They say it often comes to warn people of their death, but I have heard it these many years, and outlived the warning.' Emily, though she smiled at the mention of this ridiculous superstition, could not, in the present tone of her spirits, wholly resist its contagion.
'Well, but, my good friend,' said St.Aubert, 'has nobody had courage to follow the sounds?
If they had, they would probably have discovered who is the musician.' 'Yes, sir, they have followed them some way into the woods, but the music has still retreated, and seemed as distant as ever, and the people have at last been afraid of being led into harm, and would go no further.

It is very seldom that I have heard these sounds so early in the evening.

They usually come about midnight, when that bright planet, which is rising above the turret yonder, sets below the woods on the left.' 'What turret ?' asked St.Aubert with quickness, 'I see none.' 'Your pardon, monsieur, you do see one indeed, for the moon shines full upon it;--up the avenue yonder, a long way off; the chateau it belongs to is hid among the trees.' 'Yes, my dear sir,' said Emily, pointing, 'don't you see something glitter above the dark woods?
It is a fane, I fancy, which the rays fall upon.' 'O yes, I see what you mean; and who does the chateau belong to ?' 'The Marquis de Villeroi was its owner,' replied La Voisin, emphatically.
'Ah!' said St.Aubert, with a deep sigh, 'are we then so near Le-Blanc!' He appeared much agitated.
'It used to be the Marquis's favourite residence,' resumed La Voisin, 'but he took a dislike to the place, and has not been there for many years.

We have heard lately that he is dead, and that it is fallen into other hands.' St.Aubert, who had sat in deep musing, was roused by the last words.

'Dead!' he exclaimed, 'Good God! when did he die ?' 'He is reported to have died about five weeks since,' replied La Voisin.
'Did you know the Marquis, sir ?' 'This is very extraordinary!' said St.Aubert without attending to the question.