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 securing his safety.' This reason for preventing her attendance conquered all opposition.

"I shall not dwell upon the minutes I passed alone. The monk came according to his promise as soon as it was dark; he opened the door softly, and held a glimmering lamp in his hand. 'Follow me, my son,' said he.

"I implicitly obeyed, and pursued his cautious steps through winding passages, and down innumerable descents of steps. At length we stopped, and I found myself in a spacious and gloomy vault.

"Have you changed your mind (demanded I, after looking round me for a minute); have you at last thought me deserving of punishment, and brought me hither as to a prison."

'You wrong me by the supposition (said he); I have brought you to this vault but to secure you from danger; your destruction I have no doubt was intended as well as your brother's; the motive for such an intention