FARCICAL ROMANCE 215 



" For a while he paced the tomb, wrapped in gloomy 

 meditation, and pondering, it might be, upon the 

 result of Luke's expedition, and the fulfilment of his 

 own dark schemes, scowling from time to time beneath 

 his bent eyebrows, counting the grim array of coffins, 

 and noticing, with something like satisfaction, that 

 the shell which contained the remains of his daughter 

 had been restored to its former position. He then 

 bethought him of Father Checkley's midnight intrusion 

 upon his conference with Luke, and their apprehension 

 of a supernatural visitation, and his curiosity was 

 stimulated to ascertain by what means the priest had 

 gained admission to the spot unperceived and unheard. 

 He resolved to sound the floor, and see whether any 

 secret entrance existed ; and hollowly and dully did 

 the hard flagging return the stroke of his heel as he 

 pursued his scrutiny. At length the metallic ringing 

 of an iron plate, immediately behind the marble effigy 

 of Sir Ranulph, resolved the point. There it was that 

 the priest had found access to the vault ; but 

 Alan's disappointment was excessive when he 

 discovered that this plate was fastened on the under- 

 side, and all communication thence with the church- 

 yard, or to wherever else it might conduct him, cut 

 off ; but the present was not the season for further 

 investigation, and tolerably pleased with the discovery 

 he had already made, he returned to his silent march 

 around the sepulchre. 



" At length a sound, like the sudden shutting of the 

 church door, broke upon the profound stillness of the 

 holy edifice. In the hush that succeeded a footstep 

 was distinctly heard threading the aisle. 



' He comes — he comes ! ' exclaimed Alan joyfully ; 

 adding, an instant after, in an altered voice, ' but he 

 comes alone.' 



" The footstep drew near to the mouth of the 

 vault— it was upon the stairs. Alan stepped forward 

 to greet, as he supposed, his grandson, but started 

 back in astonishment and dismay as he encountered 

 in his stead Lady Rookwood. Alan retreated, while 



