beheld this being without remembering the likeness he 
 bore to the phantom he had seen in a dream he had had in the 
 castle of Montillo, in which he seemed separated from de- 
 mentia for ever, and hurled from the sky. He had always be- 
 lieved he was the assassin Pedro, and such he thought was the 
 murderous countenance ofthe being before him. The figure then 
 pointed to the open door, and upon the Marquis declining to quit 
 the room, he drew a dagger, and with a rapid stride advanced 
 it within a foot of the Marquis’s throat, at the same lime making 
 a signal that he would be obeyed. 
 
 The Marquis, who was now completely in the power of his 
 guest, and was no longer unwilling to shrink from whatever fate 
 he had to encounter, followed him within the reach of his ex- 
 tended arm, bearing the threatening dagger. In this situation 
 they proceeded along the back stairs, till they descended to a 
 rooom on the ground floor, formerly the study of the old Mar- 
 quis. In the centre of the floor D’Antares perceived a trap 
 door open, down which a deep pair of stairs led into a dun- 
 geon hitherto unknown to him. The dreadful darkness of this 
 dismal place struck him with horror. — A distant torch threw a 
 feint gleam, and the step felt as if he were treading on ground 
 newly turned up. — Being arrived within a few paces of the 
 light, which was stuck in the ground, the figure pointed his 
 dagger to a grave about two feet deep, beside which stood a 
 spade. — He then spoke : €€ Behold/’ said he, in a voice of 
 demoniacal triumph, “ thou Marquis d’Antares, thou art now 
 in the bowels of the earth, and when thou hast dug thy grave, 
 thou shalt die !” — Upon this, the stranger unfolded his head 
 clothes, and he beheld the sanguinary features, of Pedro, the 
 same countenance which had looked through the aperture of 
 the canvas, with the lamp and dagger, in the chamber of Mon- 
 tillo castle. Before the Marquis had recoverd his surprize, Pe- 
 dro made a motion to strike, which opened the folds of hiscloke, 
 and discovered a corselet of steel. The villain read his power 
 in the looks of d’Antares, and exclaimed, “ I am no ghost, but 
 thy enemy, Pedro! It was 1 who met thee in the church of Ca- 
 latrava: it was I who delivered thee a forged letter to conduct 
 you to this snare; nor shall all the fiends of hell save thee from 
 this arm ! — Look at thy grave ! thinkest thou it is deep enough !” 
 — ** It is as deep,” replied the Marquis, “ thou accursed assassin, 
 as that in which you placed the body of Count Alvarez!” 
 4t Wretch,” cried Pedro, t€ take the spade and dig, or this 
 dagger shall be buried in thy carcase ! The Marquis began to 
 dig, while Pedro stood over him with the dagger. — In this situ- 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 39 
 
 ation a moment of reflection supplied the Marquis with a means 
 of defence; filling the spade full of mould, he discharged the 
 contents in the face of Pedro; it confounded the assassin for a 
 few moments, during which d’Antares gave him a blow with 
 the sharp edge of the spade, and, before he could recover it, 
 applied the torch to his black garment, which suddenly was in 
 a flame. The torch then lay on the ground, emitting volumes 
 of smoke, while Pedro suddenly rushed at the Marquis with his 
 dagger, who parried the blows with his spade, and watching 
 till a flash of the torch instructed him where to strike, he darted 
 such a forcible blow on the head of the murderer, that he stag- 
 gered, and fell into the grave. 
 
 He was repeating his advantage, and about to give him the 
 couji de grace, when a light motion behind him arrested his lifted 
 arm> On looking up he beheld a female figure move across 
 the subterranean vault, clad in Moorish robes, with a loner 
 black veil. A flame played round her head ; in her right hand 
 she held a spear, and in her left a human skull. Her tout e?i~ 
 semble gave her the appearance of a fiend from the regions of 
 infernal vengeance. The Marquis, convinced this was an in- 
 cantation of some horrid enchantress, determined to see if her 
 power were real, and therefore cautiously followed her through 
 the turning vaults till they arrived at a spacious cavern, seem- 
 ingly the excavation of some hill. The enchantress, having 
 placed herself in the centre, stood with her bare foot upon the 
 skull, and waved her spear, which was tipped with fire. From 
 the circle arose a blue fame, which plainly exhibited her demo- 
 niacal countenance, as with her left hand she threw back her 
 veil. ^ “ Sacred powers!” exclaimed the Marquis to himself, 
 ,f it is the same figure I beheld in the detestable chamber of 
 the castle of Montillo !” The enchantress then drew from her 
 breast a little book, written in human blood, upon the skin of a 
 murderer, and proceeded to read her incantation.— Flames and 
 clouds continued to rise, while lived and forked animals shot 
 across the cavern, till the Marquis began to fear suffocation, 
 and in his agony pronounced a fervent prayer to heaven for his 
 protection. 
 
 “ He comes !” suddenly exclaimed the enchantress, with a 
 scream of terror, and immediately tremendous thunder and vivid 
 lightnings announced the entrance of a figure of gigantic stature 
 * ire encircled his waist, and he leaned on a rod of flaming steel* 
 The Marquis, appalled at his tremendous form, endeavoured to 
 avoid the sight, but he was riveted to the spot, and the next 
 moment sunk senseless on the ground. When he recovered 
 
40 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 his senses, he found himself in total darkness, and all was quiet. 
 He doubted at first if it were not altogether a dream, but the 
 situation in which he found himself convinced him of the truth. 
 — For more than an hour he groped about to disentangle him- 
 self from this dark abode, and at length perceived, as he drew' 
 near to the grave, a female form bending over that ot Pedro, 
 whom he doubted not was the enchantress, endeavouring to re- 
 cal the assassin Pedro to life. As he endeavoured to pass in the 
 gloom, the sorceress exclaimed, “ Thou shalt not escape me 
 yet ! Though thou hast broken one spell, I now arrest thee in 
 the name of Belzebub, chief of the internals !” Immediately 
 after the Marquis felt his feet grow to the earth, and his eyes 
 lose their perception.— But I he use of his tongue remained.— In 
 his terror, he exclaimed, “ Wretched enchantress, in the name 
 of the Almighty, that name at which thou tremblest, I charge 
 thee to restore me !” — He then crossed himself, and instantly the 
 incantation ceased. The stairs became visible to him, and he 
 ascended to his father’s library, where he retired immediately 
 to bed, overcome with fatigue and affright. — His sleep however 
 was broken and interrupted, and he saw no termination to his 
 misery while Pedro and this enchantress had the power to tor- 
 ment him. 
 
 Near a fortnight elapsed before the Marquis was sufficiently 
 recovered to leave his room ; after which in a few days he pro- 
 posed to go to Madrid, to inform his friend Olivaro of these 
 strange events, and assist him in the liberation of Amaranta. — 
 Meantime he ordered Rondo to suffer no one to enter the 
 mansion without giving him previous notice. 
 
 On the second afternoon after his convalescence, the ele- 
 ments began to be agitated; the thunder and lightning shook 
 ihe building, and he sat contemplating the aerial fury till 
 nwht. He wondered Rondo had not called him to supper, as 
 the clock had struck eleven ; he therefore took a taper, and 
 advanced to the supper-room. — As he opened the door, a fe- 
 male sprung to meet him, disguised, and her diess in confu- 
 sion. The taper fell from his hand, and the idea of the en- 
 chantress rushing on his mind, while her manner indicated 
 that her purpose was assassination, the Marquis drew his 
 sword, and, thrusting the point forward, the stranger ran 
 upon it, and, ejaculating his name, fell upon the floor. Ron- 
 do and Vertola, rushing in, uttered cries of despair, and ran 
 to raise the fallen dementia. The horror ot the Marquis al- 
 most surpassed description 5 he sunk down beside her, ex- 
 
ALGONAH. 41 
 
 claiming, “ I have murdered my Clemen tia ; and the guilty 
 shall perish with the innocent !” Rondo immediately run to 
 the housekeeper, whose medical knowledge soon applied some 
 restorative ; and the wounded dementia at length opened 
 her eyes, and the gleams of hope dawned upon the soul of the 
 Marquis. 
 
 Having seen her carefully disposed of and tenderly attend- 
 ed, he flew to Madrid for chirurgica! aid; where, while seek- 
 ing the surgeon, chance threw him in the way of the Count 
 de Bellara, who related to him the arrival of Don Algonah, 
 and the means he had employed to trace the designs of him- 
 self and Olivaro. D’Antares readily imputed the presence of 
 Algonah at De Bella ra’s to the absence of his daughter with 
 Vertola ; but the farther particulars he had then no time to en- 
 quire. 
 
 When the Marquis returned home with the surgeon, they 
 found Clementia free from fever, and in a fair way of reco- 
 very. — He next enquired of Vertola the motives of their 
 flight from the castle of Montillo. “ They are very singu- 
 lar/’ said the old steward; “ your Excellenza knows that we 
 heard a voice when 1 was telling you the story of the Don’s 
 two wives ; whatever it w*as, the Don soon knew all I had 
 been telling ; and, w r hen your servant sent a note to the young 
 ladies, and afterwards came to speak to them at night, the 
 whole design was imputed to me by the Don, who found the 
 letter on Lady Amaranta’s toilet. The interruption of his last 
 marriage by a stranger had made him more suspicious than 
 ever. — To explain about this awful stranger I must go a little 
 back in my tale. Don Algonah took his journey to Grenada 
 this year earlier than usual. — In a week I received an order to 
 prepare the chapel and every thing for his lady’s reception. — 
 She hated the match, but the Count Tenedos sacrificed her to 
 the riches of the Don. — Well, the party arrived, and the castle 
 was full of guests. — The Don’s favorite passion has always 
 been to have a heir, for which purpose I believe he would 
 have married and sacrificed a hundred wives. 
 
 “ The morning of the nuptials came ; the company had 
 taken their places before the altar of the chapel, and the priest 
 had begun the ceremony, when the bursting open of the doors 
 attracted the attention of all present and suspended the pro- 
 ceedings. — A stranger, masked, and habited in a Moorish 
 dress, then advanced up the chapel in a stately manner, and 
 presented Don Algonah with a letter, which he held in his left 
 
42 
 
 A LG ON AI I. 
 
 hand. — Don Algonah turned pale, and his teeth chattered, as he 
 looked on the contents. " If/* said he, " the earth or sea can 
 restore the dead, then may this be true !” The stranger then 
 raised his mask, and smiling contemptuously on Algonah, he 
 walked back through the chapel, and had disappeared before 
 Algonah gave orders to stop him. The ceremony ended here, 
 the Count Tenedos leading his daughter from the chapel till 
 the mystery was cleared up. — From that hour the Don has 
 never quitted the castle. 
 
 “ I observed there was something in his manner to demen- 
 tia, agaze of admiration that I could not account for. When 
 he had discovered the schemes of Rondo, he entered the same 
 day into my little chamber in a fury, the letter in one hand 
 and his sword in the other. — He seized me by the hair, and 
 threw me down. — I begged for mercy, and swore by heaven 
 I was ignorant of any plot against him ; " and as for the let- 
 ter, my lord,” said I, " did you allude to the letter delivered 
 to you by the stranger at the altar 1 seemed here to have 
 touched the string of security, for he turned away in terror, 
 and left me. 
 
 “ The sight of this letter now engaged all my attention, 
 and, learning that the next day he was going to place Ama- 
 ranta in a convent, I resolved to indulge my curiosity during 
 his absence. — In this however I failed, the letter being with 
 him, and I was obliged to wait till his return, which was in 
 ten days. — He now sought to be constantly in the company of 
 dementia, and spoke so lightly of the ties of consanguinity, 
 that I did not know to what lengths his anxiety to have a heir 
 might lead hint. — One night, as I lay dozing, I fancied I 
 heard a step move along the passage: I called, and no one 
 answering, I rose, and put on my watch-coat, to see who 
 this midnight rambler could be. — Taking a light with me, I 
 pursued the person, who was dressed only in a loose night 
 gown : as I drew near 1 beheld Don Algonah ; his appearance 
 and gesture at first led me to think he was delirious, but I 
 afterwards was assured he was in a dream. — He then pro- 
 ceeded to the Gothic hall in the eastern wing, and seated 
 himself in a chair : he then suddenly started as if he had seen 
 the spectre of Alvarez.—" Art thou here, thou vision !” he 
 exclaimed; * f If you seek for Juliana, look' not for her here — 
 Yet it is said she lives ! — What then! thou art dead! — My 
 coward soul yet fears thee. — Ha ! what blood, what dagger, 
 is that: — No, no, X did not do it ! — 1 will meet thee, per- 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 43 
 
 turbed spirit, at another time; but let me now go to sleep in 
 peace !” He then moved some paces, backwards, repeating, 
 (( Follow me not ! — Dost thou ask if she lives ? — If thou hadst 
 lived it had been well 1 — But the deed is done ! — I have 
 known crimes as deep and older than this ! — They rise not to 
 haunt me. — Rest then in peace like them !” Fie then, after 
 looking wildly round the hall, returned to his chamber, and I 
 followed. 
 
 “ The words “ she lives !” struck me that they were con- 
 tained in the letter J so eagerly wished to obtain ; and this 
 important letter 1 fancied I now saw lying on his writing desk, 
 half unfolded. — I watched a few minutes at the door, which 
 was opened; and finding he had seated himself on the sofa, 
 and remained unawakened, I advanced on tiptoe, and grasped 
 the prize. I held it to the lamp, and read these words — 
 “ "The injured Lady Cleona, your r wife 1 still lives !” I had reached 
 no farther, when Don Algonah suddenly started up, and, 
 seizing me by the throat, exclaimed, “ Wretch, hast thou 
 dared to peruse my papers ? What ruin or murder dost thou 
 meditate — mine ? — But thou shalt not now escape me ! — No, 
 thy treachery shall be rewarded !” In vain I offered an excuse. — - 
 lie seized his sword, and ordered me to follow him. We pro- 
 ceeded to the eastern wing of the castle, and descended till 
 we came to a long passage, at the end of which he opened a 
 heavy iron door, painted so as to elude observation. It led 
 into a descent of fifty steps below the foundations of the 
 building. — The mildewed stairs, the chill damps, and stagnant 
 vapours, filled me with terror. At the bottom he turned to 
 the right, and, forcing back a rusty bolt, he opened a dark 
 and terrific cell. “ Here my friend Variola,” said he, taunt- 
 ingly ; €€ 1 have long thought of giving you a place of repose 
 suitable to your merits: — here you can medidate on all you 
 have seen and told, and I will take care you shall not be dis- 
 turbed. ^ 
 
 “ I begged him to dispatch me as a preferable dead* to 
 perishing in the dungeon ; but he refused ; and I now found 
 as I entered the door of the cell, and stumbled over the skele- 
 ton of some murdered unfortunate, that stratagem could alone 
 save me. “ Ye holy powers!” I exclaimed, running back 
 and crossing myself, “ what do I see? — Tell me, Don A!go- 
 nah, is not that the Count Alvarez, my master? — See, he 
 stands bleeding in yonder corner !” The Count there !” he 
 replied in the tone of horror. — The wind at this moment grat- 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 44 
 
 ing the door of the dungeon, and the images of his recent 
 dream haunting his mind, he suddenly turned round, and 
 ascended the steps, pursuing the way to his chamber: I fol- 
 lowed, and took the key from the iron door, which I fastened, 
 resolved to leave the castle on the following day. In the 
 morning however, the Don, perhaps suspecting my design, 
 spoke to me in his closet on the breach of honour I had com- 
 muted ; and ended with an offer of forgiveness, and my rein- 
 statement in his favour, if I would be more discreet and silent 
 in future. 
 
 “ The only motive, however, which could determine me to 
 remain in the castle, was the situation of my Lady dementia, 
 who was unsuspecting of the black and incestuous purpose I 
 read in her father’s looks. A few days after our reconciliation, 
 
 I had been overlooking the stores of Italian preserves, and fell 
 asleep in the room.— It was midnight when I awoke, and the 
 moon shone brightly ; I started up, and was venturing along the 
 gallery in the dark, when I saw Don Algonah, apparently ine- 
 briated, with a lamp in his hand, advancing: his caution 
 plainly indicated this was no dream ; he stopped at the door of 
 dementia's apartment, and gently turning the lock, and leaving 
 his lamp at the door, he went in. — I then placed myself at the 
 door ; in a minute I heard the screams of dementia, who rushed 
 out of the chamber and flew into my arms, crying, “ Save me, 
 O save me from my father!" “ What of him ?" demanded 1. 
 — “ Oh ! let me lose sight of him for ever !" she exclaimed : 
 “ Hide me from him, conduct me any where !" — I immediately 
 led her to the back staircase, first seizing the lamp at the door ; 
 while the Don, foaming like a madman, followed as fast as his 
 long night gown would permit —We then reached the eastern 
 wing, and descended to the long passage, at the end of which 
 w'as the iron door. T opened it with the key I had retained, and 
 we entered it at the moment the Don's foot endeavoured to force 
 it back. — When my dear lady had reached the bottom of the 
 steps, “ Alas !" cried she, “ Vertola, where are we going? — 
 Do you know where we are ?” “ Let us trust in Providence/* 
 
 said I, “ my dear lady. It protected me from being entombed 
 in this dismal dungeon, and will not desert us now." 
 
 “ Continuing our progress down the avenue, we came to an 
 archway, leading into an aqueduct of half a mile nearly in length. 
 — At the end of the avenue the wall appeared to have fallen in, 
 and for ever to obstruct our exit. — Here our lamp expired, and 
 filled us with horror.— The alarm of dementia gave my old 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 45 
 
 bones new vigour, and when I had removed the top of the rub- 
 bish, I perceived the day-light shine through : this encourage- 
 ment redoubled my efforts, and in an hour I had made a suffici- 
 ent aperture to get through, and place her on the turf before 
 the -broken barrier, which we passed in safety. 
 
 € * The morn had just began to peep, when we wholly quitted 
 the castle, and dementia acquired fresh spirits as she tripped 
 over the flowery fields to the cottage of Lomas, who received 
 us at such an early hour with surprise and curiosity. Here we 
 provided ourselves with disguises, while he made ready two 
 mules, on which we proceeded to Madrid. A few leagues 
 however before we reached the capital, Senor, it being night, 
 and a storm coming on, we took refuge in your mansion, and 
 learned with infinite satisfaction who was the possessor, de- 
 mentia would, from delicacy, have declined seeing you, but 
 Rondo entering, we were immediately ushered into your 
 presence, without his informing you of our arrival? the conse- 
 quence of which has been unfortunate.” u I congratulate you 
 on your courage and escape,” said the Marquis — “ But tell me, 
 Vertola, did that monster Algonah” — “ Be satisfied, Senor,” 
 replied Vertola. — “ dementia was awake when the Don en- 
 tered her chamber, and on his approach to the bed, she jumped 
 out, and called for assistance. In the struggle to detain her she 
 slipped from his hand, and snatched up a bed-gown; his inebriety 
 made him stumble, during which he vociferated, that if she at- 
 tempted to escape he would murder her. She then darted 
 through the passages, and we providentially escaped here toge- 
 ther.” — Old Vertola having finished his narration, the Marquis 
 retired to rest, where vye shall leave him to turn to Olivaro. 
 
 The evening at length arrived when Amaranta was to meet 
 Olivaro in the garden of the convent. The heavenly vision of 
 the beautified Selina was ever present to her mind, and when 
 she forebodingly told her friend Emelina that the spirit of Selina 
 had warned her that she should on that evening^ hence, the for- 
 mer would have advised her to delay the intended meeting, 
 
 No,” replied Amaranta, “ though my heart is deeply op- 
 pressed, 1 will not disappoint him. He has my promise, and 
 that is sacred. Indeed, if the warning of the deceased Selina 
 have meaning, how can I aveit its power!” Amaranta, after 
 attending vespers, retired to her cell with her friend, till the 
 convent bell struck twelve : then, taking the arm of Emelina, 
 they passed through the cloisters, and, unbolting, a door, they 
 gained the bottom of the garden, where the wall entered the 
 
' 1-5 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 private and narrow street.— A friendly whisper from Olivaro 
 informed them that all was ready.— He pulled Amaranta’s hand 
 
 affectionately, but she drew back “ Olivaro,” said she, 
 
 I have much to say, and much to disprove in these illicit pro- 
 <ee lings. I feel that my father’s approbation is wanting. — 
 
 xia a as you may think it, my solemn resolution is never ” 
 
 “ Hold but a moment/^cried the Marquis, " While I urge 
 your sister’s unfortunate situation as an additional motive for es- 
 cape/’ He then detailed the particulars previously mentioned. 
 Assured of the truth of the Marquis’s account, Amaranta con- 
 sented to go it Emelina would accompany her. " Come,” said 
 Olivaro, “ the delay of a moment may never be regained. 
 Here, Amaranta, do you wrap yourself in my cloke, and take 
 my hat and feather, while I put on your long black veil. Thus 
 you will escape any danger of surprise.” 
 
 They were instantly metamorphosed, and, as the half hour 
 clock struck, Amaranta felt a trembling seize her limbs. In a 
 moment a stranger sprang through «the bushes, who in the ob- 
 scurity appeared habited like Olivaro. " Wretch,” cried 
 
 he, m a tremendous voice, " thou shalt now feel my pofoard !” 
 -—As he uttered these words, he rushed on the disguised Ama- 
 ranta, and plunged his weapon into her bosom. " It is accom- 
 plished,” said the dying Amaranta the words that followed 
 were lost in murmurs as her spirit fied into eternity. Olivaro 
 without waiting to learn the height of his misery, pursued the 
 murderer, who fled over the wall by the ladders which Olivaro 
 had planted there. The assassin was descending, when a man 
 disguised in a dark cloke, and masked, stood at the bottom 
 with a dark lantern in one hand, and a drawn sword in the 
 other. " It is the Marquis Rondolos himself/’ exclaimed he, 
 and he made a thrust at the person Olivaro was pursuing with 
 his sword, which wounded him. As he was about to repeat 
 his lunge, a pistol bullet fired from a stranger laid him upon the 
 ground. Wnen Olivaro had reached the bottom, the stranger 
 said, taking him for a nun, " Is it the Marquis Rondolos who 
 is severely wounded " Who asks ?” cried the Marquis ; 
 
 what I do hear ! — Is it not the voice of my lost friend, Ma- 
 ranode Pinato ?’’ — 1 " It is 1” replied his friend ; " but who are 
 you thus disguised?”—" I am the wretched Olivaro Ron- 
 
 dolos !” exclaimed he: " wretched indeed! for your 
 
 cous *^ Amaranta lies bleeding in the garden Does she vet 
 
 live ?” said a wounded man, whose voice they both knew to’" be 
 that of Algonah. " Marano, you have murdered some one at 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 the foot of the ladder, with the shot you doubtless meant for 
 me.” GJivaro rushed towards the Don on hearing his voice, 
 with his dagger in his hand, but was prevented from striking 
 by Marano, who said, “ Let there be no more blood spilt here. 
 The man who lies dead evidently mistook Algonah for you from 
 what he said, and it was to save your life I shot him.” Marano, 
 on holding the lantern to his features, recognized a face he had 
 before seen, which Algonah pronounced to be that of Pedro, 
 cursing him at the same time for not arriving at the spot before 
 he had crossed over the wall, and thereby being ignorant that 
 he had assumed a disguise like Olivaro, whence Pedro had 
 wounded him in a mistake; Marano and Olivaro then cross- 
 ed over the wall, leaving Algonah groaning on the street 
 side. When they took hold of Amaranta, the chili of death 
 was on her, and she died in the arms of Olivaro. Emelina had 
 fainted, and it was some time before she was recovered, to be a 
 witness of the dismal scene. 
 
 This detention was very distressing to Marano, who had bu- 
 siness of great urgency at another part of Madrid. At the mo- 
 ment lie was preparing to go, the officers, of the Inquisition ar- 
 rived, attended by torch bearers, and arrested the whole party, 
 except Marano, who, having but the moment before the accident 
 passed the corps de garde, and appearing to have no connec- 
 tion with the escape of the Dominican nun, was suffered to pro- 
 ceed. Previously to this, however, Emelina, by the glare of 
 the torches, had recollected the lost Marano. — Their meeting 
 was interesting, for Emelina from early youth had had a. partia- 
 lity for him, and it was with regret he was compelled to leave 
 her in such a situation. The Don, immediately after Marano’s 
 departure, accused him of murdering Pedro, and wounding him- 
 self, but his charge was but little attended to by the officers, 
 who, having given orders about the disposal of the dead, carried 
 the living to the prison of the Inquisition. 
 
 Marano hastened to the inn at which he had taken lodgings 
 on his arrival that night at Madrid. Here he found his beloved 
 Seraphina all anxiety at his absence ; this young lady, he had 
 brought with him from Morocco, where she had been the in* 
 mate of a Bashaw’s haram. Marano explained the melancholy 
 cause of his detention, and then proposed to take herthe following 
 morning to the country seat of the Marquis d’Antares, where 
 she would find a hospitable and secure retreat. He began his 
 journey early in the morning, fearful of an arrest from the Inqui- 
 sition, and they had reached the end nearly without any re- 
 
ALGONAH; 
 
 AS 
 
 markable Incident. — As the evening advanced, however, and 
 they proceeded by the side of the beautiful Tagus, a sudden 
 plunge into the stream alarmed Marano, unhesitatingly, tore off 
 his upper garments, and jumped in, on seeing a female strug- 
 ling with the waves. lie saved the wretched object, and pla- 
 ced her in the chaise, while Seraphina assisted in recovering 
 her. — A portrait was suspended to her neck, the traits of which 
 reminded him of features he had some where known. Touch- 
 ing a secret spring, the portrait flew open, and the words Ro- 
 derigo Algonah, set in emeralds, caught his eye. — ff Can this 
 have been Don Algonah !” exclaimed he. “ How has age and 
 vice changed him !” — At length the stranger recovered ; and, 
 as she opened her eyes, and beheld Seraphina, she shuddered, 
 and exclaimed, “ Just heaven ! is it possible!” “ What possi- 
 ble?” cried Marano. “ She is delirious,” said Seraphina: “ let 
 us hasten to the Marquis dhAntares, lest she die in the carriage.” 
 “ O keep me from him !” exc laimed the female ; “ I will never 
 behold him ! his frown would kill me ! — No ! rather let me pe- 
 rish here!” 
 
 When they reached the palace, she refused to see the Mar- 
 quis, and was delivered to the care of Rondo. — d’Antares when 
 the arrival of a gentleman and lady was announced, expected to 
 have seen Olivaro and Amaranta. — Guess then his astonishment 
 on beholding his former friend and dear companion standing in 
 the middle of the room, holding the hand of a young lady, whose 
 features were the likeness of the portrait they had found in the 
 chamber of the Moorish castle, where they had sheltered them- 
 selves from the storm. The lady was dressed in all the style 
 of eastern magnificence, and her beauty was superior to her ele- 
 gant appearance. After some agreeable conversation, the 
 Marquis remarking that his friend seemed to be wet, Seraphina 
 related the accident they had met with on the road, and descri- 
 bed the female they had brought with them. “ Unhappy crea- 
 ture !” exclaimed the Marquis ; “ aud has her crime reduced 
 her to this state of conscience ! It was mistaking her that I wound- 
 ed my clear dementia — to whom I will shortly introduce you, 
 as she is recovering the consequence of her illness very fast.” 
 
 The portrait Seraphina wore at her breast attracted the at- 
 tention of d’Antares, and he enquired whose likeness it bore. 
 
 I; is the portrait,” said the lovely Seraphina, “of my esteem- 
 ed father, the* Count Alvarez; 1 am his daughter by the Lady 
 Cieona!” “ Holy Powers !” cried the Marquis: “ then you are 
 the infant daughter whom we supposed murdered by the bar- 
 
ALGONAH 
 
 4 # 
 
 barous edict of Philip. — You are sister to Amaranla, and heiresfi 
 to the long-unclaimed Grenada estates ! Don Algonah will not 
 rejoice at your unexpected return." 
 
 The mention of the Don’s name introduced the melancholy 
 tale of the business of the preceding evening ; and the death of 
 Amaranta, of which the Marquis was ignorant. — His rage burst 
 forth against Don Algonah ; and it found alleviation only in the 
 reflection that he was in the hands of the Holy Office. 
 
 After some remarks from Marano, on the singular circum- 
 stance of the three sisters drawing so near to each other at the 
 same time, after so long a separation, Seraphina retired to rest, 
 the Marquis deferring the introduction to dementia till the fol- 
 lowing morning. When Marano and d’Antares were left alone, 
 the former, at the request of his friend, related the narrative of 
 his adventures since the time of their separation on the moun- 
 tains of Sierra Moreaa. 
 
 £ 
 
 M 
 
5 ® 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 Narrative of Marano de Pinato. 
 
 ON the day that I quitted you, intending to return to the en- 
 virons of Montillo, and my mind being busy with its own reflec- 
 tion, I turned down a dreary lane, which conducted me some 
 miles nearer to Tolosa, but wide from the intended object. — 
 When I had reached my head quarters, I received orders to 
 march first to Malaga, and, after halting two days, to proceed to 
 Ceuta, in Barbary, which place the Moors were besieging, It 
 was judged necessary to supply the garrison with more troops, 
 and my regiment was ‘appointed to that service. 
 
 On the evening of my arrival I walked down to the shores of 
 the Mediterranean : I wandered forward till I lost sight of the 
 castle and the city, and I sat down upon the fragment of a rock, 
 surveying the wavy' prospect till the moon arose. After a short 
 time I heard soft and airy tones steal upon my ear : they seemed 
 to proceed over the water, and as I listened I was entranced 
 with pleasure: a full chorus then succeeded, and the sounds 
 seemed gradually to sink into the bosom of the deep. 
 
 While I sat conjecturing whence these celestial warblings 
 proceeded, I heard the distant sound of a boat rowing to the 
 shore. In the hollow of the rock I could see without being 
 discovered, and here I waited till the boat reached the beach. 
 — Four men then lifted cut a heavy trunk, and having marked 
 out a proper spot, three of them began to dig a pit, while the 
 fourth wept bitterly in a language which I took to be Moorish. 
 — In a short time the chest, which appeared to be heavy, was 
 let down with ropes, and the mourner threw himself prostrate 
 on the sands in an agony of grief. A gun was next fired, which 
 I took to be a signal from a galley at some distance, for their re- 
 turn. 
 
 The stranger continued to be fixed to the spot, till his Moor- 
 ish companions suddenly seized him, forced him into the boat, 
 and rowed away, leaving their tools behind them. Prompted 
 by curiosity, as soon as they were out of sight I began to dig; 
 and in hall an hour I had cleared the sand from the cover ot the 
 chest. — In this situation I could only lift up the lid, the chest 
 being too heavy to remove: beneath some folds of fine linen, I 
 perceived by the pale light of the moon, the face of a human 
 
algonah. 
 
 51 
 
 fe “"i g .,=d w;,h 
 
 ceased', features, 1 was the me „ who had 
 
 „e, and on lurnmg .7" d J.”£ y S Vnmcd to finish their 
 so recently quitted the shore, Y . wiiUe their set- 
 
 labour— The epithets of dog and ‘ y h /:^’ f or my personal 
 mi tars flashed over my ^ ac ' c immediate death by the 
 
 csA irz.'Zfft 
 
 ^^vS0Sksi 
 
 tsfz&ws 
 
 name of Algonah, he seemed ” u T llk *,f 
 
 had fini.be , " W 
 
 giiis£ ! ?£fSSH5 
 
 sfoubu^he £r«& d^SShid 1 , Cmoi'aI- 
 
 V ’?hibr^.o^rwhich.h,dwi,„essed r 
 
 the shores of Malaga, appeared to me altogether 
 
 He lived chiefly on the water, and retained a favourite mis 
 
 tress in his small cabin, whose name 1 n e ve f menUoned w. - 
 out creating a visible agitation ; her seclusion I attributed to 
 
 the custom of the east. f f.. 7rknr ~ 
 
 After sailing several days, the sailors, jea ous • ns 
 
 shewn me as a Christian and companion, j^gan x ° 
 
 M 2 
 
 UMfVtRSftJC m 
 
 lj UNOIS LfBfrflfiH 
 
M 
 
 ALGONAIf. 
 
 of mutiny, and Achmet cautioned me to be on my guard. Oh 
 the second night after this advice, I had retired to my own 
 cabin, after a tedious game at chess, of which the Moors are 
 extremely fond, and had fallen asleep; when I dreamt the 
 spirit of Count Alvarez bid me awake, seize my sword, and 
 protect myself ! 
 
 I awaked with his call, and instantaneously unsheathed the 
 weapon. The cabin was not so dark, but I could discern the 
 approach of a person, who advanced to my cot on tiptoe, and 
 lifted up hi3 poignard to strike at my breast. — In an instant I 
 darted my sword point into his throat, and he fell motionless on 
 the floor. Fearful of his comrades, when 1 reflected on what I 
 bad done, I resolved to awaken Achmet ; and taking my pis* 
 tols in my sash, my sword in my right hand, and the assassin** 
 dagger in the other, I proceeded to grope my way to his cabin. 
 — A confused noise now ran between decks, and the clash of 
 swords convinced me there was a mutiny : I then flew forward, 
 and found Achmet fighting like a tiger, in the middle of six or 
 seven of the crew. — Considering my own fate as inevitable if 
 he were conquered, I fell upon the nearest with irresistible 
 fury, and killed three. At this juncture, from the blood on the 
 boards, Achmet in making a blow slipped and fell, and his an* 
 tagonist, leaping on him had raised an axe to cleave his scull. 
 While I kept them at bay with my poignard, seeing the situa* 
 (ion he was in, and too far distant myself to assist him with rny 
 sword, I drew a faithful pistol, and shot the ruffian at the criti- 
 cal moment in the head. The noise of the firing alarmed the 
 whole ship’s crew, and several sailors rushed forward who had 
 not been in the secret of the mutinous crew. — The fight novr 
 became general and bloody, and ended in a parley, in which 
 they promised to return to their duty, upon their resistance 
 being buried in oblivion : several were killed, and the Captain 
 was so badly wounded, that his life was precarious. — He ex- 
 pressed in the most grateful manner his sense of the services I 
 had rendered him ; and the more I knew of him, the more I 
 wondered at his conduct on the shore of Malaga. 
 
 After cruising some weeks without success, during which he 
 mended slowly, we drew r near to Tetuan, and he began to be 
 more communicative. — “ I should have been happy, (said he) 
 to have introduced you to my brother Ismael, but I dare never 
 see him more .** — ” Do you allude,” said I, “ to the transac- 
 tion where I was taken u Yes,” replied he. “ The truth 
 of that fact which stings me with unavailing remorse, is un- 
 known to my ship’s crew. But to you, Marano, who have 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 53 
 
 saved my life, I will relate the secret which poisons mine. — 
 Mourza is the name of the lady who accompanies me as my 
 wife* and daring my last trip she remained at my brother 
 Ismael's. Before the present voyage, and about two months 
 since, she joined me at Tetuan, bringing with her several pre- 
 sents from my brother, and a beautiful slave named Hamet, 
 given her by Selima, Ismael's favourite wife. Early in our 
 voyage, a tenderness between Harriet and Mourza attracted my 
 jealousy, but day after day elapsed without any positive disco- 
 very. — At length, one evening, suddenly quitting the watch on 
 deck, I entered the cabin, and found Hamel mith his arm round 
 the waist of Mourza, and her head reclined on his shoulder ; 
 a tender kiss followed something whispered by Mourza, and 
 1 felt a delirium of rage run through every nerve. The excess 
 of passion prevented me from any decisive measure; i retired 
 to think of an appropriate punishment, and determined that he 
 should gradually die before her eyes, and she should watch the 
 progress of putrescence shut up with his dead body in her 
 cabin ! — After we had weathered a hard storm, i proposed to 
 regale ourselves, during which I infused some incurable poison 
 into the sherbet of Hamet As he raised the cup* he said I 
 have heard the people of Europe drink healths, so will I : 
 “ Here is the health of my late good master, Ismael, your bro- 
 ther, Captain/’ When he had drank off the fatal glass, Mourza 
 remarked that the wine had improved the brilliancy of his eye. 
 I burst with rage at this speech, and was congratulating myself 
 on the consequence that would soon follow, when Mourza said, 
 in an arch manner, “ Confess, my dear Achrnet, that you have 
 been a little jealous of this agreeable slave/' “ Dare you," 
 cried I, add insult to the injury you have done me 1 but yon 
 
 " The progress of my speech was interrupted by aloud 
 
 burst of laughter from Mourza, who, looking me in the face, 
 said, “ You shall know our secret — this little mischief-making 
 Hamel is your niece Nourah 1" Conviction and guilt stared me 
 full in the face at these words:-— the poison in a few minutes 
 laid her prostrate, and the unfortunate robe she had assumed, 
 now opened to give her breath, but too fully shewed the truth of 
 her sex. 
 
 “ No words can paint the horror I felt. “ Wretched 
 Mourza !" cried I, “ now will my brother have to lament the 
 loss of both his children!" “ Her anxiety to see Spa n," said 
 Mourza, "and trace her lost brother Almoran, induced me to 
 
 MS 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 £ 4 * 
 
 enter into her project, since you and Ismael were averse to her 
 going: I have therefore been alone instrumental to her destruc- 
 tion !” The body was afterwards perfumed, and put into a 
 chest, the unhallowed interment of which you, Marano, were a 
 witness to,” 
 
 I was condoling with Achmet on the melancholy event, and 
 drawing suitable inferences from it when a sudden shout upon 
 deck interrupted our conversation, and which we learned was 
 occasioned by the crew perceiving a large Spanish ship of war 
 between us and the shore. “ Now,” said Achmet, “ it will 
 be your turn to protect me ; our capture is inevitable. But, 
 whatever may be my fate, I entreat you by our friendship to 
 defend the wretched Mourza from insult.” 
 
 The Spanish vessel soon came along side, and boarded us 
 without opposition. I immediately enquired for the com- 
 mander, whom I found I had formerly known. My inter- 
 ference procured a separate cabin for Achmet and his lady : 
 nor could I help feeling a particular interest in his fate, when I 
 reflected that he was brother to the lady whose portrait I had 
 fallen in love with. We shortly after arrived in the harbour of 
 Ceuta, where I found my troops ; our meeting was equally 
 unexpected and pleasant, as the Moors pressed the siege 
 «losely. Achmet’s health declining from the confinement of the 
 fort, I determined to effect either his exchange or escape, but 
 3 found each equally difficult. I examined the fortification, and 
 observed a part of some old works which appeared easy to be 
 scaled. — I entered into conversation with t tie solitary centinel 
 on watch, who informed me that an apparition stalked near his 
 post every night. While I stood talking, the figure advanced 
 to me, and darted an angry frown — but, as I surveyed him, I 
 aaw nothing of immateriality about his face or form. I then 
 drew my sword, and pointed it to the ghost’s throat, and svyore 
 I would make a ghost of him. “ Hold your hand, MarandMe 
 Pinato !” said he in a firm voice. — “ l know the secrets of your 
 heart ! I know the crimes of Algonah, and the fortunes of 
 Cleona. Iam — listen! — I am Rimanez, the conjuror, whom 
 you once consulted in Spain. I was then travelling the coun- 
 try for intelligence. What you have seen extraordinary has 
 been produced by the etfects of chemistry, and I have only to 
 break this small tube of glass to strike you dead at my feet ! — 
 But 1 possess many other secrets besides chemical ones, and the 
 time may come, Marano, when you will know I am a powerful 
 
• • 
 
 ALGONAH. 55 
 
 friend. I will guide Achmet to the camp, where he will meet 
 a person whom he will be glad to see.” 
 
 “ Remember,” said I, “ I am here to protect this fortress, 
 and I shall oppose every one who approaches in a hostile man- 
 ner.” I then parted with Achmet and Rimanez, and ordered 
 the next guard to take care of the centinel who had not re- 
 covered from his swoon. The next day l had too soldiers 
 hung in sight of the enemy, who were in the plot with Rima- 
 nez, and with some difficulty procured the freedom of Mourza, 
 whom I sent with a flag of truce to Tetuan. — The Moors see- 
 ing their treacherous scheme defeated, and the faulty bastion 
 repaired, determined to try the effect of a general storm on the 
 following day; we were prepared. In the ardour ol conquest 
 we pursued them to the open plain, where a fresh multitude 
 opposed us, with determined fury. While I was debating on 
 the propriety of a retreat, a Barbarian, mounted on a high met- 
 tled Arabian courser, rushed upon me with a long spear, which 
 I fortunately divided with a blow of my sabre. Missing the 
 force of his thrust he fell to the ground, and I dragged him from 
 the saddle, and mounted in his place. Fresh troops reinforcing 
 ns, we drove the enemy quite back, and, eagerly pursuing, I 
 found myself so much detached from my corps, that my retreat 
 was cut off. — My generous courser, feeling the courage of his 
 rider, seconded my efforts, and we either trod or cut down 
 whoever opposed us. 
 
 The moment I could safely halt I looked round, and found 
 myself almost out of sight of the fort of Ceuta. — Mere I beheld 
 the battle rage afresh, and at length saw the Moors totally de- 
 feated. Fearful the flying foe might come up with me, I turned 
 my courser round, and he flew over the sandy desart, till 1 be- 
 held at a distance a dark object, intercepting the view of the 
 horizon. This at length proved to be a mass of walls and bat- 
 tlements, with a quadrangular tower at each corner. I was sur- 
 prised to find such a building in a place remote from any other 
 habitation, or the least sign of cultivation, except what sur- 
 rounded it A beautiful .stream watered the golden sands that 
 encircled it, and it seemed placed there by suspicion tor the 
 purpose of pleasure and retirement. I marched my*horse round 
 this magnificent castle, but did not perceive the gate. The 
 stream round the walls seemed to forbid any communication, as 
 the drawbridge was drawn up: but my courser soon relieved me 
 from this dilemma, by plunging into the waler, and landing me 
 safely in the outer court of the castle. As no creature appeared 
 
56 
 
 ^lgonah. 
 
 to question me on my business, I proceeded to the inner court, 
 and knocked at the gale. B ing no windows on the ground 
 floor by which I could enter, I placed my horse directly under 
 a lolly balcony, and, standing erect on his back, I caught hold 
 of the balusters, and mounted into »t. The centre was divided 
 off* w hich 1 supposed belonged to the Indies’ side. At a few 
 paces 1 saw a little door, and entering forward I passed in the 
 dark several apartments, without interruption.— At last I 
 fancied I perceived a light through a length of gloom. I ad- 
 vanced cautiously to the door, whence it proceeded, and 
 pushing it a few inches open, beheld a saloon, replete vyith 
 eastern magnificence* Its rich carpets and perfumed fountains 
 however attracted my attention less than two slaves, who 
 were present, one lying on the floor, and venting sighs ; the 
 oilier standing over him with a goblet of wine in his hand.— 
 “ Come/’ said he, “ here is a long li fe to the brave Abdallah, 
 master oi the great Bashaw’s haram ; lord of the household— 
 
 who” — ■> At this moment his eye caught my figure, which I 
 
 had advanced half forward, attracted by so curious a sight. 
 
 Perceiving the consternation I had caused, I entered the sa- 
 loon, and assured them that from 1 me they had nothing to fear. 
 After stammering out some incoherent questions, he asked me 
 it I had come by the bashaw’s orders ! “ Most certainly,” re- 
 
 plied I, concluding from this that the lord of the castle was ab- 
 sent ; “ and now, most omnipotent Abdallah, seeing how well 
 you can entertain yourself, let me see you act as lord of the 
 
 household, and regale me !” “ Thai’s what I like,” replied 
 
 Abdallah : “ though I am lord here during the bashaw’s ab- 
 sence, I cannot make this fellow drink. I hate a sober fellow, 
 and that’s all the better for you. --But how the devil got you in, 
 and when does the bashaw return, and how goes on the siege 
 with those tough Christian dogs ?” 
 
 In a short time the slaves lay insensible on the floor, and I 
 had no doubt had lighted the saloon to enjoy themselves in 
 the bashaw’s absence. Taking a bunch of keys, which had 
 fallen from Abdallah’s pouch, I opened a door opposite to that 
 I had entered, and traversed several luxuriant apartments, till 
 1 came to one richly perfumed, and hung with violet coloured 
 satin and variegated flowers. — Here/on a rose coloured couch 
 lay a lady sleeping, beautifully clad in robes of purple and 
 India muslin.. — A light veil concealed her face, which#I gently 
 withdrew, and beheld, O heavens ! the indescribable reality 
 of the portrait I had so long cherished.— My whole soul was 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 #? 
 
 absorbed In love and contemplation — I stood till she turned and 
 waked. — A faint scream followed her surprise, as I sunk upon 
 one knee, and repeated a thousand protestations to quiet her 
 alarm. Seeing she regarded me with a kindly eye, I drew 
 the picture from my bosom, and putting it into her hand, de- 
 manded if she ever saw the original ! Long have I sought 
 for the lovely reality,” said I ; “ this picture came into my pos- 
 session many months since in a singular way, and now I have 
 found all I have sighed for, thou celestial divinity !” “ Great 
 Mahomet ! — the likeness is mine !”— -exclaimed Seraphina. 
 4t But, stranger, it is dangerous to stay even to give an expla- 
 nation. If the bashaw should know of your intrusion in these 
 forbidden apartments, alas ! I should tremble for your fate 1” 
 
 “ Ah, angelic creature,” said I — “ there is my despair — * 
 the favoured bashaw, blessed with your love — ” “ Love!” 
 
 exclaimed Seraphina — “ 1 have only known that sublime 
 passion yet by name! — the bashaw is my aversion. I would 
 rather be the meanest drudge in his palace than be compelled 
 to receive his loathsome addresses !” 
 
 I then spoke to her of my family, of my property, and ofmar- 
 ryingher in Spain, where mutual esteem was a jewel more in- 
 valuable than all the tinseled splendour of the East. — Sera* 
 phina then indulged me by giving a brief narrative of her life : — - 
 * ( I have heard my nurse often repeat to me the cruelties which 
 took place inconsequence of the edict of Philip, without par- 
 ticularizing either my family or name. When I had attained 
 my sixth year, my nurse privately sold me to a slave merchant. 
 In dressing me out, I particularly remember a string of pearls 
 hung round my neck, which my purchaser insisted should go 
 with me. Ny prattle and person engaged his favour, and he 
 educated me with great care and expence. Never having ex- 
 perienced the caresses of a parent, i became attached to him, 
 and led a life of happiness till he died. His rapacious heir 
 then sold me to a merchant, who again sold me to the bashaw 
 Ismael Solyman, whose slave I now am.” 
 
 Our conversation next took a tender turn, and I proposed 
 to Seraphina to effect an immediate escape; and that Abdallah 
 should be of our party, as he knew the path across the sands, 
 and for the sake of his freedom would be faithful to us. 1 im- 
 parted the scheme to Abdallah, who agreed to every part but 
 that of going before he had had a gala night : — <f and this,” 
 added he, “ shall be to-morrow night.” It was useless to re- 
 present to him that delays were dangerous ; he laughed at my 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 5S 
 
 fears, and left me to give orders about preparing the celestial 
 saloon for the grand festival. On the following morning the 
 ladies of the harani were let loose, and expressed their asto- 
 nishment at the figure and dress of an European. In particu- 
 lar, a lady, named Zulima, addressed herse f to my notice, 
 and I observed she beheld Seraphma with a jealous eye. Ex- 
 cept this lady, who was of a bold figure and commanding as- 
 pect, the others had more the manners of children. The ba- 
 shaw’s favourite wife, by whom he had two children, both of 
 whom were dead, refused to partake in our revelry, and re- 
 mained in her apartments. At the first hour of night our fes- 
 tival began, and Seraphma, magnificently decorated, looked 
 like the houri of the enchanting scene, from the garden we 
 were invited to visit the great bashaw Abdallah, who, in the 
 centre of the celestial saloon, under a glittering canopy, seem- 
 ed surrounded by every earthly luxury. When tne 1 urkish 
 dances had subsided, our bashaw gave the word to move into 
 the supper room, where he seated himself in the bashaw s.seat, 
 and ordered no one to remain sober alter he ceased to be so* 
 Zulima now ordered her black servant to fetch a bottle of the 
 favourite wine which she and the bashaw used to drink toge- 
 ther. — Pouring some into a golden vessel, and presenting it iO 
 Seraphina, she said, “ Come, Seraphina, you cannot refuse a 
 cup to the health of your brave Spaniard. Seraphina took it, 
 and as she raised it to her lips, the malignant look of Zulima 
 gave me a suspicion of the fate of Nourah I dashed it from 
 her hand, ai*d Zulima, perceiving she was detected in her 
 poisonous treachery, drew a dagger, and would have sheathed 
 it in the bosom of Seraphina, but I threw myself before her, 
 and, drawing my sabre, presented its point to hei in turn. 
 
 In this state of confusion, with our weapons uplifted, thiee 
 blasts from the shrill sound of a trumpet, threw all t he company 
 in the most alarming consternation. The cup fell from the 
 hand of Seraphina, and, as she sunk into my arms, she feebly 
 uttered, “ My dear Marano, we are all lost 1— It is the bashaw 
 Splyman !” Zulima, recovering from the first affright, threat- 
 ened me with revenge. Abdallah lay insensible from inebriety, 
 and the ladies had swooned with terror. In this state the ba- 
 shaw entered, attended by his guard— Zulima instantly ad- 
 dressed him — “ Behold, my lord,” said she, “ the source of all 
 the disorder in this Spaniard, who has boasted that he slew you 
 in battle, who has offered violence to me, bribed your servant 
 Abdallah, and now holds your slave Seraphina in his arms . 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 59 
 
 While Ziillma spoke, Solyman recognized me : <e *Tis the 
 man who had nearly conquered me in battle l” said he. 
 “ Guards, seize the Christian dog, disarm, and bear him to 
 the dungeon. — Seraphina shall this night be mine! And, after 
 I am sated, the w T ornen shall be resoki, and Seraphina with 
 them !” I became frantic with rage, and endued with gigantic 
 strength — I burst from the guards, and rushing upon Solyman, 
 I drew the fatal dagger which t wore in my bosom. — As he re- 
 ceded to avoid the blow, Zulima threw herself upon me with 
 the weapon still in her hand : — I avoided her, and in the act of 
 defence pierced her to the heart. 
 
 Again I was seized, and forced to the dungeon in an in- 
 sensible state. When my recollection returned, I found my- 
 self chained to the wall. — L called on the name of Seraphina 
 till I was exhausted. — Every moment I expected the execu- 
 tion of the Bashaw’s sentence, and a slow step soon announced 
 the approach of it. — The person advanced close to me, con- 
 cealed by the total darkness. — A glaring light then shone from 
 behind, and a voice along the vaulted passage called out, 
 “ Stop till I ask the wretch some questions'!” When the light 
 appeared I beheld my danger. — A black slave, half naked, was 
 standing over me with a battle axe, ready to strike. The 
 stranger then demanded in a furious tone how I became pos- 
 sessed of the dagger I had killed Zulima with ? — I instantly re- 
 collected the voice and features of Achmet, whose generous 
 nature immediately set me at liberty, and promised me the 
 same succour I had recently yielded him. — He then conducted 
 me into that suite of rooms where I had first seen Seraphina. — 
 In the last apartment my feelings were agonized by the sight 
 of Seraphina sitting in an affectionate posture with the Bashaw, 
 Achmet saw my agitation, and kindly turning to me said, 
 l< Feel no uneasiness at what you see,, my friend. — A few 
 hours have unravelled wonderful mysteries, and produced the 
 most pleasing prospects. This is the Bashaw Ismael Solvman, 
 my brother, and the brother of Lady Cleona. That is $era« 
 phina, the daughter of our long lost sister, and you are my 
 friend and preserver, Marano de Pinato.” — Joy filled my scuf, 
 as -Seraphina, unrestrained by the presence of her uncles, rush- 
 ed into my arms.-— After my transports had a little subsided, 
 Achmet informed me that he had saved his brother’s life on the 
 field of battle, and had then explained to him the death 
 Nourah that Ismael Solyman, overcome with sorrow, had 
 resolved to pass the rest of his days in solitude in his castle, 
 
6d 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 On his arrival, the disorder that reigned, and the words of 
 Zulima had determined him to subdue the beautiful slave. As 
 she lay on the couch apparently lifeless with terror, he beheld 
 the necklace of pearl and gold, given by Lady Cleona to Se- 
 raphina at her birth. — He knew it again, and when she had re* 
 covered, he opened his arms to receive her as his niece. — 
 Achmet confirmed his brother in the certainty of the necklace; 
 and afterwards informed me that Rimanez was gone to his 
 castle to fetch Lady Cleona to her brothers ; and that Don A • 
 gonah had employed him as an agent to murder her, but, 
 touched with pity and a love of her beauty, he had spread a re- 
 port that she had been drowned in the Darro, in which the 
 Don also thought that he (Rimanez) had shared the same fate; 
 
 After this Rimanez passed over to Barbary, but being unable 
 to soften the dislike of Lady Cleona, he for many years kept 
 her in confinement at a castle on the sea shore; after which he 
 acquired considerable wealth in the service of his government, 
 — I could scarcely believe this sudden reverse of fortune, and 
 my history excited as much surprise when I related it to 
 Achmet and Solyman. — In a few days Lady Cleona and Rima- 
 nez arrived, and seconded my suit with the brothers, who had 
 made some objections to my marriage with Seraphina on the 
 score of religion, and desired it not to take place till she had 
 been presented to my relations in Spain. — After two months 
 stay, the latter of which was the great fast Ramadin, we took 
 leave of -Solyman and Achmet, and set forward with my be** 
 loved Seraphina, Lady Cleona, Rimanez, and an ample escort. 
 The next day we arrived at Ceuta, having procured a pass 
 from Solyman. 
 
 We remained at Ceuta till a vessel arrived to transport us to 
 Malaga, and after a tranquil voyage we experienced the plea- 
 sure of again treading on our native soil. — On the second night 
 of our landing, Seraphina took a walk to the spot on the sea- 
 shore, w here her cousin Nourah was interred. — W e stood hand 
 in hand, looking at the grave, and admiring the solemnity of 
 the water scene, when a confused murmur of approaching 
 voices excited our attention. A cry of distress was mingled 
 w ith the noise of several Spanish sailors, and, having given Se- 
 raphina a pistol to defend herself, we hurried to the spot. — 
 On our appearance they took to flight, and left a poor man, ha- 
 bited like a fisherman, apparently lifeless from the severity of 
 their blow ; s. — When Seraphina, t y the means of some strong 
 stimulants and chafing, had brought him to, he opened his eyg£ 
 5 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 61 
 
 wildly; but still was not perfectly sensible, till the morning 
 tight — As I gazed upon him, I thought his features resembled 
 those of Seraphina ; and, when he thanked us for our attentive 
 care, the tones of his voice equally struck me. — “ Surely, Sera- 
 phina,” said I, in the Moorish dialect, “ this is some unknown 
 brother of your's? his voice reminds me of Solymari’s!” — He 
 then inquired in the same tongue if I knew Ismael Solyman, — 
 “ He is my uncle,” replied Seraphina * — “ And I am his son Ai- 
 moran!” said the youth. I was almost speechless with the 
 pleasure of surprize. On enquiring by what strange accident 
 the son of a bashaw had been metamorphosed into a fisherman, 
 he replied, that he had secured some money in the sands, for the 
 purpose of carrying them back to his native country ; and that 
 his comrades, having discovered his treasure, meant to have 
 taken his life, if we had not interfered ; that he had quitted 
 home on a rambling expedition, in which he had experienced 
 much variety and hardship, and had been reduced to take up 
 the employment of a fisherman. We then conducted the 
 wounded Almoran to Malaga, where his aunt Lady Cleona un- 
 dertook to attend his recovery. 
 
 It was at this juncture that we learned that Don Algonah 
 was about to become a husband a third time in his old age, and 
 Rimanez and I planned the scheme which prevented the mar* 
 riage ; Rimanez entering the chapel of the castle of Montillo, 
 and presenting the mysterious letter at the altar, which broke 
 off the nuptials. — When Almoran had recovered, we proposed 
 his immediate journey to Solyman and Achmet, knowing the 
 pleasure they would have in beholding him alive, and hearing 
 of our welfare. 
 
 Having parted from Almoran, we quitted Malaga, and glid- 
 ed up the Darro, till we arrived without accident within a day's 
 sail of Grenada.— It was impossible I should forget our adven- 
 ture in the Moorish tower, and as we drew near. Lady Cleona 
 became extremely affected.— “ Beneath that building,” said 
 Lady Cleona, “ is one of the most beautiful and extensive ca- 
 verns I have ever read of, and which I once visited with Count 
 Alvarez. Formerly the castle was a Moorish palace, but Philip's 
 edict has destroyed the work and decorations of ages !” — A 
 storm now coming suddenly on, and no shelter near, it became 
 necessary that we should land, and take refuge in one of the 
 chambers of the tower. The ladies not choosing to ascend 
 above the ground floor, we prepared a fire of wood, and spread 
 carpets for their accommodation; Rimanez and my servants 
 
<52 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 keeping watch while they laid down to sleep. As I stood ad- 
 miring the dozing beauties of Seraphina by the obscure blaze 
 of our fire, I saw in one corner of the room a flag stone of the 
 pavement rise up on one side, and a man’s face, covered with 
 a long venerable beard, look around the apartment. I had 
 scarcely time to point out the attention of Rimanez to the ob- 
 ject, before the stone sunk into its place. " That is the spirit 
 of some one murdered !” exclaimed I, looking alarmed. " What- 
 ever it be,” said Rimanez, “ it is certainly a strong spirit , to raise 
 that stone. And, if you are not more afraid now than you were 
 of my performance on the walls of Ceuta, we will see if we 
 cannot raise the stone and lay this ghost.” I accepted the pro- 
 posal, and with some difficulty we inserted the point of the dag- 
 ger at the edge of the stone, and raised it A frightful gulph 
 presented itself, down which we quietly descended by means 
 of a circular flight of stone steps, having previously loaded our 
 pistols: at the foot of 300 stairs, we came into a beautiful 
 grotto. 
 
 From this place we descended to a cavern, the sides of which 
 were lined with black and monumental marble. In niches 
 slood plain marble coffins, containing, from their inscriptions, 
 the remains of Moorish nobility. We then quitted this solemn 
 mausoleum of death, to repair to an arched vault, whence pro- 
 ceeded the sound of an organ, accompanying a very fine voice, 
 which ehaunted the Te Deum . At the end of the passage we 
 found ourselves in a spacious chamber, lighted with beautiful 
 lamps, and ornamented with the superb furniture of anlient 
 times. A lady, clothed in mourning robes, sat at the organ — she 
 started with. surprise at our entrance.—" Ye holy powers !” ex- 
 claimed Rimanez, " what do I see ! — Can it be lady Juliana !” 
 ** Lady Juliana !” repeated I, struck with her resemblance to 
 the picture of Don Algorialfs first wife; " it cannot be!” 
 fi Who is it that remembers me ?” said she, in a firm tone. — 
 " I should remember that voice somewhere, if time have not 
 rendered my memory treacherous.” " This lady,” I replied, 
 " is Rimanez, formerly the servant of Don Algonah.” Her 
 countenance changed at the name, and she replied, " Are you 
 sent here by Algonah ? — I wonder he did not come himself.” 
 " Lady,” said 1, " be under no apprehension' from us — I am 
 your nephew Marano de Pinato, and I will protect you.” She 
 embraced me with tears of joy, and added. “ Then I shall 
 see the blessed light of the sun. — once more behold the face of 
 nature !” " In what way, lady,” asked Rimanez, have you 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 63 
 
 been nourished and confined here ?” “ The secret passage to 
 this recess,” said Lady Juiiana, “ is only known to Algonah.--- 
 Bernardo, the old steward, and Luciila, my waiting-maid, 
 have been long the companions of my imprisonment — for hav- 
 ing accidentally discovered that the Don had buried- a wax 
 figure in my place, and that I was a prisoner in the eastern 
 chamber of Montillo castle, before he conveyed me secretly to 
 this cavern.” Luciila now entered, and encouraged by her 
 mistress, informed them that Bernardo, prompted by the Don’s 
 neglecting to send the usual supply of provision, had been pe- 
 netrating every where for an outlet ; that behind the grotto he 
 had found a perpendicular staircase, at the top of which was a 
 trap door of stone ; this he had raised, and beheld a company 
 of robbers regaling in a chamber, which had so frightened 
 him, that he had descended faster than he went, and was re- 
 covering from his fright. 1 * 
 
 Taking leave of this cavernous palace, we conducted the 
 inmates of it to the chamber whence we had descended.*— 
 The day had already dawned when we awakened our friends, 
 and introduced Lady Juliana, between whom and Lady 
 Cleona there was no danger of rivalship about such a monster 
 as Algonah. Having hired a house for my increased family 
 at Grenada, and left Rimanez there, my impatience to take 
 Senaphina to Madrid, where! understood Algonah was gone 
 was the occasion of my being present at an event so uniortii 
 nate as the death of Amaranta.” 
 
 Marano having closed his narrative, the friends adjourned to 
 fake repose. — When the Marquis d’Antares awoke, he told 
 Rondo to fetch Furialza, but t lie manner of his faithful servant 
 surprised him, and he demanded if he had suffered her to es- 
 cape ? “ San Pedro be my comfort ! Senor, said Rondo, I be- 
 lieve the devil has flown away with the old sorceress, for a 
 black man enquired for her, and I shewed him to her room. — 
 Not finding him return, I went to look after them, when lo ! 
 they Lad both vanished ! So, your honour, the devil is in it if 
 this was not the devil, and I think they are both of them best 
 away from us !” — The Marquis was not a little affected by this 
 strange incident, and requested Rondo to keep it secret. — 
 When the Marquis’s new guests had arisen, they were intro- 
 duced to Clemeotia, who was kept in ignorance of Amaranta’s 
 story, and Seraphina was consigned to the care of her new* 
 sister- in law, while the Marquis and Marano hastened to Ma- 
 drid* Wh§n they arrived, they drove to the quarter of the 
 N 2 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 64 
 
 Inquisition, and accosted the porter, whose silenee precluded 
 every information. Hence they repaired to the Count de Bel- 
 Jara’s, and had scarcely entered, before the room door was 
 opened by two persons habited in black robes of a peculiar 
 form. “ Marquis d’Antares and Marano de Pinato/’ said one 
 of them, “ we cite you before the most Holy Office.— Follow 
 us in silence, and without delay /’ As the summons of these 
 officers of religious justice admitted of no evasion, they entered 
 their carriage with them, and, when they arrived, were con- 
 ducted through dreary vaults and passages to separate cells, to 
 await their attendance in the dreadful hall of absolute power. 
 
 Every thing being ready for the examination, on the third 
 night after, the Grand Inquisitor took his seat in the Black 
 Hall, round which every symbol that could terrify and appal 
 the mind was exhited. Don Algonah, as the father of the 
 murdered lady, took his post opposite the Judge, and was 
 commanded by one of the fathers to reveal the circumstances 
 of his daughter’s death. “ Most holy fathers/’ said Algonah, 
 “ I obey willingly. — 1 had two daughters, the props of my 
 declining years, whose affections the Marquis d’Antares and 
 Marano de Pinato have endeavoured to seduce.— To prevent 
 Amaranta from ruin, I placed her under your immediate care, 
 in the convent of the Dominican Nuns, while 1 repaired on 
 business to Grenada. When 1 returned to my castle, I found 
 my daughter dementia had flown. I pursued her to Madrid, 
 and there found that she lived with the Marquis d’Antares.in an 
 unholy stale, and learned also that your sacred walls could not 
 secure my daughter Amaranta from seduction. — Under this im- 
 pression I caused my servant Pedro to traverse the precincts of 
 the garden ; being unwilling, however, on the fatal night to 
 remain inactive at home, I went after him to be an eye wit- 
 ness myself. — I arrived at the garden about twelve, but could 
 siot perceive Pedro. A ladder was placed against the wall, 
 which, forgetful of my duty, I mounted, and descended into 
 the sacred garden. — judge, holy father, what was my horror, 
 when I beheld my daughter Amaranta bleeding on the ground ; 
 Olivaro clothing himself in her vestments, and a nun, named 
 Emelina, wrapping the body in the Marquis’s cloke, the more 
 easily to convey it away. Struck with terror, I flew back to 
 see for Pedro, and I found him on the other side the wall, 
 struggling with a stranger, whom I have since learned was 
 Marano de Pinato. This man having first shot my servant, 
 wounded me severely with the sword he had taken from 
 
ALGONAH, 
 
 65 
 
 Pedro, of which I am now extremely ill. — This, holy fathers, 
 is all the truth : the rest is known to your officials.. ’ 
 
 “ There is an evident absurdity,” said one of the Inquisitors, 
 l< in a young man scaling the walls of a convent to liberate his 
 mistress, and then murdering her.— For the present, Don Al* 
 gonah, you are to withdraw.” 
 
 Olivaro was next ordered into their presence. After the 
 usual oaths, the Supreme of the Court ordered him to make his 
 
 confession. (c 1 confess that I have been the cause of death 
 
 to two of the most excellent of women, and that I have com* 
 milted sacrilege, but, holy father, not intentionally.. — Amaranta 
 is innocent of crime : she came to refuse my love, to tell me 
 she had chosen heaven for her husband. — I sought only to free 
 her from the tyranny of a cruel father, by whom she was shot 
 dead in my arms ! — But my friend Olivaro’s testimony would 
 blast the monster if he were here.”- — Olivaro then related his 
 first interview with Amaranta, and the Don’s subsequent con* 
 demnation of his daughter to the habit.” 
 
 When Olivaro was ordered to withdraw, Marano came 
 forward, attended by his mutes. — On the table lay the dagger, 
 with every thing he had about his person when he was seized, 
 which were now placed there as evidences of his presumptive 
 guilt. — Having been sworn, the Supreme demanded if he was 
 guilty of the murder of Pedro-. “ I am guilty 1” replied Ma- 
 rano, calmly. (( I should have rejoiced at it, if it had not 
 saved Algonah from death by the hand of his vile instrument 
 Pedro. — J am the only male relation of the Don, and I am se- 
 lected by a higher power than sits here to bring him to justice, 
 for crimes greater than the murder of his own daughter, which 
 originated in a mistake. Holy fathers, the accusation against me 
 is too malicious and shallow to merit your attention — not so the 
 secret charges I pledge myself to substantiate against Algonah.” 
 
 Remember,” said one of the Inquisitors,. “ you confess 
 you have secrets — these the tribunal must know. — Look on 
 that dagger, and say whose it is r” “ It is at present mine,” 
 said Marano ; “ but how I came by it I shall inform you when 
 Algonah is confronted with me. — I therefore, P.everend Fa- 
 thers, accuse him of murder, and crimes worse than adultery— 
 this poinard is the witness P T At this moment a drop of blood 
 
 was observed to fall from the dagger. Blessed Spirit!” 
 
 exclaimed the Supreme, tf this is a solemn business ! — Lead 
 the prisoner hence, and let the court be adjourned !” 
 
 On the fourth day after, at midnight, the Court again sat for 
 
 N 3 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 66 
 
 tlie final determination. An unusual degree of solemnity pre- 
 vailed, and the lighted tapers, added to the black fantastic habits 
 of the Suprema and the officials, gave no faint sketch of what 
 might be supposed to be an infernal tribunal. Pictures of cri- 
 minals, expiring in flames and tortures, were painted on the 
 walls, and every object wore the livery of death. To make 
 the scene more horrific, on one side was placed the corpse of 
 Amaranta on a bier, and on the other that of Pedro ; tapers 
 were lighted at the head and feet of each, and shewed at once 
 their features and the progress of the bodies to putrescence. 
 Algonah first took his seat. Pale from his wound, and sullen 
 from wounded pride, he resolved to brave every confession of 
 guilt, seeing that he had nothing to fear from his agent Pedro. 
 Olivaro and Marano were placed opposite to him, and the Mar- 
 quis cPA n tares had a seat by himself. — The Suprema, after ex- 
 patiating on the mercy of the holy Court, exhorted the Don again 
 to confess. — Upon his refusal, Marano was directed to exhibit 
 Jus charges against the accused. — This he did by relating his ad- 
 ventures, from the meeting with the wounded soldier in the 
 defile, to his arrival in the court of the Inquisition. — When he 
 had done, Algonah addressed the Court on the absurd and roman- 
 tic nonsense Marano had detailed, and concluded by asserting 
 that he could produce nothing in proof of what he had ad- 
 vanced. The Marquis d’Antares then demanded of Algonah 
 if he knew the dagger lying on the table. — Algonah replied in 
 the negative, and at the same moment a hollow groan issued 
 from the body of Pedro ; the Court looked at each other with 
 affright. “ Hekrken to the dead !" said DbAntares — “ if you 
 will not confess ! — With the permission of the Court I would 
 ask Algonah what were the objects I beheld in the horrid 
 chamber, when I pursued Pedro, after his attempt to assas- 
 sinate me?" <( I take heaven to witness that I am ignorant of 
 what you allude to!" said the Don. As he spoke, the tapers 
 at the corpse of Pedro suddenly expired, and his dead lips 
 seemed convulsively to heave, as if about to contradict the 
 false assertion of Algonah. 
 
 The Inquisitors themselves saw it, and looked terrified. — 
 iK Tell what the chamber contained !" exclaimed the Suprema, 
 i( or the rack shall force it from you !"' — “ I know nothing of 
 the chamber alluded to," replied the Don, hardily. “ You deny 
 also," said the Suprema, " any knowledge of your two wives?" 
 
 . — “ I do," said Algonah. A sigh was heard from the corpse 
 of Amaranta. “ Note that 1" sakl the Suprema, u and now 
 4 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 6 f 
 
 Marquis, proceed .” — t€ Who was it,” said D’Antares, (c that 
 pursued me io take my life? Who has embittered my days by 
 the spells of enchantment ? Who prompted the murderer Pedro 
 to assassinate me at noon-day ? Who attempted the honour of 
 his own daughter ? — Say, whose bones are those in the dun- 
 geon of your castle ? — The guilty Algonah is silent. — Now, 
 therefore, Marano, do you bring the proof to these questions 1” 
 
 “ First,” said Marano, “ let Algonah place his right hand 
 
 on the cold and inanimate breast of his dead daughter, and 
 sware by the holy ghost of heaven that he is innocent of her 
 death Algonah trembled. “ Rise !” said the Suprema; — 
 “ take the bloody dagger, advance to the body and swear by 
 heaven !” 
 
 He again hesitated. — If you are innocent,” said the Su- 
 prema, “ why do you shrink from what is required ?” “ I do 
 
 not shrink/’ said Algonah, firmly. — “ It is for the guilty only 
 to tremble !” As he touched the breast of the pallieci corpse, 
 the blood gushed out anew, and he stood petrified to the spot. 
 In vain he essayed to wipe it from his hand ; it stuck to it like a 
 burning fiame; while profuse drops of sweat poured down his 
 face, and the eyes of the deceased opened and stared at him. 
 Even Algonah and the whole Court hid their faces for a few 
 minutes, from the awful regard of the shrouded Amaranta. 
 “ Don Algonah,!” said the Suprema, “your guilt is clearly 
 manifest. — The poniard which did the deed exactly fits the 
 sheath found in your bosom when taken. — Olivaro too is highly 
 guilty, but not of the death of your daughter. — Next bring for- 
 ward the proof of the existence of Algonal/s wives, and of his 
 other diabolical deeds — such proof that he cannot resist, har- 
 dened as he is in blood and crimes!” 
 
 Having made a signal to one of the secretaries, w^o rung a 
 bell, a distant door opened, and two mutes led in a female, en- 
 veloped in black from head to foot.- -When she drew back her 
 veil, the Marquis d’Antares immediately recollected the tre- 
 mendous features of Furialza, glaring upon him exactly as they 
 did when he saw her performing her diabolical incantations in 
 the horrid chamber of Montillo castle, and afterwards in the 
 bowels of the earth. — 1 “ Now, Furialza,” said the Suprema, 
 “ having by your confession been guilty of sorcery and witch- 
 craft — the means of tormenting the Marquis cPAn fares by dia- 
 bolical inchant ments — a chief agent in a train of vice the most 
 unexampled— let the court witness your first step to repentance 
 by an ample confession.” “ By your leave, holy fathers,” said 
 
68 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 Mar a no, “ let me first ask Furialza if she ever was a mjrse to- 
 a young lady, and what became of her charge ?'' “ I was nurse 
 to the daughter of Count Alvarez/' she replied : — “ 1 after- 
 wards 'sold her to a slave merchant when I left Tunis.' '' — 
 f ‘ Enough 1” cried Marano, — <f that child is my wife, and now, 
 by the death of Amaranta, is the only living daughter of Lady 
 Cleona ; her claim therefore to the rich estates of the murdered 
 Count, now in the possession of Algonah, is indisputable/* 
 Don Algonah stood motionless at this speech, surveying Ma- 
 rano and Furialza, , and gnashing lhs teeth at the former. — 
 Now, wretch 1” cried he — “ it is my turn to sting thee as 
 thou hast stung me! — Behold the man thou hast pursued to 
 destruction ! — He is at once thy victim — and thine own father!" 
 “ Great ruler of heaven !" cried Marano in agony, “ can this 
 be possible ? Oh ! let me perish, and never again behold the 
 clay l” — What proof do you bring of this said the Suprema : 
 
 - — “ deep as you are in iniquity, we can scarcely credit so un- 
 natural a crime even in .you.” Don Algonah then produced an 
 ivory box, whence, on opening a secret spring, he took out a 
 small billet: — it was handed to the chief Inquisitor, who read the 
 following words : — “ The dreadful discovery you have made to 
 me, Roderigo, overwhelms me with horror. — Was it you that I 
 received unsuspiciously ?—0 monster of depravity, I give thee 
 warning to shun me — for if I live to rise from the bed I now lan- 
 guish upon, I will pursue thee, and thy guilty offspring shall heap 
 curses on thy head !'' Marano at the close of the letter, exclaim- 
 ing that he was a wretch unworthy of existence, caught up 
 the dagger, and made an effort to stab himself, but was pre- 
 vented by the Marquis (FA n tares. — While a smile of pleasure 
 at this scene irradiated the brow of Algonah, Furialza came for- 
 ward, and claimed attention. “ Holy fathers/' said she “ this 
 Algonah is not the father of Marano. — Let him behold this 
 ring, given as a token when I personated his sister, and supplied 
 her place. It was I who, finding his mind equally depraved 
 with my own, accompanied him as his page to America, and 
 shared his excesses. — It is true his sister was deceived, and 
 thought the infant Marano was the offspring of his incest, her 
 husband having been some time dead.'* Don Algonah surveyed 
 the ring, and suddenly seizing the fatal dagger, he made a 
 plunge at the bosom of Furialza, who darted from the blow. 
 Algonah then became wild with a conflict of passions ; he saw 
 his horrid deeds substantiated y and, as he cast his glaring eyes 
 round the Court, where execrations and curses sat on every 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 m 
 
 ’countenance, he raised his arm, and buried the bloody weapon 
 in his own heart — falling on the corpse of his daughter ! 
 
 The first emotions of the death of Algonah having subsided, 
 Furialza was ordered to proceed in her confession, and satisfy 
 Marano of his real parentage. “ The father of Mara no,” con- 
 tinued Furialza, “ is the Marquis Rondolos, who is the father 
 of Olivaro, and uncle to Emelina. — I was the companion of 
 Marano’s mother, and early fell in love with her brother Ro- 
 derigo Algonah. The Lady Leonora was courted by the Mar- 
 quis Rondolos, but her father compelled her to marry against 
 her choice. Her husband dying a few months after his mar- 
 riage, the Marquis renewed his visits, and they were privately 
 married before the time of mourning had expired. I was the 
 confidant in the intrigue, and secretly let the Marquis in by a 
 private door. — Algonah, enamoured of his sister, disclosed his 
 wishes to me, with the offer of a considerable bribe. — I con- 
 fess that I deceived the deceiver, and bound him down in his 
 nocturnal visits to secresy. The letter just now read, which 
 discovered to his sister her guilt, he wrote in a fit of passion ; 
 and it was her answer that occasioned his flight. — The Marquis 
 Rondolos would have owned his marriage with Lady Juliana 
 had she lived — but she, wounded by the fatal discovery, dying 
 directly after the death of Marano, the Marquis Rondolos re- 
 tained his own secret, and Marano, received an asylum in his 
 house, and subsequently an appointment in the army." “ Now," 
 said the Suprema, proceed to the mysteries of the horrid 
 chamber, and whatever relates to your diabolical sorceries !" 
 
 “ It was I," said Furialza, “ whom the Marquis cl An (ares 
 beheld in the Black Chamber.— He saw me half naked, and 
 covered with blood. I was dividing the body of Perez, which 
 Pedro had dug up from its grave; and broiling it preparatory 
 to an incantation.' — It was I who haunted the Marquis 
 in his garden, when I announced his death. — I placed 
 the fiery writing on the wall of his chamber, and when I led 
 him from Pedro, whom he had nearly slain, into the bowels of 
 the earth, I meant by my power to have transported him and 
 myself to the flames of Mount Etna.— But both in this and a 
 second enchantment, I found my skill vanish before the name 
 of the Almighty. — I- then began to think on the eternal ven- 
 geance of that infernal fiend Satan, to whose service I had de- 
 voted my soul, on the condition I should not die by the hands 
 of justice. — My returning inclination to repentance was checked 
 hy the reflection that there was no hope, no mercy, for such an 
 
70 
 
 ALGONAH. 
 
 abandoned wretch as myself. — In despair I then threw myself 
 into the water, and was saved from death by Marano's kind- 
 ness, who took me to the Marquis d’Antares. Here I had ven- 
 tured again to rise rny mind to heaven, and implore a ray of 
 forgiveness, when the busy fiend came to pay me a final visit, 
 and claim me as his own. Touching me with his hand I became 
 invisible, and he transported me to the banks of the stream 
 where I had so recently been saved from my own despair.— 
 <( Here !” cried he, “ shall thy existence terminate for desert- 
 ing me — then shall thy soul be my own, and dwell in eternal 
 torments!” — “ Prince of darkness,” cried I, as if illuminated 
 from above, <f in the name of the Almighty I shield myself 
 from thee ! — in his omnipotent name, which makes the powers 
 of hell to tremble, I conjure thee to leave me !” — In a moment 
 it thundered and lightened, a chasm opened, and with a horri- 
 ble noise he descended, leaving my soul melted with gratitude, 
 to heaven.” “ But one thing more,” said the Suprema : Why 
 does the ghost of Count Alvarez continue to haunt Marailo V’ 
 
 * — f< The unhappy phantom,” said Furialza, “ will never cease 
 to pursue Marano till he be satisfied. If you will absolve me,, 
 holy fathers, I, will command his restless shade to become visi- 
 ble.” “ You are absolved l” said the Suprema. — Furialza then 
 took a crucifix that laid on the table, and making a circle with, 
 it on the floor, and pronouncing some caballistic words, a dark 
 shadowy form was seen to move, till it rested on the corpse of 
 Amaranta. — A skinonlv covered its bones, its eyes were sunken* 
 and its cheeks were fleshless; horror ran through the frame of 
 all the living, as they beheld the spectre of the dead Alvarez. — 
 Furialza then addressed it : — “ Say, spirit why you trouble 
 the peace of the living?” No motion was visible on his lips — 
 but a hollow voice from the breast slowly articulated, “ Let 
 my bones, which lie in the dungeon of Montillo Castle, be 
 buried, and a mass be offered up for my tired soul. — The heir 
 of my destroyer has obeyed my commands. — Let him do this, 
 and he shall enjoy peace and my only daughter as his recom- 
 pence.” Furialza now waved the crucifix in the air, and the 
 spirit dissolved away, leaving the astonishment of the inqui- 
 sitors visible in their features. — The sentence of the Court was 
 then pronounced, That the Marquis d’Antares and Marano 
 be suffered to depart: that Olivaro Rondolos be mulcted in a 
 sum to be named by the Holy Office, and that Emelina perform 
 a penance agreeably to the pleasure of the Abbess of the Do- 
 minican Nuns,” — The Court of Inquisition afterwards decreed 
 
ALGONAH. 
 
 71 
 
 that Furialza be confined in one of the solitary cells of the tribu- 
 nal, there to remain a year and a day to repent of her crimes, 
 before she was sacrificed at the public auto da fL — The body 
 of Amaranta, before the Court broke up, was given to Ma- 
 rano for interment, and he was charged to see the funeral ob- 
 sequies performed on the bones of Count Alvarez. 
 
 On the following day Marano and D’Antares went to the 
 latter’s country-house, whither they found Rimanez had con- 
 ducted the ladies Juliana and Cleona, who were extremely 
 alarmed at the long absence of their noble friends. It had been 
 determined that nothing should be said of the business of the 
 Inquisition till the arrival of Olivaro, which took place in a 
 few days. With grief he informed them that for his fault the 
 lovely Emelina was condemned to take the veil, and his deter- 
 mination to prevent it. Marano after Oiivaro’s arrival, de- 
 parted with the ladies Juliana, Cleona, and Seraphina, and 
 Rimanez, for the castle of Mondlio. — He immediately per- 
 formed the funeral rites to the decayed remains of Count Al- 
 varez, and deposited the corpse of Amaranta by his side in the 
 chapel vaults of the castle. The widows of Don Algonah were 
 re-instated in different apartments of the castle at their choice, 
 and the office of exorcism was performed throughout the cham- 
 bers of the eastern wing, to satisfy the superstition of the ser- 
 vants. — The convalescence of Clementia rendered the Mar- 
 quis* d’Antares a happy mail, and his friend Marano had no 
 wish left ungratified, except that for his new-found brother 
 Olivaro. — They exerted all their influence to change the sen- 
 tence of the abbess, who was easily reconciled to her loss with 
 a pecuniary fine instead of a personal punishment, — No very 
 weighty arguments, when Emelina had joined Olivaro, were 
 wanting to induce the latter, after a decent respect had been 
 shewn to the memory of Amaranta, to substitute her in his af- 
 fections. — Emelina had long respected him, and, seeing no hope 
 of having Marano, she consented to the nuptials with Olivaro. 
 — During this period, dementia had perfectly recovered, and 
 Rondo, finding himself, as he expressed it, in a very fit state 
 for imitating his master with little Marta, the waiting-maid of 
 Lady Clementia, the weddings of all the parties were per- 
 formed on the same day. — Thus the three friends and relatives 
 terminated their eventful progress to the altar of Hymen by an 
 equal participation of connubial and retrospective happiness ! 
 
 FINIS . 
 
 J. CUNDEE, PRINTER, 
 
 ivy- Lane.