The count and countess lived on in a state of regal splendour.  The immense revenue of his territory, and the treasure the late count had amassed, as well as the revenue that the mines brought in, would have supported a much larger expenditure than even their tastes disposed them to enjoy.

They had heard nothing of the escape of the doctor and the young count.  Indeed, those who knew of it held their peace and said nothing about it, for they feared the consequences of their negligence.  The first intimation they received was at the hands of a state messenger, summoning them to deliver up the castle revenues and treasure of the late count.

This was astounding to them, and they refused to do so, but were soon after seized upon by a regiment of cuirassiers sent to take them, and they were accused of the crime of murder at the instance of the doctor.

They were arraigned and found guilty, and, as they were of the patrician order, their execution was delayed, and they were committed to exile.  This was done out of favour to the young count, who did not wish to have his family name tainted by a public execution, or their being confined like convicts.

The count and countess quitted Hungary, and settled in Italy, where they lived upon the remains of the Count of Morven’s property, shorn of all their splendour but enough to keep them from being compelled to do any menial office.

The young count took possession of his patrimony and his treasure at last, such as was left by his mother and her paramour.

The doctor continued to hide his crime from the young count, and the perpetrators denying all knowledge of it, he escaped; but he returned to his native place, Leyden, with a reward for his services from the young count.

Flora rose from her perusal of the manuscript, which here ended, and even as she did so, she heard a footstep approaching her chamber door.

CHAPTER XX.

THE DREADFUL MISTAKE.—­THE TERRIFIC INTERVIEW IN THE CHAMBER.—­THE ATTACK OF THE VAMPYRE.

[Illustration]

The footstep which Flora, upon the close of the tale she had been reading, heard approaching her apartment, came rapidly along the corridor.

“It is Henry, returned to conduct me to an interview with Charles’s uncle,” she said.  “I wonder, now, what manner of man he is.  He should in some respects resemble Charles; and if he do so, I shall bestow upon him some affection for that alone.”

Tap—­tap came upon the chamber door.  Flora was not at all alarmed now, as she had been when Henry brought her the manuscript.  From some strange action of the nervous system, she felt quite confident, and resolved to brave everything.  But then she felt quite sure that it was Henry, and before the knocking had taken her by surprise.

“Come in,” she said, in a cheerful voice.  “Come in.”

The door opened with wonderful swiftness—­a figure stepped into the room, and then closed it as rapidly, and stood against it.  Flora tried to scream, but her tongue refused its office; a confused whirl of sensations passed through her brain—­she trembled, and an icy coldness came over her.  It was Sir Francis Varney, the vampyre!