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and asked； 〃How does she？〃
〃She sleeps；〃 said Foster。 〃I would we were homeher strength
is exhausted。〃
〃Rest will restore her；〃 answered Varney。 〃She shall soon sleep
sound and long。 We must consider how to lodge her in safety。〃
〃In her own apartments； to be sure；〃 said Foster。 〃I have sent
Janet to her aunt's with a proper rebuke； and the old women are
truth itselffor they hate this lady cordially。〃
〃We will not trust them； however； friend Anthony；〃 said Varney；
〃We must secure her in that stronghold where you keep your gold。〃
〃My gold！〃 said Anthony； much alarmed； 〃why； what gold have I？
God help me； I have no goldI would I had！〃
〃Now； marry hang thee； thou stupid brute； who thinks of or cares
for thy gold？ If I did； could I not find an hundred better ways
to come at it？ In one word； thy bedchamber； which thou hast
fenced so curiously； must be her place of seclusion； and thou；
thou hind； shalt press her pillows of down。 I dare to say the
Earl will never ask after the rich furniture of these four
rooms。〃
This last consideration rendered Foster tractable； he only asked
permission to ride before； to make matters ready； and spurring
his horse； he posted before the litter； while Varney falling
about threescore paces behind it； it remained only attended by
Tider。
When they had arrived at Cumnor Place； the Countess asked eagerly
for Janet； and showed much alarm when informed that she was no
longer to have the attendance of that amiable girl。
〃My daughter is dear to me； madam；〃 said Foster gruffly； 〃and I
desire not that she should get the court…tricks of lying and
'scapingsomewhat too much of that has she learned already； an
it please your ladyship。〃
The Countess； much fatigued and greatly terrified by the
circumstances of her journey； made no answer to this insolence；
but mildly expressed a wish to retire to her chamber；
〃Ay； ay；〃 muttered Foster； 〃'tis but reasonable； but； under
favour； you go not to your gew…gaw toy…house yonderyou will
sleep to…night in better security。〃
〃I would it were in my grave；〃 said the Countess； 〃but that
mortal feelings shiver at the idea of soul and body parting。〃
〃You； I guess； have no chance to shiver at that；〃 replied Foster。
〃My lord comes hither to…morrow； and doubtless you will make your
own ways good with him。〃
〃But does he come hither？does he indeed； good Foster？〃
〃Oh； ay； good Foster！〃 replied the other。 〃But what Foster
shall I be to…morrow when you speak of me to my lordthough all
I have done was to obey his own orders？〃
〃You shall be my protectora rough one indeedbut still a
protector；〃 answered the Countess。 〃Oh that Janet were but
here！〃
〃She is better where she is；〃 answered Foster〃one of you is
enough to perplex a plain head。 But will you taste any
refreshment？〃
〃Oh no； nomy chambermy chamber！ I trust；〃 she said
apprehensively； 〃I may secure it on the inside？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 answered Foster； 〃so I may secure it on the
outside；〃 and taking a light； he led the way to a part of the
building where Amy had never been； and conducted her up a stair
of great height； preceded by one of the old women with a lamp。
At the head of the stair； which seemed of almost immeasurable
height； they crossed a short wooden gallery； formed of black oak；
and very narrow； at the farther end of which was a strong oaken
door； which opened and admitted them into the miser's apartment；
homely in its accommodations in the very last degree； and； except
in name； little different from a prison…room。
Foster stopped at the door； and gave the lamp to the Countess；
without either offering or permitting the attendance of the old
woman who had carried it。 The lady stood not on ceremony； but
taking it hastily； barred the door； and secured it with the ample
means provided on the inside for that purpose。
Varney； meanwhile； had lurked behind on the stairs； but hearing
the door barred； he now came up on tiptoe； and Foster； winking to
him； pointed with self…complacence to a piece of concealed
machinery in the wall； which； playing with much ease and little
noise； dropped a part of the wooden gallery； after the manner of
a drawbridge； so as to cut off all communication between the door
of the bedroom； which he usually inhabited； and the landing…place
of the high； winding stair which ascended to it。 The rope by
which this machinery was wrought was generally carried within the
bedchamber； it being Foster's object to provide against invasion
from without； but now that it was intended to secure the prisoner
within； the cord had been brought over to the landing…place； and
was there made fast； when Foster with much complacency had
dropped the unsuspected trap…door。
Varney looked with great attention at the machinery； and peeped
more than once down the abyss which was opened by the fall of the
trap…door。 It was dark as pitch； and seemed profoundly deep；
going； as Foster informed his confederate in a whisper； nigh to
the lowest vault of the Castle。 Varney cast once more a fixed
and long look down into this sable gulf； and then followed Foster
to the part of the manor…house most usually inhabited。
When they arrived in the parlour which we have mentioned； Varney
requested Foster to get them supper； and some of the choicest
wine。 〃I will seek Alasco；〃 he added； 〃we have work for him to
do； and we must put him in good heart。〃
Foster groaned at this intimation； but made no remonstrance。 The
old woman assured Varney that Alasco had scarce eaten or drunken
since her master's departure； living perpetually shut up in the
laboratory； and talking as if the world's continuance depended on
what he was doing there。
〃I will teach him that the world hath other claims on him；〃 said
Varney； seizing a light； and going in quest of the alchemist。 He
returned； after a considerable absence； very pale； but yet with
his habitual sneer on his cheek and nostril。 〃Our friend；〃 he
said； 〃has exhaled。〃
〃How！what mean you？〃 said Foster〃run awayfled with my
forty pounds； that should have been multiplied a thousand…fold？
I will have Hue and Cry！〃
〃I will tell thee a surer way；〃 said Varney。
〃How！which way？〃 exclaimed Foster； 〃I will have back my forty
poundsI deemed them as surely a thousand times multipliedI
will have back my in…put； at the least。〃
〃Go hang thyself； then； and sue Alasco in the Devil's Court of
Chancery； for thither he has carried the cause。〃
〃How！what dost thou mean is he dead？〃
〃Ay； truly is he；〃 said Varney； 〃and properly swollen already in
the face and body。 He had been mixing some of his devil's
medicines； and the glass mask which he used constantly had fallen
from his face； so that the subtle poison entered the brain； and
did its work。〃
〃SANCTA MARIA！〃 said Foster〃I mean； God in His mercy preserve
us from covetousness and deadly sin！Had he not had projection；
think you？ Saw you no ingots in the crucibles？〃
〃Nay； I looked not but at the dead carrion；〃 answered Varney； 〃an
ugly spectaclehe was swollen like a corpse three days exposed
on the wheel。 Pah！ give me a cup of wine。〃
〃I will go；〃 said Foster； 〃I will examine myself〃 He took t