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own mouth what noise it was I heard. Tell me truly; thy life depends on thy veracity: My veracity is dearer to me than my life; said the peasant; nor would I purchase the one by forfeiting the other. Indeed! young philosopher! said Manfred contemptuously; tell me then, what was the noise I heard? Ask me what I can answer, said he, and put me to death instantly if I tell you a lie. Manfred growing impatient at the steady valour and indifference of the youth, cried, Well then, thou man of truth! answer; was it the fall of the trap-door that I heard? It was; said the youth. It was! said the Prince; and how didst thou come to know there was a trap-door here! I saw the plate of brass by a gleam of moonshine; replied he. But what told thee it was a lock? said Manfred; How didst thou discover the secret of opening it? Providence, that delivered me from the helmet, was able to direct me to the spring of a lock; said he. Providence should have gone a little farther, and have placed thee out of the reach of my resent-ment,
