. Where is Edmund?"

"I do not know."

"Has nobody seen him?"

"Not that I know of."

"Call my sons, my kinsmen, my servants."

The servants came in.

"Have any of you seen or heard of Edmund?"

"No," was the answer.

"Father, step upstairs to my sons and kinsmen, and desire them to come
down immediately."

Oswald withdrew; and went, first, to Mr. William's chamber.

"My dear sir, you must come to my lord now directly--he has something
extraordinary to communicate to you."

"And so have I, father--see what I have found upon my pillow!"

"Pray, sir, read it to me before you shew it to any body; my lord
is alarmed too much already, and wants nothing to increase his
consternation."

William read his letter, while Oswald looked as if he was an utter
stranger to the contents, which were these:--

"Whatever may be heard or seen, let the seal of friendship be upon thy
lips. The peasant Edmund is no more; but there still lives a man who
hopes to acknowledge, and repay, the Lord Fitz-Owen's generous care
and protection; to return his beloved William's vowed affection, and to
claim his friendship on terms of equality."

"What," said William, "can this mean?"

"It is not easy to say," replied Oswald.

"Can you tell what is the cause of this alarm?"

"I can tell you nothing, but that my lord desires to see you
directly--pray make haste down; I must go up to your brothers and
kinsmen, nobody knows what to think, or believe."

Master William went down stairs, and Father Oswald went to the
malcontents. As soon as he entered the outward door of their apartment,
Mr. Wenlock called out. "Here comes the friend--now for some new
proposal!"

"Gentlemen," said Oswald, "my lord desires your company immediately in
the breakfast parlour."

"What! to meet your favourite Edmund, I suppose?" said Mr. Wenlock.

"No, sir."

"What, then, is the matter?" said Sir Robert.

"Something very extraordinary has happened, gentlemen. Edmund is not to
be found--he disappeared from the haunted apartment, the key of which
was conveyed to my lord in a strange manner, with a letter from an
unknown hand; my lord is both surprised and concerned, and wishes to
have your opinion and advice on the occasion."

"Tell him," said Sir Robert, "we will wait upon him immediately."

As Oswald went away, he heard Wenlock say, "So Edmund is gone, it is no
matter how, or whither."

Another said, "I hope the ghost has taken him out of the way."