The death of the old priest to whom I entrusted her recalled me to Genoa, for I was then her only guardian.

I meant to have taken leave of you, my lady, properly, but the consequences of that foolish trick of mine frightened me away in the most unmannerly fashion." "Ah, it was you, then, in the state chamber; I always thought so," and Lady Trevlyn drew a long breath of relief.
"Yes, I heard it whispered among the servants that the room was haunted, and I felt a wish to prove the truth of the story and my own courage.
Hester locked me in, for fear of my sleepwalking; but I lowered myself by a rope and then climbed in at the closet window of the state chamber.
When you came, my lady, I thought it was Hester, and slipped into the bed, meaning to give her a fright in return for her turning the key on me.

But when your cry showed me what I had done, I was filled with remorse, and escaped as quickly and quietly as possible.

I should have asked pardon before; I do now, most humbly, my lady, for it was sacrilege to play pranks _there_." During the first part of his story Paul's manner had been frank and composed, but in telling the latter part, his demeanor underwent a curious change.

He fixed his eyes on the ground and spoke as if repeating a lesson, while his color varied, and a half-proud, half-submissive expression replaced the former candid one.