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Rh shiver when treachery is at hand.' This careless observation seemed to affect my guest far beyond what a slight pleasantry could be supposed to occasion. His face became livid; and snatching up a silver cup, he filled it to the very brim, and drank it down; then he stood for a moment, as if lost in thought, when, flinging his cloak around him, he hurried from the room, utterly forgetful of our presence, without even a gesture of farewell. His strange agitation left its own gloom behind, and our party soon broke up.

"Have you never, Mercœur, felt that vague fear, that feverish restlessness, for which you can give no rational cause; but which seems as if something extraordinary must happen, though you have not the slightest ground for expectation? I ordered my horse, and rode out; and the pleasantness of the evening led me further than I intended, so that the moon was up as I returned homewards. On my way, I had to pass the churchyard, which is about a quarter of a mile from the town. The moonlight was shining full on the lowly graves, over which the branches of an old yew-tree swung to and fro mournfully. To my great surprise, from the lateness of the hour, when the funeral rites are but rarely performed, I saw a group of persons gathered round a grave