“Impossible!” said she.

“Nothing is impossible, my dear; let us be prudent, and all will end happily.  You must help me to receive and entertain these commissioners.  I expect a very solemn scene; but when that is once got over, happier hours than the past will succeed.  We shall first visit the haunted apartment; you, my sister, will keep in your own till I shall send for you.  I go now to give orders to the servants.”

He went and ordered them to be in waiting; and himself, and his youngest brother, stood in readiness to receive them.

The sound of the horn announced the arrival of the commissioners; at the same instant a sudden gust of wind arose, and the outward gates flew open.  They entered the court-yard, and the great folding-doors into the hall were opened without any assistance.  The moment Edmund entered the hall, every door in the house flew open; the servants all rushed into the hall, and fear was written on their countenances; Joseph only was undaunted.  “These doors,” said he, “open of their own accord to receive their master! this is he indeed!”

Edmund was soon apprized of what had happened.

“I accept the omen!” said he.  ’Gentlemen, let us go forward to the apartment! let us finish the work of fate!  I will lead the way.”  He went on to the apartment, followed by all present.  “Open the shutters,” said he, “the daylight shall no longer be excluded here; the deeds of darkness shall now be brought to light. "

They descended the staircase; every door was open, till they came to the fatal closet.  Edmund called to Mr. William:  “Approach, my friend, and behold the door your family overlooked!”

They came forward; he drew the key out of his bosom, and unlocked the door; he made them observe that the boards were all loose; he then called to the servants, and bid them remove every thing out of the closet.  While they were doing this, Edmund shewed them the breastplate all stained with blood.  He then called to Joseph:—­

“Do you know whose was this suit of armour?”

“It was my Lord’s,” said Joseph; “the late Lord Lovel; I have seen him wear it.”

Edmund bade them bring shovels and remove the earth.  While they were gone, he desired Oswald to repeat all that passed the night they sat up together in that apartment, which he did till the servants returned.  They threw out the earth, while the by-standers in solemn silence waited the event.  After some time and labour they struck against something.  They proceeded till they discovered a large trunk, which with some difficulty they drew out.  It had been corded round, but the cords were rotted to dust.  They opened it, and found a skeleton which appeared to have been tied neck and heels together, and forced into the trunk.

“Behold,” said Edmund, “the bones of him to whom I owe my birth!”

The priest from Lord Graham’s advanced.  “This is undoubtedly the body of the Lord Lovel; I heard his kinsman confess the manner in which he was interred.  Let this awful spectacle be a lesson to all present, that though wickedness may triumph for a season, a day of retribution will come!”