Page:The Keepsake for 1838.djvu/230

 the reverse. However, I merely asked Adelaide whether she had never been there in her childhood; and if she had formed no idea in her own mind of that formidable chamber?

“The mind involuntarily forms an image of everything unknown,” answered she, “and this is my case. I imagine the room to be very spacious, but desolate, as indeed it must be. I also think, I don’t know why, that there is a large walled-up window, in which an old altar stands.”

“There your imagination errs,” interrupted the Baron. “I never heard of either the window, or the altar; and I saw nothing of them, the only time that I ever in my life approached the chamber, in the endeavour to discover the cause of the General’s sudden departure.”

“Nevertheless,” returned I, “the fact is exactly as the Lady Adelaide asserts. Last night, to prevent every possibility of deception, I removed an old heavy screen; and behind it I discovered an altar, in the niche of a window, which was concealed by a wall.”

“Strange, most strange!” exclaimed, in much amazement, both father and daughter. Every conjecture was exhausted in the endeavour to obtain any explanation of this extraordinary coincidence. The only probable cause, I had too good reason for not mentioning; and therefore avoided a continuation of the subject.

As I went out, I met Hartmann, who was superintending, with the greatest zeal, the repairs of the old tower. I was anxious to hear some of the mysterious traditions, regarding this ancient building; and consequently entered into conversation with him. He, at first, narrated the well known tale, of the gift of a subterraneous gnome, which was buried in the tower; and which was to preserve the family from all misfortunes. But I soon saw that he did not believe this fable, which is related of so many castles. At last, becoming more