Church-yard scenes – Sepulchral conclave of ruffians – Night researches in a family vault.

Without imparting my suspicions to Cockspur – for I did not like, as the saying goes, to cut before the point, ¹⁰⁸ nor did I wish to consult or advise with him at all when I could avoid it, – I again went, as soon as it was dark, to the church-yard; and the better to conceal myself, I leaned against the trunk of one of the old yew trees at the porch. I had not been long here, when I saw first one white figure glide past – then another – and after a little, a third. I took care to keep behind the trunk of the tree that I might not be perceived; though there was little danger, since it was very dark, and the thick shade of the yew made it still darker where I stood. I was the better able, from the white colour of their dress, to mark with my eye the direction which the figures took; and, after waiting some time till I judged they had all passed, I determined to follow them.