he cried . `` All have been her victims ; who so worthy to be the final victim as herself ? '' Impelled by some new fantasy of his crazed intellect , he snatched the fatal mantle and rushed from the chamber and the house . That night a procession passed by torchlight through the streets , bearing in the midst the figure of a woman enveloped with a richly-embroidered mantle , while in advance stalked Jervase Helwyse waving the red flag of the pestilence . Arriving opposite the province-house , the mob burned the effigy , and a strong wind came and swept away the ashes . It was said that from that very hour the pestilence abated , as if its sway had some mysterious connection , from the first plague-stroke to the last , with Lady Elcanore 's mantle . A remarkable uncertainty broods over that unhappy lady 's fate . There is a belief , however , that in a certain chamber of this mansion a female form may sometimes be duskily discerned shrinking into the darkest corner and muffling her face within an embroidered mantle . Supposing the legend true , can this be other than the once proud Lady Eleanore ? * * * * * Mine host and the old loyalist and I bestowed no little Warmth of applause upon this narrative , in which we had all been deeply interested ; for the reader can scarcely conceive how unspeakably the effect of such a tale is heightened when , as in the present case , we may repose perfect confidence in the veracity of him who tells it . For my own part , knowing how scrupulous is Mr. Tiffany to settle the foundation of his facts , I could not have believed him one whit the more faithfully had he professed himself an eyewitness of the doings and sufferings of poor Lady Eleanore . Some sceptics , it is true , might demand documentary evidence , or even require him to produce the embroidered mantle , forgetting that -- Heaven be praised ! -- it was consumed to ashes . But now the old loyalist , whose blood was warmed by the good cheer , began to talk , in his turn , about the traditions of the Province House , and hinted that he , if it were agreeable , might add a few reminiscences to our legendary stock . Mr. Tiffany , having no cause to dread a rival , immediately besought him to favor us with a specimen ; my own entreaties , of course , were urged to the same effect ; and our venerable guest , well pleased to find willing auditors , awaited only the return of Mr. Thomas Waite , who had been summoned forth to provide accommodations for several new arrivals . Perchance the public -- but be this as its own caprice and ours shall settle the matter -- may read the result in another tale of the Province House . IV . OLD ESTHER DUDLEY . Our host having resumed the chair , he as well as Mr. Tiffany and myself expressed much eagerness to be made acquainted with the story to which the loyalist had alluded . That venerable man first of all saw lit to moisten his throat with another glass of wine , and then , turning his face toward our coal-fire , looked steadfastly for a few moments into the depths of its cheerful glow .
Finally he poured forth a great fluency XXXXX speech .
For by if in of over than to toward with