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represented beautifully tortured； writhing and howling； and
〃Mahomet！ Mahomet！〃 issuing out of their mouths； as they called on
him in their burning agonies；you could almost hear them scream。
At the upper end of the room； under a splendid estrade； over which
was an image of the blessed Virgin； sat Donna Isabella de Cardoza；
mother to the bride； and near her Donna Ines； the bride； on rich
almohadas； the bridegroom sat opposite to her； and though they
never spoke to each other； their eyes； slowly raised； but suddenly
withdrawn （those eyes that blushed）； told to each other the
delicious secret of their happiness。 Don Pedro de Cardoza had
assembled a large party in honor of his daughter's nuptials； among
them was an Englishman of the name of MELMOTH； a traveler； no one
knew who had brought him there。 He sat silent like the rest； while
the iced waters and the sugared wafers were presented to the
company。 The night was intensely hot； and the moon glowed like a
sun over the ruins of Saguntum； the embroidered blinds flapped
heavily； as if the wind made an effort to raise them in vain； and
then desisted。
（Another defect in the manuscript occurred here； but it was soon
supplied。）
。 。 。 。 。
The company were dispersed through various alleys of the garden；
the bridegroom and bride wandered through one where the delicious
perfume of the orange trees mingled itself with that of the myrtles
in blow。 On their return to the ball； both of them asked； Had the
company heard the exquisite sounds that floated through the garden
just before they quitted it？ No one had heard them。 They
expressed their surprise。 The Englishman had never quitted the
hall； it was said he smiled with a most particular and
extraordinary expression as the remark was made。 His silence had
been noticed before； but it was ascribed to his ignorance of the
Spanish language； an ignorance that Spaniards are not anxious
either to expose or remove by speaking to a stranger。 The subject
of the music was not again reverted to till the guests were seated
at supper； when Donna Ines and her young husband； exchanging a
smile of delighted surprise； exclaimed they heard the same
delicious sounds floating round them。 The guests listened； but no
one else could hear it；everyone felt there was something
extraordinary in this。 Hush！ was uttered by every voice almost at
the same moment。 A dead silence followed；you would think； from
their intent looks； that they listened with their very eyes。 This
deep silence； contrasted with the splendor of the feast； and the
light effused from torches held by the domestics； produced a
singular effect；it seemed for some moments like an assembly of
the dead。 The silence was interrupted； though the cause of wonder
had not ceased； by the entrance of Father Olavida； the Confessor of
Donna Isabella； who had been called away previous to the feast； to
administer extreme unction to a dying man in the neighborhood。 He
was a priest of uncommon sanctity； beloved in the family； and
respected in the neighborhood； where he had displayed uncommon
taste and talents for exorcism；in fact； this was the good
Father's forte； and he piqued himself on it accordingly。 The devil
never fell into worse hands than Father Olavida's； for when he was
so contumacious as to resist Latin； and even the first verses of
the Gospel of St。 John in Greek； which the good Father never had
recourse to but in cases of extreme stubbornness and difficulty；
（here Stanton recollected the English story of the Boy of Bilson；
and blushed even in Spain for his countrymen）；then he always
applied to the Inquisition； and if the devils were ever so
obstinate before； they were always seen to fly out of the
possessed； just as； in the midst of their cries （no doubt of
blasphemy）； they were tied to the stake。 Some held out even till
the flames surrounded them； but even the most stubborn must have
been dislodged when the operation was over； for the devil himself
could no longer tenant a crisp and glutinous lump of cinders。 Thus
Father Olavida's fame spread far and wide； and the Cardoza family
had made uncommon interest to procure him for a Confessor； and
happily succeeded。 The ceremony he had just been performing had
cast a shade over the good Father's countenance； but it dispersed
as he mingled among the guests； and was introduced to them。 Room
was soon made for him； and he happened accidentally to be seated
opposite the Englishman。 As the wine was presented to him； Father
Olavida （who； as I observed； was a man of singular sanctity）
prepared to utter a short internal prayer。 He hesitated；
trembled；desisted； and； putting down the wine； wiped the drops
from his forehead with the sleeve of his habit。 Donna Isabella
gave a sign to a domestic； and other wine of a higher quality was
offered to him。 His lips moved； as if in the effort to pronounce a
benediction on it and the company； but the effort again failed； and
the change in his countenance was so extraordinary； that it was
perceived by all the guests。 He felt the sensation that his
extraordinary appearance excited； and attempted to remove it by
again endeavoring to lift the cup to his lips。 So strong was the
anxiety with which the company watched him； that the only sound
heard in that spacious and crowded hall was the rustling of his
habit as he attempted to lift the cup to his lips once morein
vain。 The guests sat in astonished silence。 Father Olavida alone
remained standing； but at that moment the Englishman rose； and
appeared determined to fix Olavida's regards by a gaze like that of
fascination。 Olavida rocked； reeled； grasped the arm of a page；
and at last； closing his eyes for a moment； as if to escape the
horrible fascination of that unearthly glare （the Englishman's eyes
were observed by all the guests； from the moment of his entrance；
to effuse a most fearful and preternatural luster）； exclaimed； 〃Who
is among us？Who？I cannot utter a blessing while he is here。 I
cannot feel one。 Where he treads； the earth is parched！Where he
breathes； the air is fire！Where he feeds； the food is poison！
Where he turns his glance is lightning！WHO IS AMONG US？WHO？〃
repeated the priest in the agony of adjuration； while his cowl
fallen back； his few thin hairs around the scalp instinct and alive
with terrible emotion； his outspread arms protruded from the
sleeves of his habit； and extended toward the awful stranger；
suggested the idea of an inspired being in the dreadful rapture of
prophetic denunciation。 He stoodstill stood； and the Englishman
stood calmly opposite to him。 There was an agitated irregularity
in the attitudes of those around them； which contrasted strongly
the fixed and stern postures of those two； who remained gazing
silently at each other。 〃Who knows him？〃 exclaimed Olavida；
starting apparently from a trance； 〃who knows him？ who brought him
here？〃
The guests severally disclaimed all knowledge of the Englishman；
and each asked the other in whispers； 〃who HAD brought him there？〃
Father Olavida then pointed his arm to each of the company； and
asked each individually； 〃Do you know him？〃 No！ no！ no！〃 was
uttered with vehement emphasis by every individual。 〃But I know
him；〃 said Olavida； 〃by these cold drops！〃 and he wiped them off；
〃by these convulsed joints！〃 and he attempted to sign the cross；
but could not。 He raised his voice； and evidently speaking with
increased difficulty；〃By this bread and wine； which the faithful
receive as the body and blood of Christ； but which HIS presence
converts into matter as viperous as the suicide foam of the dying
Judas；by all theseI know him； and command him to be gone！He
ishe is〃 and he bent forward as he spoke； and gazed on the
Englishman with an expression which the mixture of rage； hatred；
and fear rendered terrible。 All the guests rose at these words；
the whole company now presented two singular groups； that of the
amazed guests all collected together； and repeating； 〃Who； what is
he？〃 and that of the Englishman； who stood unmoved； and Olavida；
who dropped dead in the attitude of pointing to him。
。 。 。 。 。
The body was removed into another room； and the departure of the
Englishman was not noticed till the company returned to the hall。
They sat late together； conversing on this extraordinary
circumstance； and finally agreed to remain in the house； lest the
evil spirit （for they believed the Englishman no better） should
take certain liberties with the corse by no means agreeable to a
Catholic； particularly as he had manifestly died without the
benefit of the last sacraments。 Just as this laudable resolution
was formed； they were roused by cries of horror and agony from the
bridal chamber； where the young pair had retired。
They hurried to the door； but the father was first。 They burst it
open