was going to take, for he considered that the inmates of that building might be banditti.

At this idea the horn was dropping from his hand, when he suddenly reflected that his adored Louisa might be in their hands. Without hesitation, and confiding in the number of his attendants, he blew the horn. A hoarse voice from above demanded "if that was Gomelli ?"

"No," replied Ricardo looking up to a small turret window which rose on one side of the gates, and from whence the voice proceeded; "Having had the misfortune to be benight

ed

ed with my attendants, I have to request you will grant me and them a shelter for a few hours."

"I don't think we can," replied the

66

voice; however wait there, and I

will ask our Capitano, I mean the Signor of the Castello."

Some voices in conversation were then heard, and presently another man demanded how many there were, as he was afraid there would not be room for them.

Ricardo having satisfied him on that head he departed from the casement, and after waiting some time, they heard

the paces of people on the other side of the gates, which were soon after thrown open.

The aspects of the men who appeared in the court of the edifice, and who held torches. in their hands to dispel the gloomy shades of night, were such as by no means were calculated to give a favourable opinion either of them or their profession. They were of gigantic stature, each wearing on his head a casque of iron on which was fixed a large lock of horse-hair. Their countenances were dark and ferocious; and they were all armed with long swords.

As

As soon as Ricardo and his people had entered the court yard, the men

closed the gates, and conducted them to a large hall, where the remains of a fire yet blazed, One of them threw

several faggots upon it, and in a few minutes the walls were illumined by the cheerful light.

The men then departed promising to acquaint the Signor of the Castello, with his arrival; and Ricardo, who had now every reason to believe that he had unfortunately got amongst a horde of banditti, acquainted his people with his suspicions, and desired them to be on their guard, and by no means to separate.

The

The sounds of many voices, which appeared to come from a passage, the

door of which was open, made Ricardo advance toward it, to endeavour to learn what was going forwards. Hardly had he gained the entrance of the passage when the sounds ceased, and a manly voice sung a beautiful Sicilian ariette.

"Bravo, Capitano," said a number of voices when it was concluded, and the conversation was now resumed. The voice he had heard greatly interested Ricardo; it was familiar to his ear, and he had some hopes that he had little to fear for his personal safety.

Approaching footsteps made him re

tire