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44 whom he had been betrothed. From this, and from the embarrassment he betrayed when I spoke of her, I concluded that, in consequence of his new love, he had basely deserted the Countess Apollonia, without any fault on her part to warrant such conduct. With such impressions on my mind I could not expect happiness for Laura in her marriage with him; and I resolved to take the first opportunity of tearing off his mask, so that he might repent of his cruelty, and return ere it was too late to the forsaken bride.

Sooner than I could have anticipated I was enabled to fulfil this plan.

One evening, after supper, the conversation happened to turn on the question whether injustice and wickedness are always punished in this world. I remarked that I had known within my own experience very striking proofs of it, and the old Countess and Laura begged that I would make them acquainted with one at least of the instances to which I alluded.

‘If I am to do so,’ said I, ‘you must at least allow me to choose a story in which the characters and incidents, as I think, concern you very nearly.’

‘Concern us? How is that possible?’ said the Countess, while I cast a significant glance at the Duke, who now looked on me with the pale ghastly visage of one whose conscience reproaches him.

‘Such at least is my opinion,’ said I; ‘but I must request the Count’s indulgence if the supernatural should play a part in my narrative.’

‘Have no hesitation on that score,’ said he; ‘and as to my wonder as to how you have chanced to encounter spectral and supernatural adventures, while not one ever fell in my way, I shall for the present say nothing.’