“And so have I, father—­ see what I have found upon my pillow!”

“Pray, sir, read it to me before you shew it to any body; my lord is alarmed too much already, and wants nothing to increase his consternation.”

William read his letter, while Oswald looked as if he was an utter stranger to the contents, which were these:—­

“Whatever may be heard or seen, let the seal of friendship be upon thy lips.  The peasant Edmund is no more; but there still lives a man who hopes to acknowledge, and repay, the Lord Fitz-Owen’s generous care and protection; to return his beloved William’s vowed affection, and to claim his friendship on terms of equality.”

“What,” said William, “can this mean?”

“It is not easy to say,” replied Oswald.

“Can you tell what is the cause of this alarm?”

“I can tell you nothing, but that my lord desires to see you directly—­pray make haste down; I must go up to your brothers and kinsmen, nobody knows what to think, or believe.”

Master William went down stairs, and Father Oswald went to the malcontents.  As soon as he entered the outward door of their apartment, Mr. Wenlock called out.  “Here comes the friend—­now for some new proposal!”

“Gentlemen,” said Oswald, “my lord desires your company immediately in the breakfast parlour.”

“What! to meet your favourite Edmund, I suppose?” said Mr. Wenlock.

“No, sir.”

“What, then, is the matter?” said Sir Robert.

“Something very extraordinary has happened, gentlemen.  Edmund is not to be found—­he disappeared from the haunted apartment, the key of which was conveyed to my lord in a strange manner, with a letter from an unknown hand; my lord is both surprised and concerned, and wishes to have your opinion and advice on the occasion.”

“Tell him,” said Sir Robert, “we will wait upon him immediately.”

As Oswald went away, he heard Wenlock say, “So Edmund is gone, it is no matter how, or whither.”

Another said, “I hope the ghost has taken him out of the way.”  The rest laughed at the conceit, as they followed Oswald down stairs.  They found the Baron, and his son William, commenting upon the key and the letter.  My lord gave them to Sir Robert, who looked on them with marks of surprise and confusion.

The Baron addressed him—­

“Is not this a very strange affair?  Son Robert, lay aside your ill humours, and behave to your father with the respect and affection his tenderness deserves from you, and give me your advice and opinion on this alarming subject.”

“My Lord,” said Sir Robert, “I am as much confounded as yourself—­I can give no advice—­let my cousins see the letter—­let us have their opinion.”

They read it in turn—­they were equally surprised; but when it came into Wenlock’s hand, he paused and meditated some minutes.

At length—­“I am indeed surprised, and still more concerned, to see my lord and uncle the dupe of an artful contrivance; and, if he will permit me, I shall endeavour to unriddle it, to the confusion of all that are concerned in it.”