Soon after, I overheard some of them
laying a most diabolical plan for the murder and plunder of the whole
party, when I contrived to speak to some of my lord’s attendants,
telling them what was going forward, and we consulted what was best to
be done; meanwhile my lord, alarmed at the absence of the Lady Blanche,
demanded her, and the ruffians having given some unsatisfactory answer,
my lord and Mons. St. Foix became furious, so then we thought it a good
time to discover the plot, and rushing into the chamber, I called out,
‘Treachery! my lord count, defend yourself!’ His lordship and the
chevalier drew their swords directly, and a hard battle we had, but we
conquered at last, as, madam, you are already informed of by my Lord
Count.”

“This is an extraordinary adventure,” said Emily, “and much praise is
due, Ludovico, to your prudence and intrepidity. There are some
circumstances, however, concerning the north apartments, which still
perplex me; but, perhaps, you may be able to explain them. Did you ever
hear the banditti relate anything extraordinary of these rooms?”

“No, madam,” replied Ludovico, “I never heard them speak about the
rooms, except to laugh at the credulity of the old housekeeper, who
once was very near catching one of the pirates; it was since the Count
arrived at the château, he said, and he laughed heartily as he related
the trick he had played off.”

A blush overspread Emily’s cheek, and she impatiently desired Ludovico
to explain himself. “Why, my lady,” said he, “as this fellow was, one night in the bedroom,
he heard somebody approaching through the next apartment, and not
having time to lift up the arras, and unfasten the door, he hid himself
in the bed just by. There he lay for some time in as great a fright, I
suppose—”

“As you were in,” interrupted Annette, “when you sat up so boldly to
watch by yourself.”

“Aye,” said Ludovico, “in as great a fright as he ever made anybody
else suffer; and presently the housekeeper and some other person came
up to the bed, when he, thinking they were going to examine it,
bethought him, that his only chance of escaping detection, was by
terrifying them; so he lifted up the counterpane, but that did not do,
till he raised his face above it, and then they both set off, he said,
as if they had seen the devil, and he got out of the rooms
undiscovered.”

Emily could not forbear smiling at this explanation of the deception,
which had given her so much superstitious terror, and was surprised,
that she could have suffered herself to be thus alarmed, till she
considered, that, when the mind has once begun to yield to the weakness
of superstition, trifles impress it with the force of conviction. Still, however, she remembered with awe the mysterious music, which had
been heard, at midnight, near Château-le-Blanc, and she asked Ludovico
if he could give any explanation of it; but he could not. “I only know, madam,” he added, “that it did not belong to the pirates,
for I have heard them laugh about it, and say, they believed the devil
was in league with them there.”

“Yes, I will answer for it he was,” said Annette, her countenance
brightening, “I was sure all along, that he or his spirits had
something to do with the north apartments, and now you see, madam, I am
right at last.”

“It cannot be denied, that his spirits were very busy in that part of
the château,” replied Emily, smiling. “But I am surprised, Ludovico,
that these pirates should persevere in their schemes, after the arrival
of the Count; what could they expect but certain detection?”

“I have reason to believe, madam,” replied Ludovico, “that it was their
intention to persevere no longer than was necessary for the removal of
the stores, which were deposited in the vaults; and it appeared, that
they had been employed in doing so from within a short period after the
Count’s arrival; but, as they had only a few hours in the night for
this business, and were carrying on other schemes at the same time, the
vaults were not above half emptied, when they took me away. They
gloried exceedingly in this opportunity of confirming the superstitious
reports, that had been spread of the north chambers, were careful to
leave everything there as they had found it, the better to promote the
deception, and frequently, in their jocose moods, would laugh at the
consternation, which they believed the inhabitants of the castle had
suffered upon my disappearing, and it was to prevent the possibility of
my betraying their secret, that they had removed me to such a distance. From that period they considered the château as nearly their own; but I
found from the discourse of their comrades, that, though they were
cautious, at first, in showing their power there, they had once very
nearly betrayed themselves. Going, one night, as was their custom, to
the north chambers to repeat the noises, that had occasioned such alarm
among the servants, they heard, as they were about to unfasten the
secret door, voices in the bedroom. My lord has since told me, that
himself and M. Henri were then in the apartment, and they heard very
extraordinary sounds of lamentation, which it seems were made by these
fellows, with their usual design of spreading terror; and my lord has
owned, he then felt somewhat more, than surprise; but, as it was
necessary to the peace of his family, that no notice should be taken,
he was silent on the subject, and enjoined silence to his son.”

Emily, recollecting the change, that had appeared in the spirits of the
Count, after the night, when he had watched in the north room, now
perceived the cause of it; and, having made some further enquiries upon
this strange affair, she dismissed Ludovico, and went to give orders
for the accommodation of her friends, on the following day. In the evening, Theresa, lame as she was, came to deliver the ring,
with which Valancourt had entrusted her, and, when she presented it,
Emily was much affected, for she remembered to have seen him wear it
often in happier days. She was, however, much displeased, that Theresa
had received it, and positively refused to accept it herself, though to
have done so would have afforded her a melancholy pleasure. Theresa
entreated, expostulated, and then described the distress of Valancourt,
when he had given the ring, and repeated the message, with which he had
commissioned her to deliver it; and Emily could not conceal the extreme
sorrow this recital occasioned her, but wept, and remained lost in
thought. “Alas! my dear young lady!” said Theresa, “why should all this be? I
have known you from your infancy, and it may well be supposed I love
you, as if you were my own, and wish as much to see you happy. M.
Valancourt, to be sure, I have not known so long, but then I have
reason to love him, as though he was my own son.