behold you again." Leopold, who dreaded the effect which the grief of Rhodiska might have upon her father, at length thought proper to try to remove her. He represented to her, that the Count stood in need of repose after such an unexpected burst of joy, and that the magistrate was waiting to take down, from the mouths of those concerned, whatever they could inform him of the affair, that the. author of it might be brought to punishment. The Count joined in desiring her not to detain the worthy magistrate, who would, in all probability, wish to return as soon as possible to Cracow. Rhodiska was, with difficulty, prevailed upon to leave her father; and she accompanied Leopold to the room where the magistrate was employed in taking the depositions, and where they gave in their own. When this business was finished, the Count sent to desire that the magistrate would favour him with his company. The Count thanked him in the warmest terms, for the deliverance of

his daughter, and requested to be informed how they had discovered the place of her confinement? The magistrate replied, that Byloff, through whose means it had been effected, was the only person to give him that information. He added; that he had only done his duty, in searching the place where she was suspected to be concealed. The Count again thanked him for the happy dispatch with which he had executed his office, and desired his acceptance of a valuable ring which he took from his finger, as a token of his esteem and gratitude. He also presented him with a purse, which he begged him to do him the favour to distribute as he should think proper, among those who had attended him. The magistrate had no sooner retired, than the Count desired that Byloff might be sent for, to acquaint them with the manner in which he had made the happy discovery. Byloff soon arrived, and gave them the following wonderful account.

CHAP

CHAP. VI.

THE morning on which we were alarm

ed at the return of Leopold's horse without its rider, I set off, determined to trace the whole adjoining country, to discover what had become of him. I wandered about the whole day, without having met with a single person. The declining sun had begun to paint objects of a deep-red colour, and I thought of seeking some path which would conduct me to a habitation, where I might pass the night. I guessed I must be at a considerable distance from Dorbalec, when I. beheld a long avenue, pierced through the forest in a straight line, where the underwood

G-3

underwood had been cleared to form a passage between the gigantic trees, which formed an arch over head. At the further extremity, I perceived a bright light through the gloom of this umbrageous vault, which was caused by the reflection of the sun-beams from a beautiful cascade. My curiosity was awakened-I hastened my steps; and, when I arrived at the extremity of the avenue, I beheld the remains of an old castle. The sheet of water, with which it appeared surrounded, had penetrated through the foundations, and made its way into the interior. The source of this reservoir, being no longer confined by the bars which art had formerly opposed to keep it within proper bounds, had flown in greater abundance; and having entered the castle, where the waters were confined by thick walls, had risen to the height of the lowest windows, whence they issued out again in torrents of foam.

"I was admiring, in silence, this wonderful combination of nature and art, when I was

I was surprised to hear the voice of a human being, whose approach the noise of these cascades had prevented me from perceiving, till he was at my side. On turning round, 1 beheld a venerable figure, with a long beard. Curiosity only made me attentively examine his face, of which I had not the least recollection; but, after examining mine with equal attention, I started to hear him call me by my name. I again endeavoured to recollect him, but in vain; and, at length, desired an expla

nation.

It is no wonder,' said he, that you should not know the woe-worn Irvan in this disguise, and after so long an absence. I knew you, however, at some distance, and could not help imagining. I beheld your phantom, since all your acquaintance have long supposed you dead.'

"If the hermit was surprised at beholding me, I was no less at seeing, in that condition, one of the tenants of Vistulof, whom, in the days of Count Gustavus, I G 4

had