674 DICK TUUPIN. 



here, because, as in thy life I feared thee not, neither in death do I fear 

 thee I am here because ' 



" ' What sees! thou?' interrupted Alan, with ill-suppressed terror. 



'" What see I ha ha ' shouted Lady Rookwood, amidst discordant 

 laughter * that which might appal a heart less stout than mine a figure 

 anguish-writhen, with veins that glow as with a subtle and consuming 

 flame. A substance yet a shadow, in thy living likeness ha frown if 

 thou wilt, I can return thy glances ' 



ce ' Where dost thou see this vision?' demanded Alan. 



" e Where !' echoed Lady Rookwood, becoming for the first time sensible 

 of the presence of a stranger. f Ha who art thou that questionest me ? 

 what art thou ? speak !' 



" ' No matter who or what I am/ returned Alan. ' I ask thee what thou 

 dost behold ?' 



1 ' Canst thou see nothing ?' 



"' Nothing,' replied Alan. 

 ' Thou didst know Sir Piers Rookwood ?' 

 ' Is it he ?' asked Alan, drawing near her. 



' ' It is he/ replied Lady Rookwood; ' I have followed him hither, and 

 I will follow him whithersoever he leads me., were it to ' 



"' What doth he now?' asked Alan, ' see'st thou him still?' 



"'The figure points to that sarcophagus/ returned Lady Rookwood. 

 ' Canst raise up the lid ?' 



" * No/ replied Alan, 'my strength will not avail to lift it.' 



" ' Yet let the trial be made/ said Lady Rookwood ; ' the figure points 

 there still my own arm shall aid thee.' 



" Alan watched her in dumb wonder. She advanced towards the marble 

 monument, and beckoned him to follow. Reluctantly did he comply. 

 Without any expectation of being able to move the ponderous lid of the 

 sarcophagus, at Lady Rookwood's renewed request he applied himself to 

 raise it. What was his surprise, when, beneath their united efforts, he 

 found the ponderous slab slowly revolve upon its vast hinges, and with 

 little further difficulty, it was completely elevated ; though it still required 

 the exertion of all Alan's strength to prop it open, and prevent its falling 

 back. 



"' What doth it contain ?' asked Lady Rookwood. 



" ' A warrior's ashes/ returned Alan. 



" ' There is a rusty dagger upon a fold of faded linen,' cried Lady Rook- 

 wood, holding down the light. 



" ' It is the weapon with which the first dame of the house of Rookwood 

 was stabbed/ said Alan, with a grim smile, 



' Which whoso graspeth in the tomb, 

 Shall clutch until the hour of doom.' 



So saith the rhyme. Have you seen enough?' 



" ' No/ said Lady Rookwood, precipitating herself into the marble 

 coffin. ' That weapon shall be mine.' 



" ' Come forth come forth/ cried Alan. ' My arm trembles I cannot 

 support the lid.' 



" ' I will have it, though I grasp it to eternity/ shrieked Lady Rook- 

 wood, vainly endeavouring to wrest away the dagger, which was fastened, 

 together with the linen upon which it lay, by some adhesive substance to 

 the bottom of the shell. 



" At this moment Alan Rookwood happened to cast his eye upward, and 

 he then beheld what filled him with new terror. The axe of the sable 

 statue was poised above its head, as in the act to strike him. Some secret 



