leopatra's, and Lindenberg became the
Theatre of the most unbridled debauchery. Not satisfied with
displaying the incontinence of a Prostitute, She professed herself an
Atheist: She took every opportunity to scoff at her monastic vows,
and loaded with ridicule the most sacred ceremonies of Religion.

'Possessed of a character so depraved, She did not long confine her
affections to one object. Soon after her arrival at the Castle, the
Baron's younger Brother attracted her notice by his strong-marked
features, gigantic Stature, and Herculean limbs. She was not of an
humour to keep her inclinations long unknown; But She found in Otto von
Lindenberg her equal in depravity. He returned her passion just
sufficiently to increase it; and when He had worked it up to the
desired pitch, He fixed the price of his love at his Brother's murder.
The Wretch consented to this horrible agreement. A night was pitched
upon for perpetrating the deed. Otto, who resided on a small Estate a
few miles distant from the Castle, promised that at One in the morning
He would be waiting for her at Lindenberg Hole; that He would bring
with him a party of chosen Friends, by whose aid He doubted not being
able to make himself Master of the Castle; and that his next step
should be the uniting her hand to his. It was this last promise, which
overruled every scruple of Beatrice, since in spite of his affection
for her, the Baron had declared positively that He never would make her
his Wife.

'The fatal night arrived. The Baron slept in the arms of his
perfidious Mistress, when the Castle-Bell struck 'One.' Immediately
Beatrice drew a dagger from underneath the pillow, and plunged it in
her Paramour's heart. The Baron uttered a single dreadful groan, and
expired. The Murderess quitted her bed hastily, took a Lamp in one
hand, in the other the bloody dagger, and bent her course towards the
cavern. The Porter dared not to refuse opening the Gates to one more
dreaded in the Castle than its Master. Beatrice reached Lindenberg
Hole unopposed, where according to promise She found Otto waiting for
her. He received and listened to her narrative with transport: But ere
She had time to ask why He came unaccompanied, He convinced her that He
wished for no witnesses to their interview. Anxious to conceal his
share in the murder, and to free himself from a Woman, whose violent
and atrocious character made him tremble with reason for his own
safety, He ha