42 The Spanish Headsman. 



that, notwithstanding the welcome and hospitality evinced by the Marquis 

 to himself and his comrades, Victor Marchand never relaxed in the 

 adoption of every precaution that prudence could suggest. In pacing the 

 garden terrace, and casting a keen and watchful glance from time to time 

 to ascertain the state of the town, of which his position gave him a dis- 

 tinct and general view ; or in listening occasionally to whatever sounds 

 arose from the valley below, in which it lay, he strove vainly to reconcile 

 to his mind, the open and almost unreserved friendship the Marquis had 

 displayed towards him, and the peace and tranquillity of the country 

 itself, with the doubts and fears expressed by his general, when his 

 curiosity was suddenly awakened, and his suspicions aroused by new and 

 somewhat unaccountable circumstances. Innumerable lights, at one and 

 the same instant, were to be seen moving in the town below : the hum 

 of many voices simultaneously heard, where all had been for so many 

 hours darkness and repose. Although it was the feast of Sant'Jago, he 

 had issued, that very morning, severe and peremptory orders, that every- 

 where (with the exception of the chateau) fire and light should be extin- 

 guished at the hour appointed by the military regulations. Again he 

 looked, and more intently : and certainly could distinguish the glittering 

 of muskets and bayonets at several of the posts where his sentinels were 

 stationed. The lights were yet seen j but a solemn silence now succeeded 

 to the noise, which was wholly distinct from that which might be sup- 

 posed to accompany the observance of a festival of the church. Whence 

 could proceed so general and extraordinary an infraction of military orders, 

 in despite of the more than inadequate nocturnal police and rounds which 

 he had organized ? He was resolved to fathom the mystery : and at 

 once, and with all the impetuosity of youth, he was in the act of scaling 

 the terrace wall, to reach, by a direct and rapid descent of the rock, the 

 corps-de-garde stationed at the entrance of the town, on the side of the 

 chateau, when a slight movement near him, resembling the light step of 

 a female on the sanded alley of the garden, induced him to pause. He 

 looked around him anxiously for some moments, but without success. 

 Again he raised himself to observe, and he became fixed and motionless 

 with surprise, as his strained sight dwelt on some distant object ; for, 

 clear and distinct as the moon in heaven, he beheld a fleet of ships riding 

 upon the waters and nearing the land. He was casting in his mind, with 

 the utmost rapidity of thought, the measures he must instantly pursue, 

 when his reflections were interrupted by a hoarse, low voice, proceeding 

 from a breach in the wall, at some paces distance, above which a human 

 head projected. He hastened to the spot, and ascertained it to be the 

 orderly who was in attendance upon him at the chateau. 



" Is it you, Colonel ?" 



" It is!" 



" The beggars, below there, Sir, are twisting about like so many worms. 

 I have been upon the watch, and hastened to make my report to you." 



" Speak !" said Victor Marchand. 



" Seeing a man leave the chateau privily, with a lantern, I resolved to 

 follow him ; for a lantern, and at this hour, looked suspicious, so I stuck 

 close to him, as he crept thitherwards : and on a platform of the rock, 

 there, where my finger points, Sir, I saw him approach an enormous pile 

 of faggots ; when ' 



A tremedous shout rose from the town beneath. A wide and sudden 



