oor that he had opened the night
before. Oswald followed with his rosary in his hand, and Joseph last
with trembling steps. The door opened with ease, and they descended the
stairs in profound silence.

The lower rooms answered exactly to those above; there were two parlours
and a large closet. They saw nothing remarkable in these rooms, except
two pictures, that were turned with their faces to the wall. Joseph took
the courage to turn them. "These," said he, "are the portraits of my
lord and lady. Father, look at this face; do you know who is like it?"

"I should think," said Oswald, "it was done for Edmund!"

"I am," said Edmund, "struck with the resemblance myself; but let us go
on; I feel myself inspired with unusual courage. Let us open the closet
door."

Oswald stopped him short.

"Take heed," said he, "lest the wind of the door put out the lamp. I
will open this door."

He attempted it without success; Joseph did the same, but to no purpose;
Edmund gave the lamp to Joseph; he approached the door, tried the key,
and it gave way to his hand in a moment.

"This adventure belongs," said he, "to me only; that is plain--bring the
lamp forward."

Oswald repeated the paternoster, in which they all joined, and then
entered the closet.

The first thing that presented itself to their view, was a complete suit
of armour, that seemed to have fallen down on an heap.

"Behold!" said Edmund; "this made the noise we heard above." They took
it up, and examined it piece by piece; the inside of the breast plate
was stained with blood.

"See here!" said Edmund; "what think you of this?"

"'Tis my Lord's armour," said Joseph; "I know it well--here has been
bloody work in this closet!"

Going forward, he stumbled over something; it was a ring with the arms
of Lovel engraved upon it.

"This is my Lord's ring," said Joseph; "I have seen him wear it; I give
it to you, sir, as the right owner; and most religiously do I believe
you his son."

"Heaven only knows that," said Edmund; "and, if it permits, I will know
who was my father before I am a day older."

While he was speaking, he shifted his ground, and perceived that the
boards rose up on the other side of the closet; upon farther examination
they found that the whole floor was loose, and a table that stood over
them concealed the circumstance from a casual observer.

"I perceive," said Oswald, "that some great discovery is at hand."

"God defend us!" said Edmund