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15 replied the Baroness, smiling, as if she really burned with an eagerness for plunder and a long-wished escape : snatched up a lighted candle, conducting the band to every apartment, opening every door,closet, aud chest, unasked; assisting in emptying their contents ; diverting the robbers with the most jovial sallies of humour; jumping with apparent indifference over the dead bodies of her mangled servants; conversed with every one of these plunderers as if they were old acquaintances; and, manifested a degree of satisfaction that could not but remove every suspicion.

Plate, money, jewels, and every thing valuable that could be found, were now collected, and the captain ordered his gang to prepare instantly for quitting the castle, when his intended mistress suddenly laid hold of his arm: “ Did I not tell you," exclaimed she," that you would not repent of having saved my life, and that I should prove myself your real friend ? you are dexterous enough in emptying the chests you find open ; but your lynx eyes would never discover the secret treasures of this castle."

“ Secret! what ? where P?” most eagerly exclaimed the whole band. " Do you imagine," rejoined the Baroness, " that drawers which are full of the most valuable articles, contain no secret recesses ?-Look here, and you will soon see how blind you were."

So saying, the Baroness pointed at a secret spring in the Baron's writing desk. The robbers opened it, and shouted with joy and astonishment on discovering six rouleaus, each containing two hundred ducats.

“Bravo !".exclaimed the captain, “I see now