Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/77

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NECROMANCER.
65

"Gentlemen," began the officer, as we were going back, "what do you think of the inscription on that tomb?"

"I think," replied I, "it strongly corroborates what the landlord has told us."

My companions smiled, and we came again into the court-yard, looking around we observed an arched opening in the wall opposite the stair-case; as we came nearer we saw a flight of steps leading to a cellar, which was shut up by a massy iron door, strongly secured by an enormous padlock."

"Having now examined every corner we returned to our inn."

"The landlord, who was ignorant of what we had been about, was struck with horror and amazement when we related where we had been, and did his utmost to persuade us to desist from our design; however, when he saw that he was spending his breath invain,