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 sound--a heavy fall--a faint groan--and 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 vault--what 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 her--thy gold chest, Tony--it is an heavy one." "Varney, thou art an incarnate fiend!" replied Foster.
"There needs nothing more--she 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 affections--it 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 given--the 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.