Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 3).djvu/256

 she obeyed, and after a short whisper, one of the men followed her.

The other having shut the door, advanced close to me, and, to my infinite astonishment, taking off a false covering of hair, and removing a pair of black eye-brows, discovered to me the features of Count Wolfran. I shrieked with the wildest affright.

"Once more," said he, "I have you in my power.—You, who have destroyed my happiest prospects, and blasted all my hopes; who have injured my character, and procured for yourself protectors at my expense. What have you to offer as an atonement for the mischief you have done; what reparation can you make for the ruin and disgrace you have brought upon me?"

I was speechless at this address: The effrontery, and the well-known villainy of the man, filled me with the most dreadful apprehensions, and impeded any attempt at articulation; he saw, and enjoyed my terror.

"I see," said the wretch, "conscious guilt ties your tongue: Know then, that I have taken my measures too securely for you to