and to see Mr. Vandeleur, carrying a lantern and clothed in a

flowing robe of black velvet with a skull-cap to match, issue from

under the verandah and proceed leisurely towards the garden gate.

The sound of bolts and bars was then repeated; and a moment after

Francis perceived the Dictator escorting into the house, in the

mobile light of the lantern, an individual of the lowest and most

despicable appearance.

Half-an-hour afterwards the visitor was reconducted to the street;

and Mr. Vandeleur, setting his light upon one of the rustic tables,

finished a cigar with great deliberation under the foliage of the

chestnut. Francis, peering through a clear space among the leaves,

was able to follow his gestures as he threw away the ash or enjoyed

a copious inhalation; and beheld a cloud upon the old man's brow

and a forcible action of the lips, which testified to some deep and

probably painful train of thought. The cigar was already almost at

an end, when the voice of a young girl was heard suddenly crying

the hour from the interior of the house.

"In a moment," replied John Vandeleur.

And, with that, he threw away the stump and, taking up the lantern,

sailed away under the verandah for the night. As soon as the door

was closed, absolute darkness fell upon the house; Francis might

try his eyesight as much as he pleased, he could not detect so much

as a single chink of light below a blind; and he concluded, with

great good sense, that the bed-chambers were all upon the other

side.

Early the next morning (for he was early awake after an

uncomfortable night upon the floor), he saw cause to adopt a

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