Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 3).djvu/263

 To divert their attention, they asked the young Count Reiberg to ride with them to the Turk's cottage, as they wished to know if he had gained any information relative to Fatima.

On arriving at the house, they were surprised to see all the window shutters fastened. The Count advanced to the door, and knocking with his whip, found the door was on a jar. They alighted, and repeated the knock; but no one appearing, and fancying they heard a noise something like the moan of a person in pain, they pushed open the door, and ventured in. There was no one below, but an appearance of disorder in the room, the closet open, and things scattered about, that gave them an idea some ruffians had broken in and plundered the house.

They had no fire arms with them, and therefore went cautiously up stairs.—The same disorder was apparent in the first room they entered; but on going through to an inner apartment, how greatly were they astonished and shocked, to behold a gentle-