as their first excitement of
fear had subsided.

While thus arranging their plans for the future, the servant in livery
again entered, to announce another visitor.

'He is a strange looking man,' said the servant, 'and when I civilly
told him that the ladies received no company before dinner, he gave me
such a look as I shall never forget, and told me to hold my tongue and
lead the way--good Lord, here he comes now!'

The terrified servant vanished from the room, as a tall figure stalked
in, wrapped in a cloak. The ladies could scarce repress a shriek, when
throwing aside his hat and cloak, the stranger exhibited a face of
appalling hideousness; and a fearful misgiving took possession of their
minds, that this was the other person who was in the secret of their
crime.

'You are the two Franklin ladies I presume--mother and daughter--good!'
and the stranger glanced from one to the other with a fierce
satisfaction.

'What is your business with us?' demanded Josephine, haughtily.

'Ha! young hussey, you are very saucy,' growled the stranger
savagely--'but your pride will soon be humbled. In the first place, are
we alone, and secure from interruption?'

'We are--why do you ask?' said Mrs. Franklin.

'Because your own personal safety demands that our interview be not
overheard,' replied the man. 'As you are fashionable people, I will
introduce myself. Ladies, I am called the Dead Man, and have the honor
to be your most obedient servant. Now to business.'

The Dead Man proceeded to relate those circumstances with which the
reader is already acquainted, connected with his visit to the tomb of
Mr. Franklin, and the manner in which he had come to the knowledge of
that gentleman's murder. He omitted, however, to state that he had shut
up the rector in the tomb, for he firmly believed in his own mind that
Dr. Sinclair had perished.

'You perceive,' said he, when he had finished these details--'it is in
my power to have you hung up at any time. Now, to come to the point at
once--what consideration will you allow me if I keep silent in regard to
this affair?'

'Of course you require money,' remarked Josephine, who was disposed to
treat the matter in as business-like a manner as possible.

'Why--yes; but not money alone,' replied the Dead Man, with a horrible
leer;--'you are both devilish handsome, and I should prefer to take out
a good portion of my reward in your soft embraces. You shudder ladies;
yet would not my