s completely managed by a cunning
knave. Being a kind and a just man, he was anxious not to run the risk
of wronging a faithful servant, who was always profuse in expressions of
attachment to the family, and he determined to keep his suspicions
within his own breast, until he had given the matter a personal
investigation.

Great was the astonishment and delight of Clara and her sister when he
announced to them his intention of paying a visit to the castle of
Alcantra. It was there that Magdalena first saw the light, and it was
there that her mother closed her eyes upon the world, leaving her
husband almost distracted; he immediately removed with his little
children from the scene of this great affliction. It was soon after this
sad event that the old and faithful mayordomo died; he had long been
intrusted with the entire control of the estate, and was greatly beloved
by his fellow-servants and by the peasantry. The Conde gave orders that
the sub-steward, who had lately come into his service, and who was
acquainted with the duties of the office, should take his vacant place;
his feelings were at that time too much engrossed with his recent loss
to institute the proper inquiries into his character and capabilities,
and from that time it was that, from some cause, either from misfortune,
negligence, or corruption, the entanglement of his affairs was to be
dated. The Conde had never before been willing to revisit the castle;
and his daughters, with the ardent curiosity of youth, longed to behold
the place in which a long line of their ancestors had lived, and eagerly
availed themselves of his invitation to accompany him. Their
imaginations were fired by all they had heard of the old chateau; and
the ruinous condition into which it had fallen of late years, only added
fuel to the flame. Clara remembered, or fancied that she remembered, a
vast dark building, with huge towers and buttresses; she often tried to
picture to her mind the home of her infancy, and to describe it to
Magdalena, but these vague remembrances were all that she could recall.

Don Alonzo informed his daughters that the journey was to be commenced
on the morrow, without much preparation, or any thing like an
ostentatious style of travelling; they themselves would set out in the
old family coach, accompanied by his secretary, Senor Roberto, and would
be followed by another carriage containing their maid, Fernando, his
valet, and Anselmo, a trusty servant. H