“I might ask you, my Lord,” said the peasant, “how I, totally unacquainted with your castle, was to know that those steps led to any outlet? but I scorn to evade your questions. Wherever those steps lead to, perhaps I should have explored the way—I could not be in a worse situation than I was. But the truth is, I let the trap-door fall: your immediate arrival followed. I had given the alarm—what imported it to me whether I was seized a minute sooner or a minute later?” “Thou art a resolute villain for thy years,” said Manfred; “yet on reflection I suspect thou dost but trifle with me. Thou hast not yet told me how thou didst open the lock.” “That I will show you, my Lord,” said the peasant; and, taking up a fragment of stone that had fallen from above, he laid himself on the trap-door, and began to beat on the piece of brass that covered it, meaning to gain time for the escape of the Princess. This presence of mind, joined to the frankness of the youth, staggered Manfred. He even felt a disposition towards pardoning one who had been guilty of no crime. Manfred was not one of those savage tyrants who wanton in cruelty unprovoked. The circumstances of his fortune had given an asperity to his temper, which was naturally humane; and his virtues were always ready to operate, when his passions did not obscure his reason. While the Prince was in this suspense, a confused noise of voices echoed through the distant vaults. As the sound approached, he distinguished the clamours of some of his domestics, whom he had dispersed through the castle in search of Isabella, calling out— “Where is my Lord? where is the Prince?” “Here I am,” said Manfred, as they came nearer; “have you found the Princess?” The first that arrived, replied, “Oh, my Lord! I am glad we have found you.” “Found me!” said Manfred; “have you found the Princess?” “We thought we had, my Lord,” said the fellow, looking terrified, “but—” “But, what?” cried the Prince; “has she escaped?” “Jaquez and I, my Lord—” “Yes, I and Diego,” interrupted the second, who came up in still greater consternation. “Speak one of you at a time,” said Manfred; “I ask you, where is the Princess?” “We do not know,” said they both together; “but we are frightened out of our wits.” “So I think, blockheads,” said Manfred; “what is it has scared you thus?” “Oh! my Lord,” said Jaquez, “Diego has seen such a sight! your Highness would not believe our eyes.” “What new absurdity is this?” cried Manfred; “give me a direct answer, or, by Heaven—” “Why, my Lord, if it please your Highness to hear me,” said the poor fellow, “Diego and I—” “Yes, I and Jaquez—” cried his comrade. “Did not I forbid you to speak both at a time?” said the Prince: “you, Jaquez, answer; for the other fool seems more distracted than thou art; what is the matter?”