My antagonist uttered a long groan and immediately expired.
The widow now fetched a lighted taper, we unmuffled the remains of the vanquished spirit, and looked into his face. What was our astonishment!—We recognized him to be the same handsome young man, in whose company I supped, the first night of my sojourning at the castle.
The moment my surprize would permit it, I fixed my eyes on my fair hostess. A crowd of various passions alternately, pictured her countenance with the strongest features of unexpected sensations; there was surprise, curiosity, fear, love, grief, and indignation, which ultimately prevailed. Every minute my sanguine expectation of receiving her best thanks for having so generously put my life at stake, was wound up higher, till it evaporated in utter disappointment. Having for some time held the candle in a kind of mute torpor over the dead body, she set it on the floor, fell on her knees, and tenderly embraced the remains of her adventurous Adonis.
So far from being pleased with the sight of
