Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 80: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERY OF ST. MARK’S ABBEY. 67 _“ Very well, Miss, I will do as you wish,” said Bridget, “‘ but you must pro- mise me that you will never mention a word of it to anybody.” ‘‘'You may depend upon me,” said the impatient Angelina, ‘‘ alas! perhaps if I had even the will to do so, I shall never have the opportunity.” *¢ Oh, don't say so,’’ ramarked Bridget, ‘* you must not give way to despair ; and you don’t know but this adventure may turn out for the best after all. But all is secure; no one is near to listen to me, and so now to make a be- ginning.”’ As Bridget spoke, she drew her chair closer to Angelina, and proceeded to relate the following awful and marvellous story :— “‘ Well, Miss,”’ hegan Bridget, ‘‘ what [ am going to relate, took place when this old tower was in the possession of the Masqais Delmaine. He was a nebioman who was very much distiked in the neighbourhood, for they say he was a stern, haughty, and sasage-looking man, and that he treated all those who were under inbim such a manner, that he could never get his servants: to stay leng with him. My poor mother,—God rest her soul,—lived with his father fer many years, but she did not remain long in the situation when the property came {nto the possession of the nobleman of whom I am speaking, for she could not submit to his tyrannical ways. The Marquis was very fond of gambling. and nothing but the most dissipated noblemen ever associated with him. The tower was one continual scene of riot and debauchery, and was shunned by every respectable person iu the neighbourhood. The Baron’ De Morton was at that time, I have heard, one of the moet censtant guests bere, and he and the Matquis were on terms of the strictest intimacy. Thus it went on for some time, and nothing particular occurred, when suddenly there wae a singular alteration in the temper of the Marquis, and he abandoned all his former associates, and kept himself almost entirely secluded in this gloomy tower, and never had any company. Two or three strange and savage- looking men had, however, been noticed by some of the inhabitants lurking: about the neighbourhood, and more than once the Marquis had been seen’ to walk forth in conference with them, which excited streng suspicion, and they were certain that he was meditating something of no good. But, dear me, how very faint you must feel, not having taken anything to eat for so long ; —now do let me prevail apon you, Mise, to try a little bits if itis only a moathfal.’* “If you will proceed, I will try ;”’ replied Angelina, whe was deeply inter- ested with the story which Bridget was relating. ‘Ah! that’s right; now you will do;” observed Bridget, as Angelina com- menced tasting the viends, ** yoa will find them very nice. Well, to continue my story. This part of it came from the lips of poor old Simon Burney, who lived with the Marquis at the time, bat who is now dead and gone, so that there certainly may be some reliance placed upon the veracity of it. ‘One night," he said, ‘ the domestics were all commanded to retire to rest at an early hour, and not, upon pain of hie displeasure, to be seen up when he returned home, as he could let himself in. It was about midnight when old Simon was awoke by a terrible scuffling noise below, and soon afterwards he heard thet ascending the stairs which led to the gallery on which was the chamber of the old man. As you may imagine, his curiosity was excited in no small degree, and he longed, yet feared to watch them. His lamp was still burning, but, CORNICE DO© Go