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 it came, waved his hand impatiently, and bade them begone.

" A-whish—a-whish!" muttered Dame Darkmans, "to spake so to the poor; but the rats never lie, the bonny things!"

Aram threw himself into his chair, and remained for some moments absorbed in a reverie, which did not bear the aspect of gloom. Then, walking once or twice to and fro the apartment, he stopped opposite the chimney-piece, over which were slung the fire-arms, which he never omitted to keep charged and primed.

"Humph!" he said, half aloud, "ye have been but idle servants; and now ye are but little likely ever to requite the care I have bestowed upon you."

With that, a faint smile crossed his features, and turning away, he ascended the stairs that led to the lofty chamber in which he had been so often wont to outwatch the stars—

The souls of systems, and the lords of life, Through their wide empires."