e he paced the tomb, wrapped in gloomy meditation, and
pondering, it might be, upon the result of Luke's expedition, and the
fulfilment of his own dark schemes, scowling from time to time beneath
his bent eyebrows, counting the grim array of coffins, and noticing,
with something like satisfaction, that the shell which contained the
remains of his daughter had been restored to its former position. He
then bethought him of Father Checkley's midnight intrusion upon his
conference with Luke, and their apprehension of a supernatural
visitation, and his curiosity was stimulated to ascertain by what means
the priest had gained admission to the spot unperceived and unheard. He
resolved to sound the floor, and see whether any secret entrance
existed; and hollowly and dully did the hard flagging return the stroke
of his heel as he pursued his scrutiny. At length the metallic ringing
of an iron plate, immediately behind the marble effigy of Sir Ranulph,
resolved the point. There it was that the priest had found access to
the vault; but Alan's disappointment was excessive, when he discovered
that the plate was fastened on the underside, and all communication
thence with the churchyard, or to wherever else it might conduct him,
cut off: but the present was not the season for further investigation,
and tolerably pleased with the discovery he had already made, he
returned to his silent march round the sepulchre.

At length a sound, like the sudden shutting of the church door, broke
upon the profound stillness of the holy edifice. In the hush that
succeeded, a footstep was distinctly heard threading the aisle.

"He comes--he comes!" exclaimed Alan, joyfully; adding, an instant
after, in an altered voice, "but he comes alone."

The footstep drew near to the mouth of the vault--it was upon the
stairs. Alan stepped forward to greet, as he supposed, his grandson, but
started back in astonishment and dismay as he encountered in his stead
Lady Rookwood. Alan retreated, while the lady advanced, swinging the
iron door after her, which closed with a tremendous clang. Approaching
the statue of the first Sir Ranulph, she paused, and Alan then remarked
the singular and terrible expression of her eyes, which appeared to be
fixed upon the statue, or upon some invisible object near it. There was
something in her whole attitude and manner calculated to impress the
deepest terror on the beholder. And Alan gazed upon her with an awe
which momently inc