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Rh most rapid and blissful train of images floated over his fancy, engendering hopes of a sure and speedy recompense at hand, equivalent to the unwearied exertions he had made towards the accomplishment of his purpose.

Such being his well-concerted plot, as soon as the hour of ten arrived, and the night became dark and gloomy, typical of the iniquitous deed he meditated, (like the nocturnal bird, drawn by the instinct that impels it from the covert of the light of day,) Melliphant mounted the chaise brought to him by his trusty hireling, and ordered it to be driven as near the tomb as was possible. Borne slowly, on account of the caution necessary to be observed, how long seemed the interval ere he alighted, and on foot proceeded in the direction leading to the spot which ingulfed his victim!

The fever of intemperate joy revelled through every vein whilst he searched for the stone that shut from his sight her who had ever dazzled it by the brilliancy of her beauty! The indefatigable industry he had through so long a period made use of to sully the vestal purity of his victim—every defeat served only to aggravate the desire for the possession of such a gem; its every additional lustre, as it shone upon him, caused him the more to aim at its destruction; the hitherto insuperable difficulties which had opposed him, worked him into a species of frenzy,—and influenced him at last to the measure he had