plan originally proposed, and therefore should not require their
assistance.--They departed, rejoicing at their good fortune in being
freed from a difficult and dangerous task, and congratulating
themselves on having received as much money as they had been promised
for its performance.

"Taking with me a dark lantern, I descended noiselessly into the wine
vault, and having secured the massive iron door, proceeded to execute
my plan of vengeance. Comrades, can you guess what that plan was? No,
I'll swear you cannot. But listen, and you shall hear.

"Placing my light in a convenient position, I dragged the dead body of
Lagrange from its place of concealment; then I bent over it, and
examined the ghastly countenance. The features were pale and rigid,
the teeth firmly set, and the glassy eyes wide open and staring. The
awful expression of those dead orbs seemed, bold as I was, to freeze
my very soul as with the power of a basilisk. For a single moment I
repented the deed; but that feeling soon passed, and I rejoiced at it.

"It occurred to me to search the pockets of my victim; I did so, and
found a small sum of money, and a sealed letter, addressed to Lord
Hawley. The valet had probably intended to despatch that letter to his
master that afternoon--which design was frustrated by his sudden death
by my hand. Eagerly I broke the seal, and read as follows:--

"'LONDON.

"'My lord.--Should your lordship have possibly designed extending
your visit to Berkshire beyond the time originally allotted to the
same, I entreat your lordship to set aside every
consideration--every engagement, however pressing or important its
nature may be, and to return immediately to town. Something has
occurred, in the conduct of her ladyship, intimately affecting your
lordship's honor. To relieve your lordship from any painful
uncertainty that may be occasioned by this indefinite announcement,
you will pardon me for stating plainly, that I myself saw her
ladyship and Captain St. Clair, under circumstances that admitted of
but one opinion in reference to the nature of the intimacy existing
between them. Simpson, the butler, whom I am persuaded is in the
confidence of her ladyship and the Captain, this afternoon
questioned me in regard to my knowledge of the affair, and the use I
intended to make of that knowledge; and he, not deeming my replies