accessible by no other means. Now my
wish--my command is this:--Upon the day of your marriage, whenever such
an event may occur--and I suppose you do not intend to remain unwedded
all your life--I enjoin you to open the door of that closet. You must be
accompanied by your bride--and by no other living soul. I also desire
that this may be done with the least possible delay--the very
morning--within the very hour after you quit the church. That closet
contains the means of elucidating a mystery profoundly connected with
me--with you--with the family--a mystery, the developments of which may
prove of incalculable service alike to yourself and to her who may share
your title and your wealth. But should you never marry, then must the
closet remain unvisited by _you_; nor need you trouble yourself
concerning the eventual discovery of the secret which it contains, by
any person into whose hands the mansion may fall at your death. It is
also my wish that your sister should remain in complete ignorance of the
instructions which I am now giving you. Alas! poor girl--she cannot hear
the words which fall from my lips! neither shall you communicate their
import to her by writing, nor by the language of the fingers. And
remember that while I bestow upon you my blessing--my dying
blessing--may that blessing become a withering curse--the curse of hell
upon you--if in any way you violate one tittle of the injunctions which
I have now given you."

"My dearest father," replied the weeping youth, who had listened with
the most profound attention, to these extraordinary commands; "I would
not for worlds act contrary to your wishes. Singular as they appear to
me, they shall be fulfilled to the very letter."

He received from his father's hand the mysterious key, which he had
secured about his person.

"You will find," resumed the count after a brief pause, "that I have
left the whole of my property to you. At the same time my will specifies
certain conditions relative to your sister Nisida, for whom I have made
due provision only in the case--which is, alas! almost in defiance of
every hope!--of her recovery from that dreadful affliction which renders
her so completely dependent upon your kindness."

"Dearest father, you know how sincerely I am attached to my sister--how
devoted she is to me----"

"Enough, enough!" cried the count; and overcome by the effort he had
made to deliver his last injunction, he fell back insensible on his
pi