Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-27
$500 PER ANNUM.


He made no reply, butlooked timidly at
Carlo.
"' see, friend, you are afraid of the dog
observed; but there is no necessity
81 then ordered Carlo to rise and go and
lie down under another tree which pointed
out to him which lie Immediately did, keep
ing his eyes, however, all the while fixed
upon my visitor.
"The Italian now came close to me, said
his name was Mazzio, and that he was come
from the countess to remove and convey to
Paris chest with three locks which lay in
certain vault, KNOWN as he said to me.
But friend, said l, have you any writ.
ten order y
"He replied that he had not.
"'Then you shall not touch the chest
said nor ony one else, till the countess her.
self arrives
But should the countess never make
her appearance p said he, with significant
grin.
Why, in that case, will deliver it up
to her lawful heir.'
That is t. me, signor am her lawful
| heir
That may be; butI shall require you
to prove it, before deliver up my trust
His lip quivered, he turned little pale,
and felt in his bosom, as if for poniard.
was convinced he had murdered the countess,
and was now come to get his booty. But
how he could have obtained knowledge of
the chest, 1t puzzled me to conjecture.
"'A And where did you leave the countess p
inquired; perceiving he was not inclined to
break silence.
"' 1t does not signify, said he
=" Bnt FRIEND Iexclaimed, it does signify;
and unless you explain at once, shall take
you into custody, under suspicion of having
murdered her.
"' No you won't, signor, replied the fel-
low, drawing stiletto from under his waist
coat. Il will silence you with that first
I" He was robust brawny-looking rufilan,
with most unpleasant twinkle of the eye !;
while am not as you see, very powerful
man. But had an ally at hand, whose pres
ence he had forgotten. As soon as Carlo
noticed the change in the tone of our voices,
he crept stealthily towards the spot, and the
moment Mr. Mazzio drew forth his dagger,
sprang and seized him by the collar, and had
him at his full length on the ground in a
twinkling. In the sudden surprise he drop
ped the stiletto, which picked up, and then
desiring Carlo to let go his hold, bade my
worthy get up, and walk out of the grounds.
"'or stay, said /; { ! had better get You
escorted
al then whistled loudly; and Francois
and two or three sturdy Swiss grooms, came
running towards.
"' Seize this fellow said /. He is a rob
ber and an assassin. We must get him hang
ed, il possible.'
"Signor Ma2zo now became alarmed, and
entreated me, for the love of Heaven, not to
send him to prison.
"'The countess, said he, is alive, and in
good health, and will be here this very night.
| am her nephew's Wallet and having acci-
dentially overheard of the existence Of the
chest in the vault, it struck me could make
a better use of its contents than her ladyship.
So now, let me go should die if were
compelled to face her.
"' Not quite SO fast, friend, said /; sit
will be time enough to Let YOU go when l am
perfectly sure of her safety. I shall, there
fore, keep,you shut up in a strong room in
the chateau and as soon as j ascertain by
the testimony of my own eyes. you shall have
my permission to make yourself scarce ifyou
please
"This was done; and, late in the same
evening, the countess, to my great relief, did,
sure enough, arrive. She was too much
fatigued for me to think of touching upon the
chest that night. Bat next morning, on my
mentioning the subject, she observed with
smile
You are an English gentleman. That is
enough. If l had remained absent seven
years, should have felt no apprehen-
sion for my property, had it been ten times as
great and to convince you of the reality of
my confidence, | shall not visit, nor unlock
the chest until a full year and day after you
have left tho chateau, whenever that may be-
81 returned her the keys, and have not
the slightest doubt that she kept her word
Meanwhile, however, ought to say l had
suffered Signor Mazzio to effect his escape,
though was careful to relate to the countess
what happened, that she might not after
wards receive him into her service, which
she wonld otherwise have been very apt to
do''
CHAPTER XXX.