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on the wheel。 Pah！ give me a cup of wine。〃
〃I will go；〃 said Foster； 〃I will examine myself〃 He took the
lamp； and hastened to the door； but there hesitated and paused。
〃Will you not go with me？〃 said he to Varney。
〃To what purpose？〃 said Varney； 〃I have seen and smelled enough
to spoil my appetite。 I broke the window； however； and let in
the air； it reeked of sulphur； and such like suffocating steams；
as if the very devil had been there。〃
〃And might it not be the act of the demon himself？〃 said Foster；
still hesitating； 〃I have heard he is powerful at such times； and
with such people。〃
〃Still； if it were that Satan of thine；〃 answered Varney； 〃who
thus jades thy imagination； thou art in perfect safety； unless he
is a most unconscionable devil indeed。 He hath had two good sops
of late。〃
〃How TWO sopswhat mean you？〃 said Foster〃what mean you？〃
〃You will know in time；〃 said Varney；〃and then this other
banquetbut thou wilt esteem Her too choice a morsel for the
fiend's toothshe must have her psalms； and harps； and seraphs。〃
Anthony Foster heard； and came slowly back to the table。 〃God！
Sir Richard； and must that then be done？〃
〃Ay； in very truth； Anthony； or there comes no copyhold in thy
way；〃 replied his inflexible associate。
〃I always foresaw it would land there！〃 said Foster。 〃But how；
Sir Richard； how？for not to win the world would I put hands on
her。〃
〃I cannot blame thee；〃 said Varney； 〃I should be reluctant to do
that myself。 We miss Alasco and his manna sorelyay； and the
dog Lambourne。〃
〃Why； where tarries Lambourne？〃 said Anthony。
〃Ask no questions；〃 said Varney； 〃thou wilt see him one day if
thy creed is true。 But to our graver matter。 I will teach thee
a spring； Tony； to catch a pewit。 Yonder trap…dooryonder
gimcrack of thine； will remain secure in appearance； will it not；
though the supports are withdrawn beneath？〃
〃Ay； marry； will it；〃 said Foster； 〃so long as it is not trodden
on。〃
〃But were the lady to attempt an escape over it；〃 replied Varney；
〃her weight would carry it down？〃
〃A mouse's weight would do it；〃 said Foster。
〃Why； then； she dies in attempting her escape； and what could you
or I help it； honest Tony？ Let us to bed； we will adjust our
project to…morrow。〃
On the next day； when evening approached； Varney summoned Foster
to the execution of their plan。 Tider and Foster's old man…
servant were sent on a feigned errand down to the village； and
Anthony himself； as if anxious to see that the Countess suffered
no want of accommodation； visited her place of confinement。 He
was so much staggered at the mildness and patience with which she
seemed to endure her confinement； that he could not help
earnestly recommending to her not to cross the threshold of her
room on any account whatever； until Lord Leicester should come；
〃which；〃 he added； 〃I trust in God； will be very soon。〃 Amy
patiently promised that she would resign herself to her fate。
and Foster returned to his hardened companion with his conscience
half…eased of the perilous load that weighed on it。 〃I have
warned her；〃 he said； 〃surely in vain is the snare set in the
sight of any bird！〃
He left； therefore； the Countess's door unsecured on the outside；
and； under the eye of Varney； withdrew the supports which
sustained the falling trap； which； therefore； kept its level
position merely by a slight adhesion。 They withdrew to wait the
issue on the ground…floor adjoining； but they waited long in
vain。 At length Varney； after walking long to and fro； with his
face muffled in his cloak； threw it suddenly back and exclaimed；
〃Surely never was a woman fool enough to neglect so fair an
opportunity of escape！〃
〃Perhaps she is resolved；〃 said Foster； 〃to await her husband's
return；〃
〃True！most true！〃 said Varney； rushing out； 〃I had not thought
of that before。〃
In less than two minutes； Foster； who remained behind； heard the
tread of a horse in the courtyard； and then a whistle similar to
that which was the Earl's usual signal。 The instant after the
door of the Countess's chamber opened； and in the same moment the
trap…door gave way。 There was a rushing sounda heavy falla
faint groanand all was over。
At the same instant； Varney called in at the window； in an accent
and tone which was an indescribable mixture betwixt horror and
raillery； 〃Is the bird caught？is the deed done？〃
〃O God； forgive us！〃 replied Anthony Foster。
〃Why； thou fool；〃 said Varney； 〃thy toil is ended； and thy reward
secure。 Look down into the vaultwhat seest thou？〃
〃I see only a heap of white clothes； like a snowdrift；〃 said
Foster。 〃O God； she moves her arm！〃
〃Hurl something down on herthy gold chest； Tonyit is an heavy
one。〃
〃Varney； thou art an incarnate fiend！〃 replied Foster。
〃There needs nothing moreshe is gone！〃
〃So pass our troubles；〃 said Varney； entering the room； 〃I
dreamed not I could have mimicked the Earl's call so well。〃
〃Oh； if there be judgment in heaven； thou hast deserved it；〃 said
Foster； 〃and wilt meet it！ Thou hast destroyed her by means of
her best affectionsit is a seething of the kid in the mother's
milk！〃
〃Thou art a fanatical ass；〃 replied Varney； 〃let us now think how
the alarm should be giventhe body is to remain where it is。〃
But their wickedness was to be permitted no longer； for even
while they were at this consultation； Tressilian and Raleigh
broke in upon them； having obtained admittance by means of Tider
and Foster's servant； whom they had secured at the village。
Anthony Foster fled on their entrance； and knowing each corner
and pass of the intricate old house； escaped all search。 But
Varney was taken on the spot； and instead of expressing
compunction for what he had done； seemed to take a fiendish
pleasure in pointing out to them the remains of the murdered
Countess； while at the same time he defied them to show that he
had any share in her death。 The despairing grief of Tressilian；
on viewing the mangled and yet warm remains of what had lately
been so lovely and so beloved； was such that Raleigh was
compelled to have him removed from the place by force； while he
himself assumed the direction of what was to be done。
Varney； upon a second examination； made very little mystery
either of the crime or of its motives…alleging； as a reason for
his frankness； that though much of what he confessed could only
have attached to him by suspicion； yet such suspicion would have
been sufficient to deprive him of Leicester's confidence； and to
destroy all his towering plans of ambition。 〃I was not born；〃 he
said； 〃to drag on the remainder of life a degraded outcast； nor
will I so die that my fate shall make a holiday to the vulgar
herd。〃
From these words it was apprehended he had some design upon
himself； and he was carefully deprived of all means by which such
could be carried into execution。 But like some of the heroes of
antiquity； he carried about his person a small quantity of strong
poison； prepared probably by the celebrated Demetrius Alasco。
Having swallowed this potion over…night； he was found next
morning dead in his cell； nor did he appear to h