to a drawer, where she knew that Rosomaski kept a case of loaded pistols, and taking them in her hands, returned towards the trunk. Her surprise was increased, at seeing that he remained almost motionless, Compassion soon succeeded to her former emotions, when, on looking nearer, she observed that the unfortunate man had a bandage on his mouth, which was fastened at the back of his head, to prevent his making any outcry. Far from having the appearance of a man who could harbour any evil designs, his countenance wore the impression of grief and dejection, and seemed to implore her commiseration. She laid down the pistols, and assisted to draw him out of the trunk; whence, either from long confinement or the narrowness of his prison, he was extricated with difficulty. She then cut the straps which fastened the bandage upon his mouth, and prevented, as she imagined, the power of speech; but, although freed from this trammel, the man uttered only some inarticulate sounds. His

eyes,

eyes, however, appeared wet with tears of gratitude; and to atone, by his gestures, for the deficiency of speech, he threw himself on his knees before Rhodiska, and took one of her hands, which he placed on his lips.

CHAP. X.

AT that instant the door opened, and Rhodiska heard a voice exclaiming, "Perfidious pair, your blood shall wipe away my dishonour!" A man advanced, brandishing a glittering sabre. Rhodiska recognized Rosomaski, and fell into a swoon. The idea of being surprised, in a situation where all appearances united against her, to de

clare

per

clare her unfaithful to her conjugal vow, was more alarming to her than her sonal danger. The object of her misfortune, seeing Rosomaski about to strike at him, rose instantly, seized one of the pistols which Rhodiska had placed on the floor, and put himself in an attitude of defence. Rosomaski, without losing a moment, made a blow at him; but the blade fell on a button of his coat, and, gliding off on his arm, produced no other effect than to make him drop the pistol, with which he had armed himself. Rosomaski picked it up, and, holding the muzzle to the man's breast, cried out, “ Whỏ are you, and what is your business in this place? Speak this instant, or you are a corpse!" The man only uttered some inarticulate sounds, and made some significant gestures, which were, however, incomprehensible to Rosomaski. It was so dark, that, at first, Rosomaski had not been able to distinguish the features of the man at a distance; he saw only that he was of a

fine

fine figure, capable of exciting the jealousy with which his bosom was inflamed. He thought that he laboured under some impediment of speech, or that fear had produced the same effect upon his organs. To try whether the latter was the case, he turned away the pistol from him, and said, "I am mistaken; you have not the appearance of a seducer: if so, fear not, but tell me who you are." The man still answered only by convulsive gestures. Rosomaski at length comprehended, that he wished to have him understand that he could not speak, and that he desired to be furnished with materials for writing. Rosomaski opened his writing-desk, and furnished what he required. At that instant Rhodiska recovered her senses, and exclaimed, with tears and sighs, "Alas, Rosomaski, you are deceived, by a false appearance, into a belief of my guilt; but Heaven knows my innocence!"

"What is the meaning then," replied Rosomaski,

Rosomaski, "of all this strange scene? Am I in the land of dreams and chimeras?"

Scarcely had he finished these words, before the staircase, and the gallery leading to the cabinet, resounded with the steps of several persons, who advanced with the greatest haste. Rosomaski and Rhodiska beheld four men, who entered with a female at their head. One of the men cried out, "Do not stir, we are all armed: you have carried off a gentleman and his child-what is become of them ?" Rosomaski and Rhodiska looked at each other, unable to answer through surprise. At that moment, the prisoner in the trunk, distracted by this strange circumstance, left off writing, and ran to the lady who came with the guard, and who called him her dear husband, her dear Vendost. The lady then turned to Rosomaski, and demanded her dear child. "I know not what to answer you," replied Rosomaski-“ I am in the land of wonders. I looked upon your

husband