1828.] A Night at Veniee. 147 
« Humph !” 
« Humph !” 
A pause again. 
Still no noise disturbed the current of our counsels. The curtains fell 
firmly to the ground, and the gleams from the night-lamp darted steadily 
on the various furniture of the room. But yet it was very long before 
the only method which could ensure our retreat was agreed upon. I am 
persuaded that an entire hour had passed away before we could resolve 
on seeking for the key where we thought it was to be found. At last 
the resolution was taken. We left our seats, and advancing on tiptoe, 
stole towards the bed. The light was flickering, and almost exhausted ; 
we had to grope our way, and, caught by some obstacle, the foot of my 
companion slid noisily along the floor. A gentle voice instantly called 
out in most melodious Italian, and hastily inquired who was there. 
Somewhat assured by this hearing, I answered that there were indeed 
persons in the chamber, but most anxious to get out of it; that they 
would never have entered it, had they dared to stay away, nor have 
remained an instant, had they been permitted to depart. 
The same voice, but in more timid accents, again asked what prevented 
our leaving the room? 
We answered that the door was fastened. 
“ Who can have done so?” cried she, impatiently. 
“ I know not,” I replied, “ unless, indeed, it were yourself, lady ?” 
_ “ Do not sport with me, Sir,” returned the gentle voice ; “ but tell me 
truly, how long you may have been here ?” 
“ Somewhere between one and two hours.” 
-“ And wherefore did you come ?” ; 
“ Because we were compelled—that is, induced by some one, whose 
name or description we cannot give you, inasmuch as we do not know 
Ct ad 
“ And I pray you, Sir, what then became of your conductor ?” 
_ “ Why, to tell the plain truth, she, or it, withdrew behind that bed- 
curtain, and, to the best of our belief, there remained: so that you see, 
lady, there was an excuse for the conjecture that you might possibly 
know something about this matter.” 
“ Sirs,” answered she, “ you are trifling with me ; as you are gentle- 
men, I beseech you leave the room, or be assured I will wake up the 
house without farther loss of time.” 
“ Madam,” I rejoined, in as persuasive a tone as possible, “ nothing can 
be more serious than I am, when I assure you that the person by whom 
we were guided thither, retired into that bed, after having locked us up 
: in this apartment, very much against our inclination. And if you want 
_ a farther testimony, you will, I doubt not, find there the very key of 
____ that very door, the possession of which we at this moment so intensely 
covet.” 
We heard the lady turn round, and utter a half-subdued exclamation. 
s She then threw something on the floor, at the same time addressing us 
ag with a more confirmed tone, in the following words :— 
“ Gentlemen, you are right. I ask your pardon for having doubted 
our assertions. here is the key, and I entreat you, as you are men of 
onour, not to divulge this story while you remain in Venice; for busy 
gues would make it scandalous, and no one would believe that my 
poor sister was subject to sleep-walking.”’ 
ab 
JEVAH. 
U 2 
