"'I know you,' I replied, 'as the friend and guardian of my youth; but--to what end am I called hither, and why are you thus?' "'My path is hidden!' said he, in a voice terrible and foreboding. "'Tell me, where have you been? Is this your habitation? unless'--shuddering, I added in a low but energetic tone--'unless you are some evil one that hath ta'en his semblance to lure me to my hurt.' "'When the moon rides o'er the blue south 'tis midnight; I will then reveal what thou hast desired, and the purpose of my coming.' "'Art thou really he whose form thou bearest? Answer truly, as thou dost hope for my stay.' "'I am!' he replied, in a tone so like that of my uncle that I was now satisfied his very form was before me. Conjecture was vain as to the motives that prompted this long and extraordinary concealment. "'Promise, Norton, that thou wilt tarry here until my return!' "'I will; but give me some pledge, some proof that thy being is real; that thou comest not as a phantom to delude my hopes.' "He stretched out his hand. I again felt the warm pressure of my earliest friend, whom I had so long mourned as dead. I would have embraced him, but he shrunk back, and I saw the black steed again preparing and impatient to depart. "'Remember,' said he, in a hollow voice, 'at midnight I will return.' "I leaned against the stone, determined to await the arrival of my mysterious relative, who would, I was convinced, on his return satisfactorily elucidate his proceedings. Occupied with vain surmises and reflections, time passed on almost unperceived; and ere I was aware the black steed was at my side. The rider suddenly dismounted. I drew back, instinctively, as he approached; for I saw, in the still clear light of the unclouded moon, his countenance hideously distorted and almost demoniacal in its expression.