other; "unless, indeed, it be the devil himself. All I
do know, is, it is not our friend De Haldimar; although,
as you observe, he most certainly wears his uniform.
But you shall see and judge for yourselves, gentlemen.
Sergeant Cassidy," he enquired of that individual, who
now came to ask if the detachment was to be dismissed,
"where have you placed the litter?"

"Under the piazza of the guard-room, Sir," answered the
sergeant.

These words had scarcely been uttered, when a general
and hasty movement of the officers, anxious to satisfy
themselves by personal observation it was not indeed De
Haldimar who had fallen, took place in the direction
alluded to, and in the next moment they were at the side
of the litter.

A blanket had been thrown upon the corpse to conceal the
loathsome disfigurement of the face, over which masses
of thick coagulated blood were laid in patches and streaks,
that set all recognition at defiance. The formation of
the head alone, which was round and short, denoted it to
be not De Haldimar's. Not a feature was left undefiled;
and even the eyes were so covered, it was impossible to
say whether their lids were closed or open. More than
one officer's cheek paled with the sickness that rose to
his heart as he gazed on the hideous spectacle; yet, as
the curiosity of all was strongly excited to know who
the murdered man really was who had been so unaccountably