Page:Horrid Mysteries Volume 3.djvu/59

 courage by his noisy exhortations, advanced towards the great staircase.

"But now a new difficulty arose; none of us being willing or able to ascend the steps first. The Marquis was retained by his lady, and the rest were stopt by his example. At length, she suffered him to proceed, after he had asked her angrily, whether he took him for a child; and Antonio, who was in the rear, had exclaimed, Why we did not go on? He now ascended the stairs; and myself, with a friend of mine, who had taken me by the arm, pushed through the rest, and followed him closely, while the greater part of the company were loitering partly at the bottom, and partly in the middle, of the staircase, according to their respective share of courage. We did not mind their backwardness, and proceeded towards the haunted apartment with a great show of courage, but I dare say not without palpitating hearts.