other, stood in readiness to receive them.

The sound of the horn announced the arrival of the commissioners; at
the same instant a sudden gust of wind arose, and the outward gates flew
open. They entered the court-yard, and the great folding-doors into the
hall were opened without any assistance. The moment Edmund entered the
hall, every door in the house flew open; the servants all rushed into
the hall, and fear was written on their countenances; Joseph only was
undaunted. "These doors," said he, "open of their own accord to receive
their master! this is he indeed!"

Edmund was soon apprized of what had happened.

"I accept the omen!" said he. "Gentlemen, let us go forward to the
apartment! let us finish the work of fate! I will lead the way." He went
on to the apartment, followed by all present. "Open the shutters,"
said he, "the daylight shall no longer be excluded here; the deeds of
darkness shall now be brought to light."

They descended the staircase; every door was open, till they came to the
fatal closet. Edmund called to Mr. William: "Approach, my friend, and
behold the door your family overlooked!"

They came forward; he drew the key out of his bosom, and unlocked the
door; he made them observe that the boards were all loose; he then
called to the servants, and bid them remove every thing out of the
closet. While they were doing this, Edmund shewed them the breastplate
all stained with blood. He then called to Joseph:--

"Do you know whose was this suit of armour?"

"It was my Lord's," said Joseph; "the late Lord Lovel; I have seen him
wear it."

Edmund bade them bring shovels and remove the earth. While they were
gone, he desired Oswald to repeat all that passed the night they sat
up together in that apartment, which he did till the servants returned.
They threw out the earth, while the by-standers in solemn silence waited
the event. After some time and labour they struck against something.
They proceeded till they discovered a large trunk, which with some
difficulty they drew out. It had been corded round, but the cords were
rotted to dust. They opened it, and found a skeleton which appeared to
have been tied neck and heels together, and forced into the trunk.

"Behold," said Edmund, "the bones of him to whom I owe my birth!"

The priest from Lord Graham's advanced. "This is undoubtedly the body of
the Lord Lovel; I heard his kinsman confess the manner in which he was
interred. Let this awful spe