Page:Infernal secret, or, The invulnerable Spaniard.pdf/17

17 the walls of the terrace we have already described as communicating with the chamber of Isidora, were scaled by Spalatro and his horde. A breach was made in the wall, and the stranger advanced to possess himself of the Donna when Theodore, alarmed by the nnnsual noise he had heard above, entered sword in hand; he saw at once that all was lost. All then that can be done is to convince Isidora, and though my weapon cannot reach the stranger's life, it may at least assist in exposing his infernal secret ; accordingly with his sword in one hand and his stiletto in the other, he advanced and suddenly fixing his dagger blade in the right-hand cuff of Montilla's tunic, and ript it up, and disclosed a sight that thrilled every beholder with freezing horror-an arm quite fleshless and as of a skeletou was clearly seen by every one. Before timely assistance could be procured, it appeared on visiting the Donna's chamber, that herself and child had been borne away on mules and horses, stationed withoutside the breach in the terrace wall. On Isidora's awakening from the insensibility which the circumstances of her disappearance had caused, she found Montilla beside her; she looked and shuddered. He said in a firm but hurried tone, concealment is no longer possible, therefore Isidora thou shalt hear all the truth--thou hast seen my power when opposed; and tho' I can hold no potency o'er man not sworn to obey me, yet I can use evil men for my agents, and I have dono so; all human punishments are in my grasp; yet the hour is fast approaching that consigns me to a fate- here his voice became tremulous, and he with some difficulty proceeded-a fate that-Oh! son of God. Here he wiped away cold dews from his forehead, and resumed in a forced tone of hope_or saves me for a century, and I have fixed on thee