"We arrived, at length, at the castle-gate. The haunted apartment was on the first floor; but the anxiety of the company displayed itself already at the staircase which led to the great hall. Numberless fears and apprehensions exhibited themselves on the countenances of my fellow-adventurers, which were rendered more visible by their painful exertions to conceal them from the rest. We now counted the company, to see whether none had stayed behind; and were struck with astonishment, on finding that the Chevalier Antonio was missing. We were already going to ridicule his cowardice severely, and felt ourselves strongly inclined to laugh at the desertion of his vaunted courage, when he convinced us that we had wronged him; for he came running out of breath, and wiping the sweat from his face. He even asked, with a great clamour, why we did not proceed; and the whole company being re-animated with newcourage
