Historical memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan Macgregor

302 NOTICES OF LADY GRANGE.
on the panel ; but all remained quiet. She re-
peated the signal with more confidence, and
presently the panel folded back and opened into
a passage, where a light stood upon the floor,
but no one appeared. She entered, however,
with hesitation, when the panel closed and
shut her within the passage. Her heart now
nearly failed her, and she would have returned
to her room, but could not gain admittance.
She looked round with terror, and called out to
ascertain if any person was present, but all re-
mained silent. — Trembling with fear, and almost
in a state of distraction, she snatched the light
and proceeded along the gallery, at the end of
which was a staircase. Descending by it, she
reached a great hall, in which stood a table with
a naked dagger lying on it, and a handkerchief,
stained with what appeared to be blood. She
trembled at the sight, and hastily passed on to
a door that opened into a place which seemed
to be a dungeon. Here her light was extin-
guished, and she knew not where to proceed.
In groping about, she laid her hand upon an iron
chain hung on the wall, which rattled at her
touch, and so overcame her nerves, that she fell
on the floor, in a state of insensibility. When
her senses returned, she saw her maid and a