But he did not speak , for , suddenly clutching the chain about her neck , she seemed to struggle with some invisible foe and beat it off , muttering audibly as she clenched her thin hands on the golden case . Paul leaned and listened as if the first word had turned him to stone , till the paroxysm had passed , and with a heavy sigh my lady sank into a calmer sleep . Then , with a quick glance over his shoulder , Paul skillfully opened the locket , drew out the silver key , replaced it with one from the piano close by , and stole from the house noiselessly as he had entered it . That night , in the darkest hour before the dawn , a figure went gliding through the shadowy Park to its most solitary corner . Here stood the tomb of the Trevlyns , and here the figure paused . A dull spark of light woke in its hand , there was a clank of bars , the creak of rusty hinges , then light and figure both seemed swallowed up . Standing in the tomb where the air was close and heavy , the pale glimmer of the lantern showed piles of moldering coffins in the niches , and everywhere lay tokens of decay and death . The man drew his hat lower over his eyes , pulled the muffler closer about his mouth , and surveyed the spot with an undaunted aspect , though the beating of his heart was heard in the deep silence . Nearest the door stood a long casket covered with black velvet and richly decorated with silver ornaments , tarnished now . The Trevlyns had been a stalwart race , and the last sleeper brought there had evidently been of goodly stature , for the modern coffin was as ponderous as the great oaken beds where lay the bones of generations . Lifting the lantern , the intruder brushed the dust from the shield-shaped plate , read the name RICHARD TREVLYN and a date , and , as if satisfied , placed a key in the lock , half-raised the lid , and , averting his head that he might not see the ruin seventeen long years had made , he laid his hand on the dead breast and from the folded shroud drew a mildewed paper . One glance sufficed , the casket was relocked , the door rebarred , the light extinguished , and the man vanished like a ghost in the darkness of the wild October night . Chapter VIII WHICH ? `` A Gentleman , my lady . '' Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it , Lady Trevlyn read , `` Paul Talbot , '' and below the name these penciled words , `` I beseech you to see me . '' Lillian stood beside her and saw the line . Their eyes met , and in the girl 's face was such a sudden glow of hope , and love , and longing , that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish . `` I will see him , '' she said . `` Oh , Mamma , how kind you are ! '' cried the girl with a passionate embrace , adding breathlessly , `` He did not ask for me .
I can not XXXXX him yet .
doubt entered half-raised paused sank see stole stood vanished woke