She was able to see plainly that something was by the window, but what it was she could not plainly discern, in consequence of the lights she had in the room.  A few moments, however, sufficed to settle that mystery, for the window was opened and a figure stood before her.

One glance, one terrified glance, in which her whole soul was concentrated, sufficed to shew her who and what the figure was.  There was the tall, gaunt form—­there was the faded ancient apparel—­the lustrous metallic-looking eyes—­its half-opened month, exhibiting the tusk-like teeth!  It was—­yes, it was—­the vampyre!

It stood for a moment gazing at her, and then in the hideous way it had attempted before to speak, it apparently endeavoured to utter some words which it could not make articulate to human ears.  The pistols lay before Flora.  Mechanically she raised one, and pointed it at the figure.  It advanced a step, and then she pulled the trigger.

A stunning report followed.  There was a loud cry of pain, and the vampyre fled.  The smoke and the confusion that was incidental to the spot prevented her from seeing if the figure walked or ran away.  She thought she heard a crashing sound among the plants outside the window, as if it had fallen, but she did not feel quite sure.

It was no effort of any reflection, but a purely mechanical movement, that made her raise the other pistol, and discharge that likewise in the direction the vampyre had taken.  Then casting the weapon away, she rose, and made a frantic rush from the room.  She opened the door, and was dashing out, when she found herself caught in the circling arms of some one who either had been there waiting, or who had just at that moment got there.

The thought that it was the vampyre, who by some mysterious means, had got there, and was about to make her his prey, now overcame her completely, and she sunk into a state of utter insensibility on the moment.

CHAPTER X.

The return from the vault.—­The alarm, and the search around the hall.

[Illustration]

It so happened that George and Henry Bannerworth, along with Mr. Marchdale, had just reached the gate which conducted into the garden of the mansion when they all were alarmed by the report of a pistol.  Amid the stillness of the night, it came upon them with so sudden a shock, that they involuntarily paused, and there came from the lips of each an expression of alarm.

“Good heavens!” cried George, “can that be Flora firing at any intruder?”

“It must be,” cried Henry; “she has in her possession the only weapons in the house.”

Mr. Marchdale turned very pale, and trembled slightly, but he did not speak.

“On, on,” cried Henry; “for God’s sake, let us hasten on.”

As he spoke, he cleared the gate at a bound, and at a terrific pace he made towards the house, passing over beds, and plantations, and flowers heedlessly, so that he went the most direct way to it.