It occupied the north-eastern angle of the building, in the gloomiest
part of the house; overlooking, on one side, a small courtyard,
barricadoed by walls and battlements of stout masonry, along which were
ridges of long rank grass waving in all the pride of uncropped
luxuriance. Another window overlooked the dark-flowing Irk, lazily
rolling beneath the perpendicular rock on which the college was
built--the very site of the once formidable station of Mancunium, the
heart and centre of the Roman power in that vast district.
No answer being rendered to this hasty summons, Rodolf raised the latch,
but marvelled not a little when he beheld the room apparently deserted.
Voices were, however, heard in the inner apartment. Ere he could well
draw back the door slowly opened, nor could he avoid hearing the
following termination to some weighty conference.
"An hundred broad pieces--good! Ere night, thou sayest?"
"Ere the curfew," replied Cornelius.
"Look thee--'tis but a slender space for mine art to work, and"--The
seer, as he uttered this with great solemnity, entered the antechamber.
The gallant stood there, just meditating a retreat.
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