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THE CRYSTAL DAGGER.
CHAPTER I.
Several years ago, a considerable sensation was produced among the inhabitants of F, a town in Pomerania, by the sudden death of the protestant clergyman there, a man rather of singular character, who, in his latter years, was possessed of a large fortune. This had accrued to him in consequence of divers chance occurrences, but more especially that of a will made by the widow of one of his earliest friends, and this friend had fallen the victim of a mysterious and horrid assassination. The clergyman left no children, but had many relations, of whom, though no one was in absolute want, yet the greater number lived in very narrow circumstances. On this account, the
