Regina of Gazeran Castle, or, The countess and the gamekeeper
page: (TitlePage) [View Page (TitlePage) ]0 [Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by Geo. IL Williams, M~ Clerk's Office, in the District Court of the District of M~issachusetts] *Rh5P~L GAZERAICA~TL ; -OR TIlE- COUNTESS ANJ~ THE GAMEKEEI~I A STIRRING TALE OF FRANOE~ BY PETER QUIRK ROE, Author of' The Two Doctors,' 4'c., 4'c. BOSTON: 1'UBLIBHBD BY GEORGE IL WJLLIAMS, 52 WA8m~c a e I, N V page: -7[View Page -7] U V ~\~P~tWCOL4~cQ 45~ "'I ~ 1c~28 1. lB ft L~ 3' - RF~GII~A. '7 CHAPTER I. ON the outskirts of the forest of.Hallate resided Pier-re Aubin, the gamekeeper of the neighboring wood of. Bsassseuse. His sinall but comfortable dwelling was not far from the banks of the sweet little stream the Aulnette, and at no great distance-from the city of Paris. Through the vista of ,the forest might be seen, approaching the house, -a laughing merry group of peasants who were retui-ning' from the Parish church of Flewrines, where they had been in procession, to present at tgie Baptismal Font, ;the first-born :babe of the gamne-keeper, and hil spouse, the pretty Ogcile Robert. , Had the infant been .the long-desired' heir to riches and grandeur, its entrance on the theatre .of existence, could not have been greeted with a warmer welcome than -was bestowed on the girl Philiberte. Yet was the, little one not of the sex that had been ar- depitly desired by the husband or the father of the young wife and m~othet . This rural festival was attended by young and old from all parts of the neighborhood, and the whole day was -a succession of dances, laughter, discharges of musketry, re- lieved by- refreshments, and plentuous liba- tions of the light wines of the country. :The weather .was gloriously propitious (pr this merriment, which was carried on without doors, on the .green sward, under the shade of the magnificent, trees-whilst within 're- clinaed the delighted mother of three days on a couch of snowy whiteness., She wpis coquettishy dressed, for the occasion, in her most ihecomning cap, ruffled to the throat -ini fine linen and lace gind adorned with a pe fusion .of jribands, and on her hands wee white gloves, as though she were a: bride. At her feet reposed her little girl softly eli- soonced in eider-do.gn. Hlbw beautiful and interesting Cecile look.. ed in her 'yew happiness, as she smiled on the pledge of conjugal affection. -Pierre Aubin seated by their side regarded hlis wife and child, alternately, with proud satisfaction-and well he might do so-for he had braved the 'threat of death and de- 2strtiction to obtain the charming Cecile, for. his~bride !":- Frequiently during the enteia~r nient' did he leave his guests awhile, thus to contemplate these dear objects of his love'.- So heapipily had time ypassed awayt~ evening arrived before any'oriethoughtit so late, 'Then in thsalargest apartment ofit 'house was apgead out a feast 18r whicl thk r REGINA. page: 8-9[View Page 8-9] 8' present manor called 'La Grange' had fidence he rejoined his company saying to been laid under contribution; but as the j himself,- fashion of the country required that it should be within sight of the convalescent, in whose honor it was given, the door of Cecile's room was left open and the company at table were seated within view, in order to afford a prospect of their enjoyment. With rustic, national, politeness, the hap- py guests posted themselves around the well- covered board, one expecting a night of' in- nocent hilarity and good cheer, to 'terminate' a day of pleasure. A thick fog exhaling from the low rich marshy ground added to the darkness of the, night and east ~t murky veil over the game- keeper's hoiis~ Whilst, however, without all' was silent and dark, within was light, ~h'eerfulnes5"and merry noise. The i~inging 'of 'glasses, 'the crack 'of the, fire, and above all the 'thousand little pleasantries of word and deed-so foolish to repeat, to retid, or if out 'of place and unsuited to the occa~ sion.-.-.but which not only seem, but are in reality so' delightful and eOtertaining when *hen they are opportunely brought forward. PierreAubin alone seemed restless, and he frequently left his place at the table, under various little pretexts, to satisfy himself~ that his Cecile and babe were safe and well. :'- Think not that it was merely; as he assert- ed, to retail to her the witticisms of the guests that he so often repaired tct the chain- j~er. No! whilst the smile was on his lips and affection in his eye, his heart was a prey t9 a sad presentment. ~ ~oftly, he murmured to himself' as he bent oyer his sleeping b~be'and. smiling wife 'May God. grant me vigilance and strength to guard against the hatred y.'hick is on tile ~watch, and i~he vengeance s~eking. to 1k sated.' In imagin~ition, Pierre mn4e his lpve a: s~ield of protection for these helples~objects of, his lender solicitude, and regaining cort- 'I defy both hatred and revenge: they cannot deprive 'me of wife and child! The father of Cecile, 'a worthy old veteran, had drank the health of his idol Napoleon, and of his former Colonel,.so often that he had becom~ inebriated, but very joyous, and he proposed singing the popular revolution- ary air-the Marseillaise Hymn. When at the second verse, distinctly was heard in the distancec, the dismal shriek of a screech- owl, twice repeated. 'Who is the ill-omened musician who dares to accompany me in this strain? 'in- quired the singer, Decadi Robert, stopping abruptly and looking angrily around' for Nicholas Godard, a notorious jester who had eontributed much to the entertainment of the company by his practical jokes. Had~ he been absent, Decadi would have' been at no loss to whom to 'attribute the unpleasant in- terruptuon, and would have known how to pay him off for it, but the facetious plough- boy had not staTted from his place. ~ I will go on with my song,' said the old soldier. 'Do so, by all means;' exclaimed' every one except Pierre Aubin who, though none remarked, had started and turned deathly pale at the cry which had stopped the sin~ih~ of his father-in-law. Looking 'towhrds' the chamber where his young wife was reposing, Pierre repeated quite lOw, the Words already used- 'Hatred and i'evenge I defy you! You cannot deprive rite of w~fr and child.' 'The 'chorus to 'the' second verse was just ended, and, like the 'crow in 'the fable, the grandfather r of baby'Philiberte waS opening his large mouth for the 'third stanza, when 'again came the dismal cry of the owl, sound- ing nearer than before. ' 'Ah, indeed ['The crean~re is 'determined REGINA. not to let me sing by myself,' remarked Dc. cadi Robert. Then for the first time observ- ing thi~t his son-in-law was greatly disturbed, he said: 'Why, Pierre, you are trembling, you shake like an aspen leaf.' 'I tremble indeed, say you? Not in the least,' so saying, Pierre seizing hold. of a glass of wine to show how steady his hand Was, raised it to his lips-but set it down un- tasted~ for he felt it was impossible. 'What wonder that he is put out a bit,' said the Godmother. 'Is there not cause for it? This is a bad omen on a christening day. The almanac says,-When the owl sings at the feast, beware, for death *is on the watch!' 'Yes it isquite true that we may fear the owl, Every one knows that. hut then there is no danger when some one imitates its cry. I would lay a wager that what we have just heard comes from some one, some wag who is amusing himself as a screech- owl-that's all, depend upon it,~ sai4 Nich9- las Godard. 'Are you sure of that?' inquired Cecile, *whom the floise had alarmdd also, and who raising herself up had drawn the sleeping Philiberte to her side. Certainly I am very sure of it,' replied the clown, 'and to prove it I will reply to the call, and I flatter myself I can do the thing a little more naturally than that laugh- ing fellow, whoever he is.' Before Pierre Aubin had time to forbid him Nicholas, uttered such a tremendous cry and made so comical a face, that the laughter interrupted for a time was renewed by the whole assembly who burst fok~th in. shouts of mirth. Notwithstanding the uproarious hilarity, Cecile's husband, who was listening atten- tively, caught the sound of a third cry-but this time evidently at a greater distance from the house. He aros~, saying, in an offhand sort of nianner, int~nded'.to prevent his wife being uneasy. 'flow can you all be talking so about dwIs and screech owls? The fumes of wine hive reached our heads and made us hear strange things. I know what makes the noise. The stable door at the other end of the court yard has been left open~. and the least wind makes it creak on its 'old rusty hinges,' said Pierre. AulAn. 'The stable door,' repeated Nicholas, 'That's' a good one I It is another tune It will sing when it wants to say-' shut me if you please.' 'The fact is,' gravely remarked Decadi, 'there in no re~embli~nce between the ci'~y that we heard, and the creaking 0r a doot~' 'Can' it be any thing elsn?' anxiously in- quired Cecil~.. ' ' ' ' 7 'Bali!' replied Pierre,' yo~ tire mistaken~ all of you. I am right in my conjecture, I know. Let us wager that you will hear ijo.. thing more after I have shut the stable door.' 'But will you 'agree not to' speak to the owl if I bet with you?' asked Nicolas.' 'Certainly I will promise not to speak t~ it,' answered the game-keeper, assuming~ a, ludicrous serio-comic look. 'Very well sir, in that case I bet yOu a leg of beef, to be eaten on Sunday next at Vandore's, in Prambourg, that it is a person who is counterfeiting an owl out there.' "Done! I take the bet!' said' Pierre' Aubin shaking the extended hand of Nichias' Godard. The affair of the wager being settled, the game-keeper was' going out of the' house,' when a thought coming to him he turned back' to Cecile's room and tenderly embraced ' hi~ wife and Child, then went forth into the yar4~ As he was crossing the threshold, Nicholas called after him,- 'Remember, if you speak to~ theoWi, ~r rather, to the pretended owl, the wage~ 4k~ page: 10-11[View Page 10-11] / ~m~cWded and I win my leg ~mf'beeV 'Pierre Aubin made no reply bnt.wa!kedi phtowards the place he' had designated. The company Soofl set agoing- by some pleasantry of Nicholas', ceased -to hi~tei~ t~ the retreating foot-steps of' the game-keeper, bnt songe and jokes r~ipidly suceeedihg-e~ch ntlier, more than a quarter of an hour' elapsed before any one remarked the length of time that Pierre had been absent. At lt(st some one expressed wonder as to what, could be keeping him so long, and each of the gm~ests instantly looked as if the same question had just occurred to him or her. - -Decadi Robert, setting his glass upenthe table~,- exclaimed,-.-' I don't approve of this fun at all, when we are met together to' he- sodial, n6 slipping away say I. It is y6ur fault, Nicholas, that Pierre has played us this ~rick,? continued the ex-grenadier of' the first Consul's guard.' 'Mine l' cried Nicholas astonished at the accusation. 'That is very unjust. Did I ask him to go? 'Was it n~t he who bet that it was not s4~rne joker who was playing s~reeeh-owl, when-it was quite plain and certain that-.--' * 'l3e quiet' interrupted Decadi--.' I drink no more until Pierre is among us and in or4er to bring him back I will g0 and-look for him' As 'Decadi. arose from table on' announi~- ing his intention, the guests could -d~ -ne' less than imitate the example of the director' of the Fete. What is the matter said' the deaf old bell- ringer who was quite puzzled to account for his being left alone at - the 'festive board where he-h~d eNculated all would 'h~veIre'. irmined for hours. '~Wh'mW are -you going to-do?' he"enquir.- ed. -- We are~ gQin'g to dance,' shouted Nicho- las in his ear. The old'rrman did not hear what Nicholas said, but as usual ~Ath him he-pretended he did. On more than one'occaskui that ve~y~ evermiixg- the plougb.boy had made sport of the bell-ringer's deafness-but in this 'in- stance those of the corrtpariy who did not participate in the charm~of Decadi took up' the-jbke arid repeated the ~words of the jester, we are going to-dance" so loudly and so loudly and 'eo often, that they ultimately pe- netrated the' tympandm~ of the deaf man. 'Very well; I' understand,' said he, 'one cannot dance without music. Pierre is gope for the Fiddler.' Pleased with his penetration, he secured a fat old body, nearly as deaf as himself, fdr' his partner in the first cotillion. The women then repaired to the inner room where Cecile was in strange agitation at her husband's un. accountable absence, and the men followed the old soldier Decadi into the court. The whole party searched around every- where; but in vain, and only in whispered accents had they spoken, fearing to add to the' alarm of th~ I wife -- when suddenly Nicholas shouted at the top of his voice- 'Halloo, Pierre, we aratired of seeking you -speak-tell us where you are. Decadi rushed on him and covered the mother of the inconsiderate bawler with both his hard hands, saying..-. ',Fool that thou art-.-thou wilt terrify my poor girl.' The ulisehief was already done, and to the grief and annoyance of the father, Cecile ap-.- peared at the door of the house. In' spite of the entreaties of her friends she had-thrown off the counterpane and spring. ~ng out of bed, bare-foot and lightly clad~ she reached tie outer door. Her father, with rough tenderness, caught her in his arms, saying, as he carried her back t~ bed,- 'What are you thinking of, Lihi? Do you ~pe~t to be a good mother if you take sueb- *1 RE9IN~ freaks -as these? There, take your little pe and nurse hex; that will be much better that joining~ in our sports? '&o. let m~ go father4 There is no spori in this; something has happened t~ Pierre and I must know what it is.' 'Nonsense, child? said Decadi, striving t hide his own rising alarm. 'Nonsense don't you understand the bellowing of Nicho. laa? It is only for fun that he goes on so- he kitows well enough where Pierre~ is, t~pd so do I. Balanchet told me just now1' 'Well, then,' responded Cediledoubting. ly, 'if you know, why can't you tell me.' 'No, my darling, I will not tell you any- thinguntil you are snug in. bed and your sweet infant in your arms; see, she is awake apd crying for you. Greatly puzzled what to saynext was De- cadi,. but he had gained his point. The young mother had done as her father insist- ed, and he had also gained time to re- flect. 'Now, then, tell me as you promised.- Where is Pierre gone? You see I am herp, calm and comfortable.' 'He is gone to St. Frambourg for suga9 and nutmeg to make some punch-.--.that is all.' Nichola~ was about to speak, but Decadi trod heavily on his toe and sternly whisper- ed,-.-. 'If you cry out or speak a word I will kill you.' Cecile seemed dissatisfied with the expla- nation, so, to pacify her, her father wished to send off the guests to meet him, for he sai%1 gaily,- 'Cecile is afraid she may lose her good man.' But~no one stirred, and Nicholas, quite mal-.a.propos, as usual, inquired4-... ',Where must we go for him~ii' 'Where neighbor Balanehet told us, to be t sure,' said Decadi,, pushing the un1uel~y' speaker out~of the room, and that with n~ gentle hand.- 'Oh, father!' exclaimed Cecile, 'I know' that you' are afraid' some evil has befallen him.' 'If that is the case,' cried the- coward I Nicholas, '~, for one, will not venture after him.' 'What, are .you not gone?' interposed Decade. *I see how it is. You- must have weapons and lights, soft-hearted chickens that you are.' So saying the veteran got a couple of axes, * a scythe, some cudgels, and a few torches, and distributing them among the party-so lately joyous, but now so timorous and de- jected-.--.he dispatched them on their relu~-- * tant expedition, whilst he remained, he said, to guard against such another prank as Cecile~ had just played them. In vain the kind old man tried to soothe the fears of his daughter, whose anxiety 2 seemed so much greater than so short an ab. sence would appear to warrant. Her alai~nV became contagious and her sympathisirig friends looked upon her compassionately, as if certain some misfortune had actually' hnp." pened. Clasping her infant to her breast, at let~~th / Cecile cast a look of despair on her silent friends and pointing to the small window; ~xclaimed,--~- 'It is from thm~t quarter that trouble will I come. Already has death nearly' reached us from that side.' . 'Death!' gasped out her aifrighted corn- panions. 'Great God! is my child going out o senses?' Cecile understood her father's meaning, and replied,.- / 'I may well say death I * It was attheeqn., elusion of a fete, also-.-n4y bridal fete1. Ypu page: 12-13[View Page 12-13] Rfl~A.~ REGINAI did noi.~knoW of it, father, for Pierre wished me iiot'to tell. Stay, do you only raise the little picture of the Virgin. There, where the iiead'of my bed used to be. That ~ic- tu~'e~h~etds something, doe&it not V The father removed the picture, but as the wall was in the shade he did not discover anything, so he replied,-.-. 'No, child! I see nothing.' 'T~ake the light, then, and look again; I promise you will see something.' 'Decadi brought the light and holding' it dlose to the wIAall, he exclaimed, in utter amazement, 'Sacrc-bteu! why here is a rifle ball sunk in the wall. What wretch took aim at such a mark?' * '~1'hat is what Pierre must know, but he will not say. As for me, however, I can guess. Oh, for goodness sake! do tell us,' cried the assembled group. 'Yes, Cecile-speak. Let us hear the name,' 'added Decadi. 'No, my dear father, I can not-I must not, until Pierre ,gives me permission. I've promised him not to name any one whom 1 may suspect.' 'This is showing too much pity for a mi~- erabie wretch-a Awould-be' murderer, me- thinks,' observed the old soldier,. 'However powerful he may be, Pierre need' not fear him. One man has as good a chance as another.' Cecile only replied, in alow voice,-..K "Perhapp it was 'not a man!' No one spoke. Decadi Robert remained some time gaz- ing on the ball, then placing the light on the table,"he'iit to the little window and stood looking into the thick darkness that envelop~ ed the"bnilding. &~dre~ry hillf hour passed thu~ in agoniz- in~ .suspense,' which momentarily became more intense. At length the words, 'They come-they are returning!' broke from tIm lips of the listening either, in feverish accents. The lights drew nearer rapidly. Cecile, withoutt rising, t~oked at her father beseechingly, and in stitjed tones, said,- 'Pierre, my husband; is he with thee?' The old man' leaned out of the window, the better to~ be able to distinguish those who were advancing. 'And my husband?' again implored Ce- eile. Decade Robert, who' could not see more than the outline of the figures, would have ,called out, but his voice failed him, he was speechless from emotion-for, alas, the ab- sence of alacrity and exultation in the ap- proaching party proclaimed too clearly, to the anxious watcher, the want of success they had to announce. 'And my husband?' ejaculated Cecile, for the third time. I do not see him yet,' replied her father, ~ evident emotion. Again the agitated young woman sprang from' her bed. The old man quitted his post at the win- dow and rushed to oppose the entrance of the crowd into his daughter's presence until he should have learned the result of their search. But he was too late. Cecile in her eager- ness was not to be baffled. She caught I~icholas, who was foremost, by the arm, and demanded,- 'What has happened? What have you seen?' The plough-boy was pale as a corpse, and Ipoked terribly scared. Heeding not the signalss made by Decadi Robert, for~ him not to tell, he bluntly'answered,- 'The fact is, we do not know what has become of Pierre. He has not been at S~. Frambourg, at all events, and at the 'cross-' roads near the forest, we saw the hedges beaten down and traces of men and horses, in mnch confusion, as if there had been a terrible scuffle going on in that place quite recently.' '0 Heaven! robbery or murder!' cried Cecile, in' bitterangaish. 'No, the rascals were not robbers,' rejoin- ed Nicholas. 'Pierre had no money about him, or anything worth stealincr. but his handkerchief he has lost, for we found it in a ditch close to the place of the squabble, or fight, or whatever it was. See, here it is, there is no mistake but it is it, look and you will know it.' As he spoke, the fellow drew from his pocket a neck-kerchief, twisted, knotted and torn in many places. Father Decadi stretched 'out his hand to get hold of it, in hopes of'persuad'ing his poor daughter that Nicholas was mistaken; but Cecile, quicker than he, seized on the crimi- nating article. With trembling fingers she unfolded it ; then, 'examining it at 'the light, she discover- ed the marks of the teeth and traces of foam and blood, indicating that~' in a desperate struggle, it had b'een used as a gag to stifle the cries of the victim. As this conviction forced itself upon her, a cry of agony' and despair escaped the mis- erable wife, who pronouncing, with ineffable terror, the name, 'Regina Gazeran,' fell ~ fainting and senseless' into the arms of her I commiserating and astounded friends. '' t The father lett her to the care of these kind 'folks, and in a frenzy 'of fury 'he caught ~ hold of the~'bearer of this ill news and al.. - most strnngling'poor Nicholas, he said,~ A So,~ood.for-.nothing wretch, you and the i, resijiai'e left Pierre Aubin in the hands of h the bri~an~ls, eow~rds that' you ar~~ Wh~e did you not follbiV" and resetre him? Have you no bowels of compassion, no spark of~ courage and humanity? I will show' y~3iP how one who is a man, will act.' '"~'"~' This spoken, the 'old soldier released Nicholas, who had changed from deatily pal~1 t6 'deepes~tcrimson under his iron grip. Thee; with an eye of fire, a hand convulsiv'ely 'agi~ tated, legs trembling with eagerness not feai~' he took his gun, from its place over the ehini.. ney, and first examining to see that it was properly loaded and in good trim for servee, he snatched a torch from the hand' of on~ (if the guests and rushed out into 'the fields..A~~iv The rest, stimulated by the excitement antI' determination of the old man; thought not of' his insulting reproaches and each seeing 'in the eyes of his associates that 'they were all of one mind, they 'followed iu the rear of Cecile's father, to participate in this strange nocturnal chase. It seemed as if' the soldier of the Repub. lic,' one of Napoleon's Warriors, had, for the time, recovered the vigor of youth, so agi~e~y '"'I did he leap ditches and fepces, and overstep~ ~very impediment until he arrived at the spot' indicated' by Nicholas Godard. ' A The marks of a violent struggle 1ver~4iiIt~eA visible, by the aid of his torch. By a, daep Impression in the soft ground it appear~d'~s' hough the' heavy body of a man had been~ brown down and held there by superior 'orce, whilst all around was tramp1~ "and nar2ked 'with the prints of several ~li1t6rent..' ized feet, showing th~t ther& must ieen s~rne five or six persons engaged hi' he contest, ' ' At a little distance, in 'the down-trodden ~rass, he found Pierre Auhin's hunting-knife -but it was not bloody. "Alas, they have killed him ere~ he could ~e his weap4rn,' exclaimed the old2 n~anp ~ epaused, iniiis research, to wipe ht~moist# 3 4 page: 14-15[View Page 14-15] 14 1~.W~lNA. 1~l~emA~ 15 AVthis iu~tant a puff of wind extingt~hing hM tomb, ptit an end to further investigati94, ap4~th~,, sorrowing soldier tur.~ed hi~ stepa homeward. 1'resently7 through the, gloom of darkness he perceives a glimmering light, li1~e~aWill- o'4he-wisp, but he remarked that. it was at s~nne little distance from the ground, and w~s steadily moving in the direction of the village. Without heeding the repeated calI~ of his eornrades, Decadi follows the wandering light ~~oma distance until he judg~d that it was within range of his gun; then, acting without reflection, under the savage iuiputse of~his excited 'feelings, he took good aim at t~ light and pulled the trigger. The report resounded through the valley., th~ light was extinguished, and a cry, as of sudden pain was distinctly heard in the dark.. ness. 'I have hit the bird, and must wait for my cox~rades to confe up with their torches, so~ li~oquized Decadi. t'I~h' party soon hurried up, and together they all hastened to the spot from whence * tl~e cry had proceeded and where the' light vanished. Nothing was to be found but a lantern, wl~i~h had fallen on the grorind and rolled overe~tinguishing the flame; but thewich violently agitated, and wherefore, at this appeal., he had abruptly quitted the christen- ing festival. But, before explaining the cause of this ~r~y~erious disappearance, permit us' to. re- late what occurred to him on that memorable night. When Pierre Aubin, in great emotion, had taken leave of~ his wife and babe and quitted the cottage, as already mentioned, instead pf going to the stable-~-.as his fatiher-in-law and the. guests supposed was his intention, being misted as to the true object of his absence- Pierre passed through the outer gate of the court-yard and was at once in the open country. The night being so very dark, or~ coming. from the light within, it took some time be- fore he could make his.way through the sur- rounding obscurity. Behind, his cottuge-honie shed its friendly rays, lil~e a Pharos of the deep, and by this aid he trusted to be able, on returning, to guide his steps to all that his heart held dear. PIerre had proceeded but a shot t dist~mJ4ce when he saw, not far from him, a light.-- Three times it slowly raised on high, and three times it is as slowly ~owdred. 'It is he-it certainly must be him,' said the husband of Cecile to himself in a mur- was still smoking. inured tone; 'yet why could he not have On the glass of the lantern drops Of blood waited for me closer to the house?' were visible. Except this, however, there Although a vague, undefmnable uneasiness was no vestige or indication of the resut of accompanied this idea, the gamekeeper~ the shot so well directed by the old marks- nevertheless, walked onwards, with a firm man, Decadi Robert. step and determined spirit, in the direction of ______ the signal-light. He advanced hap-hazard, guided only by CHAPTER, IL . his. ~nowledge of the localities, and from the ITis time now. to return tQ Perse Aubmn,.1 ~kill which his adventurous, profession had, tlaQ mer ~eper,' and, in dug' ~ given him, he was not in much. danger" of p~vvJ~yfthi~ ~trapge signal,. tl~escreech~w1I losing his wayeven in the darkness o*night, cry, had made him shudder and ~b ,n~rn4 in the mazy intricacies of the murky'f~reat~ IussNA. 'the light ~aa n~ longer 'visible.' "The Pierre uttered a' peculiar aud very~ ~hri whistle, which was responded to by a' siniila soun{ 'Good!' thought he, 'I am not far fron him,' 'and taking a fresh start he cdntinne his march.' After awhile, a~ain seeing a glimmer o the light he,'was following, he stopped, pl&ce both his hands to his mouth, to con~i~r th( sOund like a speakIng-trumpet, arid shouie at the top of his voice,-. 'P~tit t~h~au~el, is it th~e?' Theb Pierr& listened intently, but flo an. ~Wer was returned. To his great surprise, no sound was to be' heard. At this straiige silence he became perplex- ed. It was quite possible that he might' be led into a snare, so'he stood ready t6 retrace his steps on the 'slightest' 'suspicious move- wdrmt., Reflecting 'that the distance from his cOt- tage, to which he' had already strayed, was sO great as to prevent any cry for help being heard by his friends there, should 'he be at- tacked in the dark-Pierre sald to him- self,.- 'Faith it is no use to run into danger at this tiriie ol~n~ght. It may come soon enough ~whhout going to meet it. I will be on my guaid and keep a bright look out.' Thus communing with himself, our honest friend began;'witli quickened step, to refdrii hlAne.' He 'scarcely started w hen he thought he would repeathis call; ac6ordinglyhe shotittd, but in a lower key,.-. ~Petit: Chauvel,' 1'etit Cliauvei!' art" th~u 'This tiiiie"the~e was' a res~bnse-a'child~sh' v~dh~e rej~lied,-- haste !-I have 'bdenY wtiitin~ a7' fdll'lidlf' h6uk~'. n 'l~ierre AulL~iu ne~d&l n~ more. His s~i~ 11' picion~ vat ished' and hd vi~ ashamed or'hi~ .f momentary alarm. '&~uid~d by the Ii~ht~' .wl~ich was freely dispIa'~ed and' also by tb~ ri well-known voice, he 's6o~ readied the indl!J ~ vidbaf ~ddre~ssed as' Pelt Chauvel: Petit Chauvel was a shephe~4 boy full six- C t4n years 'of agO, but' so diininuitii~ that he I liar~ll3r se5~ed twelve. P~l~' and thin as th& chi!d'ren bright up 'i&th~ dams unwhole- some quarters of' a city, 'no Ore woulA'hav~.' 't ho~igit to Io~ik at him, that he had always I~v~d'in'th&o~oii air and' u~d~t1m~ invigor~tit mg infk~ence p C the sunshiAe. ' When Pierie reached him, he was seated' on astonehfs lanterzi was pIai~d by his si~l~' on the ground'behinda clump of broom. IIi~' air w~is absent, even appearing various. t1~' s&ikhed' t& 'he lisien~iA~ ~d4entiveiy, but not 'tl!ie' 'dire'etioh in ~vhich the ~eLkeejiercom~1 Pierre remarked this' to' the lad, buih~' laughed foolishly a~id'~reptied ' Who ~wouid1 you think' I wits exP&St'ing no~V'that yoti are 'coirie'? N~ one but my ~fog'would to come aftei~ mO, and I ran a thorn iritJo~hi~ paw to-night tQ teach him not to .mun al~te~' me when I don't want 'he should.' " At any other' time Pierre would have given vent to his indignation at' 'thd chielty~of'ihg Jxy, but he too much oc~ med: with the subct of uneasiness' tb'atl h~J' d~a~vb'liin"t~ this spot; to notke ~t, but hn~riedly aii~h~W patlentlyhe uttered the following queries 'What new~? Has she arrived? Wh~1' Is she alone? What did ~ '~Y?' Petit Chauvel-.-.still lo6kln~ quite ttticdii'? cern'edly, with a vacatit stare at 1~iei~'AliiP bin-.-.was in no hasto to reply. flit lootm~'of' stupid indifferern~ was' b~Wo ineai~ ~~jd' an expression of hyp&i~iOy ahd rna1hie~ I*~ twisted his~cap'in his hinds kepCsliiii*~ixmg abilutad if'piuz'zled 'how~to7i~Opfy. ~ Atia4t 'the bby' being dressedd to tefl~fif~ gg i, ig page: 16-17[View Page 16-17] ps~yc'~ :50 many qitestious, but' he would try, v,~ben, suddenly the noisp of several horses was heazd cjpse at han~l. t~tn~le Jn every limb, and pointing to the place when~e the sound came, he stammered, 'Do you hear, master,~ Oh dear,. I am so frightened I can stay no longer.' So saying, he i'ose up, hid, the lantern un- '' .'''~.' der his blouse~, m~d without heeding the en- treaties of Pierre, he fled like a deer, and~ was i~istantly lost in the idarkn~ss Le~t thi~is sud~ply alone, without having 7' heard a word of the importan~ int~lIigence which he sought to learn, Pierre bent his ear the ground to ascertain whether the noise which had' put to flight the foolish boy did 'proceed from h0rse's hoofs, or was m~e1y produced by the wind through the trees. Nothing but the howling of a siriart 0. breeze, at first met his~ ear, but after a mo-. merit he 7.distinctly heard the neighing of a 1~orse-4hen all was again silent. '~'h~ l~ors~mer ave halted, thought Pierre, a~d reverting to the singular demeanor, and abrupt departure of Petit Chauvel~he became i~neasy. He looked towards his cottage, the light f~orn which was barely visible' and he approached himself for having imprudently wandered so far from it. For a second time did the stout-hearted g~mmp~keeper feel ,the fearful presentiment wWch had drawn him~ to Cecile and Phili- berte, but resolutely be began to walk home- 'v~~ards. As lie was going he heard a sound as of stealthy'steps on the grass, and the c~ack1jng of dry br~iches, sometimes on onps~de and then on the other-but it was i~1e~s straining his vision, nothing could he 4iscetn except once? a shadow seemed to g~im~e aloi~g the ,path-way. 'Who g~es'there?' said the gamekeeper boldly, ,as he walked towards the moving figure. No. answer~ was returned ..r- the sha~lo~ se,~med to have sunk into the earth. Pierre advanced a step nearer the s ot and again challenged with the practiced v~ice of a ~oldier-' 'Who~goes there?' . Hardly had he uttered the last word when, from different points four men rushed on him, surrounded, and violently assaulted him. The husband of Cecile was uncommonly tall and, what is rare, strong in proportion to his height. He had mote than once had to contend with the most athletic and most des- perate, poachers, and had'taught them that in a handeto hand encounter, when he could see what he was about, he did not fear two foes at once. But what could he do when taken by surprise, in the dark, and attacked 'by four resolute assassins'? The almost superhuman efforts of despair cotild not save him. Being convinced that he must be overpowered, iPierre, after fighting manfully for some time in silence, attempted to call for help, but a gag stopped his m~puth. Putting forth all his strength in order, if pos- sible, to free himself from, the suffocating impediment, the game-1~eeper by a mighty effort freeing one hand for a moment, he tore away the gag. This was his own neck handkerchief, which Nicholas Godard found shortly after- wards on the scene of strife, and which he bro~ight back to the young mother. As soon as Pierre Aubin recovered the power of frep respiration, he felt stronger, and with a fearful blow in the chest of, one~ his adversaries, he felled him to the ground -but unfortunately the man in falling had caught hold of the game-keeper and drag- ged him down with himself. Pierre was uppermost 'and kept the other down, who not vanquished, though under. neatl?, clung so firmly to, him as to' prevent his rising up. Thus interlaced in a nervous~ embrace, equally trying to both; they rolled and struggled on;the ground. Each could count the deep-drawn respira- 13~GI~A. er j but ndt thus, and in this pla~ 'Wa~ lie"tdidib. ce ITo prevent accidents they t'ikid~ ~him' ~*ith lb dons of the other as' they writhed togetl~ with knee to kn~e,'breast to bi~e~st, and fa to face~ As their turried and twisted Pier felt 'the satin of a mask over the feattires his vigorous antagonist. Whilst each was meditating a despera efVort as 'by tacit consent they slackened tI struggle, to gain a little' bread'?, ~he pther a Sassins, also masked; rnsh~d on Pierre, for ed hitn to let go his hold and tied his han behind his back, and stopped the victim mouth with another gag. The' man thus r4 leased by comrades was able to arise, and his turn assist them. Pierre Auhin, still Iaying'oh the groun and kept in a painful position by strong cori found it impossible to give utterance to mor than stifled sighs. Two of the men no~ to4k hold of his legs, as yet unfastene(i whilst the other' two supported hi~ head an 'shoulders. Sometimes carrying, sometime dragging him along the 'gr'ound,'they got hin to a short distance where the party h'ahed.' One of them gave a whistle and alinost in stantly a fifth (masked~)' person, appeared leading a horse by the bridle. This latter accomplice was 'small, thick-se' and short. He seemed to move with diffi' culty. possibly y it was' on account 'of hi's in firmity that he had not taken part 'in th'c struggle. He held the bridle whilst the 'cow. ardly conquerors of the game-kee the unfortu man off ' per raised 'nate the ground, 'and hoisted him upon the~ hoi'se. When he was placed thereon, 'to their far~cy, they tied his feet under the belly of the animal. This of couse' would prevent his having the power to free himself from his thraldom,' but it would not ~obviate the risk of his destruction in case' of 'tuinii~ short 3'' round amongst the trees, or should the horse fall, 'or sudd'eiily set off on a gallop:' Now there 'seemed little doubi but'thebri- gands meanC to take"the life of their victim, re his face up-turfled~and hi& head f~sti1i~g on of the hors&~ mane,' then the powliies~, sp~ch- less, unresisting man, was fik'mly' ~ecirr~d te with other cords skilfuby crossed "ar6lnd'the ie neck and breast of the steed. s- These preparations completed, the little c- man-Who we may 'as well, di' once desi~ Is nate as the dwarf, sin~e he is de~tiued to il~ 's ure much in the following history went a- away for a few minutes, into the' 'wood and n returned with four horses dri which the four brigands in!imediately' md~hted, and their d~.. d formed accomplice best~ode the anitbal di~ ~ which Pierre Aubin was fastened. 'e Two of the party placed. themselves, ~ on each side of the prisoner, another rode iii advance and the fourth brought 'up 'the' tear. d 'All these ,sinister arrangements b~ing cdrA.. pleted, as if previously concerted;iiot a'~ro~l ~ was spoken, riot 'a sign interchang'&t "T'h~ capture and subsequent proceedings' WeVe * conducted so systematrcally and W~l1, tha&ih~ j five men seemed to act as the'diffcirent pati~ of one body d~~ect&l by a single 'rd The programme of th& ambush'et&, had no - of alteration and amendment, for. evetSFliuji. * dent had' been foreseen arid provided forY A torch was lighted, the horseman hi' '&d~. * vance took it, and silently th~alLs~t 6tit at'& good round trot. The feeble light from tbi~ source, as the rays fell on those in~ tbe 'r~dt caused them to look like pharitoni.4lgu#es, 4zi 'the gloom, and added to the desolation 'of~bi~ nocturnal ride through wood~'aild fit~lds~ "~ The silent cavalcade, 'aft~r adv~ncing' ~ short distance, had put their 'horses into ~ gallop, when th~ advance-guard fell'. back4 and communicated; in a ~'whisp with th% others. 2 ' "' The ganiekeeper 'could not'.' he~" 'what passed, bitt instantly the torch was extinguish~ edthe'~arty quitted the beatenn tratAc,'~ iin4 page: 18-19[View Page 18-19] I8 ARTMA- .j~i~e f~1t ~sure4 that ~they were crossing P~err~. very soon comprdi~n4ed ihe ine~n~ j~g of this ~c~hange a~d stoppage, for he hear~ ~~#be ~o~in~ls of a crowd in motion, and caijing ,and replying to each bther. Motionless and still, behind the screen ~bj~slie~ '~'hich. horde~ed the clearing, remain~ ~d4l~e.inoi~n ed jddnappers, ,~s nearer and nearer a~prqached the clamor and the torches then c~ine the voice of Decadi Robert to ~erre made a violent effort to raise up his ~e~4 and succeeded so far as to be able to 1~sp~rn tlie features of his father-in-law, whlch were illuminated by the light which ~Pecadi his in his left held and, whilst, in the ;~ther was trusty double-barreled gun. The victim, who but lately had believed1 ~ims~lf irrecoverable lost, n~w caught at the ~ope of rescue, and his heart filled with live ,~y ~gratitude towards )ils supposed deliverer. ~Bi4 it was not o~lained (hus to be, he veto- ,ran.soldi~r passed and repassed, but did not :~iscov~r the prisoner and his guards. Ima~ne the torture, th~ agony, the sus- ~ arid .th~ final de5ptir of poor Pierre A~bi9. To I~rtow tha~t a 4elivere~r is~lose at hand, .a protector within a f~w '~paces, an avenger ~n seuj~h of or~e-to hear, to see him, and ~y~t ~ l~e unable to let him ~ow that you' tare th~r~, placing all your hopes 9nhim, ~9ugh. yourself mute axtd iinpotent.-.-what A 4'~ea~f4l ~; uetion. Notwitb~n4ing tl~e har~h manner in which ~h~I1ir~wiJ1jng sp~p of silence~ and inaction j~a4~i~e~1 s e~ire4, yet, l~y ,~ superfiuity of~ ~ic~ty~artd preoaut~on to make sure of their py~y, t~I§ liltie ~Iw~r1~sh mask, wh9 rode with Pierre, had climbed on to the body of ~ijs p~rj~pne~, a~, ~ea~te4 like the nightm~~e of a 4~axu, he placed hi~ hands heavily on the pgged mouth of the help1es~ man, bent hi~ forehead 4own to cover the eyelids of tke u}jfiinate Pier~, w)~iJst his knees rested on ~lie gari'ie.~keeper's chest. As.if the Fates find conspired in favor, of the villains, the very hor5lis -assisted in pre. serving the 4eath-Iike silence. No neigh, or restless stamping betrayed to the anxious searchers their vicinity. * The last hope of deliverance ~lies in the heart of the captured man as the lights re- cede, and the voices of the noisy party led by Decadi are faintly borne on the night- breeze. Once more the midnight marauders are under way,, they have returned to ihe path, the leader has re-lit his torch, and away they gallop at a pace that will soon put them be- yond all danger of a rescue. As for Pierre, each moment he expected to *draw his last breath. His head swam, his eyes were extremely bloodshot and painful.- 1~l~e clouds, seemed to fly above his head, and the trees were dancing in confusion, as, lay- ing in that uncomfortable position, he whiz- zed pa~t theufi. He seemed transported to an unknown worht, where everything was strange, fantastic, inverted, and in constant motion. For ~vo weary hours did this unnatural ,Cour~e last, at the end of which time they halted. Pierre was released from the horse and laid on the ground.-Then his feet were tied to- gether, and he conjectured that his riding was over, 'But whn~t,' thought he, 'are they going to do with me?' The leiu~Ier of the masked party pli~ced his hr~nd on the heart of tbe prostrate man, to ascertain if he yet breathed. This certainty obtained, Pierre was imme- diately blindfolded. Then four of the men raised him from 4te gr9~nd ~nd ,9!irried him, he~d~o~em9st, after having turned themselves around with their burden several times, to prevent the unlikely possibility of his having had presence o(mind, or perception enough to recognize the route they -had come. tI'he 'deformed one remained of the horses.~ , probably to dispbse Pierre Aubin, exhausted by the rough transportation and the struggle that had pre- ceeded it, as well as the whirl in which his senses had been kept-utterly weakened in body, but fearless in mind-listened with in- tense curiosity for some indication of what kind of a place he was in. At first, as they proceeded (carrying him along) he knew by the footstep~ that the soil was sandy. Presently they trod on harder ground, and after a while'firmly, as on flagstones.' When they had advanced a little farther they stop- ped, but it was only to change the position of the prisoner. Two men went in front and took firm hold of his feet, and the other two supporting his head and shoulders, they resumed their march. By the slanting position of his body, and the jerks he felt at each step they took, Pierre surmised that they were descending a stair. way. ~He was sensible of the cold, damps of I a subterranean passage. 4 He no longer felt the outer air breathing on his face, and drying the perspiration that rolled profusely from' his forehead, as at'in- I tervals, during the transit, had been th~ ease. Now, indeed, was the bold huntsman seized witha shiver of terror. He thought they I might be bringing him ALIVE to this place, to let him die of hunger and despair in a I j** tomb! Onward they moved in the depths of this long, subterranean vault, and by and by, the t distantt strains of joyous music reached the ii ear of the b~iwildered Pierre., ' ' 'Can this be possible, or is it but the' ilIu- a sion of a confused brai~i? Am I going crazy?' thought he. ' But nearer and clearer does the music b sound, and at length there could be no doubt h on the poor fellow's mind that he actually a heard a full orchestra-yet how strange I- d where could he be? . Again his' posture was shifted, and tIi~ gui'me-keeper was 'carried horizontally. 'lie d felt that his 'bearers were walking ott level ei ground, but their feet slipped, as ifit Were ti darn p and slimy. A smell, as if light and air frtd long been excluded, pervaded the place, and ~was 'almost'suffoeaming.' Here the four 'men paused, but within setting down the heavy burden they had car- ried so far.. Pierre could distinguish a key grating in a lock, then belts creaked in the rusty staples, and a door o.'as forced open. From the different sound of the echoing footsteps, and the stoeping'gtit of his captors, it was plain that they were passing through a low door-way which, it appeared, led into .a vaulted passage, somesteps below that 'thro' which they had just come. A second door was opened with a similar noise. 'They crossed another threshold, after which the four enemies of the game-keeper of the forest of Brasseuse, stopped 'for the' last time. The victim of the ambush was deposited on the damp ground, his eyes were unban- daged, and as soon na Pierre recovered from the dazzling light of the torch, distinguish. ad the masked figures who stood around hjrn, contemplating hirni' in silence. Lie next turned to survey the place where he had been thus ~forci bly conveyed, 'and Ireary was the spot. It was a vault, the shape of which was )ctagonal. The only door was narrow and ow. Pierre felt convinced that this was the first ime he'd ever been in it, but, from the gene~ al resemblance that such places so frequent. y bear to each other, he could not gleam any information as to whose castle he mi~ht ue in. still was to be heard, overhead, resound. ng in the gloomy stillness of the. dungeons he harmonious cadence of ~he music that ad already caught the' attetition of the cap- itte.-.and also the regular 'measured move-. aents of a dance. After the rnaskers 'had regarded Pierre for 6me time, one of them relieved him of rh'~~ lood-stairted gag. Then, without' unbinding mm, they 'left him prostrate on the grouzul, nd taking with them the glaring torch, they epart~d, passing into the 'outer vault ~.in ilerree.. Thus was Pierre' Auhiri left alone inihe arkrr~ss without a word 'havirig.been.vouoh~ mfed to stttisf' ?aimIf~ul. curiosity or allity h~ottainty aridalarm. '. '. ... KEtiINA. 10 page: 20-21[View Page 20-21] I Fan RE4INA. ;:Noticing, shortly, ,a glimmer .of light pro. ~ feedingg .frtm without and visible beneath the s door; an invincible desire to ascertain, what ~wi%~oing 6n there, prompted the prisoner to .inttkie, a'nattemnpt'to find it out, S By the help of head and knees, his hands un4' feet being tied, he managed to move .along, somewhat in 'the fashion of a worm, ~ toward the open space l~elow the door. Placing his'.eye against the, aperture, he saw the ft~ur masked men seated at a stone table, evidently in deiberation. They spoke one after another, in low tones, as if each was deJiver~ing an important opinion. Then' they were silent, and appeared as if expecting the entrance ofsonie one. ~sV~f might Pierre imagine that the con~ versatiorf deeply concerned himself, but in vain he tried to catch a word of it. It was but a few minutes ere the fifth ac- 4 coruplice joined his associates. This was the dwarf who had, with a refinement of cruelty and malice, acted the part of nightmare 1 during the journey, and had 'been left to take care of the horses. fle seated himself beside the other and spoke vehemently, but inaudibly to Pierre.- When he had7 finished his, harangue, which was listened to with great attention, the party arose.' The nocturnal council seemed to be terminated. At this momelit, so interesting and excit- ing to the spectator of the scene, he heard a rap on the outer door of the mysterious coun- cil vault. The most powerful-looking of the five men had left'iiis place and was advancing towards the door of the prisoner's cell when this oc- curred, ~a~d Pierre, fearing to be surprised in his indiscreet capacity of eaves-dropper, and thinking that his life, might depend on his ig- norance of what had just passed, drew back as;quickly as 'he was able, to the place where he had been left. it may be assumed that situated as was R~ierre Aubin, and with such intemltions as he peeds must attribute to his enemies, he had little hope of life-~.but yet for 'the sake of wife aud'~child he was willing' to endure a great ,deul rather than~die. ' Having regained his place he waitedin in breathless suspence.~-but iw one enteted. Nothing hut.the'strains of loud 'music and cadenced steps above, met his' strainedl e~r. I'he light still showed beneath the~door, and L5~IOUS curiosity prevailed over evei'y con- ideration, so again his painful way was na~le to the ill-fitting door. This time he found a new personage was Ldded to the masked party-A ,woman~( Pierre could not see her face, for it was urned towards the men to whom she was peaking, to low, however, to be heard by uin~, though her gestures denoted auge: and ~ resolute imperious will. The lady was in aA'ashionable ball-dress, dazzling, covered with diarhonds, her hair was ornamented ~vith rich and rare flowers, .n her hand was even yet the Bouquet de Ball, and her magnificent shoulders were lisplayed by her low-necked dress. This splendid creature must have stolen away ~rom the assembly over head to be present it the secret council which probably was to Kiecide, for life or death, the fate of the wretched man When the lady had finished speaking ~he Lowed graciously to the five masks, and left the vault. The heart of Pierre Aubin bounded with- in his bosom as he saw her fhce; it confirmed his, suspiciQns. He uttered in under tones, and with violent emotion, the same name that Cecile in her despair had involuntary spoken-' Regina Gazeran!' The leader of the party accompanied this lady to the floo?, locked and bolted it after her, then pointing to the vault where Pierre was confined he took hold of the lighted torch and moved towards it. No sooner did the captive-game-keeper seen this motion than he regained his station and awaited his fate. The five men entered together. A ring it appeared was fastened in the wall, and to it Pierre was quickly fastened with a strong chain,:they all then drew up before him, and the chief stepped up to the victim and gave him a blow on the cheek~ At this unmrinly insult the blood boiled in the veins of the injured man, he foamed at the mouth, but the excess of indignation de- prived him of the power of speech. To such a brave and worthy man as Pierre 4ubin, to bear this wtta indeed torture. As he trem- bled with impotent rage he heard a derisive laugh; it proceeded from the mslicious 4warf. 'Eacli successively approached, and in like manner gave the unfortunate man a blow, even the hatE~ful little man, but when his U REGINA. turn came, the better to enjoy the atrocious * pleasure of the insult, he stood looking m Pierre earnestly, then with mock pity h wiped, with his own handkerchief, the col sweat of anguish from his brow and the tear of blood from his eyes, then completed a] by the shameful blow. This strange and ignoble infliction ended the four .strong cavaliers knelt in the centr of the vault and by their united efforts, am with help of an iron bar, they raised a ston which had been concealed under the well packed earth which formed the floor of th4 vault. A dark gulf was opened beneath. and mephitic vapor exhaled from the aperture. Pierre uttered a cry of horror. rfhe musi and dancing were still sounding with over powering din. But ere the cry could be re pleated, the wretches seized their helpless victim, suspended him by cords attached tc The t?~ongs which confined his arms and legs, and slowly lowered him into the dungeon- abyss. When Pierre. reached the bottom of this horrible pit, the stone that had*covered it was replaced, and the unfortunate man fonnd himself alone, and now, at last hopeless! 'My wife! My child!' he exclaimed; but this was all that escaped fro118 his almost bursting heart. During the xvh'1e of this~ foul transaction the prisoner had been unable to recognize his tormentors, whose voices he had not heard, and whose features had been effec- tually concealed by the masks. Nevertheless suspicion of certain persons most likely to be the actors or bettors in the dastardly deed, would intrude, but he repulsed the idea, that it could be them, with horror. After the receding steps of his foes ceased to be heard, all was silent. This silence was, however, but of short duration, and he could make out that some one was in the vault above him. Then he distinguished~ that the stone over his sepulchre was shaken, as if by some one whose strength was unequal to the task of raising it up, for it resisted the efforts to displace it. Hope, the sufferer's steadfast companion, whispered in the ear of the buried-alive. Is it a deliverer? Re-animated by this idea, Pierre aroused himself. The efforts of the person, to move the 21 s stone, continued. At length it is partially tt displaced, and the light of the torch which e the stranger had brought, shed its rays into ~l the gloomy dungeon. 'Courage friend,' s cried Pierre looking up to' his supposed liber- 1 ator. The stone gives way, but instead of a friendly face, as the game-keeper had hoped to discern-behold a hideous mask. Doubt- e less it is one of the wretches returned to feast I his eyes on his victim, for he holds the light ~ over the yawning chasm and peeps into the - gloomy death. 3 ' Cowardly assassin,' cried Pierre, £ At last tell me thy name that Imay curse it.' t The sneering laugh which was the sole reply to these words, revealed the malicious Dwarf who had already caused him so much suffering. * The monster of cruelty rts if, for the time satisfied with the spectacle he had been en- joying was withdrawing himself, when his mask came off and fell at the feet of Pierre Aubin., The dwarf hastily sprang backwards-but quick as was the movement, he was recog- nised! Antoine de Labourdilliere,' cried the game-keeper, 'Remember that from the days of Gain-God punishes the fratricide I' CHAPTER iii. BEFORE proceeding any farther with the story it may be well fo affix the date of it, by mentioning that at this period Charles the Tenth had been five yekrs on the throne of France. The eldest branch of the house of Bour- bon was verging to a fall-thanks to the combined efforts of those who wished, at any cost, to destroy it, and those who, un~jer pretence of' preserving it from unseemly contact, kept at a distance all who were inclined to afford it substantial support. It was about fifteen years since the new alliance had proclaimed, by its heralds, ~o the absentees, the last lingerers of the great emigration-'Donnez nous la peine d'entrer,' which may be translated 'Be pleas-. 'ed t~ come back.' ' From 'that time a goodly number of the' noble descendants of ancient races had re- turned to live on their estates, for the most part in a pitiful condition. They were as one may say, wedded to the past, and could page: 22-23[View Page 22-23] not be brought to understand the changes and revolutions that time had wrought in social life and public opinion. Acting as thoug.h~ these things were not, they obsti- nately retained their old ways and customs brought back, intact, from exile: In their simplicity these providcial gentry and nobility expected to see renewed the splendor and the arbitrary usages of abso- lute monarchy. They refused to comply with the fashion of the day, even in the natter of dress. Some repaired their delap- itated castle-towers and re-erected the sig- niorial gibbets. The latter-an object of derision ~o those who, passing the castle, perceived it through the court-yard gate-was not altogether. an unused plaything. If deprived of the right to exercise sovereign power, the dispossessed noble could rio longer jiang on it a truly refractory tenant-he consoled himself for his loss of power over the lives of men, by hanging, now and then, some intractable hound to serves a warning to the pack~ Amongst these incorrigibles-who made it a point of honor not to admit the march of improvement, and to protest, by their influence and practise, against all innova- tions and every species of reform-it con- cerns us to instance, as foremost, Emeric, Ne- pomucene de Labourdilliere, Marquis of Yalgenist. The domain possessed by his ancestors was so vast, that it was said, that from sun rise to sunset, a ho;se urged to a gallop, and continuing at that pace, could hardly make th~ circuit of it. But the evil days that- came on the territorial Lords had so often and so effectually clipped here-and there from the manor of Valganest, that when *h~ Marquis found himself, at the* restoration, again in possession of the 'estate and title of his fore-fathers, the inheritance was re- d~iced to such a degree, that- a very mod- erate walker would, have gained but a poor appetite~ if he satisfied himself with making the toiit~ of the* new Valganest, before his breakfast. The Marquis derived but a very small income from his curtailed estate but, proud and poor, he would have considered his dig- nity compromised had he permitted hi~ far- trier to cultivate the smallest portionn of the ground assigned, since, his return to Valge- riest, to his game. Whilst he exacted rigid respect to the boundaries ~f his preserves in order to secure his own sport, he was utterly unscrupulous about the rights and property of his neighbors, and Emeric de Litbourdil. here encroached perpetually, with spade and plough,' on the limits which he deemed too circumscribed. As all the land that could be seen around the castle had once belonged to his ances- tors, the Marquis called encroachments en the adjacent fields-practical experiments of counter-revolution. By little an(I little he would, no doubt, have got back all the patrimony of the Labourdilliere family if those whom he ik~rong-ed, by putting in prac- tise his political theory, had not loudly spoken of having recourse.to law, to obtain justice, and ascertain how far this system cf appropriation and aggrandizement would be sanctioned. The first peasant who had dared to com- plain to the old gentleman had done so on the occasion of chancing to meet him. Very greatly astonished was the Marquis at his presumption and audacity. This surprise is easily accounted for.' He had returned to his old castle after an absence of thirty years, and -understood not the vocabulary i~rhich the French people had -composed for themselves whilst passing through-Repub- lic, Gonsuh~te and Empire! - The Marquis de Valganest, challenged by the old clown, looked at him with an air as much as to say, 'I do not understand ~ou: Then as he had no desire to waste time in listening to claims put forth in terms equally new to him, he shrugged Ii is shoulders and turned on his heel. After going a few steps the Marquis hap- pened mechanically to look back. - The claimant was still standing where he had left him-but cursing and shaking his braw- ny fist in a threatening manner It was not long before the countryman felt the ill effects of this significant but dis- respectful - gesture, which was more intelli- gible to the Marquis than had been his language. On the evening of that very day, as the man was going front the Hamlet of Bras. seuse, through thi wood of Haut Martel, he was assaulted by some persons, so disguised that he could not recognize them, anu beaten with clubs till he was completely senseless. To crown his misfortune, a short REGINA. 23 time afterwards, his finest stack of cora was struck by lightning (it was said) and con- sumed. As the night was free from thunder or storm, some of the oldest and most inde- pendent minds in the place would not believe that the interposition of Heaven caused the disaster-but the servant girl of the Priest of St. Frambourg took her oath,. that she saw the avenging lightning descend from Heaven on the doomed stack, and on the following Sunday the miracle was proclaimed as Sacred 'Truth. This occurrence, which might have been ~u effectual warning to the malcontents, - did not prevent another peasant, more audacious~ even than the former, from doing that which the one who had been so roughly beaten had only threatened to perform. Complaint ~vas carried before the prose- cuting attorney for the crOwn, at Senhis. The unlucky constable who was not afraid to carry to the Marquis the summons to appear before the court to hear himself condemned to keep within his own bounda- ries, could not boast of the result of this daring exploit. The easily irritated pride of the old gcn~ tlenran, who was altogether ignorant of legal proceedings, took umbrage when be saw a fellow present himself to enunciate an order in a castle (where, except during the revo- lution when things had to be passed over,) no one had assumed the right to enter, save to humble themselves before their master. When the constal)le entered the saloon; Emeric de Labourdilliere was surrounded by his five grand-sons-William, James, Fran- cis, Honore and Antoine. - We ought here to observe that it was no parr of the intention of the official, entrusted with this delicate mission,- to adventure into the interior of the castle in the execution of his duty-on the contrary he only desired to deliver his summons into the hands of the gate-keeper. To this effect he had already, in this lady's kennel, produced his inkstand, and, the pen in his fingers, -was beginning to write in the prescribed French form- 'Speaking to the gate-keeper who has declared herself unwil- ming to sign the--' ~vhen an old servitor appeared at the gate of the lndge and invited maitre Bonaccueji to follow him into the presence of Monseigneur. ' -- The invitation was so politely worded and I delivered in such mild tones, 'that 'it cduld not fail to succeed in entrapping him. - Eustache Jlonaccueil, the contable, a~as i.~aught by it. He ascended the grand~ stair- - case with unfalte~ing step, passed through - the large apartments, that led to the saloon where the old man, awaited him, without hesitation-but no sooner was he ii, the ~e- sence of the Marquis than -his confidei~e began to fail. ' - - - - - The aspect of the grandsoii~ 'df the Mar- quis made the constable uneasy, and' the haughty ironical looks of the old matf~ caused iiini to dread soxiie evil intentich on - his part. Very soon was he enlightened oTh the subject, for hardly had maitre Bonaccueil - presented, with fear and tremeling, his ciii-' - tion, to his lordship, when he found himself - pinioned in the strong embrace of vigdrous~ arms. In a second he was stripped (,Fhi~S clothing, then he was pitilessly fiog~ed~ a~d~ without giving him time to dress himself, the - five young men, with shouts of lau~lhter, turned him out of doors. - The cold was intense, 'but th~ constable felt it not, thanks t6 the kind attention of th&"' old domestic who let loose a couple of hounds which worried and harassed him fob' -: a quarter of a league. This repetition of an infamous amusement, , which had often been acted in old times - with success, cost the Marquis dear, in thq present instance. In the meaiitime how- - ever, he was glad to h~re an ojportuhity'- ci showing~ the heirs of his name - hoiV this sort of thing used to be aranaged. The poor devil of a constable tva~ hunted by the dogs so far' that- even after they had ceased to persecute him and' he was beyond their reach, he continued his xac~, thinking they were at his heels, and smaiting from the wounds their pangs had infliefed, utitil he fell exhausted and senseless at his own door. The neighbors raised him from the ground tad' placed him in bed. Nine days alter hat the unfortunate man died ot dd~rious fever. In days of yore it 'wouk~ only have cost the Marquis some twelve hundred francs to put a stop to the hub-bub excited - by sui~h a result to a similar pleasantry.-.--but time ha~I made every thing' dea.rer, even to the life of - - a constable~ So much - so that the old Noble, - who had not calculated the eff~ts 2b REGINA. page: 24-25[View Page 24-25] 24 RE&INA. of revolutions, saw himself on the point of piiying with his liberty and honor, for this error in his reckoning. A criminal trial was in store for him, and the Gendarmerie had already crossed the threshold of' the castle to arrest its lordly owner~. Emeric de Labourdilliere saw, from his windows, the police penetrate insolently even to the court of Honor. He turned a look of despair on the portraits of his ancestors as though to implore aid to repel the intrud- ers. Some ages back, in the good old times, ih9trumpet's spund from the towers of Val- gariest would have sufficed to call numbers to the defence of 'the castle, and prepared to hold out to the death, or at least to fight long and valiantly before they yielded. But now resistance iva s impossible from without -and within the Marquis had not even his five grandsons to assist him-they were ab- sent on a hunting party. As the Brigadier and his men mounted the steps of the hall-door, indignation and shame at his lost power and present impo- tence caused the bl~od to mount to the head A' the old man. Regret for past times was is last thought-he exclaimed-' Unhappy rance 1-Unhappy age 1' and apoplexy e- guished his life on the spot as these words assed his lips. When the Gendarmes entered the room hey, found only a corpse, the clenched fists nd curved lips of which seemed yet to pro- st against the sacrilegious proceedings of evolutionary justice. This event put an end to judicial action the matter, for Eustache Bonaccueil had ied without being able formally to declare at the grandsons of the deceased Marquis ad taken an active part in the brutal treat- ent he had experiencqd. Besides, the old rvant,' Bartholomew, (out of respect to the emory of his late master) deposed on oath at the constable went away from the cas- dressed and unhurt, after leaving the tatior. He, also, took the precaution to atter in the woods through which the' ~used man fled~ the missing garments ore~er the public vQice accused the de- ased of no~ having ~qxercised his authority ry leniently1 s~ that a11 put.~ together, it gait t~ be generally credited vh~t the con- ble had been way-laid,) by some one who bore him ill-will, and thus cruelly treated on his way back from the castle. The widow who had flattered herself with the hope of obtaining heavy damages, reaped nothing from the event, bat freedom to take a young husband, which, shortly she did, in the person of the head-clerk of the deceased maitre Boneccucil. We will now go back to the period when th~ old ~Iarquis with his five grandsons, just returned from exile, we' e again in pos- session of Valganest. Thus re-installed, the proud old gentleman Aelighted to sit in state in the largest reception room, (as his fore-~ fathers had done,) even when there was no no company at the castle. One evening, as he and his family were thus seated, Bartholomew came into the apartment and respectfully whispered to his master. The valet seemed nervous and embar- rassed. The Marquis knit his brows at the communication. Surprise, indecision, an' ger, all were depicted in his countenance. Some violent struggle convulsed his features and lit up his little grey eyes with fury. Meanwhile Bartholomew awaited patiently the answer which his master hesitated to give. At length the faithful domestic was dis- missed, the Marquis, saying, 'Mind that he waits until I ring, before he enters here.' Then it was a visitor whom the man had announced. Yes! an embarrassing and un- welcome one, as will be seen. The five brothers looked with 'impatience at their grandfather~, but restrained by the habitual respect to which he had accustomed them, they did not venture to interrogate him-and yet they were no longer youths. William and James, twins, had entered on their twenty-ninth year, and Antoine the youngest, the deformed, the same who had been recognized by the captive game-keeper was about twenty-four. The Marquis at last thus deigned to ex- plain-' This is an unlucky day for us, gen tlemen-for I have just had an extraordinary ~mnd vexatious visit announced. If the man, who is about to present himself, really be the person he represents-then the late Mar- chioness of Valganest shed torrents of~ tears without cause, arftl for nothing have you worn mourning for these eighteen years.' T~e brothers trembled at this announce- REGINA. ment, and notv their looks demlinded explicit information, to which mute appeal the Mar- quis responded in ~tones of vexation. 'He who is coming calls himself, Etienne de Labourdilliere.' 'Our Father!' exclaimed each of the young men risifig up. 'Yes, truly, if' he be not an impostor, we are compelled, once more, to see the wretch- ed man who has disgraced our name.' 'He must be an impostor,' quickly replied Antoine, the dwarf His four brothers catching and applauding the idea, repeated, 'He must be an impostor-He shall be an impostor. The whole five gentlemen then approached the old man's chair and ranged themselves about him, as if to show by this action that they made common cause with the head of the fa'nUy against this new comer, be he Etienne de Labourdilliere or not. Well pleased to see those whom he had taken such pains to inspire, from infancy 1 with pride of birth, love for the old systeur, and hatred to Republican and Imperial I Frauce-Erneric smiled his satisfaction, and "~ pulling the bell, muttered between his teeth 'This man may come.' To make the scene, that is to follow, in- I telligible, we must premise that Etienne de Labourdilliere, who emigrated in 1791, left I his 'vife Marguerite de Gazeran and his three sons, with his father, in England, and him- c self returned to his native land as a spy and t secret emissary to aid the restoration of r Monarchy. That the hopes, honors, and emoluments r held out as inducements to this perilous un- dertaking (liable to be repaid by ignominious death) lirompted many to adventure in the t cause' of the Bourbons, is very probable, t But that some few were actuated by the purest motives of loyalty, sw~iyed by convic~ p tion, and uninfluenced by selfish or interested, ~ motives, it can not be denied-and these u accepted the commission of Espionnage as a glorious one, and regarded death in this p connection as martyrdom. ' ' c Of this class was the only son of Emeric. tI When he quitted l~ngland to' counter-revo- lutionize France-he believed lie was obey~. ~J 'ing a chivalrous sentiment agreeable to Qod ci and beneficial to hiseountry. But the pre- d's juice of education gave way before the r glorious 'tictS and deeds he witnessed or tli heard related on his way to~Paris. Long he ai struggled consejentiously to repress the eh- thusiasm which by degrees took possession of him. A plot, to murder his first consul, one in which he was compromised 'without having participated in it'-.-finished to disgust hidj and detach him from a cause which allowed of' assassination as a means to attain success. He had the courage to express his indigiia tion at the conventicle from whence the death-signal was to be issued. His accom, places (who had in the first place deceived him as to their true intentions) fancying themselves betrayed by him on whom they so much relied, came very near making hifit pay with his life, his rupture with therri Etienne de Labourdilliere was tiot 'th~ man to be easily intimidated, and when he beard, murmured in the assembly of conspi- rators-' He is a traitor-let him die tk~ ~leatlr of a traitor.' He imposed on them, by the reply, 'If within one hour from the moment thai [entered here, I am not seen, by a frien& ivhom I ~all not name, to pass by a certain, rpot, which I need not particularise...-.a full'. ist of all your names will imnediatelybe~ laced in the hands of the police.' Saved by his presence pfmind, Etienne,, tad the good fortune to preserve the' lire oL" he man who held in his hands the destiny, f the Nation-the mighty Napoleon-as veIl as his own. The conspirators ivithout nore ado dispersed. A letter from the Marquis (in England) eproaching his son with vacillation 'etc., ~eing seized by the jiolice came 'near i~tiin- ng him. It was plair~ from the tenor of' be communication that a new R~yalfst' 'pl&~ breatened~the repose of France. Etienne de Labou~dillie~e was tiast intb', rison. Then he 'was told of' the letter ~bich caused his arrest.' Inimediately he rrote 'to his father 'in the present~ of hTs idges-to renounce his adhesion 'to the arty he had hitherto b~Iieved b~'t for "his country, anq ex~ressm~ 'his ~drniration off ~existing government~ This avowal, on the part of the snin ot"th&' Y It [arquis, gave the jiolice hoPes'of'getiiW I' a had seceded. 'But 'Efitiniie lue to the numerous 'associates ~fused to denounce' any 6n~7 4t the' time at he proclaimed hi&"ldv~ 1f his tIItI~y~ id~ his readinesA t6 ~nt~er' ' iiet 's&v~ice "and' page: 26-27[View Page 26-27] 26 REGINA. p~riI his life, in it-he preserved silence patience with which her husband had endured regarding those who were attempting to the matrimonial yoke which, weary of the ~d~stroy her peace and subvert her rules. struggle, he had suffered to be imposed on Tt~is refusal to betray his former friends him, 'and she doubted not that his readiness caused doubts as to the sincerity of his pro- to accept the secret n'ussiou to France arose fessions, and though it was not thought fr9m the desire to escape from her presence advisable to bring him to trial, it was deemed than from devotion to the cause of the Prmn- expedient to detain him in prison, from ces. When she learned, in London, that he whence, however, in course of time he was had deserted the Royalist ranks, she was con- released. evinced that her painful surmise was cor- In the last letter which he had written to rect. his father he thus expressed himself This was the cause of the jealous fury 'I have not apostatized, my Lord, I am that made Marguerite de Gazeran forge~ no enemy to my ever loved country, whose that a mother, even if she be a neglected iixterest I had. mistaken-I am iiow permitted wife, ought not ~o teach her children to the honor of shedding my blood tn expiation despise and hate their father. pf my error. Instead ol' pitying or cursing Two years after the departure of Etienne, 'ip e b~ proud of your son, my father-he by some mistake it was officially' reported will yet, on the battlefield, ~vin honor for that lie was dead-that he had been killed * your name.' whilst fighting the battles of the Republic. Etienne de Lahourdilliere, in fact did Eighteen years had passed over the accept a commission in the army under mourning and shame of his family, during Napoleon, and began a fresh cai'eer in which which period the report of this death had he nobly distinguished himself. never been contradicted. Such was believed It would be useless as well as t~lious to 'to have been his end, by his father and his 4~ell on the way ~r.m which this defection sons when they returned to France, and fliomAhe Uoyal~st cause was received by the however glorious it might appear in ihp eyes Marq~iis beyond the sea. of many, was looked upon by them, as Briefly then-That very day the headof infamous and degrading to their name. the family called his five grandsons to him, The Marquis de LabQurdilliere and family and young as they were, he made them swear being, as already mentioned, amongst the to: view their father as an enemy whilst he last 'of the returned en~iigrants-the first lived, and to curse his memory, as that of a Reign of the Restoration was drawing to a renegade, after death. close and the counter-revolution raised, its The Marchioness, his mother alone, yet head, prepared tts arms, and imprudently in vain, ~vep~ over this i rupious vow. . proclaimed itself victorious before having As to the wife of Etienne, far from parti- been fait'ly engaged. ci~atin~ ,i~n i~he honor and sorrow which her The t*in-brothers, William and James, mo~her-m-law felt at this wickedness, she were Majors in the Austrian army-Francois Iemit~ill her maternal authority to support the and Honore were attached to the Bavarian vindictive old man in his anger. ~he too legtttion-and Antoine, the Benjamin of the taught her chihjren to hate their. father-but old Noble, had never quitted his grand- it was not political fanattoism that made her father. so~iilling t~o' instil the rancorous hatred of Such 'was the situation and such the sen- th~ 4arqum~, ; timents of this family' into which Etienne Jt ~va~'j~alousy. Desperately enamoured de 'Labourdilliere came, after 'this lapse of of ,F~ti~9ne, who ieciproeated not her pas- years, to reclaim his 'station.,, Hi~ mother sion, she had' succeeded in kecominr his he was not destined again to behold, on wife, by her ~nfiuenoe over, her father, and earth! She had died in&6n~olab~ f~r the in con$eq~LeI1iCe ,og~the ~niisfortunes of the ;loss of her much beloved son-But then he Lim~yl3i~i ma4a, desirable for the Royal- 'was relieved from 'the disagreeableness of ists to. strem~g~ham~t .t~ir hands by' intermar- encountering his wife-for she had breathed :50 ~.a tq .form a more compact fenee'i her lAst, as the family set foot on their native around the e~4)ed. Princes. ' soil. Maijaezite had bee~ ~ensiWe of. the im-' Now that past events are made known, REGINA. ' 27 we will return to the saloon where the old 'it is eighteen years,' replied Etienne, gentleman was ringing the bell for the visitor 'since the spy of England, ashamed of the to he called in. political party to which he was attached, The attitude of the Marquis was solemn resolved to have' done with the past and and stern-that of hjs grandsons, insolent- redeem his error by an -opposite course of when the door opened and the new-coiner, action. But he was not willing to break a man between fifty and sixty, entered ~he every tie that linked him to his family, and apartment. . instead' of being called Labourdilliere' of* It was with head erect, a steady eye and V~ilganest, to which name he was entitled, firm step that Etienne Labourdilliere ad- he determined to d6 credit to his Mat/icr's danced to the group of brothers and their iiame by his honorable services in the bril- grandfather. His dress was military, his liant career of the army of his fellow-citi- hair quite white, a sabre cut had scarred his zens-therefore he passed from that time right cheek, his manner was very dignified, as Etienne Seignerolles-Mi~jor Seignerolles and when he chose to modulate it, his voice is the name that irow I bear.' was extremely mellow and sweet~ Bartho- 'That is to day, sir, that you have sullied lomew, who preceded the unwelcome visitor, two honorable names, instead of one,!' re~' hastened to light the wax candles of the two plied the old Noble, forgetting his intention immense and costly candelabra, which were not to recognize his son. needed fully to illuminate the spacious room. 'I hail these words, my Lord Marquis, as When within three or four steps from the an adrnissibn on your part, that 1 am your old Marquis, the soldier half bent his knee; son.' he respectfully paid- Then speaking to the four brothers whom - 'Father, I salute you~' / he had not yet obliged to uncover their 'I know yoti imot,' sternly replied the old heads, the major said- man, and turning to his grandsons who had 'Off ~vith your hats, gentlemen, and say to stationed themselves in his rear, hat in hand, me, as I have already twice said to m.y fat her he said to them- -." Father, I salute you."' 'Replace your, hats, gentlemen, or this Much as it cost their proud spirits toohey man may suppose it is only out of respect to this mandate, the five brothers; subdued by him that you stand bare-headed.' the authoritative tone and commanding look Then, although lie had recognized his son, of their parent, bent their heads and mur% perfectly, at once he added-' Pray sir, who inured the prescribed and customary saluta- are you?' ' tion. 'Since it would appear that your Lordship The major then turning towards the Mar- has not 'understood me,' replied Etienne, quis, continued, 'Now, my father, if I have looking sternly at his sons, 'I will repeat my in any way wounded your feelings, will you words when you desire these impertinent not pardon me that I may h irn, from your young men to behave towards me with that exampleto forgive my chIldren.' respect which is due even to a stranger of 'Surely you have not entertained the ex- my age.' pectation of' a reconciliation with us?' was As he finished speaking these words, with the ungracious reply; 'If such hope do a back-handed stroke he sent the hat, which really exist-better you had died before you Antoine had insolently placed on his head, entered here, for you would have carried flying info the middle of ths room, with, you a hope that will never he realized. The dwarf turned pale with anger, his If my grandsons did not participate in my brothers moved as if to resent the affront, feelings ott this subject I would expel therm~ but a glance from Etienne caused them to from my presence.' remain in their places, and the latter re- The sons of Etienne Seignerolles' (SQ peated- ' called~ drew closer to the old Marquis at t~mis 'Father, I salute you. speech, on nOticing which the major thus 'Are you not very audacious thus to ad- addressed his sire. dress me, sir. Do you not know that my 'I would not deprive my children of your son, who was, expiated by death, full eighteen society and . affection, to which they so long years ago, his treason to his King?' have been accustomed. I have not come tc page: 28-29[View Page 28-29] - 28 REGINA. REGINA. 29 impose 'on you the penance of my sojourn amongst you, my habits and politics are not yours~ therefore we could not live happily together." 'I am glad sir, that you admit so much, but be pleased to inform me what motive led you hither? Methinks both of us could have dispensed with this meeting.' 'I imagined sir, '~epiied the major) 'that the difficulties through which you have struggled must have straitened your means. The liberality of the' Emperor, by whom I was personally esteemed, has enabled tue to save two hundred thousand francs, and now, that you are about to resume your rank and live worthy ot your name, perhaps the offer of my assistance may be of use. I come, therefore, to place my humble fortune at your disposal, for my father and my sons ought not to have recourse to strangers whilst I have the means to offer them.' The Marquis suffered his son to finish this generous speech, but the flush of indig.. nation which mantled his cheek, and the uneasy convulsive twitches of his body showed the difficulty of sitting it out. At the conclusion of it he sprang to his feet in a perfect fury, exclaiming passionately,- 'It is the price of the blood of our party that you dare te offer me, despicable wretch that you are l No, never will I touch it! Begone sir, begone!' Etienne de Labourdilliere stood calmly under the explosion of paternal wrath and replied not. After the pause of an instant the old man apostrophising his grandsons, thus delivered himself. 'Should any one of you ever accept but a glass of water from this man, that one will I disinherit, and on whomsoever of you who shall except a legacy from him, is my mak~diction already pronounced.'. 'My Lord Marquis,' remarked Etienne vith respectful firmness, 'will please to re- member that Major Seignerohles resides at Haut Monte!, near Brasseuse. He will there find him a~ favorably disposed in future, as at present.' Then bowing and saying, 'Father I salute you!' he was leaving the room, but at the door he halted and turned back. 'Gentlemen yot~r duty is te accompany me to the stair-case.' The sons looked at each other, but obey- ing the magnetic influence of his eyes, they tuottly yielded obedience, and followed hy all his sons, Etienne de Labourdilliere reached the foot of the stairs. 'Gentlemen I thank you,' said the father as they had gained the castle steps. The young men bowed their heads, as if were, in spite of themselves, and each mut- tered~-Father I salute you! and thus ended this singular meeting of the long-estrangen r alatiyes. CHAPTER IV. Etienne de Labourdilliere, after this visit u.. Valgenest, returned to the dwelling he inhab- ited at Ilaut-Montel-under the designation, Major Seigncrolles, and resumed the almost solitary life he had led there previously. His mornings were devoted to field-sports and evenings to reading. His only domestic was Catherine Chauvel, the mother of the little shepherd boy who was instrumental in leading Pierre Aubin into the snare, as already described. The Major and Decadi Robert, having both served in the Imperial Army, a kind of acquaintance naturally sprang up between them. Time and mutual esteem converted this into actual friendship. It was after the disbanding of the army of the Loire that the person known as Major Seignerolles had come to reside at Ilaut- Montel, where he had been for about eight years, when one day he said to the old soldier-' Father Decadi I need your assis- tance.' Greatly surprised was tne worthy fellow at these words and he looked puzzled. 'Well, will you not grant it?' continued Etienne. 'You surely must be joking Major- 'you who obtained my pension for me-you, who lent me two thousand francs to repair my house and stock my Iitt'e farm, can want no aid from meunless it be to shoot some game for you, or execute some commission at Senhis, in which case I am most completely at your service. 'You are mistaken, Decadi. It is to ~obtain a place for me!' 'A place is it? In what Diligence then, you have but to name it.' 'Wrong again; I want a permanent situa. tion.' 'For yourself?' |! SEGINA. 28 It is tiearly the same thing as for myself. He fer whom I wish to procure it, interests me nearly as much. I need not say what tie binds me to him.' 'I do not ask you to do so, Major, but to whom am I tt make application?' 'To Mademoiselle de Gazeram She has considerable influence and power in her Uncle's house and I know that they are dissatisfied with the present game-keeper. This is the appointment I should like you to procure for my p~'otege.' Pardicul' said the old grenadier, 'you would have better success yourself, 'if you would only speak to the lady, for mi~ny times have both Uncle and Niece said to me, "Why does not Major Seignerolles come like a neighbor and visit us? In the country it is well to see one another, we shall be glad to receive ~ 'I go no where-least of all to the house of a Gazeran,' replied Etienne in a gloomy tone. 'That settles the matter. I will speak to the young lady myself.' After the silence of a moment, Decadi Robert hazarded the inquiry, 'Who may the person in the neighbor- hood be, for whom you want the situation?' He is not of these parts.' 'Ahs, I see what you'are about. Some old soldier, like you or I, for whom you kindly wish to secure a good berth in his age! Diable! rph)t will make it more difficult to obtain the situation-for youth is a recoin- mendation at Gazeran.' 'Then our claimant will suit, for he is but twenty-three. lIe has returned from Spain: and wounded too,' said the Major replying to a contemptuous shrug of Decadi's shoulders, at the mention of a campaign, which was generally considered by the people as little more than a military parade-th'ough in reality it had its heroes and its victims.' 'Is it possible he has' then seen service and been in battle. I did not know there had been any blood shed, but since you say so, I am convinced such has been the case.' The result of this conversation was that Decadi was fortunate enough,' (as he then considered it,) to interest the Mademoiselle Gazeran in the stranger for 'whom the desired situation of game-keeper was promised, and' thus he announcect his success. 'The place REGINA. 29 is carried by assault-he has only to present himself.' 'Then, my friend, you may have the pleas.' ure of informing him that he is thus provided for.' 'Why, where is 'the young man?' 'At yourown hou'sel' 'How soat my house!' 'Yes, indeed, Decadi, he has been there foi~ the last three hours.' 'Then you sent him?' 'Who-I? I never saw him. He know me not, nor do I, as yet, wish myself to be known by him.' 'lie must, however, I suppose, know, that.' 'He knows,' interrupted the Major, 'that Decadi Robert, to whom his Mother has sent him, means to get' him some good employ'~ ment, if possible, because, she said, Decadi is his worthy Uncle.' The ex-grenadier looked at the Major in surprise, as his words' were so completely. enigmatical, and he inquired,- 'Come now, Major, are you in' earnest,~? What is the 'meaning of this? Am I uncle, to the young man in question?' 'Yes, without doubt, that you are mos~ assuredly. Was not your Mother married, (the second time) to the keeper of the con-' ciergerie qf Paris?' 'True, Sir.' 'Had she not a daughter by that second union?' 'Yes.' 'And the name of that daughter was Euphrosine Aubin?' 'It was.' 'Well, she was thy si. had she riot?' ster, and had a son, 'I must again reply yes,. lInt the father no one knows, he must have been some Noble-an aristocrat I suppose'-.--muttered the old soldier. Decadi Robert, however, was not one of those who carry their respect for family' honor to that pitch which heaps execrations on the nearest relatives who may, years ago, have brought disgrace on the name they' bear. Nor was it an age or a country, where and wherisuch things were viewed by the generality of people, in any station, in the heinous light that serious christians coil sistently regard such improper occurrences ~ I' .1, page: 30-31[View Page 30-31] 30 REGINA. 4 REGIN'A. S~ the veteran citizen of the world compos- a prisoner in the conciergerie, and she had edly added,- I compassionate his lot until love had suc- 'Truly my sister did, unwisely, act as she needed pity, and mutually they avowed eter- elt disposed,, yet even so, I fancy if she and nal constancy. I went to confession, it would not be to ha' The legal wife of Etienne de Labourdil- lot the heaviest penance would fall. She has here had become, more than ever, an object been a good mother and is well ~behaved and of detestation to him since he first saw and respected now-so if, my Nephew is a fine, loved Euphrosine, whom (though a jailor's honest fellow, I shall not be sorry to'see daughter) he would gladly have married- him.' and whom he positively assured he would The Major pressed the speaker's hand yet do so, whenever, by the death of Marga- with a warmth so unusual for him to exhibit, ret Gazeran, he sho~ild be at liberty to make that it gave rise to a suspicion which Decadi a fresh legal contract. thus expressed. It was not long before Euphrosine re- 'Pardieu, Major-excuse the question- pented of her having yielded to the sophistry but mayhap you are the young m~tn's fa- of an union unsaictioned' by the churi~h, they!' though unblushingly practiced by so many of You have, indeed, guessed aright, my high hand low degree in those fearflil and friend.' godless times. .'Pray tell me then why did you not marry , After the release Qf Etienne de Labour my' sister I~uphrosine?' dilliere, he joined the army, and Euphrosine 'Because my own wife was alive.' withdrew herself, to A seclusion that baffled '~That alters the case, I perceive the im- his exertions to discover, resolving to bring possibility.' up her son by the labor of her hands; but All this was said in the tone of ordinary she contrived to send him a letter in which co~wersation, as if these two men ~vei~e she stated,- spdaking about the we ather, or what not, of 'You shall k'now the place of my retreat, trifling interest. when you can announce to me that nothing And your son, is he acquainted ~'ith the hinders your legitimating your son. Until relationship?' inquired Decadi Robert. then, we must be strangers to each other.- No, until I should be free to marry Eu- Thus only can I hope to regain peace of phrosine, and legitimate him, she wishes all mind. Should I he unable to maintain and his affection concentrated on herself,' educate the unfortunate innocent, you shall 'I see, women have their whims-but are be applied to, and may aid me, as it will be you expecting to be free soon?' your duty. But yoti need not fear for me-I 'When it shall please the Lord.' can support myself.' Really the tie does not seem to press Having now narrated the occurrences of of on you since no one here ever heard by-gone years, necessary to explain passing Madame Seignerolles.' events, we return to the, morning on which '4s to that, Decadi, I assure you that if the Major requested Decadi Robert to en- sha,~ere coming here to-morrow I would deavor to obtain the situation of game-keeper depart hence to.day.' for the young man, which was in. conse- '~Welj, ihen-~-.~rnay she stay away, for we quence of a letter just received from the sl~r)u~ lose a good neighbor. I will now go long-unseen, but never-forgotten, Euphrosinc, hoi~iejand welcome my nephew.' which ran thus Remember Decadi, it is ii secret to be 'For the first time, Etienne de Labour.. preserved within your owii keeping.' dilliere, am I obliged to have recourse to you. Faithfully,' was the reply. My son, Pierre Aubin, wounded, at Logrono, l~'Iius ~he two revolutionary soldiers parted, in Spain, 'has returned, and is unpi'ovided the one cordially tO receive his relative, the for. It would be very difficult to settle him other~ to brood over the memory of his 1 in 'Paris'~; perhaps', either through your own~ arde~it~ love for the tender, the beautiful interest or that of my brother, Decadi Euphrosine, which still clung tenaciously to Robert, some place in the country may be the fibres of his heart. He recalled the 1 procured, to suit him. I would rather Pierre feelings he had experienceed when he was ~hid not know by what right you interfere in his favor. It would be unpleasant to me, aud also to him, for he believes that his father is dead. I know that you and my brother are acquainted, and you may tell him all, it' you think proper. It is to him I shall send my son. I want for nothing essential myself, but am not rich enough to support two; be- sides,'Pierre would not live at his mother's cost. Do then, you think right; and I shall be as grateful as if I were not asking the fulfilment of a duty, but a favor. I would gladly have passed my life with this beloved son; but the tim~e has not come when I could meet you without pain. Will that time ever come? 1 have waited in expectation so long, I may wait on still. At all events, if we are not destined to be united on earth, there is a Heaven where, after our probation here is ended, we may hope to meet without shame or impropriety where all is beatitude and virtue.' When Decadi Robert returned home, Pierre Aubin was there, as the Major had in- formed him. The young man had one of those open, manly countenances which inspire confidence and affection at first sight. his manners and conversation ~vere pleasing, and his air even noble and commanding. In short, he soon made such a favorable impression on the old couple and their only Living child, t~ie pretty Cecile, that in a very few weeks the future marriage of the young people was a settled thing. At the time when Pierre Aubin was am pointed to the office of protector of the game in the forests belonging to th~ Gazeran- family, at the recommendation of Regina de Gazeran, that lady ~vas in her twehty-seventh, year, ahd here claims some notice, as about to appear a very important personage. .Ttliadernoiselle, then, Was at this period in the full perfection of her great beauty, ttnd had been sought in marriage by numbers ; but her remaining single during the lifetime of her uncle, was the sole condition imposed as the Price of her inheriting his immense wealth. 'Phis restriction to celibacy had, hitherto, caused no grief of heart to Regina, the ahso- lute power she possessed over every one, Qfl her uncle's domain, and the unlimited~hd uncontrolled sway which she ~xercised ~was, to her, of itself happiness enough to com- pensate for her acquiescence in the prohibi- I' 31 lion regarding a matrimonial tie. But from the day on which she first beheld the young and, handsome Pierre Aubin, a change came over the haughty dame! A sudden, violent passion took possession of her heart; and she did not even seek to expel or combat it after she had discovered the nature of her interest in the new game- keeper. All she attempted' to do, was to conceal her insensate fancy from the obser- vation of her doting uncle and the public. Months passed ere her preference was al- lowed to be so visible, to the object of it, that he could attribute the flattering interest she bestowed on him nu longer to simple be- nevolence. Pierre Aubin was, also, preoccupied with his own tender passion for the pretty and amiable Ceeile, which caused him td be less clear-sighted in remarking the love which he had unintentionally excited. Nevertheless, he could not always remain ignorant of the impression he had made on the high-born beauty. game-keeper trembled at the prospect of 'the miser~i his prophetic fears foresaw this love would draw down on his gentle Cecile and himself. He tried to disbelieve the evidence of his senses. He gave no ~n- couragement to her advances, and would not understand the language of her beautiful, eyes when they betrayed the intensity of her admiration of him. How well guarded was his heart by the image that reigned in it-that of the modest loving countenance of his affianced Cecile~ At last came the moment that 'was to try the power of principle 'and virtuous love 'to resist the temptation of the syren's delirious~ passion for him. There was no longer a pos-' sibihity of pretending to mi~nnderstand that the niece of his lord and master chose to" overlook the, usually considered insuperable, difference of birth and station. Pierre Aubip could not return this love ; '1 and, as an honqrable man, he wished to put '~ an end to' her unavailing hopes without tin. 'a mihiating the ~Iady whe 'honored him with '~' passion whi9h sornany irien 'of wealth 'ah&' distinction had beew 'ambitious of e~ccltiti~. V Hoping that a kn~wl~dge of his dbidhig & t~chment' to~,L~cilt~~, If itin'fiicted:a' eruie1~'~ 'wound at ~1rst~ wouldeffeetually cur~i'Re~itla; ~ h~i, .one day, replied to her insinuating com- pliments, though his tones faltered as he yen- 0 page: 32-33[View Page 32-33] REGINA. 33 32 REGINA. tured the experiment, - 'If Miademoiselle could but know how very dearly I love my c~9usin Cecile!' At this announcement, Regina de Gazeran fell ~ the ground, as though she had been shot! Possibly, the seeming swoon that ensued, mi~ht have been a snare for Pierre Aubin, a last hope for Regina! She might have instantly perceived, that at once to kindle the torch of love in his pre-occupied heart, was out of the question; but that pity once excited, love might succeed. Frightened, beyond measure, the faithful, betrothed lover of Cecile bent over the noble lady, and regretted having spoken out so bluntly; and he eagerly tried to restore\ her to consciousness. It is perfectly true, that Pierre was vehe- mently in love with his affianced' one, and prided himself on remaining constant find true to her; nevertheless, it was not in his power to help feeling admiration, in gazing at the beautiful woman before him. Must we confess it? Candor compels the avowal, that, in the secret recesses of his soul, Pierre's vanity began, to be agreeably flattered at the persuasion, that he, the game- keeper, had actually smitten the heart of the beauteous, accomplished, -and much-sought heiress, to such a degree that she was dying of love for him! If this were a weakness, at his age, it was but natural. 'Oh, ho~v magnificently beautiful she is!' he involuntarily e~tclaimed aloud, as, with palpitating heart and feverish delight, he looked on her reviving color. 'No, I must not, cannot love thee !-yet how shall I ever be able to forget thee?' As these words were-pronounced, Regina slowly opened her now languishing eyes. The surprise affected by the lady on find- ing herself supported by Pierre Aubin, was expressed so well, so naturally, that he began to fancy he was somewhat astray in his con- jectures, and that his vanity had deceived him when he attributed her fainting to his confession of love for Cecile. Regina had recovered her sense of dignity and decorum, and, withdrawing from hi~ re- spectful support, she said,- 'Pierre I thank you for your attention. No doubt it would have been desirable that on s~uch air occasion of1 ilbiess, Louise ray own maid, or Cecile your cousin, had been in the way to render assistance, however, it could not be foreseen-and in future should such a faintness come over me whilst in your presence, I' have to request, beforehand, that you do at once hasten to the nearest habita- tion and bring the first peasant girl you meet. Any woman understands what to do, under such circumstances, infinitely better than a This was sai4 in a tone that might well be mistaken for the coldest indifference, mmd she also continued in a similar vein, as if the thought had just occurred to her mind. 'I do not nsl~ you to keep my sudden faint- ing-fit, a secret. It is known that I am sub- ject to this unpleasant occurrence, besides were you to endeavor to preserve silence on the. subject, your manner might be embar- rassed, and carry an appearance of there being a secret between you mind ~- whilst between Pierre Aubin, the game-keeper, and the lady of Gazeran Castle, there can be no such thing.' Regina made this speech in the haughtiest manner conceivabk~, and in strange contrast with her previous t~ondescention, then with a patronising, rather than obliged manner, once more expressing her thanks, she walked homewards. At the last words and parting looks of the lady, the whole brilliant fabric, that had been erected by vanity on th~ supposition of her love for him, fell to the ground, and Pierre remained 'stupefied with amazement, he was vexed at himself for having ever supposed it possible. Shouldering his gun, which he had propp-. ed against a tree, when he flew to raise the lady from tho 'cold grass, he exclaimed mentally as he walked away in a disconsolate mood.- 'I was a presumptuous fool-an ass! She cares not for, me after alL l3ctter though, that it is so.' Nevertheless he said to hint- self' once more-' How very beautiful she is I' Althoug'h Mademoiselle had permitted him to sp~ak of the meeting in the wood, and what had passed there, Pierre Aubin did not ~neflti9n it to~ any one.,. He would even glady have forgotten that in Regina's pres~ ence dazzled by her attractiptls he had twice beesi obliged to invoke thoughts of Cecile to pr~veiit his eyes misleading his heart. More perhaps to obliterate such ideas than as the result of his love to Cecile, on the evening of that day. Pierre redoubled his attentions to her. The innocent confiding girl, rejoiced visibly at this more than usual display of feeling, and her affection made him experience remorse for his fleeting admira- tion of Regina, as though he had really been faithless in heart. Not long did this cloud overcast the peace- ful vision of the game-keeper's love which reverted wholly to his Cecile, the true mag- net. As for Regina, she now avoided, as much as heretofore she had sought, meeting Pierre, and when accident brought him into her presence, her dignified look~ and distant manner confirmed the impression, that he must have been mistaken in the supposed nature of her sentiments towards hii~m. Thc part which the lady was acting, how- ever, was not sustained without considerable effort. ~Many times had she, when alone, felt indignant to think that, with her be and rank, her first look had not brought to her feet. the man ~vhom she, so elevated, had deigned to honor, with a preference! Car- ried away by a passion, which the indiffer- ence of Pierre heightened instead of extin- guished, she was almost tempted to cast aside disguise and let her words express the feelings of heart, saying, ' Oh, love me as I love you!' Such an entreaty, as from the lips of her ~migh-born suitors, she hud received with dis- dam, but which she would have' hailed with delight from the humble game-keeper. However, for a time, she managed- to tri- umnph over these wild impulses, but, in secret, she shed tears of rage and shame as she thought of Cecile, her innocent and unconscious rival. 'Oh, to think that I should not be able to supplant her, ~nd yet be unwilling to relin- quish the hope of prevailing over the con- stanef of Pierre Aubin!' Thus spoke the proud beauty to her omost self, and the exclamation which had escaped from the man whom she fondly luv~d, 'Oh, how magnificently beautiful she is!' sounUed in her ears and kept alive her hopes of ultimate success. Regina had 'flattered herself that Pierre would have felt the loss of favor, and been anxious for a renewal of her previously gra- cious and attractive manner. But her co- I quettish hauteur had failed in its object, and J she saw that she must change her plan of' attack, make a compromise with her prid~ and dignity, and advance to meet the hear reluctant to respond to her own. In accord- ance with this resolution she contrived to get Cecile to the castle under the pretence of wishing her to execute some delicate em- broidery. On her return the pretty rustic spoke of her delightful visit in terms nf rapture, and the flattering distinction bestowed on her by the Lady Gazeran, was hailed with pride and pleasure by the parents of Cecile. Pierre Aubin, alone, was dissatisfied and unrejoiced, he felt that son~e fresh snare was concealed, by this sudden advance, and that it boded another struggle for which he had no desire. He had come off victorious once, but he feared to renew the risk. He had, therefore, declined going to the castle to ree his betrothed safe home, as had been ar- ranged by the condescending mistress of the Lordly HaIls, ai~d well did he kuow how to interpret, the circumstance, that the charm -__ ing lady, Regina, had suddenly been taken with a fainting fit when it was announced that Decadi Robert had come (instead of Pierre Aubirt) to escort his daughter back from the castle. It was, indeed, a blow alike to the love and the pride of the infatuated Regina, for she did not deceive herself as to the motive that kept Pierre away.~ It was not his duty, as game-keeper, that could cause him to substitute Decadi for himself on such occa- sion. What coutd it be but to avoid meet- ing her? Thus was she foiled1 and unable to put in practise the acts by which she had fully intended to set herself off to advantage by contrast with Cecile, who, guileless and and totally devoid of suspicion, was filled with gratitude for the l~indnss and attention which had been shown her, and she expa- tiated to her cousin Pierre on~ the beauty, talents, and gracefulness of Regina Gaze- ran. In vain did the young man strive to turn. the conversation. Cecile was so touched with the kindness lavished on her by the great lady that, (as Regina had calculated) she could speak to her lover of nothing else,. and her praise and admiration were couched in the language of youthful enthusiasm. 33 page: 34-35[View Page 34-35] 34 REGINA. Once, during the dangerous commenda- tions of her new friend, Pierre Aubin man- aged to silence his fair cousin completely, hy saying to her,- 'It seems to me, Cecile, that 1 love you less the more you discourse about your visit to ~iazeran.'~ Cecile did not inquire of her lover how her enthusiastic praise of the lady who had received her so kindly, was displeasing to him-but, loving so warmly, so tenderly, she would scrupulously avoid mention of the name Regina de Gazeran. it has been remarked, that the noble dame of the castle waited but an opportunity to renew the perilous attack, on the game- keeper, which she discovered (with woman's keen perception) that he feared to encoun- ter. Much time did not elapse ere an event occurred which was favorable to the wishes of the enchanting temptress. Philiberte Robert, the mother of Cecile, was attacked with a grievous sickness, in fact, of such a nature, that her life was despaired of. This served as a pretext of which Regina eagerly availed herself, to make a show of interest in the peasant girl, by daily visiting the sick' mother, and thus she secured a daily meeting with Pierre Aubin. Death speedily seized his destined prey. With kindest protestations, and every ap- pearance of sincere affection towards Cecile, Mademoiselle de Gazeran insisted on remov- ing her from 'the house of mourning to the castle, whither she and her father, Decadi Roberts, took up quarters for about a month. The repugnance which Pierre felt at the ideii of visiting the abode of the Syren, wa~ overcome by consideration of the afflictior of his beloved Cecile, who could best~ b( consoled by the sympathy and kindness o his sincere regard and affection. Tbns, lov( and' duty combined to lead him where h was obliged to meet the redoubtable Regina Between the mistress of the lordly halL and ~hcr dependent, the game-keeper, strange species of contest ensued dunn! this period. Deeply enamored of the handsome youn~ man, and completely infatuated, Regin gave the strongest and most visible evidence of the state of her feelings. The warmt] of her manner was habitually met with th icy coldness of respect; but the steady con centration of the sun's rays will dissolve the stubborn chillness of the frozen mass. Des- pite, therefore, of good resolves and virtuous intention, backed even by sincere love for another,-the. respect was, on one solitary occasion, obliterated. When Cecile, on the succeeding day, received the customary attentions from these~ two persons, she little suspected that the one was suffering the pangs of shame and re- morse, and that the other had added a fresh stain to her tarnished conscience. For six months, from that time, Pierre Aubin contrived to avoid meeting Regina alone, and the pure love which he bore for the innocent Cecile had hut . increased, if possible, by the, contrast of hei purity and virtue, which he would feign emulate. At last he found himself one day face to face with his evil genius, ~vho thus addressed him,- 'Pierre, I can, I will become free. Mv uncle, the Lord 6f Gazeran, is about to make a jous'ney to Italy for, the benefit, of his health, atid he proposes to take me with him. His fortuneshould devolve upon me,-J)ut I am willing to renounce it-to break my pro- mise of celibacy. You know that I love you. I will no longer admit the control of an~~ person (save you) over my action. Will you marry me?' He regarded the determined and impas- sioned beauty with a mournful look of astonishment. 'Will you mary me?' she repeated, ad- ding- 'I will brave public opinion and reproach. I will sacrifice every thing for the man I so warmly love-but if my position should be- come too irksome we xviii depart hence. You are silent l Well, I give you two days E to consider what I hqve said. Mind that I receive your answer before the expiration of that time.' 'You shall have it to-morrow,' replied s Pierre. ~ The next day was Sunday, and the curate ~ of the parish of Brasseuse, (according to the custom of the country) announced from ~ the pulpit-the betrothal of Pierre Aubin a and Cecile Robert. e This was the answer of Pierre to Regina. h On the following Mot~day Monseigneur de e Gazeran and his niece set out for Naples. REGINA. ~35 Never had the lady appeared more bril- 'Prom my mother?' repeated the young liantly beautiful, or so sedulous to please .$he man believing that he had not heard aright. old gentleman whom she was going to ac- 'Yes, I enquirer if you have heard from company to a foreign land, with tender care her lately? Does she not write to you to sooth and cherish his old age and inliruity. sometimes?' But the fair and seemingly good and kind Yes Major, every month.' Regina left behind her, to be forwarded to 'WeIJ then you c~n easily answer me.' Cecile, the following letter which, however, 'My reply is, that you are very kind to was intercepted by Pierre. interest yourself about us, and that, God be 'Cecile you are thinking of being married praised; my mother is q1~ite well.' -beware! I fear for your happiness. A shade of uneasiness passed over .the [nquire of Pierr~, the cause of my distrust, features of Etienne de Labourdijliere during nd if he should refuse to make the reason this speech but it instantly disappeared~ known to you, await my return. Be advised whilst he muttered: and at all events await my return, ere your 'What can the gentleman mean by asking fate be sealed. As a friend I bid you take after the health of my mother?' seed! Regina.' After a nause the Major added: The foregoing recital of events brings us 'I desire to hav~ some conversation with up to the period when old Emeric de Labour- you, Pierre.~ dilliere-so muved with indignation at his 'At your service, sir,' eagerly replied he, his castle being insolently invaded by the placing the but of his fowling-piece on the myrmidons of law and justice~cast a des- ground, and leaning on the muzzle, in the pairing look on the portraits of his ancestors, attitude of an attentive listener. and gave up the ghost. 'Not here, Pierre, but at my hotise,' after It has also appeared that the inheritance yoti have been home and had your supper.' left by the iVfirquis, thus deceased o devolved upon a more direct , f right Suddenly seizing the young man~s hand heir before and Pressing~ it warmly, the laconic speaker Co rning into the possession of the jive took leave, s~tying,- brothers. Likewise it will be remembered 'Adieu, for the present-we meet again' that his heir was living under the assumed to-night l'-and away he started, with stately name of Major Seignerolles, whose relation- step, in the direction of Haut-Montel. ship to the game-keeper has been made In delicious conference with his accepted known to the reader, love, the time passed unheeded, and Pierre Often had father and son seen each other, was totally oblivious of hjs appointment, till and the heart of the old soldier had warmed interrupted by old Decadi Robert, whose voice towards the handsome noble-looking youth of saluted his ears, saying,~ whom he had such good accounts from 'Enough talk between ye; I have some- Decadi Robert the proposed father~in-law. thing to say to you, Pierre.' But the silent and solitary dweller of Haut- 'Sohas Cecile, my good uncle.' Monrel xvmis averse, to give way to the pater- 'You must learn that I do not approve of nal feelings which urged him to grasp the the fashion of silencing the old that the young game-keeper's hand and press a son to his may talk. You two, will have time enough. bosom, as this would involve a disclosure of for your nonsense when you are in your homer the secret of Euphrosine Aubin-so they In the nieantime, when I speak, all else. must passed each other with . but the ordinary be hushed-that's the rule here.' greeting of strangers' It would have been a vain thing to inter. At length, after a severe internal conflict, fere with the worthy old soldier's ideas of and moved by certain painful considerations, discipline. Cecile saw that her father was in, the Major determined to meet the youth, as earnest, and, taking up the embroidery on~ he was returning home from the woode, and which she was engaged, she, retired to her to the utter surprise of Pierre he was thus owr~ chamber, without manifesting any sign addressed by the hithertKo distant and reserv- of ill-humor. ed individual. 'There, that is' well. Cecile understands, 'Good evening, my friend Pierre. Have the meaning of my words. She perceives you had any late news from ,your mother?' that I' wisl~to speak to you alone, in private. 8 page: 36-37[View Page 36-37] 36 REGINA. "In private?' replied Pierre, much as- in order to atone to his guest for the brusque tohished. 'How the deuce can we h'ave any reception, resumed the amiable and familiar secrets?' tone in which he had once before on that 'In the first place, I would inquire, why day addressed him; but there was something you are amusing yourself here V more solemn in his voice and manner than Why? Because, naturally, I am inclined when he had met the young man, to whom tojavail myself of every opportunity to court he now said,- my cousin, who is engaged to be my lawful 'I did fear, my young friend, that you wife, with your own consent. Surely, there were not going to come, which would have is no' harm in this?' caused me much regret, and ytu would have Certainly not; but there is a time for all greatly wronged yourself.' things; and this was not the most pressing 'Upon *my word, Major, I will frankly business.' confess, that I had almost failed to keep my 'I-low so? What then, uncle?' engagement; hut if you have ever been in 'Did you not meet any one as you were re- love, ydu will admit that it is excusable at turning homethis evening?' my age to have a treacherous memory when 'Oh, yes, indeed! it was a singular oc- in company xvith the girl whom one adores.' ourrence!' replied Pierre, suddenly remem- 'it was because I suspected something of being his interview with~ the Major. this kind, that I took the precaution to re- 'Did you not make an engagement?' quest l~ecadi to remind you of your engage- 'Truly, I did. I promised to go to Haut- ment in case of forgetfulness.' Mantel to-night.' 'This, truly, did he; and so pertinacious- 'And this is the way you keep your word, ly that, if you were really particularly' de- young man?' sirous of seeing ~ne this very night, you ~nay 'How could you be aware of this?' thank him for it.' 'Never mind. I know that you ought, be- 'Yes, this very night, for to-morm~ow would fore thi~ time, to have been off; and to make be too late.' sure that yo~.n ~do go, I intend to see you to Pierre, from' this, expected that Major your appointed destination. Eyes right !- Seignerolles, who was thus anxious for an Quick step! Forward-march!' interview, would instantly unfold his motives. The game-keeper was received by the He .placed himself in the attitude of one Major, in person, at the door- of his habita- ready to listen attentively to some confidential tion, with the remark, in a reproachful tone: disclosure; but he was, for the time, deceived 'You might have come a little sooner; but in his expectations. it is no matter.' Instead of' being made acquainted with the Muttering an excuse, Pierre, for the first secrets which the Major evidently had to re- time, crossed the threshold of his father's veal, Pierre Aubin was called upon to give house, arid he was shown into a room, which minute details of his childhood, his edtica. was' not only furnished with great taste, but tion, and. his military career. He underwent had ~an air of comfort and also style, no a thorough examination of his past life. usuitily to be found in such a rustic mansion While the game-keeper replied with liii as the citerior of the building indicated, natural frankness and habitual truth, to th There were specimens of rare arms and manifold questions of the Major, the latter armory, choice paintings, and splendidly-il- though app9aning to be listening to him witl? lumined boolis, with various costly objects the 'deepest interest, was nevertheless verb of luxury. ' attentive to catch any sound that might b In one corner, Pierre remarked a portrait heard from without doors, and so~inetmmes of a youhg country-girl, attired in the cos- even; interrupted the narrator, tiut with hb tum~ of' the time of the revolution. . This voice, but by a significant gesture of hi~ figure struck him particularly; but the faint hand; and then, as if that which was hear light did not permit him clearly to distinguish in the distance did not correspond to his ex the features Which he 'fancied were familiar pectations, he re-united the broken thread o to him, arid 'the vague 'impression of recog- the narration by one of those expression: nition passed away. usually employed to encourage one to pro Etienne de Labourdilliere, without doubt, ceed in the discourse: such as,- f B kEGINA. 'You were observing;' or, 'And' then,' strutted' so as to afford, to the unseen~ ooeui. eta. pant of it, a view of the apartt~neat he h~ The life of Pierre Aubin was completely just quitted, and said to him,-. developed up to the time when he was in- '.Reniain here. You will, without offence stalled ia the office of game-keeper. Arrived to my visitors, learn what I desire'you to at this point of his own history, which it know, and I shall be spared a re~etiti6n ~f passed his comprehension to find so interest- the information.' ing to the Major, he continued,-.-. Then disposing of the light so as to ilhx~ 'I now have nothir~g more to relate to you. inmate (partially) the rest of the apartment', My career since .1 have been here has been whilst the*' receptacle of a hidden eye and but common-place and un-eventful. I do my ear-witness was thrown into the shade, tti~ du.ty conscientiously, and love my fair cousin Major hastened to receive the new-corners. passionately. One day resembles~ another; Five gentlemen, enveloped in large riditig - and my time passes very happily. To-day is cloaks, and~ wearing huge slouch-hats, en- always so agreeable, that I can never desire tered; but through their disguise, Pierre die- to-morrow to he more so.' covered them to be scions of the proud and Here Major Seignerolles looked him full in lofty race of Labourdilliere, even before they the face, and replied,- . removed the covering from their heads' to 'I have reason to believe that'you may make'a formal salutation. have hidden the most important events of The five brothers, grandscns of l~mei~ie your life, previous to your arrival in this part de Labourdilliere, bejng allied to the Gazeran of the country, since you see fit to preserve family by the marriage of their father ~ silence about such things as have transpired Marguerite, caused their frequent visits U' in this place:' the castle, whereby they w&e well known to. 'To what things do you allude, Major?' the gamekeeper. 'To what, indeed, but your intrigues' ~.vith The unfortunate connection, however; Regina de Gazeran?' was not the sole cause of -the intercourse be- B~ishfulness was a stranger to the soldier- tween the families: for, four out of the 'five game-keeper, and fear urjknown to him; yet,. brothers had openly declared~ themsdve~ at mention of that name, he blushed, and suitors for the hand of Regina Gazeran; and looked abashed a~ well as amazed. * His as- they had bound themselves, by 'a solemn tonishment was at its height whether Major, compact, between each other, to abide willing- contrary to his usual taciturnity; ran over, ly, and without envy, jealousy, or hatred with exactitude,'the principal details of the decision of ~the, hWy in her choice ~ Pierre's~meetings and acquaintance with that either of thenri, whichsoever it might he. lady-showing the most extraordinary know- The fifth of the sons of Etienne (the Majoi') ledge of the existing terms and former inti- had not promised anything in the matter..-.- macy, concluding in these ominous words,- He had not entered the lists with his brdthei!s, 'One Gazeran caused the misery of your having too just an opinion of himself to' en- father. Another of that na~me is destined to certain the hope that such a competition could render y~u unhappy. it seems to 'be, in this be successful; an4 yet, by him, would ~lie world, that certain races are decreed to ruin conquest of Regina have been most highly other~, as certain animals, birds, beasts, and prized, as it was inwardly most intensely fishes prey upon~and destroy their like !-.- coveted. You, alas! kn6w not the fatality. You were However attractive might be the ch4#m~ not acquainted with certain circumstances, Qf the niece of the old Lord of Gazera~ %o and could not foresee the lamentable result.' the four handsome and, well-formed .youri~ This was, indeed, a day of su~prise and men, they did not look upon the eIarrio~e i~ mystery to Pierre Aul~in; but. rio time 'was any other light than a niere-matter of cbIzrse~,. afforded for conjecture or explanation, as the the doimection being advantageous, And ther~. Major abruptly e~claimed,- fore desirablA-to the family, though v~y kin- 'Here they come, at last!' . material as to which of the individuals shdt*Id Having Iooke~l out of the'window, t6 make be the ntediurn to effect it. sur&of the' fact, the host hurtied his bew~l- Not~so with Aiuoine, the dwarf; wh~ ~- dered~uest 'in a qiriset, which was con~- ~'ithstanding,'w~rs the favorite of the grarMi- page: 38-39[View Page 38-39] tEgIN A. I~tJier. He, on thecontrary, was consumed pi~h the violence of his secret 1~ve for Regina; and whilst his brothers, regardless of him, entered into the compact to secure the prtze~ he cherished the wish he dared not hope to see. realized, and experienced the miserable feeling arising from consciousness of per- sonal deformity, a~d consequent inferiority, which in his breast engendered self-hatred and rancorous envy and malice towards all those who were open to love, with hopes of success , and he swore vengeance, sure and secret, on ~zny, favored rival. For months, had the coquettish Regina, who delighted in the homage of all m~n, en- couraged, by turns, each of the four brothers, without giving any decided preference to either. During this period of uncertainty, Antoine s~zffered the pangs of jealousy from her ca- pdcious indecision. Unsuspected and Un- ~jtied, he endured the bitter feelings of hatred, mortification, and eniiy. He could norbrook L.~,idea of a favored one;. he shuddered at the thought; yet, at the expiration of mouths of vacillation, when all the brothers seemed likely to be rejected, by the lady of his secret love, Antoine was dissatisfied. The slight.to them he resolved to treasure up, to be re- venged upon whoever should happen to be preferred to them. The compact antI the courtship here spoken cf, it will be understood, had taken place be- f~re the visit, to Haut'Montel, of the brothers, whom we had just ushered into the, presence of their u~williugly-acknowledged father. The haughty and rebellious young men had come at the summons of the Major, but were ignorant or his motive in sending for them. They dared not refuse to attend, yet w~s 'their salutation disresjeetful and scorn- M; and their manner plainly showed a pre- determination to make no concessions to their rejected parent. ,~reat was the astonishment of Pierre, the bid~.ien witness, pn hearing the Major address these young noblemen as their father, and ~ft'er t9rehnquish his claims to the, property of. tl~e old .I~~Iarquis (deceased) in thei~,14vor to allow them to enter into possession of th Labourdilliere inheritance., as though be, iht ~p~aker, had ,i~i reality passed away f~9In. ex istence, as was generally supposed. ~tiedne. de, Laboprdilliere also xpressec his willingness to retain his present incognito leaving to. his Sons their political opinions uti- questioned and unfettered. To do all this he promised, in return for their simply granting him the satisfaction of passing the residue of life in the society of his sons. Also, to let the past be obliterated from recollection, and the future be spent in such amicable terms as became their relationship. With gloomy brows, and t~tern, unmoved countenances, had the four young men lis- tened to the advances so nobly made to them. The dwarf, however, had manifested a dis- respectful irritation, which was checked several times by his elder brother. He now insolently and ironically put the query that the Qthers hesitated to speak,- 'Are these your only demands for resign- ing your rights? ~s this, then, all you have to say to us?' 'No; it is not all!' was the quiet reply., 'Ah! Ab!' 'exclaimed the sons,, simulta- neously, each hoping that some inadmissible proposition would give a color of justification to themselves for the refusal on which they were deterrninnd. 'Out of ~the fortune I propose giving up to you,' continued the kind old man,. 'I wish you to set apart any sum you may see fit, as an allowance, in token of your favor and as an evidence of good will towards the indi- vidual, for whom I would besp~ik it. No matter how small the amount you may de- vote to this purpose, that~ is of little impor- tance in my sight: it is, the principle on which you act. My earnest desire is to se- cure for him your regard, your friendship.' ~ Who is the person in question?' inquired William. 'Your brother!' 'How so? Who? What brother?' burst from them, in accepts of a4onishment,, 'If lie of whom I speak has not borne my rt~me since the death of your mother, it was, my children, out of consideration to you; but if I have thus deprived 'him of the title of son, so much the more am J bound to se- I cure him an honorable position; an'd,, what is still better, and dearest to my heart, your united friendship. Truly, I assure you, he is worthy of it.' Again Antoine was spokesman, rudely saying,- 'Does the Major believe that friendship or I affection is to be commanded?, and ~ilI he inform us who i~ the individual whom he R~INA. would force on our fraternal love?' The widest of the sons shrugged his shoni- 'You all know him, gentlemen. His uaine ders contemptuously, and sajd,.-. is Pierre Anbin, Ike game-keeper #f 'You forget, sir, that Valganest. can only Brasseuse I' be the residence of ito legitimate lords. II A cry of joy, uncontrollable, escaped from would be jn the highest degree unseemly the lips of the unseen listener. It reached there to introduce the illegitimate? the ~ears of F~tienne de Labourdilliere, his~ 'Unless amongst the menials he took his hitherto unknown, father; and the corumo. place,' added the insolent Antoine. tion which the announcement of that name fortunately these insulting wrrds did rtof had caused amongst the aristocrat brothers reach the parent's ear; and the Major mildly alone prevented their noticing the sound of continued - wonder and delight. 'But Ido not require a public recognition of Pierre Aubia as your brothe.. Fear hot CHAPTER V that I should give hi~i, a right to~rny nam~ A raw moments passed in a tumult of etno- if yot desire it withheld from him. The tions, within the breasts of these actors in an young man is so noble-minded that I can en- unusual scene. rf~. feelings were agitated gage for him that if you accept him secretly, with base and unnatural passions, but they in token of our reconciliation, he will reveal strove to regain outward composure. to no one the secret of his birth.' Tue invisible occupant of the closet, be.. 'But does he already know this secret?' b wildered, stood with one hand pressed on his inquired Antoine. throbbing temples to still the wild beating of 'He does know it now,' replied the Major, his braip, and stifling"the loud throbs of his casting a significant glance; furtively, towaras affectionate heart, he mentally inquired, as if the closet. doubting his senses,- . - Silence reigned in the apartment for a f4~w 'Can it be possible that I, Pierre Aubin, inmates, during which the aristocrarAc am indeed his son, and those hard..hearted brothers consulted each others' countenanee~. ~entlenaen are my brothers?' Willhim having gleaned the 'opinion of The idea now flashed across the game- each, without the. rnediu~n of speech, ad~ keeper's memory, that the portrait he had danced towards the old man, their sire; and just seen must be that of his mother, Euphro.. with' a respectful manner and resolute voice sine, in her early days; but hark! his father addressed him. speaks. 'Sir the oath we took on the occasion of Breathless the young man listens, and your visit to our late grand-father, and the peers into the outer room. respect due to his memory, make it our duty Calmly Etienne de Labourdilliere thus re- to declare that we cannot accept a~ part of surned,- your propos~il.' 'Gentlemen: Notwi(hstanding your first :I'he Major turned pale, and bit his li~s~ expression of disdain and aversion, I still James, the twin-brother of William, then hope I have not asked too much of~ou, and spoke,.-. that you will gratify me by recognizing this 'You have offered pardon and ob1i~ion~- young rnan-.-~net as an equal, that would be We need no pardon; nor do our acts court too much to expect-.--I only wish you to re- oblivion. We have no cause' to blush or ~eeh member that I am his father as well as yours, forgiveness: for we never deserted our ho1~ and therefore that you. will receive him well cause to join in foul rebellion.' i when he ~iomes to Valgane~t to see me.' The agonized father clenched his fist spa~.. A short pause ensued, and the Major eon- modically; and the third~ brother coxit~riued tinued,~-, . 'Forgiveness is not for us. Our deeds W0~c 'You are t~il~nt, my children; perhaps you right and glorious; and, if whilst fightiitg do not fully comprehend my proposal. Yours against you and your traitorous party victory is to he, by my proffered gift, the whole for- sided with the goo~ cause1 you cans expect tune of your grandfather. In return, I only nothing but the respect due to a conque~l demand the ~satisfaction of being surrounded enemy.' of de .urI.~tre, by all my children.-Allmy ckikken!' re- . The'heart Etienne Ltbodif' peatod he, imphatically. . that brave old soldier, rose. 'indignantly, and page: 40-41[View Page 40-41] 40 REGINA. t6ar~ of wounded affection dimmed his eyes, unheeding which, the fourth one cruelly ~dded,- 'No-it cannot be I Pardon! Oblivion! All' of q~s to live together! These things are possibleb. If you offered us a mine of gold, or the wealth of the world, the answer would still be: No !-never! You canifot buy us l 'We do not desert our colos! To accept such a bargain, would be meanness; and we are not mean.' In spite of the efforts' of Etienne de La- bourdilliere to restrain himself in presence of his7insulting sons, he mechanically raised his hand in a threatening manner, as the .young man finishedd this aggravating speech. The brothers instantly assumed a hostile attitude, and, with united voices, exclaimed: * 'Beware, sir! We will repel violence.' Atthefi~~t movement of his aristocratic brethren,'Pierre~as about'to rush from his concealment to the rescue; but at that instant the Major spoke: 'Young men, it is not your numbers which could induce me to calm my outraged feel- ings at such a trying mom~t as this, an'd to 'extend indulgence towards you. It is the feelings belonging to the title of father. Am I not, indeed, yoi~ father, since I caii forgive your offences '?' - 'To which feeling9appeal, Antoine brutally remarked:' 'You will be none the less a stranger. Ai much so in fact as the plebian whose exist~ ence ~you have hitherto been ashamed to ac~ knowledge, and yet now seek to force us tc recognize.'~ The Major, though~ deeply~ wounded anc sorely grieved, didn't -reply to 'thfs addition al insult. What was one more pang to hh lacerated heart-One fresh outrage to be for given? 'The five brothers, with formal bows am mock reverence, now quitted the presence o the Major, and departed for Haut-Montel; The afflicted parent, no longer obliged ti restrain his feelings, sank on a chair, cover' his face with 'his hands, and murmured, in th~ accents of 'bitter irnd touching reproach,- 'Ab! Marguerite de Gazeran! and yoi my father! I pity you'! A terrible reckoning must one day be required of you, for inspii ing my sons with such sentiments toward -met' As soon as his brothers had gone forti Pierre Aubin had left his hiding place, ann when 'Etienne' raised his eyes, they rested or. the afi'eotionate countenance of the game- keeper, who was standintt, in respectful. si- lence, beside the grief stricken, outraged) and forsaken man. Stretching our his hand to' Pierre, the Major kindly said: 'My son, I see in you one who is to con- sole me for the sorrow which the. others Jiave caused me.' Pierre clasped it energetically, pressed it to his lips, and exclaiming, 'Father! father!' sank on his knees before him. The Major raised the son of his loved Enphrosine, and bidding him sit beside him -as soon as they had regained composure to speak-~.thus addressed him 'Had I foreseen this result, I should not have made you a witness of this scene. I expected some remonstrances, but I calculat- ed on ultimate success. I had, it seems, too good an opinion of the pupils of my *ife and the Marquis, my father,' 'I hope that you will not seek another in- terview, my dear sir. It is so distressing.' 'I will not promise that.' 'At least, I beseech you not again to so- licit them for friendship towards me. Am I not well enough provided in possessing yours?' 'Yes, Pierre, you deserve alone to possess all my love; but shall I avow it? In spite of myself I feel affection for those who ungrate- fully spurn me from their hearts. Alas l we do not with impunity descend from a noble race, or cherish the pride of birth, without I cost. Regard for the name one bears, will force one to overlook and forgive the injuries of thos~whom we would not have disgraced.' 'It is not for me, sir, to reproach you for this leaning towards those of ~rour own blood,' replied Pierre. DoI not see in it a guaranty *f that you will be a kind father to me?' 'No doubt,' replied the Major, pressing c, his hand. 'No doubt, but listen to me. These five ~ young' men, who have just quitted my pre- sence, have grievously offended me-as you ~ yourself witnessed~' ~ I 'Yes, indeed, and it needed the promise had made not to .appear' unbidden, to 's; enable me to resist my inclination to come to your aid.' ~, 'Because you did not interfere I thank 40 REGINA. you most heartily, my son. I appreciate your forbearance. You saw how I restrained my just indignation. I am glad that ye also were able to master yourself. I did n~ choose to force myself on them and comp~ there to accept me. Who knows but refim tion may be ~ better counsellor than in pulse. But, whatever con es of it, I exa from you (who, nevertheless, owe me rn thing) that you-' 'Oh, sir,' interrupted, Pierre, 'pardoi owe you full obedience since yo have called me son!' '1 exact, then,' said Etienne, with a smil of satisfaction, 'that you will never forget- under any provocation, that they are you brothers. This they will not understand- but should they even be steeped in crime- do thou riot deny 4hem a place i~ thy heart though they may deny you before men Pardon th~m as .you ought to' do. Lovi them lf you can,-and in case of peril b~ ready to defend your flither's sons. It i this.way, above all, that I shall 'see that yot are truly the son of my heart.' 'Father,' said Pierre, '~ro circumstance~ shall evei~ cause me to attack them, and evei shall I be ready to defend them; This promise faithfully to him who loved mj mother.' 'Oh, my son, thou art the only one whc has cause to complain or me, and yet thor art the only one who 'will consent to lov me.' 'With all my heart, father,' said Pierre 'for you would I shed my blood freely. Foi you would I. go through fire anli ~Water, tc save or to serve.' 'Add to that-and for my brothers,' so. lemnly and earnestly continued Etienne. 'And my brothers!' stammered the dutiful son. Happy to have obtained this promise, the Major, afrer a moment's reflection, arose like a man who has taken some decisive resolu- tion, and said to Pierre Aubin,- 'The behaviour of these gentlemen must in mine. [wished, by makingg con- siderable sacrifices, to prove 'my desire to live in friendshjp and peace with them. They would not accept my offers..-I with- drew them. Th~t which, for some time past, I hays.' h~itated' to do-although prompted my'heart ever since the death of ray wife-I am now willing to do.' 'They AiIINA. te have set me at liberty as regai~ds them' d 'What is it?' plainly inquired th~e'ea~t in looks of Pierre. )t 'It relates to Euphrosine; your another' ~l answered the Major, to the'mute appeaL . 'My mother? Oh, say on!" ~ 'Of course you know where, she is liviqgl' ~t said the father with bitter erh'phasis, for it ~.. was a reproach to his pres~ht feelings th'at he was ignorant of her place of residence. u 'Certainly, I know that very well,' rePlied u the young man. 'Do yoli then go to her, from me, and e tell her I will, at last, do her justice. I wi~I - give her my name, and then I shall have a ,. right to acknowledge you publicly as mk - legal son. Bring her without delay.' - 'Is it possible? My mother; oh, my dear mother! What will be her joy, her sup- prise! I will set out at day-light, and I ~ shall be with you in two days.' ~ 'Not here. At your uncle, flecadi Ri.. ~ berths', you will be informed, on your retiir4 ~ with your mother, where to find' me.' '*You are, then, about to leave ~~iutL ~ Montel' ' - 'Yes, my son; but I have. not.spoken ~' I much in so short a time' for years, 'as' [have done to-night, therefore am I really fatiguq4l. Enough has been said for the present' YQt~ are welcome to remain here' to-night if you choose, but to-morrow I suppose it, is to Paris you will go; is it not so?" 'Yes, sir-but if you would allow me I would rather return home to my house, for, in truth, I should like t leave of my cousin before o take short journey." starting on thi~ '~ery natural, Pierre-~-be it so. lint stat a minute, I must desire you 'particularly not to speak to any one, of the visit of sons to me. Let what has passel b~'n.s~cre~ between us. Also, I request that, utitil 'after your return, Deeadi should be ignorar4'tliiit Major Seigneroiles and 'the Marquis'4e Li~ bourdilliere are one and the samepersoxi.b' Pierre Aubin gave the required promise~ and thus ~hey parted. With eager hasre.the young 'man regained his home.' fle~adi 'Robert, in e~pecration' of a ions, and ~iter-. esting relation, was, siti jog up, wairitig, wiQ~ unusual curiosity, for hi's' intended son-in.. law's return. 'I hav~,less to tell you, uncle, than' have, probably, expected,' said Preiij~'. - page: 42-43[View Page 42-43] -- '~2 ' IU3GINA. / ful of'his promise. 'No doubt you knew i~hat I was wanted for since you were so anxious for me to go.' 'I suppose that you' have; at luat, been received ~t Haut-Montel 'as die son of its master, 'replied the' old man;' 'but what did the Major say about my sister Euphro- sitie-your mother'?' 'That be loves her still-that he will marry her immediately-that I am to go to Paris to-morrow to tell her so.' 'Ah, that is the best of the story. With this news I iteed not regret losing so many h6urs~ rest. 'T shall steep the better for this pleasing intelligence. At what hour do you set out, Pierre?' 'As soomi as I-have said adieu to Cecile.' 'Psltaw! you surely will not delay for that. I can say farewell for you; for Main-' selie Liii is not such an early riser but that you 'might be three hours on your way before ever she will be ,awake. You cau take'my horse at day-light, and ride to Sen- lis in time to coach it at'once on to Paris.' 'Prerre would have remonstrated, but the -old soldier had said the word, and the lover 'knew it .was no use to oppose him. '-At. all events 1 will waft a parting' kiss ~1irough the key-hole of her chamber-door. Ferhap; in her dreams, she may receive it.' 'Ah! Well! If that will be any satis- faction to you, by all means do so, you fool- 'ish fellow-but be' off as soon as you can. As Pierre approached the door for this truly lover-like~ leave-taking, it was softly opened, and. the pretty Cecile, in captivating ~ttirepresented her smiling face to receive the adieu of her betrothed. 'Apleasant 'journey to you, Pierre,' said she, 'then closed the door so quickly that, to hew' father, the scene was rapid as enchant~ ~knent.~~2and remarked, good-naturedly,- ~ Ah, ~he 'gipsey. She has not been to bed at all, it seems.' Full of joyful~ anticipations for the future, the'~game-keeper set out for Paris. - The Major dismissed' his sole attendant, 't'he"old 'house-keeper, who was the mother of Petit Ghauvil-and was busy all that ~diIy (dii which Piar*e was journeying to th9 'Metropolis) 'preparing to quit Haut-Montel. When evening came he set out to~inake one 'inorey experiment oil the feelings ~ his qons.' it was supper-time at the castle of Valga- *st, and the five grandsons of the. dec~sed 'Marquis were seated around a sumptuous 'table, when the bell of the great gate re sounded through the halls. Bartholomew, the old servitor, already mentioned as so 'unscrupulonsly devoted to the family honor it was, who opened to the unusually lat" summons. 'He was so surprised at sight of the visitor that he hesitated, in confusion, whether to aimit him or not. Taking advantage of thi's perplexity, th~e Major brushed hastily past the porter, crossed the court called the Court of honor, rapidly ascended the stairs and entered the dining hall unannouncedd. On beholding their father, the assembled children shuddered, and simultaneously arose -but not, alas! out of respect. 'For what purpose came you here, sir!' inquire l Antoine. '1 come to dWell amicably with you, my sons,' calmly replied Etienne de 'Labourdil- here. 'Make room for me at this table where I have a right to sit, and be pleased to resume ~your 'places, gentlemen. I wish rite family to be complete, and henceforth it will be so since I, its chief, 'am added to you all.' To this the' eldest son replied :-~~ 'Take the place wftich belongs to you, sir, at this table-we cannot oppose you. Command at Valgenest. It is your right. We shall respect your rights. But you. can- not force us to live under the same root with you.. The day on which you enter here is the day on which we feave.' The five brothers then threw their nap~ kins on the table, took their hats, and silently walked out of the dining-hall. The Major was' not prepared for this sud- den revolution; he was disturbed, agitated, 'and for some time.knew not what to do. - We will now revert to 'the game.keepei'. When Pierre Aubin, on~ hi~ return from his journey to Paris, learned from' Mother Chauvel the departure of the Major from Haut~Mentel, he' supposed that it was at I Valganest he should meet the Major,"as no direction hr d been l~ft with Decadi Robert. To 'Valganest, therefore,,.Pierre went, and it happened that old' Bartholomew was the person. to whom he addressed himself, and th~, reply he ~eceiv~d wp~-.~- 'I have heard 'of such' a person, but can. 4 'I U '9 REGINA. , 43' not tell you ~yhere he lives.~ us justice,' said Pierre to his ~neek and gen.. At this moment Honore, who* ~l'as crossing tie m~iher," but on-coal reflection the pri~ the courtyard, came up to Pierre and said, ofhlood regained its dominion over 'Who are you inquiring 'for, my good and he ~was, I imi~gine, ashamed to avow~his fellow?' plebian connections. Alas! that he'h~d '1 am seeking him ~~ho is no longer at aroused hopes long dormant in you, '~y~ Haut-Montel, and . should, therefore, be mother! -How cruel to rai' e them iu-~ here.' * who was so happy before this 'knowledge.' 'Here? Why, who is it?' 'It is u~eles~ to repute, ~ny son. No more 'The Major Seigne~'olles.' need we seek to ascertain about the 'absent 'We do not know any such person. one. He lives !-That is enough f~r. There is none such here,' replied Honore, know. Sad; yet contented, I shall rettirn~ who then, turning on his heel, re~oined'his my peaceful dwelling, in Paris, and resume four brothers, and with them descended the my calm and c~istomary mode of life-~jtn4 stepsof the castle. .~ou, my beloved Pierre, will be happy wiLh Without further explanation the gate was your sweet Cecile for a wife.'* closed on Pierre. No more, f~r the present, was beard of His hopes dashed to pieces, and a prey to the Major. The old lady returned to Pajis, the mos~t dreadful suspicions, touching the and the young couplewere married; but 'this mysterious disappearance of the Major, the event was preceded by the; receipt oE. a young miln rett~rned to his mother to relate threatening letter which Pierre Aubin found the ill success. She, too, at first feared 'that on hi'~ pillow. The. contents left no doubt those who had so much interest in getting as to who was the author of it. rid of him might have silenced his claims This ominous billet bade him beware for ever. whilst yet it was time, and defer his' inar~~ Decade Robert, who experienced none of riage with Cecile, until he was freed from these fears in connection with the young other claims.-or else to watch well oyer her men of Valganest, not knowing who the safety. It concluded with these word~of Major really was, for both mother and son dire import. preserved that secret-yet was indefatigable 'Yet, even so, what can thy vigilance in his researches to discover iirhat' had be- avail thee, against certain' revenge?? '~ come of the strangely missing man-and Notwithstanding this warning, the loving, he, too, dreaded' murder. trusting pair were united' in holy wediockb; Soon, however, these shocking' doubts The alarming occurrence of the rifie..s~..t were set at rest, for an 'anonymous letter was aimed at the fair- young bride 'on the w~4~ handed to them, by the curate of Brassense, ding~ight, was kept secret until ~the evening bearing the 'Paris post-niark, addressed to of Pierre's disappearance, on the. occasion T)ecadi Robert, bidding' him cease his inves- of the ehtistening-festival, as. recorded .ii~ tigations about This 6t~ comrade, as he (the the opening chapters. Major) had withdraWn in secret, etid' wished During the interval 'no new. a empt had his place of abode to remain undisclosed.- been made on the life 'of Cecile. that, he rc~nounced reluc~tarit1y' a project that 'Regina had been in Italy with her un~pIe, he had etitertained for eight years, and but when news of the death of the oldlnrd which he had hoped w'as'at this-time-to have reached 'Pierre,. he had engaged the Aa~, been accomplished. 'The writerr be~ought Petit' Chauvel, to give him infermatica of Pierre to 'remember all his promise~ and I her rettirn, that he might he on. his ~gtaArd concluded with the hope 'of one' dity seeing a against~ her machinations, which, he? doubted re~un'on and happiness. ' not would be directtld ttga.nst his eonm$~ial Altlj6ughithis communication did not bea~r "happiness.' any signature, they all believed 'it tO be writ- I ' The signal agreed ~upon was' the scr'eeria- ten 'by ~the Major, and they surri~bedthat 'he f'~icl's~ disma[cry. - ,Iiad secluded himself fThm~hem 'to avoid the No 'wonder i~ill: 'now' be ,felt tbsP 4ee~d projected mairia'~e with ~uphrosi'nO struck to the heart of Pierre Aubin~wbea, 'In a moment of anger to~vards'his aristo- for th~'.ir~tdti'iiie,.he:h~rd~ the watningi~ry, critic and rebellious sons Ile'pr6rnised to do the sound of. evil or~en-in' theamidstiof~hs page: 44-45[View Page 44-45] I' 44 R~GTNA. joyousness of the merry party~ met to cele- W~te' the christening of the first-born of Oeile. - The question, uow will probably arise. Where~ during this time, was Major 'Seigne- wiles? He was a prisoner in the castle of Vaiganest the CHAPThR VI. castle of Valganest the Major p~~sed many niotiths, in conformity with a eoiupact he had made with his disdainful seas. Unwilling to resign the casfle.'home, fheir rank and tbrtune, by really carrying out4he, scornful resolve they had expressed on quitting the supper-table, they had suffered themselves to be induced to remain.-pro- vided that their father would agree to con- ceal himself,' and not let it be known that he was alive and a resideizt beneath his own t'eof. Not as a.master or guest did Etienne de Labourdilliere take up his abode at Valga- nest, his lawful inheritance-but as a self- immured'prisoner! * To ~these - strange conditions the Major consented, in .the hope of ultimately obtain- ing~a~ portion of the affection of hjs. sons. Fancying that his captivity was a laudable uwetl as voluntary ~acriflce to them, he 'was satisfied'with being thus tolerated. The ~nly thing that the old man c~rtld not bear patiently was, being compelled to forego all Iw~erconrse with Pierre, Decadi, etc.~ at -Brasseuse,' and as latterly happened) being ~4ebarred all knowledge of their welfare. This yearning towards his only affection- ate child became more intense, ~nd, after a time, almost unbearable, as from a lofty tur- Tht~ which overlooked t~e surrounding coun- try for miles; 'he witnessed, wlth pain and ~a4asm, the frequent ineendiary~fire5 which, lat this~ period, devastated the land,-spr~ading terror, ruin, and digtruction, far nd n~r. The flat~roofed turet, ~to which we bate ~aIIaded, was the only promenade per~nitted 1tne' strange prisoner. Lvwasascen4ed4o by *a6piral stair-cate,~ ~tt the4k~et of ~vh~ch ~~'p the apartment of Bartholomew, theold val~t, -who alone, of' all~ the ~A~awstios, l~new the Major to be the son of the -M~rqnip, and ithat he was a captive in~ 'the oa$le ~f- his 1sncestor$. This. man was, therib a fitting ag~pt for the five. unnittural broZhers~ He was one RFX*INA. 9 who might be depended on as unwilling to connive at the Major's' escape, should he be 'weary of his solitude and long again to mix in the worl4-or simply sigh to regain free- dom. Now on this side, and then on the other, would the frequently occurring and appalling ccapflagrations arise. The merciless flames spared neither rich or poor, levelling all dis- tinctions, as, in turn the miserable hovel of the peasant, or the stately baronical halt, was marked by an unseen hand, for destruc- tion. Isolated and far apart as were most of these' habitations, mysteriously doomed' to be consumed without ii~krning, and in the lead df the night-many of the confl~igra- lions were attended with an awful loss of life, and the victims were born to their last resting place amid large concourse of the panic-stricken inhabitants of the district, who quailed at the thought-' Who will be the next to suffer ?' As these melancholy funeral processions passed within sight, the lonely watcher on the tower would kneel down and pray that the inhabitants of the game-keeper of Bras- seuse might be spared! It becam~ noted that the dread visitation vvl~ich had in more or less degree, afThcted all else, within many leagues, had but one total exception. This being the Castle of Val~anest, whose occupants, the five bro- thers, were far from being.. in good qdor with theIr neighbors-all manner of sur- mises and ill-natured remarks were, in con~ sequence, freely circulated. This rather remarkable exemption was about to cease in an appalling manner-bnt, meanwhile, an incident of equally awful airport( claims our attention. 'Late in the still night, as the Major was quietly pacing his lQnely round,.on the tur- ret, (his vigdanr eye caught sight' of' the terror-boding ~mnoke ascending high o'er the ~wood of Brasseuse. 'His alarm was intense; and thus hespoke his thoughts aloud. 'My worst fears are realized! lzlis turn has, ~rt1iesgth, come! Oh I Pierre, my son! Would that-I could aid or save you! And ye ruthless 9nes-ye will give me no intelli- gence of his fate. Ye accord' me not your 'love,'a9d but rarely your society even, and for this have I relinquished kim and all that man holds dear !~ I Bitter must have been the reflections t that solitary being at the time of' the ~posed peril to Pierre Aubin. It was, however, the neighboring house and barns of La Grange farm which wer then burning, though he knew it not; fo that time the game-keeper's dwelling wa safe-Yet i was not spared from motivO of' mercy, but in furtherance of a plot in evolving the destruction of Pierre's' gooi name, he being missing-unaccountably t4 his neighbors,-thongh the reader is awar4 that he was the occupant of a dungeon whither his abductors had conveyed him from the scene of festivity which was inter rupred by the .treaeherous scxeech-owl sig nal. To return to the Major.-He could bea' the' torturing uncertainty no longer. At a! hazards to himself he m'.ist inquire the fat of his son, Pierre. From his pocket-boot he tears a leaf, writes a few 'lines on it,' re questing, the finder, whoelrer he 'may be,- if Pierre Aubin be living, to pass down th( avenue in front of the castle, and cut branch from a sapling on the rigkt lnanc sidc-~f dead,.to break off one. on the lefL 'this writing the anxious prisoner wrap' ped around two 'pieces of gold, ~mnd tyin~ them' in the cornerof his handkerchief,'hi twirled thi9 with the motion of a sling, and thus launched the'missive in the air. Away flew the cloth and its enclosure beyond the bounds of the imprisoning walls. Alas, for Etienne do LabourdilIier~, these articles were picked up, the next morning, by Bartholomew, who handed them to his young lords. In a body these~ five men repaired to' the turret, where the despised parent was on the look-out for some one 'tO come along and make known whether anything'f'atal had hap- pened to Pierre- 'i'hey upbraided thefl"pri- sorter' for this infringement of his contract, feigning to believe he had some ded~er, mo- tive than appeared, and was ~desiroiis of compromising them and freeing himself. This the o14 man denied, and he besought them to give him the satisfaction of know- ing the result of the last fire, and the tide of Pierre. This~ they, inhumanly, would not do, but left their father in' an ag~n~r of sus- pense. After this interview~ a' consultation w~s held between the brothers, as to what c~u~i~ they should pursue. ' 'Oar common ir~terest~ requires that ~t~M 's should not oecutr again,' said F'raneois,'th& ~ ~ouAh son. '-We' have taken' pr~cau'~i~dii& r enough, about this would-be-brother, of wl~o~ a he is so anxious, to prevent his interfeiji~ s with our proceedings. - "the walls of Gazeran can alone ~tv~ El any information of him-if the walls ottlie castle of our beautiful 'relation,'Reginn,~have a ears and tongue. 'lBut we must remember; brothers, that we are- hot much' liked 'iii the country. There are not wanting~ a multitude - of unfavorable reports about us, already&' What, then,' would have b~en said if that - note had fallen into other' handb? r 'Perhaps we are suspected of this already! I Believe me, our first resolve is best.' ~ F'rancois, who thus" spoke, was, front his superior, mental, and personal qualifieati'oi~s, - the ruling head of the house of LabourJi~- - here. ' 'Undoubtedly, you are i'ight!' bo1di~ replied the dwarf, Antoine. I The other three murmured ~ hesit~tVdg consent to that which had previously ':beehi * suggested, but it was with trepidation anil. lingering reluctance. To put an' end to 'th~ irr~so'utioml that was iiianif~st; Frnncois ~a d I in a decided tone,~-'-- " 'Let it be done. I take it-upon mys~1f."' 'lie .it so!' re~ilied the rest. The dwarf then dragged a large 'cakeil chest, from ~ corner, Into the middle of 'the room, examined it, measuring it signiflcantl$i~ and amongst them they carried it up stairs-. Depositing the ominous load; where it~Whs hidden by - the bed-curtains, the br6thei'~- descended, leaving the door of the Maj6r'A room open behind 'th~m. 'Francois now resolutely said,-' Give the the poignard. You know it is I ~hoai* i6 'strike the blow.' ' The deadly weapon was handed ,to 'hit~x, 'an(I Honore asked,- "Will! you-venture alone?' '~ertainty t' replied 'Francois with a smile. 'He is old and unarmed. Wky~ 'Antoine could dr it 'himself.'' But J init~xi~I' t~ execute; the'jiulgrtient myself.~ 'What 'if he ~esist or cr~es for help?' timidly observed Honore. 'In that case-which' I think by no n1~uus likely-a whistle wil1-let'~oti know I require & page: 46-47[View Page 46-47] £ I 1ill~GTa~ help, and you can, then, come t~ my assist- thus spoken, F~rancois rushed ~~ving ~~tily up statra. The Major had r~ot come - ~Iowji from the turret at the moment wheft nte~ded parricide set his foot on the first step of the spiral stair-ease. ,~You will be too late-he is coming do~n,' exclaimed the dwarf. '' ~q, I shall not. I can reach the room be~orehe will V i'eplied the ~vre~ch, and he ~i~ppcared in the darkness. The brothers, below, listened intently.ro tli~, ~teps ~f these two men approaching, opposite qitarters, the appointed place ofthe death which one was carrying to the other. It was a. moment of interest and excite- w~z4~ fraught with crime l 'Francois has reached the room, and the 9t.I~1er is not yet down. He will have time to conceal himself behind the arras,' said Wil- Iti~ Now the Major is at the door-he 'is open- ing it-he is in the room-he has locked the door-now coine& - the moment of con- flint. Eonore could say no more;, WillianT and Jarne9 trembled and turned pale.. One, only, of the brothers retained his ferQeious spirit unrtdngled with pity or re- morse. This was Antoine, the fiendish ~4wj~rf. He-fearing lest the others~ might relent, should they hear their fathers voice entreating help-took down ~ hunting horn t~pm the wall, and blew a blast so long, so loud, and fearful, that it soumled, under t~ie 4~rea~l excitement of the moment, like some u4earthly demon-yell. A pause in the horrid din, and a scuffle was heard overhead-~-then a shriek-and, all wa~ silent as the grava l Presently a whistle was heard on the stairs, The twins arose~ but could l~ardly stagger along. Antoine and, the remaining brother were firm, ajid. together. tlio four ~i~p~ted the stair~ and entered the upper ro~x~. There they found Fran~co~s atone, feeding g and ghastly pale. ' 'It is over I'. said hepointing the chest whioh st~od in the corner V He is dead l He is in it!' Net without horror could the guilty men Mi~ on ,tlie~ fatal ~wst.' A lon~, ~treum ~f blood stained the floor, and Willi~u~, touch- ing his brpther~s arm, inquired-' Are you not wous~ded ~ 'Yes, in the struggle he turned the poig- nard on me-but it is only a trifling scratch. Nothing now is to be don&-.save to burn myclothes, andwash away the stains from the boards. All then is safe!' 'Dat what are we to do with~ that-that chest V asked ~Honore, with? averted gaze, pointing to it. 'Never mind, I will see to it,' 'replied Francois; 'I will dispose of' that myself.' From this fearful scene we must revert again to Regina. When, pressed by the brothers to select one of them as her future husband, she had told them"that she would be the wife of no man until she had been avenged on Pierre Aubin, whom, she alleged, had insulted her with his base love. This they readily undertook to do, and we have seen how they got him in their power, and conveyed him (as hey thought) to a living tomb in the vaults ~ Gazeran castle. Glad were they to find it was C man whom they previously hated, that ~va~ o he the victim of' this wori~ijm's revenge. Besieged, by suitors, and loving only Pierre, Re~iha, to be rid of importunity, agreed,' e e long, to become the wife of Francois de Labourdilliere. The brothers being satisfied that the coveted property of Gazeran' would thus come into the family, the three unsuccessfi~tl wooers withdrew their pretensions with a good grace, and renewed their vow-that their paterna~.feeIings should remain undisturbed by this preference. Antoine, alone, was free to act. He had not entered the lists as competitor for the lady's favor, therefore he took no part in the renewal of the brother's compact. Yet, he was resolved, if possible, t prevent 'the nrntch, which, however, it will shortly ap.. pea'~, was fearfully obstructed. It was a festival at Yalganest, a grand en- telileOt given to celebrate the bet'ro~haI of Fraf1co1s~ and Regina. All the aristocracy of the neighlio'rhood was assembled and amongst the brilliant array-none were t~iore h~utiful and magnificent in looks ~nd di~ess thanRegin~-noii~ appeared happier than F rancois.. m~rr~orses, in regard to their ~ father, crossed the minds ~nd clQn4erl the brows of the other soris,~ in The midst of the mirth n~isic and ~pleridor ________ kT~oiNA. ~O1' the party, he, Francdis, the most guilty, seemed unconcerned. flis head was eree*, a ready smile played on his lip~, and his heart seemed at ease. We will pass over the ball and supper without description, to narrate the startling event that shortly after occurred to disturb the, scene of joyous festivity. Suddenly arose the alarming cry of fire! High above the gay music of the baud sounded the words-fire! fire! On the instant of alarm, as the guests hurried to the windows, was to be seen, the ancient pavi- lion, at the end of the path, glowing in a brilliant blaze-the flames already bursting through the roof. 'Cahn yourselves, ladies and gen~tleinen, ,there is nothing to be feared! Let it burn! said Antoine; 'It is only a miserable stru&- tare which the fire will save us the trouble of pulling down. It only wanted"a bo~n-ffrr~ to complete the rejoicing, and the incendi- aries have taken on themselves this addition to surprise us.' l~he panic of the company ceased on this remark, the brothers inwardry applauded the presence of mind of the dwarf, and they also said-' Let it burns' The sight of the burning pavilion dis- pelled the gloom that oppressed some of the sons of the Major, and a weight was instantly removed from' their guilty' minds. They blessed the hand from whence the kindling spark proceeded-for within that blazing pile lay the coffin-chest, which how they thought wouki be effectually disposed of- 'But the alarm had spread amongst the ser- vants~ and Vetainers of the' gitests. The cOmmands of the lordly brothers, to let' the building be consumed, had notreached their' ears, and in a body they had ,gone to endea- vor to1 put out the tIre. The great bell of-the castle was loudly tolling, and in aC incredibly short time people rushed f:rom all quarters to thd ooi.. flagrationd In vain did the brothers 'call to the men, from the balconies, to stop and, let it burn. The str~ngeorders were or unheeded. , unheard Now, indeed, in their tu~n we#~ the wick- ed 'men troubled and afraid. Their f&r u4as worse than that whi6h 'ha'd, 'at fiat, 'been in~mentarily .experienced by the company. I The haughty brothers 'lh~&Ad'whis.. pered words, and then abr~4~l~ foi'sttkiig t 9 thei# guests~ hurried 'at 'full speed t~ t~e burning pavilion. ~ Those who 'had first arrived at the were busily' 'engag~id , hi throwing Out t?~t ancient relics which the building'c.oritain~lJ. The confusion incident to the oceiision ma~ it a difficult job to save th~ odd med1~y t$f articles here stored away; and, in truilithe old-fashioned lumber and family ~urio~iti~s- did not ~seem worth the risk, to life' aft~1 ,limb, of the busy hard-working crowd. The pavilion was totally' ruveloped in flames when the owners arrived, but '~li~r rushed into it as precipitately as if it con- tained something veryt precioCs wh~cli ~ were anxious to save. As they reached Abe interior, two stout foot-men were~ trying ~ ~oroe open the lid of a large chest, ap~it- rently too heavy for them to carry out, in or'ler to get at the opposeded valuable con- tents. 'Leave it, I command you%' cried Wiltiajit in a thundering tone, and he repulsed'tii~ men ir'i so violent t manner, that,;in 8Qi~pr~se and terror they sprung' back beyond the 'Let that alone!' simultaneously e~j- claimed lames, Honore and Antoinuili seeming most 'violently agitated. Francois was the last to reach 'the ~o*. lie forced his way through 'the crowd~'and 'placing himself before the' chest, hepuI~hdd his brothers outwards,' exc.lairning~ ~ mently;-~- 'For God's sake' go' out! Save ~oii~- selves! Be quicl~ or you are lost I' As he thus spoke a huge bt~am' gave w'ay1, and with a fearful crash the wall ~itne4o~*h, inwards,' overwhelming' the speaker (wh~, doubtless, had seen the danger) and hirry1n~ him iii the smouldering rUin. The night was spent in rernovin~ th~ rn1.i~ rubbish and atd'aylight they found tWe nit~- tilht~d~d s6Otch'ed' remains of~'rancoi~ 4~e Litbburdilliere close beside the '~best"~1iic~i the fire~had not consumed; ''What a. fearful 'fale' for' the 'hetrothed of R~gina, Iri the midst kof rejoicings and ~xiirdl What' a 'dre'a$ful watnin~ did it '~uot ~ppi.~i~ to the parricidal bi~otWers. -li&w' macit iiya.. tery ~utttiioh~d to that' fatal diest' ,l I OI{AI'TER VII. TUE death of1 Prancoi~ at'su~h a tihf4 wtltd page: 48-49[View Page 48-49] 48 ~RGINA. h~, such a manner, created a great ~ensati~p throughoutt the district, far anl neai ft put~ ~ 4op to the niurtm~red suspicions rinsing the previous exemption of the family kVon ~haring the calamity of the country-~ wrecked by the mysterious fires of ruthless incendiaries-and caused many to regret their hard thoughts and sai~castie words: for .~hich they sought to atone by. repairing to ,the Castle of Valganest to testify respect and condolence. On the occasion f these frequent~ disasters, Ru distinctions Qf wealth or rank, etc., Were for the time submerged; and whether cabin or castle had met its ~loom, sympathy was ex- tended by the general community to the sur- viving sufferers: and in cases of loss of life the obsequies were attended by a large con- course of the inhabitants. When the last offices were performed over tIle departed, the mass returned to the dwell- which had been victimized; or, if the, devastation had been complete, to the ruins,- where, under the canopy of Heaven, they w911h1 spend the rest of tl~e day in drinking to the death of the murderous incendiaries. It sometimes happened, though, tfrat these barbarous c~rousals were interrupted by the tocaln's sound, or the sudden blaze of a new coz4lagration. The most favored of the victims, of the unknown band of depredators, suffered only ~n their possessions-their stocks of hay or corn,1 their barns or out-houses, being destroy- ed by the fiery scourge. But if these disas- ters were less fatal, they were numerous, and seryed to keep up the general and continued terrorr and alarm. As the place of a murder i~ marked (in I~OmaII catholic countries) by a cross,~o per- petuate the remembrance of' the deed, and suggest pious reflections and prayers,, on the spot where it ot~curred-so was it resolved, Lllat a monumental tomb to the unfortunate ~'rancoie' should be erected over the place where he perished, Accordingly the ruins of the pavilion were clearedd away, and a nei~ hunial..vault con- on its site, under' th9 intmedi~te ~st4tetvisi6n of ~he brothers: "During'thistiine they took i$ by turns to watch (with'ihe relay of priests) beside' the coffined-remains of kim whom they knew as the ill-fatedp ,!ieid4'V.vbo had been struck, ~u. they believed, by the judgment of Heaven, in, presence of 1his victim,, just as they dread-, ed exposure of the awful crime to which they, hardly less guilty than the deceased, had constructeil, and actually connived at. For two days had the body thus lain in well-guarded 'state; and the e~remplary per- formance of this fraternal duty with the ap- pearance of affliction and tender solicitude which the aristocrats displayed -(though in reality Antoine was callous to all good feeling) contributed not a little' raise the ill-liked fraternity in public estimation. It had not been credited that they were capable ef real attachment even to each other. The great entrance to Valganest was open to all comers: 'for any one was free, for the time, tO enter there withoutt ceremony. Su it happened that no notice was taken of a certain person, who came for a veyy different purpose than to evince respect fhr the dead. This person was evidently a stranger to the castle: for he had no little difficulty in making out the way to the chamber which he sought. However, he seemed at length to have found the right place, for he halted at a door, on which he knocked, in a very pee. culiar manner, three several times. Antoine, the occupant of the' room, had just been released from watch over the re- ~mains of his brother, and had disposed him.. self for sleep, when his acute earuetected the raps which were 'so ,timidly or cautiously made. He raised his head, rubbed his eyes, looked wildly around, and in'uttered,- 'It caujiot be possible!' The man who stood in the corridor, listen- ing attentively for some sound within the room, having heard the slight noise made by Antoine, repeated not the rapping, but scratched four~ separate times (with a mea- sured pause between each) on a panel of the door. 'It must be so! It is one of them!' ex- claimed the dwarf, half aloud; and greatly an~~yed, it' lint also, alarmed, jie hastily quit- ted the bed on which he had flnng himself for a brief repose, ,a~td opened the door. The stranger who met his view was a man of imposing height. and fine proportions. He was dressed in the long blue surtout, with black collars that denojad the half-pay officer of that Feriod. A smallpiece of red~ribbon 'decorated a button-hole of his coat; he wa~ booted, spurred,'~and traVel-stained. *1 RJ~INA. I Antoine most probably expected to hat seen some one else, for he appeared ove: come with astonishment; and not until di new-coiner had closed the door and seate himself, did he recover the power of &peecl Then mastering his agitation, he hurriadl and imperatively put these questions to ih unknown 'Who are you?' Whence cameyou?- What do you want 'P With a' waive of the hand, expressive c the necessity for composure, the strange whispered his interrogative reply,- 'Can we converse here safely 'P 'Converse, say you? First have the good ness to tell me who you are, and from whon you come?' replied Antoine. 'I come on my ewn account. As . to whi I am, ypu shall presently be informed o that.' \, Thus speaking, the strange intruder, open ing a memorandum-book, took out of it *& playing-card-it was the ace of spades-pre sending it to Antoine, he inquired,- 'Do you know that, Mr. Mathien?' This name, which we have used for thc first time, to the unworthy hprig of a noblc t~ree, did not appear to cause any surprise tC the person thus addressed. He glanced al the card, and an expression of ~mistrust writ legible on his ill-favored features. As if to remove all doubt and suspicion, the handsome, visitor held up the card be- tween him and the light. Immediately it be- came plain that'the figure on the card was perforated 'by pin-holes, at the angles, the rays of light penetrating through the minute orifices, rendering ~these marks visible. 'Now, then, perhaps Mr. Mathien can guess who I am!' coolly remarks the un- welcome guest. 'You are one sent to me to settle some old accounts. Tell me the figures and I will set them down,' cunning replied the dwarf,,thus pointing out tFie part.for the stranger to act in case any one should disturb their inter-' view. 'Very well; that will explain, without risk, that which ought not to be 'overheard by any 'listener at the door, 'if such should be there.' Antoine then took paper iind pens from. a. desk and wrote down figures at tbe other's dictation, until the whqle sjde, of a ~sheet was filled with these symbolical cyphers; I ~e When the visitor had concluded, Antbjife r~ opened a large" 'doset beyond' ' the. aJ6c~ LO where his bed stood. Within this closet tip.. 4 peered an immense chest, 'at sight of ~yl~idh i. the dwarf recoiled, Crowned, and seemed y disconcerted. e 'Hum !'. muttered lie; 'William and 3am~s ~might have kept this in their own chamber where there is plenty of room, instetid Qt having it brought here whilst I was bel~w o~i ~f' guard.' r Despite his visible repugnance to ent~r th~ closet, it was necessary to do so in order to get rid of his visitor. 1- Not being tall enough to reach the u~p~t'- a most .9helf; otherwise, he stood on tip-toehi order to get at that which he wanted, but ~'. ~ some slip he stumbled against tie ckest qf f horror! ' As if terrified by the sudden contact, he - sprang quickly backwards, turning detidly - 'On what ctin yeu have trodden? *~s there a viper under your foot ?'. said the.'rn'aui of figures. 'No! nothing! It was only the cran~p. it is all over now,' replied Antoine, f6i~cin~an apology f6r a laugh. chest' To avoid touching the hateful second time, 'he took a chair, rind, climbifrk up, found the bunch of keys he requir~4.~- 'With one of these he opened a secret' dt&~er in his secretary, ,where money and othpr * valuables were stowed away, and taking otit of this repository a couple of bank bills ~ie silently presented them to the mysterious stranger, who received the money with a p0- lite bow, and instantly departed, without ex- changing another word. Antoine then seated himself at the table, in no very pleasant mood, to lodk over columns of figures, which it will be uud~.. stood served ~as the ineditim' of secret cot~ respondence. The purport of these cyphers m~y thus iii brief be rendgred 'Richard was arrested yesterday. He ex- acts a thousand', francs as the price oC hits silence. 'I must have an equal sirm 'for services and to bep up tho ardor and 1ldel~., of our people. I' wiWcarr~ on the busi~e~ i'rom which Richard has been withdrawn. 'You may object that you are i~1 $i~. 'Mathien. .[t is of 'no consequence. I know and can testify as to who and what y6u hte, page: 50-51[View Page 50-51] I REG~4~ ~9u will pe~ceive,~hat.1 have made n~ mis- placed tke chest in his clQset, and he said: in addressing y04. J~ow~ver, ,we~ must 'Either remove it, or one of you must ~p~d faitl~ b4cl~11 not sleep tonight if it remain here. I 2~Qt be hard ii~i~h~aeh other. T~ there ~nge places with me, for in this room amoz~gst us all. K~'or six months 1 have been of the num- do not choose to sleep in the room with that b~r, in your~ employ, and shall continue so, vjle chest.' ~e~ause Richard has confidence in you: and 'Are you afraid of seeing -a ghost V sneer- leWeve him to be one not easy to be duped. ingly enquired Honore. ~our interest absolutely requires you to give 'Never you mind that, if your nerves~are, him the sum he demands; for hjs sec1cc~y to stronger than nIi1~e, show the fact by n~rking the death, will be' secured if the -money is the proposed change, that's all.' ,bonorrrbly paid-he is a man of his Word. ilonore shook his head. "You do not know me personally, it is William then said. true; but this visit will testify to my ability, 'It was James and I who placed it there - .ch~termination, and courage. I bad but a temporarily, to preserve tt from the curiosity ~Jight clue to guide me; but I have succeed- of those who saw na defend it from the e4. *How. I discovered you to be our Mr. servants, at the fire. I remarked that it Mat ~~den matters not-we understand each excites their covetousness. Doubtless they 6ther. thought it contaiw~d great treasurd-Oh! 'As for myself I do not ask -much at pre- had they opened it how dreadful!' sent; hereafter, I shall perhaps require more A shudder passed through the frames of in requital for the talents'I so faithfully de- all yo~-to the- hazardous undertakings; how.. A conversation then ensued, the result of ever,, I give, you my- word-which is as good which was the decision that the chest should & as Richard's'..Lthat I shall ~not be greedy or be buried, with the least possible delay, in .i~nreasonable. , the most fitting place-that is to say, in the ~ must, all live withoi.it consuming each new mausoleum, beside the coffin of the - other: it is sufficient that we ruin and burn Parricide. - the doomed ones. I shall expect orders as At once, the whole of the party 'vent formerly; arid I flatter myself they will be to the recently constructed family-burying- as eatisfactorily executed.' place. To the, above was appended the query, The workmen had left the tools about, for have you full confidence in the young the monument was not completed, so. that shepberd-Pi~tir Chauvel? I am of opinion the brothers had no'd~fflculty in opening the that he is. more knave than fool, and that he mouth of the tomb, the mortar being yet knows too much!' n~oist. Antoine remained 'on the spot, to .The shepherd-boy may indeed know too guai~d against intruders, whilst the others x~flich, said Antoine, musingly as the put returned to the apartment to bring away the away the seeming papers of accounts. object of their fears-th&dreaded monitor of ,vExcept this visit whicj exposes one of the guilt. mysteries in the life of the dwarf, and shows As they reached the chamber door they to be instrumental in the work of heard the ,sortnd of a window being raised. .v.tzcendiarism, which by some mistake had Honore peered through the key-hole suppos- extended to the castle, having' however had ing that whoever w~is within would have a the effect, as we 'have seen, of raising the Ilight. But though all inside~ shrouded in reputation of its occupants and master, by darkness, yet it was plain to be heard 'by the .destroying certain vague suspicions. Except movements of the person, who had thus .this iml)ortant re~.'elatioi~,, nothing *worth feloniously obtainedd an entrance, 'that it was relating occurred until the evening after the some one perfectlyy familiar with the local- body, of Pr~iucois was laid ~vith pomp and ity. ~er~ruor~y in the vault of~ ihe ~1ansoleum, The~ristohished listeners could distinguish partially coimstructed where , the pavilion h'a~ the opening of the closet, and then the noise b~en.,. - ~-, ~ofsoinethi'n& heavy being dragged out into 1.~When the brothers found th~nselves alone the'floor of iTie room. Antoine reproached the. other~ for, havin~ ~ The l~rothers waited no longer but with a 4 - -- 9 R 4?I4. 51 united effort burst open the door, and by the but, still he turned his gaze, of horrorand~' light of the lru~rern with which they were aifright, to the same spot. - furnished, the~jr discovered Petit CVicszw~l, 'What had e~used this terrible condition the shephetal-boy, bending over - the chest, what his strained eye-balls sought to. en~- the blade of his knife already under the lid,, counter, or what he had seen or experi.~ and in the very act of endeavoring to force enced. thus to terrify and and overcome -him the lock. ' -he would render no explanation ott the~ William,. the strongest of the brothers, subject. ' - ' - rushed furiously forward and gave the un- The mystery remains,' at a future time; to happy boy, thus caught in the act, such a be explained I 4 tremendous kick' in the stomach, that 'it _______ doubled him up and sent him rolling to ~he CHAPTER' VIII. end of the room where he lay senseless. -The noise m ide by this forcible entrance THE arrest 'of the man called 1?icllard, roused the donmeatics whom the masters bade the actingleader of t1~e band of Incendi~rios, to seize hold of the thief and turn the miser. (though it has appeared that Antoiii~ -de able young vag~rbond ou' of uoors. Labourdil'liere9 was one of the invisible heads It did not ~uit them to have the lad 'taken of the truly diabolical businesss) did not pi4 up for the oltence, as that would draw atten- a stop to the awful calamity of tire couzttr,~i, tion to the chest and perhaps lead to in~es\i- as the fiery visitation was popularly ~lenotrii- gation, so they said they thought ihe knave nated. would be sufficiertdy punished by. being We will, in this place, only hint .ih~t turned adrift with the blow he -had receiv- personages still more powerful and ritore ed. exalted (in rank and crime) planned, ~n'sti- Bartholomew took hold of the lad by the gated% and directed these dire calamiti9s, an~l 'ear, to lead him out, but he was unable to maintained the system at immense co~ ~i4 stand on his feet, he staggered a few steps trouble-though to what end and frot&whai and fell doa n liowerless. He was carried off motives it is not yet expedient or materi~'to and on examination it was discovered that a explain. ' - large blood-vessel had been burst-and with- Some description of the eircum~tatices in two hours, ~he spirit thus violently ejected belongs'necessarily to the interest of Qur s~ory, had winged its way to immortal regions. - and concern the development of the plot.~ This violent and sudden deatk did not To continue then., cause any uneasiness to the murderer, for it The frequency of these fires. kept the was plain that Petit Chauvel had entered the whole country in a state of alarm and aetgal castle with felonious intent, therefore no distress, reducing numbers to absolute w~xfl scandal would arise from 'the unpremeditated and paralising all efforts ~t industry, or, i~* circumstance of the fatal kick. - many cases, at precaution to~ repel at a c~s This accident had caused a .delay and from unknown quarters and invisible foes-- - commotion in the castle, which obliged the whilst some even dreaded to irri~at~~ the brothers to postpone for some time until all authors :of these disasters by opposition ,which should be quiet, the removal of. the coffin- they thought mightbe~ the means of caue~t~g chest of Etienne to the tomb where the body tWeir names to be inscribed on the list 9f', the of his son Francois had jeen disposed. doomed ones. However they returned to the manso~eum, Oh how dreadful the state of such a cortt- as soon as the domestics had retired to their rnunity! beds, ~ inform Antoine of what had occurred Son~etimes in several different quarteysof to interfere with their plan and -cause their the horizon, simultaneously would aris~be long absence. ' devastating flames. - -- When they got there they found the dwarf, So frequent and general bec~methese~c~- stretched on the sod, in strong hysterics, his flagr~t~ions, that at last it was found ne~es~ai~y lips covered with foam and his eyes wildly to organize the whole country, and r~ ~y - fl~ed on an angle of the wall a few paces hamlet and village a patru;le was appoii~t~dto from him. " ' - .. be- kept up during the hours of' dark~e~s-.-. - By degrees they brought him to his senses, I whilst even, during the day-time ~he sUi~~t page: 52-53[View Page 52-53] vigilance W~s enjcdrfed on the p~rt of every oi~.e to seek out a chic to the criminal agents of~h~e universal desolatibnj and to be V~ay a~n~ minute's w~trning to turn out' on. ~a' fresh alarm. No where was there to be found a'volun- teSi~ jward in a more efficient 'and military condition than at Brasseuse. This is quite natural when we consider how well qualified was Decadi Robert for the station of head of this division of. riigAt police, to which post the public voi6e had called him, and which the authorities dl' the district had duly sanctioned. 1i~he old soldier was in his ehrnenLt, and had ample employment in drilling hs~ raw recruits, and watching over and directing the ~recauhons against danger, and, regulat- in~ 'the means by which he hoped, eventual- ly, 't& surprise an enemy 'which had, so far, elt$e4 his vigilance S~ntii~eIs and patrols had to le instructed in their unwanted duty, messengers despatch- ed ~in every' direction to gain information, c~%ft~ey orders, and keep up a commuruca- ti~ii With similar' bodies of rustic-tro'ops in adj~~lc~tnt parts, and most particularly must secresy be attended to-for general distrust and suspicion were not the least unpleasant cor~equences of the state of things. one knew who might not be the one to betray the Wijtch-word and the secret orders of the night I 'The 'Grange' had bean burned to the ground before the company, under the cos~i- ~niand of bur friend Decadi Robert, had * btien Ibruied. But, notwithstanding its prox-. unity, the ganie-keeper's house had escaped~ Here, therefore, it was that the old soldier of' the consulate established his hend~~ar~ "hither, during the day, came the iuIi~l.iitants of the country, in' detachments, to receive his orders for the ensuing' night.' The house of Pierre Aubin, Which, on. the occasion of the baptism of Philiberte, was so resplendent with light, and so full of jojt~ussound, was silent' and dismal as the grave. One little lamp ajone sent its feeble rays 'through the small' window. By 'the flu~keritrg blaze, of the embers expiring oil 'th~ hearth, sat a half-clad care-worn 'lodlting 'her hair was in disorder, her face' wan~ b'~i~.eyes .haggard. No intelligefl~ceAVas' 'in 'thb~e'~up~ and -the 'words which she occ~ sionally chanted, in vain effort at a 'song~ ~ vague a'd unconnected l By her side was a vacant cradle, yet the poor mother rocked it, with a sorry smile, as if the object of bet" affections were really there in tran- quil sleep! This 'idiotic woman was the once gay, intelligent and lovely Cecile!'. This sad wreck was the work of that fearful disap- pearance of her husband, Pierre Aubin, related in the first chapter of our tale. Poor Cecile had not been in her senses since that memorable fete. Philiberte, the ,little babe, was. sent to nurse, and during the day the mother of the unconscious innocent would pass her time with it at the nurse's cottage, but every evening at nightfall she would return home'to see if Pietre had come back. When the unfortunate woman found him not, these same words were used : A 'I must wait up for my dear Pierre!' Nothing would induce her to go to bed..- She would place herself in a chair beside the vacant .cradle-which it would seem she imagined to contain her darling girl-.and sing to its fancied occupant, until, overcome with weariness, she dropt asleep. The kind-~earted neighbors, who had loved her from tier infancy, took it by turns to watch for thi& moment of oblivion of her sorrows, and seized the opportunity to carry her gently and place her quietly in her own bed, where every morning she would find herself, without question or surprise. Sometime, however, it happened, in con- sequence of the confusionn and dread' that reigned around, that the poor harmlessmaniac was~ neglected by these generous women; but this, it must be said, was a rare thing. This night she was thus unwatched; andy as we have said, it was indeed a dark and dreary night. In the otter.rooifl was but one individual, the only sentinel at hedd-quarters. It was our old acquaintance, Nicholas 'Godard, the plough-boy' and jester, whom neither past ex- perience or present danger had cured of 'his facetious' pranks and love of joking. The present occupation of Nicholas, how- ever, seern~d to 'be anything but of an agree- able or funny nature. A pitch-fork was in his banwla h~tavy axe lay on the floor within his ~reach,' a~ sword was strapped to his side, and a gun, which he seemed to he etrrnesih conteniplitting, rested against the tvall.")J REGINA Courage, as we have already seen, was not the distinguishing characteristic of this rti~tjc, and this formidable equipment was not enough to put him at ease; yet, to wile away the time, keep up appearances, and re-assure him- self, as best he might. Nicholas kept whistling the same tune over and over without cessa- tionsave the interruption of a few tremendous yawns and grunts. Suddenly this hero hears a rap at the door. Wlto-who-who-goes there?' with fal- tering voice he faintly murmured, and takes refuge beside the gun, presenting his pitch- fork. 'It is only I, you fool, you! It is Jacijues Chanul' As soon as Nicholas knew who it was, he put on a bold kihk, brandished his fork and opened the door to the peasant. 'I believe I frightened you, not a little,' said Jacques. 'That is a good joke! frightened nm, in- deed! Say rather how well I acted the part of a brave soldier.' 'To admirationT truly!' was the mocking assent. Did 1 not speak out boldly and gruffly. I can assure you tl4at I am' txo chicken-hearted fellow to be so easily scared. You must have heard my formidable challenge, 'Who goes there ?' 'Certainly; having uncommonly sharp ears, I confess that I did hear those warlike words.' 'How strangely you -talk, man! Why, I tell you if~ the whole band of the incendiaries were to come here and attack me, I would not give way one inch.' 'That is perfectly true, Nicholas: for 'of course your back would be resting against the wall. You would not retreat. You would hold your ground, or your wall would hold you. It is all the smime."' Nicholas, finding it impossible to remove the impression of cowardice which the newly- arrived evidently ascribed to him,' was very much vexed-for Jacques lived at Fleudnes, not at Brasseuse, and the tale would spread- but, without debating the point, changed the subject, by saying,- 'Has anything new occurred,' that you have come here to-hight?' 'No.' I had a load to take to Brasseuse, so I thought I would just come over here and see the crazy woman. What is she like? ~1 have never seen a mania ' This was said with a cu4ning leer and an affectation of simplicity. Nicholas Godard shrugged his shoulder, put on an air ef superiority, and giving a sound~ slap on his visitor's back, replied,- 'You have never seen a crazy 'body, Chanu, and don't know what a madman is like? Why you are a regular know-nothing A maniac-woman is only one whohas lost her sefises; nothing else is wanting, 'unless 'she has lost something besides. Your degiv~e to gain knowledge I admire; good, now ydu t~trO satisfied. My description of what it is will have to content you; if not, so much the worse. I shall not let you see her, because father Decadi Robert has ordered me not, and I must obey orders, especially as- he is such a savage, violent man.' 'Plague take the old wretch, with his night-. watches and patrols, which he has brought into fashion,' said Chanu, apparently satisfied with'the lucid explanation given by Nicholas. "I won't' say but walking about all night with lanterns,' he continued, 'is a good'thing 'to terrify the villains who' are ruining the country with their fires; but since'we~ are 'to have all this labor, I think the Major 'ought to pay the cost.' 'But,' rejoined Nicholas, 'we must all jdih in this soldier-work: for' it is all of us who are being burned 'out of house and home, and cattle, and everything; and besides that, some people already, you know, have lost their lives, too.' 'Why, then, are not these villains ariest.. ed; and an end 'put to the business, so that we might sleep at peace.' 'You think that can be done all' at once, you blockhead?' "No, I know better than that. It is no~ to be done quickly. But I 'know the reaSon why no one has been caught,' said Jacques Chanu, with a knowing wink. 'Well, then, if you are so cute dnd know more than other folks, just tell me why' it 'is so.' "I am sure any one might guess; it ~s for a very good reason: Because it is ~tot c~a*?- ed tkat they should be caught; Tke-'~4'~. they ai'e allowed to escape, the cursed 'i*zce* didries.' '' ' "'If they have hitherto, it is because nr,&ie caii lay-hands on: them whan they ~r~i~0t to - 55 - page: 54-55[View Page 54-55] ,I~T~G1NA. - RF~GINA. - . be' f nlnd, and nobody knows who th~y are- you must be a proper fool.' 'Not I, indeed,' replied the peasant of Fleurines. I am not the' fool. You say no ~ne knows them-~.--how ignorant you tnust be! ?eople may. pretend not to see who is con- cerned in this horrid incendiarism; but they know well enough. I could name one, at any rate, if I chose to spt~ak; but you have called me a fool: besides, that haM customer, I~ecadi, might ruin me if I spoke out.' 'BahI impossible! You could do-no such ~hing. Yet, I don'tknow;, perhaps you..are right,' said Nicholas Godard, passing at ouch 4rorn astonishment and positive denial to doubt and ready credulity. 'I tell yoi.. it is just as I have stated.' 'Yes, indeed, it. may be, so,' thoughtfully replica Nicholas. 'They ought surely to have taken one or two qf the incendiaries by ~this 1mw, if they had really been in earnest. ~Unn there be anything underhanded that we bave not thought of, 1 wonder.' 'There. is a name which, if I weren'tt afraid of somebody, I could mentiQll as .one of the terrible gang.' 'surely you are not 'afraid of nw, .yQur &iend, are you?' The loQk which Jacques Chanu turned and fixed on the speaker was eloquent in the ex- land served for sufficient reply to this qyestion. So Nicholas continue4,- 'Well, my good fellow, do tell me whom you suspect.' Lowering his voice, the countryman from ur.ines replied: :' My opinion is, that Pierre Aukin .is one of them.' Qraj~ious Heavens! Pierre Aubin?' ex- claimed Nicholas, in utter amazement. 'Yes, I rep~tt the name, Pierre 4~bin, ~the game~keeper of the forest of Braaseuse! ~Assuredly he is one of th~ml' 'Impossible!' 'Not in t~he least. Where is lie? 'Where he go?' 'Faith, I can't say.' 'You foolishly belie+, doubtless, that. he ..~as ~arri~d off by ghosts, liobgoblins, or eom.thing or another, on the day ~f the ~kri~tening. Now I believe that .l~e ~went away of his own accord to join the .4~tcen- ~4jp~ies. Ja that impossible? I ask yo~,.Nit 4l~lp.s, sosay, lil~e a ~ensible.mua,.if.y94~aIe one, which belief is most reasonal)le?' 'Well, .1 believe that you have the best of it; but really, I never thought of' ii before.' 'Have not all these fires taken place since then?' Yes; that is true. Within the last two months.' 'During all of which time Pierre Auhin has been missing V 'Yes.' 'How comes this ?-and why has the name, Pie'rre Azibin~ been heard at every fire, un- less he was present, and some one. calling to him?' 'Indeed I cannot say; but are you sure o4' that?' 'Yes, every body knows it but you.- Neither is that all. Perhaps you have not been informed, that twice have articles, well known to have belonged to 'him, been picked '1 knew it not.''* up near the burnt houses?' bor, find one of Pierre's best shoes-that he 'That is it. Did not Carupistron, my neigh- had on at the christening-last month.? .Yes he djd. And father Decadi gave him a 'godd round sum of money to say nothing about it 'to any one !-but he toh~ me, for all that.- Also, it is only three 'days since Pierre's hat was found among the rubbish aboutthe ruins ~ of the house that was consumed near Fleurines.' 'So-so! It would seem that the old soldier is in league with the devilish incen- diaries !" observed Nicholas, quite staggered with The new aspect of affairs; 'if not, why did he make a secret of his son-in-law's shoe keen discovered? It must absolutely be the case.' 'I do not say~ positively,' rejoined Chanu; I but I think that more improbable things have happened~' 'It is a pretty joke, certainly? that we should'stay here to guard his house, while he is away ponrtiying at those who are burning Qur qwn houses,' said Nicholas, indignantly. 'Yes, under pretence of taking care of a sick woman,' continued Chanit; and he added: 'I should like to know what for she should Want" to leave her home? I tell it of Decadi's you, is only a scheme , to get rid of, one brave man.' 'Perhaps ~ remarked Nicholas Godard, quite unsuspiciously. Two o'clock' struck at this ji~nct!.ire, and the voices of Decadi Robert and his detaoh- ment were heard approaching. the house. Chanu felt alarmed at' his accusation of Cecil&s father. 'Good-night! I must be off!' said he; 'but I advise you not to repeat what I have been '~aying to you, or mention my name in the m~itter, or I -will break every bone in your body, as sure as there is a single bone io it.' With this threat, the peasant disappeared. Nicholas 'Godard ,needed' not this denuncia- tion, to keep him silent, for intuitvely he knew that direful consequences to himself would attend his opening his mouth, which he inwardly determined to keep closed, if possible, dreading, above all things, the ange of Decadi. As the party reached the house, the clown appeared at the door, yawning and lazily stretching his tired limbs. his listless looks relieved the mind of the anxious parent, who thus expressed himself: 'The stupid animal would not have dared to await my return if anything had happened to my poor girl. Nicholas thinks too much of his ugly carcass, to put himself in my way when I am justly enraged. No-she must be safe.' Thus the good old man reasoned aloud, and allayed his fears. Nicholas made his military salute, more to show his skill and fine figure, than out of re- spect to his superior, who just at that very instant heard his name called in loud and piteous tones,, at some little distance. lie turned with undefined nervousness to see who at such an hour was calling to him. It was Genevieve Morvan, the nurse of ( little Philiberte. Her. hair was streaming in the wind, her arms spread out wildly, and t her whole appearance indicating great dis- t tress. . Ror a moment, Decadi was thunderstruck; he trembled with dismay at the foreboding v sensation he experienced. As he advanced to meet the woman, he ~ exclaimed,- s 'Is your cottage on fire? Speak! . Yet that cannot .-be, or else you would. have l~ brought the baby!' . Genevieve' could not speak, she was so out of breath with thekaste shehad made. 'Sacrebleul Say what is the matter ? ~you h will drive me mad. Is th~ ~cliild .b~rnqd to ,death?' a 'No-no! It is not fire, but robbery.' 'What I you robbed 2 Wfrat can they hay. stolen from you?' Alas, alas! Philiberte.' 'Stolen from your ho~ise, my darling? when?' 'To-night.' 'By whom?' 'I know not.' 'You must then have gone out and left the infant alone?' 'I only went for a few minutes to take1a little drop of'krandy to my good man w$o was on guard.' 'Wretch!' cried Decadi, transported wi~1i rage, and raising his hand involuntarily, asjf to strike her, then recollecting himself ai~,d checking the violent and disgraceful demon- stration -'--' We must inquire of all the neigh-, hors.~ 'I have done so,' sobbed the poor woma.p,' 'already, and no onehas seen or heard ~m~y thing of the dear babe.' 'Who could have any interest in stealg the child,?' 'The fact is,' replied the agitated 'nur~e, 'that not once only, but more than ten tirn~s someone has tried to carry off Philiberte.' 'Who?' 'Her mother.' Hardly had the nurse uttered these wor4~, when Decadi Robert bounded intQ the hpuse, with a vigorous push burst open the innqr loor, and rushed into his daughter's room. Cecile had disappeared! This flight of the wife of Pierre Aub~, :ompletely overcame the eqt.ianimity of.t~e )Id man; Why had she fled from a house, where the enderest care was bestowed on her, if i~qt o re-join her husband, taking her child' with ter? In that case, she must, of course, 'know rhere to find him. How could she ha'i~e een informed of the game-keeper's retretrt~? Vould not 'her, craziness have . prevei4ed the ecret from being imparted to her? i What if this apparent madness were jnere-. ~ feigned? Why was the nt~mne of~her hus- and heard at every fire? ' 'These perplexing siigg~stions all ~r.*pid1y ccurred'tothe unhappy Decadi, in~lrti~g im in a chaos of harrowing conjec~r~. ~; .We mustleave him~ for the~pres~it ii~ ibis distressing perplexmty~ to Mate i~aei4epts,~f FAIF A. page: 56-57[View Page 56-57] '56 REGINA. equal importance and interest which were' in lordly dwelling, Agatha, her discreet waiting- pt~gress elsewhere, during the period that maid, entered unbidden. The lady frowned the events we have just keen detailing, em- angrily on her, and the poor girl trembled. braces, and concerning the characters and 'What brings you here, Agatha 'I' was scenes with which the reader is partially ac- Regina's' interrogation. 'You know that quainted. when you have been~ dismissed, and I retired to my private boud~oi,', no one, on any pre- CHAPTER IX. tence, is permitted to intrude on my privacy.' Fr was midnight in the Castle of Gazeran, 'Yes, madam, I confess I ~m aware of- it,' and the wayward, the beautiful Regina, was was the tremulous answer; 'but excuse me, alone in her boudoir. Her eyes were appa- I pray you; it was not my fault; I could not rently engaged with the book that lay open help it, 1 assure your ladyship.' before her; but an attentive .observer might 'How so?' interrupted Regina, raising have perceived that her thoughts were else- herself to her full height, her attitude being where. Her elbow lent on the velvet cushion, majestic, haughty, and threatening. and her pale cheek was sustained by a most 'What mean you? I'Ia'h any one dared delicate, white hand. presume to control my domestics? Who What makes this imperious dame so pen- can have been so insolent? Name the per- 'sive and irresolute? son, and he shall be punished as he deserves Now she rises from her meditations, and, to be.' with quick, varying step, paces up and down 'Monsieur Honore de Labourdilliere, it the elegant apartment. Broken sentences was, madam, who insisted on my informing escape from her blanched lips as now and you 'that he is particularly desirous of seeing then she pauses~ in her restless walk, and you.' again and again, in .tones of regret and dis- Agatha expected that this name would ap- 'satisfaction, 'the word, 'To-morrow!' is re- pease - the anger of the lady; but she was pented.~ ' mistaken. Yes, the die is cast l Regina has con- Regina was visibly annoyed at the intelli- sented to take Honore for her husband, in gence. Her brow darkened, and she mut- lieu of Francois, so fearfully prevented from tered: completing the union. 'He here at this time of night! It is im- Why' does she persist? The fortune must proper. It is exacting too much. Could he 'be retained in the family. She was personally not let me enjoy my last hours of freedom in inditThi~ent to all the brothers; but as she had peace? Is it not enough that to-morrow I promised to be the bride of a Laboutdilliere, shall make him my husband?' she had already been called on to make a After this soliloquy, as it were, Regina, ~econd choice. Again had the, brothers with her accustomed presence of mind, sworn to accept the decision, and remain in snatched up one of the unsealed letters of amity, Antoine, as before; not being included er intended, that lay on the table, broke the in the compact. seal, and spitefully pitching the others into a The heartless ceremony is to take place on drawer, said to Agatha,- the morrow. Without display or pomp is it 'Show the gentlemen in; but mind you do "to~be celebrated: for the recent death of the not leave the room unless expressly told to formerly chosen one would render such un- do so by me. Perhaps,' she added aside, 'seemly. 'this will induce him to hurry his departure.' - 'What, then, can it be that thus agitates ' A minute, and Agatha returned with the 'Regina, and causes this burning impatience accepted lover. - and feverish anxiety'? ' Honore advanced with timid and hypocri- - Alas l for the futurespouse !-he has no ticdl manner to meet his affianced cousin. share in the tender thoughts: they are all for 'Pardon my intrusion, at this 'late hour, another ; and yet the fool-hardy, unprincipled dear Regina; I am ashamed of my importu- t~uple are about to unite their destiny !-. nity; but I particularly wished to speak to With what a prospects you to-night.' - In the course of this deep meditation of 'I ai~ ready to listen,' replied the stately the beautiful and unhappy mistress of' thig beauty, pointing, as she spoke, to a chair be- I REGINA. side her own. The indiscreet visitor, instead of accepting the offer made-we will confess solely out of politeness, and not from any desire to detain the unloved 'bridegroom-motioned his ac- knowledgment, but remained standing. Regina was delighted: for she concluded thence, that the visit would be short; so smiling graciously, she remarked: 'I see I shall not have the pleasure of de- taining you long at Gazeran to-night.' 'I say not that, dear cousin.' I had the honor, on first presenting myself~to mention that I wished for a short interview with you.' Agatha kept her post. Honored looked at the abigail, and then at the mistress, expecting the dismissal of the former, which he had not, as yet, the 'power to command. It was quite plain that the waiting~maid was a restraint that, he wished removed. But Agatha only laughed in her sleeve, without budging; and though Regina knew very well his r*ieaning, she pretended not to perceive his drift, and looked as if she expect'~d him to explain. Honor sighed, took her delicate hand, and pressed it awkwardly to' his lips. Regina laughed outright; the gentleman was disconcerted. 'Well,' said he, 'what is there so amusing that you mock me thus?' At the same time, Jlonore cast a glance at his figure, as reflected in th~ splendid glass, to see if anything, in his well-ordered ap- parel, was unsuitable or amiss; or if there was anything ridiculous about his appearance. The examination was satisfactory to his vanity: for he was a noble-looking man; but he caught the reflection of the impertinent smile of Agatha. Ha! thought he, you shall walk pretty soon after I shall have become master at Gazeran! Honore had retained the pretty little hand of Regina during this short interval. She drew it from his amorous grasp, saying, play- fully,-.' Truly, if you have nothing more pressing to say, and only such flattering little gallantries to demonstrate, it would be as well, methinks, to postpone them till to-morrow-so now I will wish you good night.' There was no mistaking the lady's wish to terminate the visit, nevertheless thic-cava- her replied :- and dear cou~ln~ 'Pardon me, my fair but 57 engaged as we are, I thought ~[ might in~. trude this evening, to ask leave to introduce my companions-my three brothers,-wh~ have accompanied me to your castle.' Regina looked surprised, and' cooJy re- sponded. 'I am very sorry that they should bave taken this trouble, but at this l1'our it is out of the question for me to receive them.'. 'By Jove, Madam, I am fully sensible of' my importunity,' persisted Honore, 'but I am bound to tell you that we cannot return without having held a conference on a really important subject which has occasioned this - inopportune visit.' 'Why cannot your business-since busi.. ness it seems has brought' you hither-be put off until to morrow?' "To-morrow will be too joyous an occa~ sion to deal with any thing of so serious, so painful a nature, a matter, in fact, which it is necessary should precede the happy cerc- mony 'of our nuptials.' - At this grave speech Regina's counte- nance became clouded, a vague uneasiness,, pervaded her mind, though she could not, as. yet, penetrate the motive of this visit, or the meaning of these ominous words. Still, as she spoke not, the intruder continued,- 'You see, therejore, that whilst I regret disturbing you, I cannot delay the intervte~. I solicit for my brothers and myself-' but I promise to limit it to that only about which it is strictly essential to come to ax~. und~rstanding-and to that we doubtless . shall arrive.' The conclusion of this sentence was em- phasized in a manner, and. spoken with: a. look' which denoted some hidden meatting., Regina regarded the speakerr with a fixed,. piercing look; but the prudent Honore had resumed his ordinarily smiling' and ,placid. expression of countenance-so that tbe ~ob- ject' of' the ' brothers, in this uncooked for visit, was still unsurmised, and sh~ ~aid,- 'As your business is so pressing ap4 im- portant, ~hy did you not say so sooner, and, I would not have kept, my, (so soon to be) brothers-in-law, so long in waiting. Agatha,, admit the gentlemen, and then leave us. ~- - The silence whIch er~sued was etTabar-, rassing,' and ~i sinister presentir~ient opjtres~ed the imagination of the bride at this 'myste~ rious midnight conference. Preset4~y sijeps were heard, and the visitor exclaiuie4,-',Ah, page: 58-59[View Page 58-59] I~tN~A. heye they come!' I shall soon know, thot~ht the anxious lady; and with a forced smile she addressed the brothers as they entered 'Will you explain, gentlemen, what has procured me this honor 'I' They looked surprised, for they had taken it for granted that he whom it most con- cerned would have explained the purport of their visit. They were there not to speak, f/ut to act. Honor was ashamed, yet finding him- self called upon to say something in expla- nation, he made an effort-but his natu~a1 timidity prevented his utterance, and with an appealing look to' his brothers to come to his aid, he remained silent. 'Do you know,' said Regina, in tones which she meant to be playful, but which betrayed her nervous excitement (caused by the1 terrible alarm which she really felt) -' Do you know, my gdbd sirs, that so much hesitation and mystery are very alarm- ing? The affair you come about must be very unpleasant to' speak of- as Honore dares not utter it! If you, who are men, have not courage to speak-I begin to fear that I, being but a mere woman, shall not have the nerve to listen.' James, who was a blutit-spoken man-a ivan of middle size, with a narrow fore- head, small eyes, his features rendered harsh by deep marks of small-pox, besides hav- ing his left cheek scarred by a sabre-cut- took upon himself to address the lady of Gazeran,-~- 'Why, you see, cousin, it relates to a veiy plain matter, a matter of course, and one which Honore .ought to have mention-~ cii to you, himself, since~it is he whom y0u are about to marry, and, consequently, 4'hom it most concerns. He. has scruples, or is afraid to speak, he is bashful-though so near the wedding this delicacy is folly. There ought to be an end to it, and I' will be plain and candid. I am a free- spoken man.' - 'Can "any one overhear . us?' inquired flonore, looking uneasily around. 'No, it i~ impossible-continue, I be- sceech you!' said Regina wiih feverish mo- tion, and addressing James, who accord~ ingly proceeded, though in a somewhat 1ower tone. 'We have come to speak about the man who is here.' Stunned by this announcement, and speak- ing as if she had not "rightly understood, Regina ejaculated- 'What did you say?' ~The prisoner whom you have had here for two months, we mean,' said William. 'Well, what of him?' gasped the lady, supportng herself with difficulty on the back of a chair. Antoine, the shrewd dwarf, who had stood aloof, in a corner, noticed her troubled manner, an~ muttered very low- 'It is as I guessed.' Honore now spoke to his betrothed in his softest tones,- 'Well, my beautiful bride, this man has been a prisoner long enough; he cannot remain forever, where we left him!' 'No doubt he is weary of coufinement,' observed the dwarf with a cruel sneer. 'In short, I have said it, my lady of Gazeran-there must be an end made to him. We must finish him.' brutally blunt- ed out the former speaker, James. 'Finish him! What do you mean, gen- tlemen?' said Regina, with such visible anxiety that it could not escape the vigi- lant notice of Antoine. On my soul, I, think there could be no mistaking the meaning of these words, no two ways about it!' drily remarked William. 'Yes!' continued James, 'the existence of this man is an insult to you, Madam. To us it is an annoyance, and we have come to remove the cause of embarrass- ment.-He must die.' Regina shuddered, and exclaimed,- 'Die! It is murder!' 'Listen to me, dearest,' said Honore, persuasively modulating his accents-' You need not be frightened~ my love; you are not called' upon to take any part in that which has to be, or even to know any thing about what takes place. This man, you have', informed us, has dured to insult you with' his' love, to persecute you with his scandalous passion. Your courage alone preserved you from being dishonored. This man~ deserves to be punished. *This man must not live. Iwho 'to-morrow shall have th'~' felicity of being your husband-.--I can not pardon thi~ man, whose existence would be~ a continued blasting reproach to me. I REGINA. 'Then you have resolved to put him to' death ?' asked Regina, looking from one to another of the brothers, who remained un- moved. James ,-not knowing what to make of the Strange expression of her features, which Antoine readily comprehended,-bnisqueI1~ replied,-' Of course, Madam, you will not wish him to be taken hence, eh!' 'No, I would have him remain where you,' yourselves, my avengers, placed him; b~t I would have him left alive.' 'A woman's plan I-' object~l William, shrugging his shoulders. 'Revenge is sweet- er for being prolonged-but you must be content with having enjoyed that pleasure for the last two months. It is not proper, under the circumstances, to continue it longer. Once again, I siy, there must 'be an end to it.' 'It is plain,' added the dwarf, in his little shrill, harsh voice, 'that each hour of this man's life is dangerous to us.' 'Lower, brother! Speak lower!' said the timd Honore, fearful that the terrible 'con- versation might, in part, be heard from with- out. 'Of course it is all settled, and' the' lady of ~iazeran will give us the key of the dungeon. The game-keeper, I suppose, is still in the Same place?' At this question a deep blush arose to the very forehead' of the lady, though' none of them attributed it to the true cause. 'All that we want is this key-the rest follows, of course. We should not have had to tease you with the unpleasant subject, had you left it with us as we desired. The thing would have been done by now, and you would have known nothing about it,' remarked William with perfect sang-froid! Regina shuddered with horror as ~he ahstractedly regarded the vile wretches who spoke, and flonore nervously added-A. 'The night is dark, the wind blows a hur- ricane. Every body in ~he castle will ~soon be asleep, so we need fear nointerruption in this indispensible execution. Besides, the dungeon is in the other wing of the castle, under the gi~and saloon which is ui~ocou- pied.' 'Certainly,' said Antoine, 'the old dt~n- geons are situated on the other side. Below this, Madam, I suppose tbere are none '?' 'None!' falsely affirmed' Regiua.'-.bub h~r voice was unsteady, and a deadly paleri~ss 590 came over her. 'Then every thing is favorable,' repliedV flon~te. 'Antoine has beneath his cloak all that'it' needed!' bluntly remarked James. 'Yes; truly,' was the dwart~s answer. ',Give us the key, then, sister,' said Wit.' ham, 'and then ad~eu until to~m~rrow!" During these heartless speeches Regina" had stood in' silence, with' hei ftice averted. R~isirig her head frbm~ bet 'hands sh& no* said, with affected composure,- are right! It mu~t be ended! Par- don my hesitation, I was unprepared for thi~" terrible conclusion'; but I see, now, that there is no other way for it to end.' Honore-who 'had' been rathe~ alai'rrted at the 'concern', and ui.willingne~s which his affianced' had manifested-now breathed'~ more freely. 'Parb1~uV said William, I knew Any fair cousin would pro~'e reasonable, at last.' 'Yes, gentlemen, 'continued Regina, 'I comprehend that prudence, r~tgard for my reputation, and proper consideration for your own safety, require the sacrifice of his life, but-' and now she addressed Honore iii particular-' but I am superstitious, I am but a woman! I tremble'at~the thoughts of a murder being committed on the' eve of my wedding. 'It wourd' surely brin~. ill-luck' on our union,' ' ' 'Nherthcless, he must die!' 'said .Tames~' 'I grant it, but not now--afterward~!' You have waited two months-wait one da~ longer.' "Only one day do you ask?' inquired Antoitie. All eyes were turned on ilonore as the one most interested in' 'the d5ision: He looked irresolute.' 'Regina; seeing that~ with him 'rested. th& fa{e of Pferre Aubin, now, for the ft~t tiflie, ~ took the handoff, her' betrothed in 'her own; and speaking with bewilbhing fondness, sh~ said'~-~ 'My dear Honore, to-morrow.y~u will be~ master 'here. To-inorr6w ' yo~i~tiiiIt become soz.~ereign law! ' Let' not the las& a~t of .n~' sa~reme '~dwer, is'G~zeran, be the death~ warrant' of 'a wretched man,' 'a 1priso'tier~U Letme '~iot asso~i~fe thoughts of dehth' witW~ tiuptiul prejwrations'! Ant6ine~, vvh6 'lhVd ~wattilied ~ih~ 'clThrtti& with f~nxeye~ 'ai'~a~dotieite~iWtti~ 9 page: 60-61[View Page 60-61] R~GINA. tered to himself-I am ~ure of it now-she' masonry of a circular corridor. k~ves the cursed game-keeper of Brasseuse. Arrived at this spot, Regina had to press Honor, melted by the endearing tones her hand on her heart to still its violent pab a~d so~'t entrcat~es of the beautiful enchan- citation. Having collected her ideas and tress, was unable to resist her. Laying his overcome her agitation, she slowly turned a hand gallantly on his heart, and bowing key in the lock and opened the secret door. most politely, he replied, Before following this wonderful creature 'Regina, my love, since yon wish it, we into the new subterranean abode, where a will wait. I cannot refuse you anything.' strange and terrible design is leading her, 'W~ will wait until to-morrow!' interposed we may spare a few words in relation to the Antoine% desirous of fixing a term for the feudal mansions of those days. respite. . Previous to the revolution,-that is to say 'Until to-morrow!' was echoed by the the great an4 terrible revolution, in France- others. almost every castle. had a secret hiding- Until to-morrow, adieu, gentl6nen,' said place, unknown to all save the head of the Regina, dismissing them. family, a secret refuge during perilous times, As the brothers were successively passing not even to be revealed to the members of oat, Honore, who lingered behind, took the the household when the storm was over and fair one's hand, which this time was not peril past-for fear of endangering the secu- withdrawn from his impassioned grasp. She rity of the asylum in case of future need. returned the pressure, and with a tremu- Gazeran, of course, had its place of re- lousness that well might pass on him for the fuge, and this, not long before, had been put emotion of love, in requisition to shelter and conceal the 'Thanks, rfty beloved, and now good Abbe de Labourdilliere, and also its late night.' master, during the days of terror and bloody The door closed, and Regina sank exhaust- persecution. But it was not until her uncle ed'on the eofa. was at the point of death, in Italy-that Regina was informed of this secret vault.- CHAPTER X. and then not because the dying man was SII.ENCE reigns within and without the apprehensive of a recurrence of those tur- castle of Gazeran No sounds derlote the bulent and dangerous times-but because he presence of waking mortall within the spa. had t~iere deposited large sums of money cions, walls. Its disconsolate mistress raises and some very valuable jewels, which he herself from her recumbent1 posture, shakes desired her to possess. off the despairing melancholy in ~rhich she This secret spot it was which Regina was had been plunged since the departure of her now about to enter alone and in the solemn vt~itors, and prepares to put in execution hours of night. It was not in the wing of some project that apparently has revived, the castle, spoken of as the place where courage or hope. . Pierre Aubin had been immured by the Leaving the apartment in which the me- brothers, but deep down below the apart. mentors conversation, with the sanguinary ment in which the conference had been bothers, .had taken place-Regina went on held. into an , , king ~ The treasures had been removed to some tip..toe inner room and ta small dark lantern from out of~a box-she other place of safe-keeping-it. was , no lights it, throws a soft warni shawl oyer her longer ~ desired refuge, an; ark of hope and beautifully moulded shoulders of resplendent security-it ~as, the prison of the game- pohsl~ ar~,d .charming whiteness.-.-and thus keeper of Brasseus~!' prepared to encounter nold, damp and dark- Warned by instinct that Pierre's, life ness,'..she 4escerds a private staircasee, an4. would be in danger if left at the mercy. of' thread~ her noiseless way through many dreary those who had placed him ii~ her power, vaults and 'dismal passages, until,~ by ~ cir-, aldiough she was not aware of their relation- cuirous route, she reaches a cell so skilfully ~hip or their personal enmity to him, she constructed. that it needed a perfect know.. could not rest until she had removed him to ledg~ of th~locatIon to discover itthe' ~n- this place, the existence of which was known trance wasso artfully concealed in themiwaive only to herself. REGINA. Strange are the contradictions of passion. was amazed and almost stupified, yet. he~ How inexplicable are the conflicting feelings gazed on the lovely vision with incredu1it~, of a woman's heart!, then pressing his temples ~~th b6th '~ms Although Reginw kept PierreAubin an hands, he exclaimed wildjy'- unwilling captive, a sufferer, in misery, and 'Is it possible'? I must be dreaming! I. in her power, near her, literally beneath her cannot rightly have understood!' feet, b"cau' e she hoped, in time, to vanquish 'Indeed, Pierre, you have understood!' his coldness and disdain-yet she repulsed 'What'? Liberty at your hands, my lad~y' with horror the thought of a termination to of Gazeran! From you, the author of all, the sorrows of her prisoner, by 'a sudden my misery'? Oh, I cannot.believe yotin'?' and violent death. 'Behold the proof of my sincerity!' In the delirium of her mad passion for , With these words the lad~r unloosed his him sh~ would have been puzzled to pro- fetters. nourice, whether she would rather that Pierre no longer doubted her good inten- Pierre Aubin were dead or at hinerty, they tions, and, beside himself, with surprise and seemed to her almost alike terrible dooms, joy, he exclaimed in rapturous delight,- Sometime previous to the night in ques- 'Oh, gracious heaven be praised! I shall tion-when the brothers had demanded the then see my dear wife and the sweet Phiji-- immediate destruction of the game-keeper- berte once more Regina had resolved to devise some strata- Such were his first thoughts and words.~ gem by which to induce Pierre to follow her How sadly the allusion to these fond ~rmes voluntarily from~ where he then was, at the sounded to the ears of the infatuated Regi.. opposite extremity of the under-ground pas. na! But she spoke not her feelings though sages, to his present place of confinement~ they appeared. Pierre, therefore, began to It was easy to determine that no time regret causing sorrow to his deliverer, for he must be lost in placing him beyond the now thought she was not a voluntary accom.. reach of his captors, and her supposed plice with those who had' ensnared' him. avengers-but how to get him there without He knew not even that he was at Gazeran aid, and, being unshackled, without risk to Castle, it was quite as probable he might be herself, taxed her imagination and ingenuity in Valganest. to the utmost. 'Follow me,' said Regina after an instant's' Many a plan, which at first seemed feasi- pause. Slowly only could he move his' ble, on reflection she', found ,impossible to limbs, crippled by the compression of the' realize. But bent on the thing-with the galling fetters, but he obeyed ~his fair gii~le indomitable will of a woman-slIe gate her who,-with a lantern in her hand, her neck brains no respite till sha hit upon an expe- stretched out ,and appearing to 'be listening dient so simple that she wondered at not anxiously at each turn in the damp &stpal having thought of it sooner. passages-took the lead, trembling in reality Imagine the poor prisoner's astonishment for the issue of her venturous experiment. when, one night, he saw the proud and beau- Pierre Aubin, seeing the lady thus watch-' teous Regina de Gazeran descend into his .ful and anxious, might well be deceived. gloomy vault! His feelings became softened, his 'hatre4 'Instead of taunting him, as he expected, towards his persecutrers rapidly dimini'slied' the fair, though vile temptress entreated his as he advanced, under her guidance, towards forgiveness for, all that 'he had endured, liberation. which she said she had shared with him, for It appeared to him that Regina could' in all his sufferings her loving woman's not hav~ been concerned 'in this last o heart had participated. Regret, repentence, which 'had 'torn ~him from his' fami1y,~xd sympathy, she expressed to her victim~ in that his iiristocratic brothers, alone, had beemi pl'aimsiile and persuasive terms, and~ with a the cause of his impristmment in tho' horrid sweet and touching voice.' She ended' her dungeon from whi~h he had just eAwrged~ pi~oiestations by offering to prove the truth of 'suddenly, whem~m' they had reached' the them by setting him free!' By' resz'oring steps of' the stone stair-case that led to the ~imat once to light and liberty!' secret prison-asylu~m, Regina 'uttered a At intelligence so uncooked for Pierre cry of terror, and drew back as if' .alar~~V page: 62-63[View Page 62-63] R1~IGT~A. REGINA. 03 are 'lost!~ Some one is. corni'ng!' she st~pi'mered. 'How dreadful!' said the really frightened Pierre. Then after'listening a moment with' breathless eagerness, he added,- 'No, it is only the wind! I hear no one!' 'I tell you tome one is coming. Alas, they must have discovered our flight!' Who?' 'Those who carried you off.' 'It was not by your orders, "then, Mad- amp' 'I was obliged to permit it, but it was not my wish. I am at their castle.' 'At V~dganest?' 'Yes, at Valganest,' she boldly affirmed. 'How came you here, yourself, Madam?' Instead of replying, Regina pretended a fre~h alarm. "'1~hey are coming, I am sure. Fly that way, until the danger is past. It is your only chance.' As the artful woman said this she pointed in the direction she wished him to take, and Pierre, misled by her well-acted terror did as he was desired. 'Go on,' said she, 'I will wait a moment to listen whether they have hit upon our track.' Soon she was flying 'after him. Agony was in her voice~ as ,on reaching him she exclaimed,- 'F'ly quicker, they are at hand. I would have saved you I .They will not spare me now! It is over with us both!' There was such, an appearance of sin- cerity in the delivery of this speech, and the voices and footsteps of the two. fugitives reverberated with so confused and echoing, a sound, that it was not haid 'to V oneself pursued. imagine ~Guided by the light of the lantern, Pierre ran on at hazard, until passing through jhe entrance of the mysterious retreat,' he' met ~th,,an obstacle-a wall: That instiiut th9 door, through which he hal '~insuspicious1y passed, was shut and, doulile.locked! Regina was now sure of having her prey within h~r' power, and 'clambering up the rough st6ne wall,' with marvellousagility she r~ch~d ~h~\i ron wicket, holding. on, by' ~dW~h~ she' said to\her'prisoner ~,Oh, Pierre Aubin, should I not have been. mkd to have set you free, when YOU thought me kind'enough to do so, since your first thoughts and words were of another? Truly should I have been foolish to permit you t6 learn from other lips than mine-that you are not at Valganest, but at Gazeran.' Then to give' her conduct the color of' a recent change of intention, she~continued,- 'Happily your ingratitude opened my eyes, in time, to the imprudence which 'I was about to commit. Now, and forever are you in my power, obdurate man!' Confounded by this bold deception, and fallen from such bright hopes to the depth of despair, the wretched man was, at first, unable to move or speak. He was over- whelmed by this apparent refinement on cruelty-raising hopes purposely to disap- point them, and thatwith no visible motive- for Regina withheld the fact that this change of' prison would, at least, secure him from the attempts of others, on his life. As soon as the. unfortunate Pierre recov ered from the first shock, he used his now unmanacled limbs, in violent efforts to burst the door-but it resisted all his power. Fu- rious at his impotence to escape, he vocife- rated a torrent of invectives on his tormenter and betrayer. To which the only reply she vouchsafed was- 'Pierre, you may one day learn that 1 spoke but the truth, in saying that I came to save you!' Regina then withdrew, the captive watch- ing her retiring figure (through the key- hole) until the closing of a second door, which was at the end of the corridor, ex- cluded him from the rest of his species. We have thus' seen how the game-keeper had exchanged one dungeon for another, where he had languished ever since, seeing the face of no living creature, not even that of his beautiful' j~tilor, who attended dail~r, transmitting his food through the iron wi~k- et, a~ she dared not open the door, and for a month had he ever, on these occasions~, maintainedd 'a' sulleh silence. It ~.vas to this asylum, and~ to visit ~he d'oom~d, prisoner, for the last time, that ~gina adventured on the e~e of her bridal. Thi~ determined woman had settled in her o~vn' tidod, how to act according to whichever., alternative' the 'c~~tive might choose to adopt. She had closed all the doors behind her, as usual, except the last, that already spoken of at' the end of the corridor. On this occasion her agitation was not counterfeit-even, she trembled, at the possibility that Pierre might refuse her offer, knowing the fatal consequence-.-his intended immediate destruction. She 'felt that sho had need of all her indomitable spirit, to sustain her in this trying hour. No sound could the agitatedworutin de.. tect by placing her ear to the door of his cell! Silence reigned as in the grave! 'Pierre! Pierre!' she crIed, in her sweet- nest and most impassioned accents. No answer was returned. Regina was alarmed at the complete ab- sence of all movement or sound within. Clambering up to the wicket, by help of the irregularity of the damp stones of which the massive wall was built, she directed the rays of the lantern, 'so as to get a view of the tuterior before opening the door. The prisoner was quietly seated on the miserable bed in the corner of his cell. Looking up. he cast a glance of disdain at Regina, who exclaimed,- 'Pierre, oh my dear Pierre, why do you preserve so long a silence-silence to me so painful! Still mute I But you cannot help hearing me. This even is a consolation to mc. Besides, I see you, and I blush not to avow that my happiness depends on this satisfaction.' .Still no reply, and Regina continued,- 'I would much rather heat' your angry reproaches, than~ endure this maddening silence. I suffer as well as you. Indeed you may believe mel Your fate is bad enough, but mine is infinitely worse '1 know you have lost confidence in my pro- fessions-because you believe I have already once betrayed you. But whether you believe' ~me or not, I assure you~ with sacred truth, that to this forced treachery you owe your life-for your abductors would have mur- dered you. But for me you would not, at this instant, be alive! I only deceived in order to save you~ Regina expected that this declaration w9uld have produced some' effect. in het~ favor, and to observe, if possible, what sort' of feeling her touching address had. pro- .duced, sh~ peered intently through the grated aperture. Pierre merely shrugged his shoulders, and. turned away his head contemptuously. 'Oh, but this is dreadful! He will ,no~ listen to me! He does not believe me I how shall I. gain credit for my assertions! * Pierre, I swear, by every thing that is sacred. in Heaven or upon earth, that but for r~y~ protection, which you~ despise-this very night you would have been murdered.' 'No, not so!' replied he. 'To do that they must have caught me napping,-~--an4 this night I could not sleep! There is no sleep for me!' Without noticing the ironical tone of these words, and their ambiguous sense, Regina~, too happy to think of aught else, cried out1 joyfully,- 'Thank goodness I hear you speak once more! No, Pierre, they cannot 'kill you~ for I will not have it so. I will guard your life,, for it is more precious to rue than my, own existence. You are my property-my treasure-and to none but to me shall you belong. Who, in Gazer~n, can find you here? No living soul but . myself is ac- quainted with the entrance to the passage which leads to this retreat which* none sus~ pect~ It was for this cause that I brought' you hitl~. 'I tell you but the 'truth, Pierre, whew I say, that to-night, as they pronounced yqpr deat'h-warrant, a shudder passed over me, and I trembled from head to foot. I felt more horror than had all of their daggers been pointed at my own heart at that very time~~owe you thanks I' replied the gaine~ keeper, with bitter disdain in his accents~ I understand your heart, or ought to. do.so by this time, I should think! Is it not be- cause you desire to monopolize the privilege of tormen1~ing and injuring. me,' yourself~ kirtd Madam?' 'No. I woul4 that you should live for me-as I would willingly live ~o1ely' for you.' It n~w became necessary for Regina:tq~ descend from her uncomfortable. positrirn, for she held on to the iron bars until her hands were blistered,, and her feet, were soa~q and cramped by being wedged in, the wtez~' slices of, the stone-wall. She ~coul4" no longer see the prisoner, but she entge~re4~ him'to give hepd,,to her,.woi4s.-for rxi~J~ slip said, it. c~ncprne4 theniboth. 'Nine days ago-Heaven punished oi~e of page: 64-65[View Page 64-65] 64 REGINA. your enemies, Pierre. Nine days ago the and you will calmly hearken to what I have pavilion 'at Val.ganest caught fire, was burnt to say!' to the ground, and Ftancois de Labourdil- To this there was no response, no assent, here perished amid the ruins!' and the wilful woman was forced to proceed, "Theb may my brother be pardoned in for time was all-important. the next world for the sins he committed in 'After what has taken place you cannot this !' ~said'Pierre Aubin. make your appearance at Brasseuse any 'Your brother?' exclaimed Regina in sur- more-for they would expect you to account prise. for your disappearance, etc. This secret The captive relapsed into silence, and the must be confined to those who, alone, know lady resumed,- it. Now, those who have lost you must 'It was in the midst of a brilliant fete never see you again. This is clearly a mat- that the accident occurred. I was to have ter of imperative necessity. I repeat, ~1ou been the bride of him who was thus sud- can never see them again.' denly launched into eternity. We were To this Pierre replied, in the same sneer-i met for the betrothal.. His death set me ing tone free once more!' 'if Regina de Gazeran has so decided, 'What signifies that to me?' she heard e'en so it must be. If you say I must never him mutter, but she continued,- again behold those whom I love, and who 'Although wearied by incessant importu- are deploring my loss-surely I must give it nity, I had accepted him, my heart remained up. How can I strive against your sovereign true alone to thee.' power?' A mocking laugh grated harshly on the Accepting this irony as a consentthe lady speaker's ear, still she persevered,- continued ~this 'liberty which I had gladly 'Say but one word, and your sufferings greeted, and had hoped always to preserve- and y~nr captivity are instantly ended! the' like importunities are about to deprive One 4rd, and your dungeon-door is open- nle ~f. To-morrow must I marry ilonore!' ed.' 'So be it,' growled Pierre. 'So be it. "A What is the condition?' asked This 'marriage will justly and severely Pierre in surprise. ~~.inish another of the fratricides.' 'I have given you to understand it already. "What xuean you by this fraternity? You have but to'swear not to show yourself inquired Regina, but the prisoner relapsed in this country, or betray what has befallen into taciturnity.' you.' Time was rapidly bringing nearer the 'And if I kept not my oath?' wedding-day; but a .few more hours re- 'You would keep it.' manned,~ during which the destiny of the 'Would you depend upon an oath under reluctant bride was under her' control-and my circumstancess' she had not yet brought Pierre to the pitch 'I should rely on the love which had sur- she desired-she resumed rounded you with so much happiness-that 'If to-morrow I espouse Honore (to whom you would not have' the heart to be the I am totally indifferent) to-morrow must 1 death of her' who ~o generously compro- deliver you up to him and hi~ brothers-for mised herself ott your account.' I have promised, that' the day of our union 'Gompromised! In 'what way? shall be that of your' djath!' Delighted at being questioned by the man '.You will not give me up to them!' re- whose silence had been' so intolerable, Re- plied the game-keeper, and his voice was gina eagerly replied,- not 'only confid'mt but defying. 'I will not marry Honore de Labourdil- Regina did not notice the strange tone of here-that would be to consent to your mur- the remark, she only thought he had guessed der., I cannot' permit yot~ to return to Bras- her meaning. ' seuse-it would he destruction to' myself. Oh,'Pierre'! At last you comprehend Neither shall you remain a prisoner any *hat I am 'capable of doing to save you longer~ to sink, under the pangs of loneli- ft6m their fury!' Since you can foresee my ness! meaning, my' prayers will not be in vain; 'Pierre Aubin, we will go hence toge. REGINA. ther-yes, together must we two leave this 'Another falsehood, noble Reginii. I do place. WeL ivill travel far away, no matter I not believe in your strange, pretended pro. into what distant land. I care ndt where it section. It is too absurd. No, I dQ riot may be, provided I but enjoy your society- owe my life to you. I should be ashtinied which will secure my utmost happiness,- to be indebted to you for my existence.' and that we are removed from this place. 'Unfortunate madman,' exclaimed the 'Of my fortune, which is ample, and will now furious woman, 'do you not know that easily be converted into available funds, you my blood is boiling, that my brain is ready shall be absolute master. to burst with frenzy-that you dare thus to 'I have persecuted you-I wHl be your brave me'? Remember that I love you, you slave. I will bestow every thing 'I possess are despising me, and I can be fearfully upon you, and shall love, henceforth, to owe avenged.' my all to your genero~iity. I will forget that 'You can do nothing, Regina!' said the you have ckspised, insulted, and reviled me. prisoner, coldly. So you but love me I am yours heart and 'It is because you know that I love you soul.' to the very depth of weakness; that you The fire of this violent women's ardent presume thus to dare me.' nature lit up her eyes, and her beauty shone 'I do not believe that this is love,' re- with intense brilliance as she made this die- marked Pierre, incredulously. graceful proposition and humiliating confes.. 'This is too bad! You do not even sion-but she had disregarded the proprieties believe in my love; and call me a lost wo of l~fc and the dictates of virtue, so shame man! Very well, 1 will~ soon force a con- and niort~fication were her natural though eviction of this truth, I will remove all doubts bitter portion! on this head. . He may despise me, he may Severe and cutting was the indignant even hate me, but he shall be compelled to reply of the game-keeper: believe me.' 'Oh, madness! oh, vain infatuation! As Regina finished these words she ap- What mean your projects of deliverance and plied a key to the doo~ of the cell, 'and departure? Do I belong to myself? Do I entered t~ the surprise of its inmate, who, love you? Can I ever love you? You~ nevertheless, exhibited no stronger emotion appear to behold in this world none but your- than curiosity. Locking the door she with- self and me; you forget that I have a loving drew the kay, and holding it u~ to Pierte, and beloved wife, a sweet, innocent babe, she said with a solemn and determined also, whom I would' tenderly cherish! tone 'What is your fortune to me? All that I 'I have told you that no living person require from you, is the restoration of the. except ourselves, knows of this place of double treasure of which you have so barba- concealment-consequemly no one'. knows rously deprived me. You are very gracious that we two are here, or can find their way to overlook the evil which .you have wrought to seek us. You say, Pierre Aubin, that I on me-the terrible, relentless persecution do not love you; very well! I will give you with which I have been visited ever since I the strongest proof to the contrary, by ebm- have had the misfortune to be acquainted ing hereto be near you, and to die of 'hunger with you. with you!' 'Think not, however, that I can forget 'Hairing said this,' Regina de Gazernn these things! My cry~ has gone forth to hurled' the key through the wicket, audit Heaven, in whose hands is vengeance-but fell noisily on to the stone flags of memory, to my dying day, will present you vaulted, corridor. as vile, abandoned, treacherous, cruel-.-a lost woman!' CIIAPTE~R XI., 'A lost man!' repeated Regina in agony, WE now will revert to the~ four aristocrat clenching her hands and bursting into a brothers of the in'carcerate4 game-keeper, torrent of tears. 'Oh, it is ungenerous thus who had quitted Gazeran together after~their to. taunt me. I shall almost regret having nocturnal interview with Regina. saved you!' ' . These, noble gentlemen proceeded~'at' a 'You saved me!' harshly cried 'Pierre. slow p,~ce, discussing the subject uppermost page: 66-67[View Page 66-67] AG ~I~Q!~A. - in their rninds,-'the. death of Pierre Aubip, tQ arrest the career of the frightened steed which, they considered a settled question, the ajid its rider. only matter for consideration being themode Butt~is accidental race had taken them of destruction. out of the beaten track and in an opposite '.What, need of all four of us to settle one direction to Valganest. It was necessary to poor wretch. who must be feeble enough by rest themselves and their horses, also to dis- e9nfinement, to be unable to cope with one cover whereabouts in \the forest they then antagonist, even if he~were free from his tet.. were. ters,' remarked James. 'it seems to me that we are not far from 'Certainly; and it concerns IThnord most Haut-Montel,' said James. of all,' said William. 'Thea let us go at once to Haut-Montel,' 'True,' replied the intended spouse of the sald one and all; for the idea that this men- I~~dy of Gazeran. 'True; it is for me to Lion of the former residerlce of their father- avenge the insult offered by this man to my known as Major S~ignero1les.,-suggested, bride, yet I see no need of violent measures was instantaneously shared by all o~them. when simples, that cause no resistance or ' Yes,' said the dwarf, 'accident has fa. bloodshed, will be eqv~ally effica~tious. I'll vored the design;which we have so long en- need no assistance , and will announce the tertained of searching the deserted dwelling fact ~vhen all is over.' These three speakers believed of the Major. which Regina had told ,he tale' them respecting the . 'Right,' continued Honore. 'No one now prisoner, but not so Antoine. 15 likely to be prowling around. The vigil- The unhappy dwarf had' taken no part j~ ance of the patrol is directed to another quar- *he conversation, but rode along in , ter, and we may never have a better oppor- brooding over the scene he had lately wit- tunity of getting possession of the money nessed. which we have every reason to believe is con- Smarting under the pangs of unrequited coaled semewbere on the prernis~s. We have love, and burning with rage and jettlousy, his delayed our search long enough, nothing now beartliad divined the working of passion , in need prevent us.' ~.egjna. So saying, the brothers mounted their I~1ain to him was the motive that caused horses, and in less than half an hour reached her to plead for delay in the execution of 'the deserted mansion. aeath., Indifference had veiled from others It will, doubtless, be fresh in 'the recollec- tbat which was plainly visible to him,-the tion of the reader that Etienne de Labourdil- love .that Regina cherished for Pierre, her here had once offered fhe sum of two hun- * captive lover. ' dred thousand Cranes to the old Marquis, his Loaded by this maddening conviction, his father, which had been scornfully refused.-. horse's thinks had at each feverish impulse, This' his sons had never forgotten. They been gored by his spurred heels uptil the had not been abfe to learn, from him, during poor animal became, wild with,~ pain and his residence at Valganest, where this sum ri~ge. ' was deposited, as he positively refused any The rider was quite unconscious of the such information until 'they should agree to irritation he was causing, until, the noble recognize Piei~re as a brother, and voluntarily beast, ,gaUe~ past endurance, reared up, provide for him ~utof that sum. .plunged and snorted, and svdde,~uIy spra9g This eccentric way of disposing of that hhindly forward' and rushed headlong t~ro' which he was at liberty to have distributed 'the forest.' ' ' 'himself, he would not deviate from, and the The risk of being. dashed to pieces was brothershaving sacrificed the 01(1 man to their imminent, for ihe ~1l~ry courser was ungov- rage, 'they had subsequently 'come to the con- ernabie in hi~ ~nadness. " ' clusion that the treasure must be 'concealed Tt!e dwarf uttered one, cry for aid, ~s ~ae ~i1 Haut-Montel. fl~v past his brothers. The al)peal was uiot in vain for t To this place they had hitherto, been pre- redeeming qualities' in th~rn was he 'only' vented from' gping, because .they had no os- tion for ea~h other ~re " they' ir 4ee.~ tensible motive for goihg openly, and clan- long managed destipely they feared to venture while ru- I REGINA. 67 inors were rife against them on so many grounds. It was not difficult to scale the outer. wall and gain admittance to the dwelling which ~bey had never entered but once, which was on the memorable evening when the singulmir proposition of their father was made known -to them. 'Here we are, and there is time enough before daylight for us to make thorough rummage in ~vcry nook and corner-but what are we 'o do for a light ?-it is pitch- dark within,' said Antoine. 'It cannot be,' replied Honore, 'that he who left such a sum of money behind him could be so' stingy as to have used up every bit of candle in the house, or carried off the last match; and if the bId woman has pot stolen it, there surely ought to be a tinder- box somewhere.' This seemed plausible, so they descended ,~' to the kitchen, and began groping about to discover, by feeling, the means Qf striking a light. As Antoine was stretching up to the chimney-piece, the toe of his boot happened to touch the ashes on the hearth, and dis- covered some live coals~' The brothers, were amazed and startled at this phenQmenon. James laid his hand on the ashes-they were hot Trembing all over, at this discovery, Ilonure said, 'some one must inhabit this house at the present time-and yet it was but yesterday that Bartholomew assured us that it h~d been vacant ever since the disap- pearance of the Major, which we know is more than a year.' 'We shall soon ascertain, for certain, for prudence demands that we search every room above and below, to discover whether there is any one in the house besides ourselves,~ firmly spoke William. 'What if we should encounter a stran- ger?' 'No matter, we must say that we have lost our way, and are seeking shelter until morning.' This point settled, ther&was no diflioulty in kiiidliag a blaze, by the light of which they discovered a piece of a candle, and then they commenced a regular, but unsuc.. cosaful, research ,for the two hundred thou~ sand francs. Ja vain they sounded the waIls, and peered into every place capable, or likely t~ con- ceal the missing treasure or a ~myste~ious inhabitant. Saving the glowing embers everything betokened that the place: had long been, and still remained altogether uninhabited. 'We are alone in the House!' said James. 'And yet,'; replied Honore, 'some one must have been here, and that lately, for the fire could not have kindled itself-or the ashes 'retain heat for a year. To believe that would be to give credit to fairy-tales.' 'Or to believe in ghosts,' murmured Honor, with a singular expression of voice. He' wished to appear brave and scepti5al, whilst, in reality, he was a coward'. Antoine bad been silent and thoughtful for some moments, apparently absorbed ip unpleasant reflection. lie was, in truth, passing in review all that occurred in the late visit to Regina, and the belief that they bad been iniposed on by the beautiful lady of the castle, Was' rapidly gaining strength and shape. Suddenly he exclaimed ~ 'Gentlemen, we have been duped'! I would lay my life on it! Our sister-in-law, that is to be, has deceived us! Pierre Anbin, you riiay depend on it, is no longer at Gaze- ran!' The brother s could no~ credit this a~sei~- tion. What motive could Regina hai~efor doing so'~ This they though;, and to this effect they expressed thcms~lves. 'Blind must you be not to see that she madly loves the game-keeper. Each lo6k 'and word betrayed her, and yet you~ sus- pected It not.'~ So spoke the dwarf. 'Can it be possible?' exclaimed the'in~dig- nant bridegroom. 'The question 'at pres- ent,' continued Antoine, 'is not how this affects you individually, brother; we must only consider how to discover what haw be- come of the wretch whom you ,spared~ why I know not, when it would have been so easy to have settled him for ever I' But,', inquired William, whose imagina- tion was not ~qnick enongh, at once, t~i s~ige the eircnmstanees that had brought Antoine so speedily to a conclusion-' but what ~ son have'you f~r a8sertir~gthat Pierre \Anbin is no longer a prisoner at Gazeran 1' 'One, is, that, on no other supposition can I inceount for h~r tinwillin~ness to per- mit us, at once,, to execute a jud~rnent in which, ostensibly, she acquiesced.' AL~other, ,that no one but Pierre could have beei~ ler~, where he, doubtless,' knew he should find page: 68-69[View Page 68-69] '88 REdIl!~A. th~ treasure. No one, except Aiim ~nd its, li~d. ~ny interest in coming here;' 'Too true!' gloomily responde4-the others. 'Bt~t before saying any thing to Regina on the subject,' interposed Honore, 'it would be well to make ~ure, positively, that the man is actually no longer in his dungeon. We have yet' two hours to day-light, and Gazeran is but three quarters of a league distant hence.- To korse--- To Gazeran.' - Silence again reigned within the deserted rooms, as the excited party rode rapidly back to the castle they had visited once before on this eventful night. The ashes were still hot on the forsaken heirth, how they became so remained a mystery! * Well did the brothers remember the vari- ous turnings and windiiigs, which Regina had directed them how to follow, beneath the inhabited part of the castle, in order to reach the dungeon-vaults wh~re they were to deposit the unhappy victim-the game- keeper-.--on the occasion of their carrying him off-and easily did they force admittance, for what scruples could they have about scaling a wall or forcing locks, who had none in taking the life of a fellow-creature, and he, moreover, the beloved son of their father? We have seen that the lady had refused them the keys of the three intervening doors, but these obstacles deterred them not, each successively gave way to their united efforts and the brothers reached the corridor that led to the original dungeon of Pierre Aubin. Here there was rio lock to force-the door was open-~--the flag-stone displaced-the prison-vault empty V. James and William uttered exclamations of rage. Honor became pale and speech- less with mortification and jealousy. 'As to Antoine he spake not a word but immediately let himself down into the yawning tomb. He determined to make sure of the worst, 'Well?' eagerly called his brothers from above. - 'No one is here!' was the instant r~ply. 'Then come up Antoine,' they said, str~tching down their arms to assist his ascent. was about -The it~ar~f to com~Iy, when suddenly l~e shouted-' Wait.' 'Have you made any discovery? What is it? 'Perhaps so-but wait I say-we shall soon see:' The -light vanished and the figure of Antoine disappeared from the view of the three brothers. Twice the impatient and astonished Ho- nore called for the dwarf-but no answer was returned, and they, all, were at a loss to account for this strange disappearance. 'We most follow lest any mischance befall him,' cried James, leaping down into the lower vault, tind his brothers followed his example. The darkness did not admit their distinguishing any object, but they felt around the damp walls -of the six - feet square, dungedh-over the rugged floor and across the empty space. Honor speedily remarked, that the air, instead of only coming down from above, blew on hi~ cheek from one side. Having their attention turned to this little circumstance, the rest agreed that so it was. Let us leave th~in-to seek an explana- tion of this current of air, and the sudden disappearance of Antoine-and return to those whom we left in circumstances- so perilous and seemingly desperate. - - CHAPTER XII. THE Lady of Gazeran and the gam~-keep- er of the forest of Brasseuse wer~i alone and locked up in the most secret dungeons of the Castle, at the very time whilst the aristocrat brothers were exploring the deserted cell in which 'they had deposited their victim. In the delirium of her passion, the beauti- ful mistress of great wealth, vast possessions, and high rank, was here self-immolated, and willing to resign all these coveted enjoyments to prove the truth and force of hcr questioned love! Proudly she cast a look of love and pride on her stoical companion, and she was sill. quivering with the excitement of her fell re- solve. - I-he must be - convinced, thought she, shall I not die a lingering death to prove my sinCerity and devotedness? Nevertheless, she felt a momentary happiness in view of the sacrifice she was making. It - was a matter of no little wonder to Regina, that Pierre manifested no sign oi~up- prehension at the moment when not the ynost 8 REUIliA. f~ee1e ray 6f hope appeared to exist, either heard~tti&key ~w~ien~ it feIl~ b~in~ ~&ttvM~t~e~ f~r himself or for her: a~ they were 'enclosed~ by vorees, and ~had climbed iI~J t~i I~ofP~ ~ii~a retreat utikuown to eVery~ one~ and from hini~*hom he db~al$h* hated, ~&s a br6th~ *itir~ which escape s~emcd i~mpossibIe. a ~i'WaI. Ikin~satt~fied that i~re *a4 ~ Struck with astdnishnfent ~nd admiration surelyy caught, and hi~ ~t&uow ~ertdin, th~ at the Ronian heroi~m of~he'tuidaunted man, dwarffelt~ ~ sava~ joy, and ha~t~iibd back~t&~ Regina said, in tremulous aec~nts,-~-- give notice of his discovery. 'Pierre, truly you are bravd and resolute!' H& rn~t~ his brothers 'abbut halfwh~, ~nd The prisoner looked disdainfully at her, saying~ 'Pierre is alive bi~t preserved silence. come ~ and still a 'Th it pos~ihle,' continued 'that hirxi~ r~tra~ed his ~tdp~, ~ley Regina, ~'oll6wing in 'wdnd~rhg~ilenc~. ~'~he you suspect I have spoken falsely? JI~ you last words of Regina~ to Pierre w~re titte~# think I have another key ?~ No, no, Pi~rte': as they ~a'nie tip ~ ~ dbOV, ~hd~Wert~ he&~E there was butt one, and it is now beyond our by all of the brothers. Ad reach. Nobody can pick it up in that c6rri- No wonder the face of the game.k~,~s dor. I tell you, Pierre, we ziiust perish he~ b1an~hed 'at sight of? hi~ imph~eablo fo~;~ ~and together ~' at the perspective of instant death; but ~4N~ 'TO this, the gamekee~r' made no reply, th~st feeling'of di~rnay.-~ that the~ br~st and even looked indifferent. under ~u~h circuni~taucns Then, Regina; transported~with admiration, an iastant.~-pa~sed ~v~r.Th4 experieaoelfiit and proud of having bestowed her love on head boldly, and. Ate~dily- encbu,~~er~d ~II~ one whose soul was so brave;~e~claimed: b~utal'~a~.e ~f his retbh~d~e~etny. 'You are, indeed, a hek~o; alid I do not Tim p~isoner 'theil f&k~dseArebiftg1yIt regret dying with you; and. for you.' the face of Regina, to see whetheNr sbt~W~ A mocking smile wa~ ~n the' lips of the Ootic~rhed in sbili&new plot againsthirn ;'~ut * husband o~' Ce~ile Robert, bnt suddenly' it this~ t1mE~ thti impress Of'su'~prise', tMe~ti~ vanished; the triumphant expression g~v~ may', and cohcern'~a~took1t6be4uBj~~ place to a look of horror! A deAdly pate- and he dismissed the suspicion. '~ W~ ness overspread his livid feiitiir~, and he si.' Ritter-w~e fhe- tatinta '*hIehthe.d~rf1 gently pointed with hia finger to the iion front his perch* Of safety; pointed foi~th ~&i wicket abov~ the do6r. bothot' the haged prisdner~a; but I~e lid There, clinging to the bars with hi~ ~rng, finished hIs dastardly reviling, lie'4 s' leaix fingers, was to be seeti the malicious ly pulled down by Honore, wh~. 'tdok~1li aud ill-fzivored features of the d'skatf. place at-the w'icket5 And in- faltsrihg~ a6ol/ins On being discovered, a fetocious burst of bade Regina fear uOthixlg for imrseIf '~a~l~ laughter resounded in the Vaulted corridor, aino,- and struck terror to the lihart of the amazed 'Antoine has mistaken your motive~,'i~y Regina. V de~r R'egina, in- -cerWihghere I ant ~I~'be It now is -plain what had becbtne of hasp I believ~hhii-riot2 You do ttot e~inhiwAu Antoine. He had followed -the direction lotte this ~nan. I knriw you teust hAve m~i~I~ from whence the current of air came, which come out ~f rnOtiv~ ~f hdniarnty hi t~ht~h~S pqt -him' on the track of the supposed fugi- to -~r~are for hi~ -flui~l hour That At tiv~. - - - ' n6~*~ome; I n~ed-ba~.dl$s~ay 'f6r~wby'~l~ Trusting to the strength'ofthe-boter-dodj.s, ~ ca~n' ard~ln~i~t$~ or having overlooked the niroumatance, done-t~ow? He dfes fri~t6htlj/ -' Rbgiiia had negl~et~ed to close - the inter- Thus speaking, 'the inteh~le4 hultbatldi!E mediate doors between the 'first - and~tim R~gi~a' kft - tIle wieket~ ahd 'the priao~trs second pri~n of Pierre-the entrance to the~ heard him impatiently and im~&i~ibu4y~oaIII~ latter of which would nevertheless htiV.~ bedh o*hist br~ihet~s-to-se~roh fo~'th~ key. ~ ubdiscovarable had she not, i~i her pret~ipi- r Along the reso'a'adih~o~ridor'~k~ tate resolve to immure herself, omitted ~o r& ih&beavy s~e~s,- and the light' df tIi~ 'kt~rk place th~ imtiiov~ibl&fiag-stbn~ at tim ehtrsiice I~it~rb e~m~' an'd Went rApeAtedl~"k~ dftiy to 'the secret 6~i~rjd6r thai led tb tli&- mm n~6~tid~ba~k and ~ ~ildiiuk~own r&i~at, - - -' -~ ~ f ti'~;lii~et&f6t' 'tlie~m~n~ 4 adiiii~i~ #& ~iw~ TlPs"p~issage being- o~e'n, Antbine'h~4 treuibtin~ iintiate~ 'Ofthe ceu~ ~' --"- page: 70-71[View Page 70-71] 7* IWAmiA~ ~A Pi~rre!' sighed, RegiN1~ 7irt acce~its of qpt~4: despair; ,~ oJ~, Pierre!' you have q~eltydisdaine4 m*~, Eepulsed and tejected ~y bye. Well! L1et hatred now have it~ t~n. .,i1et revenge be satisfied. I cann~r ~v~you if4 ~w~tild; and could I, even, I would not.' ~. ~esu~aing his tone of defiance, Pierre re- ~jThe~ bave not got frA4 9f me yet.' a moment after the captive had said ~I4s, J~'gina thought the- ~ame4ieeper had ~st Aii~ s~erises, from terror, for he rushed like a~nad~nan to his bed and bore away, the mr~ar~ in his arais. ~,j~oe* ~he hope with this feeble barrier to ~ep ~~hem out? .~u*io1isly~the l~dy watched his movement; ~j~Lsoor~ she saw that the n~attr~ss had cover- .~4'an orifr~ which the pr~oner had,. opened IJe~th4t4rrowing in the ground ;~ and ftor~i the large pile of earthwhich it had, conceal- ~i~w~ia evident that nih work had b~en ~y~ght~ I: . ~ at length, Regina un~erstoqd the t~i4Ality. and; the raillery of ,Pierre~ Aubin ~J~~she had spoken of their certain death together. j,~u see, ~Regin; that I have, not been i4le since youso tTeacherously conveyed me, ~ ThIs night I intended to esenpe.- * ~ is to ~be removedd, and I am free oni~e:morcl~ ~Whilst. speaking thus, in'. an under tone, 'had. been preparing to crawl into the %iole., In an instant, he was out of sight he- '{R~gina's first irtipuls~ was to give thealarin .~i~Qsewith9ut; l~ut fr9rn a complLcatiolLof * i~e.IIngs, she hes~ated, and her yQice remain- ~4 ,ir~urtioulate ,iz~ her thyoat. She was in sI~nadful and undefined agitation is sh~lj~ten- ~l~ea~htessty by turns to the brothers search- ~pgfotihe fatal key, and to the noise, of;tfr3 * efforts made by Pierre to, dislodge. .thejast ~st~ck~ to escape apd flight. * , ~J,. have foun4 the key-here, it i~,I'~ ex~ 9Iai~d. &ntoine. James violently tore it from his grasp, and eJi~y~Il catne up tithe door. ~ thi~ instant,. poor Pierre A~nbin, covered ~j$dust and, perspiration, out of ~re~tl~; ~~yitIi emnoti~n,, overeom~ with~ fatigue, s~4 ~q 4espa~r at his want of fbreath4oeffhat his purpose, crept backwards into the 4e11. Alas, alas, Regina! I cannot moie the flag !'..-then he continued, resolutely,-' Well, so be it~ Let them come. I4et them murder i have the best right to open the door!' Ilonore was 'heard'to say; and he snatched the key from James. At, length . the key begins to creak in the rusty boek, .TJie prisoner is on the verge 'of his fate. Death' is (seemingly). inevitable, when, by a suddenn' mysterious revulsionn of feeling in the frenzied Regina, she-who had sought the ruin of her unfortunate victim, now when' no, aid from any other quarter could save him-resolved to come to his rescue herself in this dire extremity. 'Take courage, Pierre, I entreat you.- Take heart; man; and once more try again, I implore. I will delay them.' As thus she spake, this woman, lately so formidable and relentless, joined her hands in earnest entreaty, Pierre, 'in surprise and perplexity, gazed on her suspiejously, to discover if she was speaking in sincerity or mockery. When'the words really proceed from the heart, they find a response that carries instant conviction, of their, truthfulness. Pierre dis- trusted her no longer. With renewed hope and ardor, he once more ventures into the narrow outlet, which would lead to safety or tke grave. Thp key turns again in thebock. R~egina, by a sudden inspiration, throws the mattress over the aperture, and extinguishes the light. The rusty ,wards have at length been. over- come, the door is unlocked, and yet it does not open. 'It.must be held from within,? said Honore. 'Of course, he is trying to keep us Out,? remarked Antoine. 'But we are four to qne,' continued James; and with his powerful fist he struck the door a tremendons blow. It gave way, but instantly re-close5l. Antoine, in~tead, of lending his assi~tanc, to this effect, clambered up once more to the bars, and, casting the rays 'of the lantern on the interior of the cell, called out,- 'Pierre is not there! It is our cousip who is holding 'the door l' The last words of the dwarf were unheard, for, pushing with all theirmight, they burst open the door, upsetting and bruis~og ppor Regina de (jazeran, who, as she fell almost I I senseless, yet murmured ,~'. 'He has escaped .1' They will n0t 'ki him 1' Not suspecting that Pi~trre Auble wa really gone, some little time elapsed in .ti~yin~ to revive the fainting lady, who, knowing th value to the fugitive of every montent's de lay, was in no haste to recover. Antoine was keeping guard withJantet at the door, whilst the other two were ocen pied in the restoration of the bride. Pre Gently, he thought of raising the lantern' o take a survey' of the place. , . 'Master Pierre niust have, hid hirr~el under the bed, I fai~cy, for he 'is not to. bi seen,' cried he. This observation caused Regina to move in her alarm, on seeing the assassins put ~o the track. 'She is coming to herself 1' said William. relinquishing th" lady altogether to the cart of Honor; ''let, us see' afiet 'hI'm.' 'Ycs, now for hini!' said Antoine, who brave in his reliance on his, brother's assist. ance, and eager to be the one tolay hands oj~ the hated game-keeper, rushed towards the prisoner's bed. Raising the mattress, he per- ceived the excavation beneath, .at which sighi he uttered, a piercing cry. of baffled rage. Like a wild beast entering its.deji, did the dwarf disappear in the narrow subterranean passage;. but he soon, returned, and announc- ed, in tones of disappointed hate, that there was no outlet to the hole, thathe had follow'- ed the p~issage until fitrther progress was ob- structed by a large flag-stone whieh he had found it impossible to re[nove. Regina, whose anxiety had been intense during the exploration (by ,the dwarf) of the avenue to escape and freedom, now raised her eyes, with gratitude, to Heaven, and breathed freer. She ret~diiy guessed that Pierre had taken the precaution to 'interpose, between him apd' his adyersaries, the .obst~- cle whiobbad so .J.ately. nearly caused h~s destruction 'by inipedinghis flight. .Ii~mes, in anger at his. intelligence, ex- 'The stone must be displaced, for there ~ no doubt that this is the way by which the mise~,abIe wretch has passed out.' , A I' have tried and I could~ not move itj' said Antoine. ' * ', Then give way t~~one~ who caii sod ~i1l,' retorted the other, helping his brothers ~wp from the hole and throwing hipi ~a~4j , He .tWen ei~tered ,the narrow openiiag~ !1?hey, heard hint br~a~hjag 'hard~ an,&str$g~ ~ gling powerfully. for~ some ni~ments, yet tW~y e could render no assistance, for4~ut 9U§ ~4~ati at a time oould find ropm there.. d With disordered dress and troub~ed , .Ta'nes re-appeared. "We have lost him I' weLe:hi~,fir~~ wq~ds~ '4hls pasasge 6pens.~y~iid th~ ~aflt~,e ,,,wt~lls t into the fields.. See wh~t onq'gaizis byfiparii~g people whow,~we m~gh effec;ut4lly b~,r~jd'1o$~ f !Tiis. man, knows us-4ie isj~at lAb~rty~,-~an4 Horaore repli~ed,- r . . be far oil~ Let us and pur~ue.him...-wernay, perhaps~ re-eap4~x~ Leaving Re~hia 'alone, in, ~heopen c#j~, they all quitted j e castle by tbepathie~ had 4ug beneath his dang~~, ~nd ~j~t 1,? mount their horse,~~. iybieh~they~ frad ,Jef~. s~* cured ~t.no great distance. ., . ~ * Meanwhile, the liberated game-keepe~w~ seeingg as fast as his. tren4~ling .l4~cquld carry him. What 4ireetiou)iq4i~id takep 4~ knew not; he dared not pai~e~,to tbiiil~. ow rest, ,bi4 must pu~vhat space, he inigiw h.%. tween himself and th~se~ whp tycre seeking * his hfe. . , .. 1 * At first, on emerging into the, cold ~ig)~ air, he had staggered like a drunken i~tap wa~ s~ long since he had ,.been beneat~ the clear vault of. Heaven, A massive d~imp and boathsqme ~ij~l~ ~ stone had interposed between, t~$~n a,~id j~ az~ure firmament, and., he ,~ad .been ~e~rly suffocated by the impurity ~ cqn4in~.4 ~ir 'in his dreary duegeons. , ,,, ,.,,. ,~ ~ Thus it was thathis fir~tcontact with tl~ puxe :atmo~phese, and, th~, .'~ri~ty qf. r~pi4 emotions which he ,ha4 ji~st, 'e,~perieu~e,4, caused poor ~terre 4ubin tp feel yery . his knees failed him, ,an4, l~js. ni9j~ly ~4e~ gave way as hi~ bo~jily~ str4gti) ~ije'4j~but wanted weaiuiess: .~h~Japge~of ~is~4~ tion and the, al st~,t~ertein~y, ~f,,iq~me4iate, pursuit, restored his~.energy ~w4 res~J~ati~, not passively to be r'e-take.r~.;~ ,, ~ On sped the g~ma er~~uptiI t~pn,~I~ to run or eyeti w~k~aa~r, fl1iik p4i3~s4~J ~he ~pk at~~he,~ ~t ,of a 4r~p~ in thewoods which lie ba4 en aged~,~ ~ page: 72-73[View Page 72-73] I~A. _____ REGINA. - demson~ distance.' Cold as it was, the fugitive resigned him- ieIf los sleep. I must 'wait, perforce, he thhugh~'~ The morning's' light will reveal k~iy situatior~ and enable me tQ find my way. it Une&sy was the slumber of the unfortu- nate man, though heavy; nor did it last long, then it' 'was suddenly broken by the instantt but loud sound of horses' hoofs trotting rapid- ly ovet the'fro~en ground. It'was ~st peep of. day; when the cold' is most int~nse~ The poor fellow shook him- ~Ifandio6ked~anxiousIy a~ourid. He dis- ~vered, with alarm, that he had been ~le~p- ing in dangerous proximity to the road along which the horsemen were approaching. He to atis~ and retire farther into the flvdod, for he might be seen in the act~ 'All he could dq, before they came up, was to on his hands and knees, behind a 11en~ oak of large size, 'and cover himself '~iartii~lly with dry Ieive~t. This manmuvre te sticoesstiill'eaecuted, and managed, from his snake-like retreat, to see without being It was the discomfited party, the aristocrat brotherss, who were returning with downcast Iook~p l~ke huntamen wit h empty game-bags, an unsuccessful' da~ir's sport. The escaped prisoner guessed that they had passed the hours, during which he had ~aen sieepi~g, in seeking him, and that, they were ~iow turningn' to Valganest. 'He now knew what direction to take. He must be in the forest of Hallate. So avoiding the ~highway carefully, he commenced his walk towards Brasseuse. The paih l&d him, after awhile, past a K ~~d.euttei~'s ~ottage." He looked through t he open door and saw a smiling infant in a ~adke by the fire. Pierre thought. of his 1~ife'and e1~iid,' and~ utnriiindful of his strange end diAbrdeuiy appearance, he stopped to con- * tentpiate the scehe which called up visions if borne and happiness. The old vt~Oiruin of' the house eyed him 'with ~llstrust,'sii~pecting, naturally, in those * un~ttled times, that' he had'some sinister de- sigii. But ~o conceal the, real alarm, for'she wti~hkine 4itli the child, ~he boldly aec~sted the stranger, saying,-. ~' * ~' '~I~idid if~you want my husband, he is ~ot'farbft';' that is his axe you hear close by.' ' I1~,r 'tone 'ahd looks, betrayed the ttneasi' ness and't4ror which - she, fain would ha've concealed; and the ~fugitive perceived that he had actually frightened the poor' old wo- man. lie cast a glance at his worn tind torn, as well as:soiled~ habiliments, and' he could not~Wondet at the circumstance. Re-called, by the speech of the wood-cut- ter's wife, to the present object; Pierre Aubin inquired the 'way to Brasseuse. Having ob~ tamed directions, he continued hisroute, his thoughts still bent on 'the child h~ had seen, 'wondering whose it could be. Certainly, thought he, it cannot belong to the~ old. wo- man, it is too sweet a little creature: The way was long; but each step was bring- ing him nearer1to those: from whom he had been so cruelly separated for two weary months of solitude and confinement-those beings the dearest of all on earth to him; and he felt not the 'length or loneliness of his journey. 'CHAPTER XII!. A sUDDEN turn in tha road revealed to the wondering gaze of the retreating game-keep. er, the village of Brasseuse, in all its altered aspect. So great was the change since the burning'of 'La rangeg' farm-house, that he fancied he must have mistaken the way, and that it 'was some other village that he beheld in the distance. During his captivity,' the fires had, unknown to him, been doing their devastating work. Ignorant of' all that had passed beyond his prison walls, no wonder that Pierre Aubin was confounded with astonishment as he looked around 'him. Enough of the ruined houses, however, remained standing, to satis- fy him that he had not gone astray, and that the dwelling of his loved ones was before him. But soon a new cause of wonder presented itself. His progress was suddenly arrested by a fixed bayonet thrust right before him as he musing'iy sauntered along, and a voice in quaking accents nieiiaced him with death. 'Halt! Approach a step, and I fire.' Pierreat once recognized Nicholas Godard, the plough-boy and jester, in the would.be valiant, yet evidently timorous, peasant soldier. In delight at' once again seeing one of his former acquaintances, Pierre stretchedout his hand cordially 'Mi~takiiig the friendly intent~ Nicholas Godard tfrew back,'levelled his rusty musket at the game-keeper's breast, and 'called out , The gam to him,- replied;.-. 'I know you are an-incendiary. Keep off, 'The win or I will let drive.'. As lie spoke these words, passing ovei the clown closed his eyes as if afraid to look I shall wear at the victim of his valor. "Oh, ver~ Pierre Aubiti sprang aside, and then rush- will not disp ed on the terrified Nicholas. As the piece changed yor went oft 'the ~Aovgh.-boy was disarmed, and you for an now the two could have an amie~ble confa- 'J his was' bulation in safety. ' for Pierre K 'You seem not to have a good memory for the cowardly~ your friends, Nicholas, methinks,' began the 'Why are game-keeper. incendiaries 'Faith, when one is thinking of 'the coun- found in the tersign, one can think of 'nothing else. It is ' How? hard enough to keep in one's head any not that two- way.' ' set on fire? 'W~ll, tell me what is the meaning of this what they tal military array? What are you doing here 'i' tion such thi 'I am scaring away the accursed incen~ At this ana diaries, to be sure,' replied the disarmed new to him) patrol, quite. naively; 'but as f~r you, Pierre, Pierre becau where the deuce do you come from after emotion wits eight long weeks without sending us any buted to anol news of what had become of you?' ''If you V This question the game-keeper ought to although it 4 have expected, and bee& prepared for'; but talk to father he hesitated ere he replied. It was the fiE8t delighted to i time he had thought that he would 'be called 'And 'Ceo to account for his singular absence, and' he 'Ah yes," was sorely puzzled how to do this without Nicholas, wit accusing Regina, who had at last favored hi~ adding; ' my escape, or compromising the aristocrat time is up, tli brothers whom he had promised to the I 4vill relieve Major Seignerolles (his father) never to cri- to~ escape froi mi[Iate or denounce, really believe Instead, therefore, of answering the ques- burners, he a aon, Pierre retorted with another. ' to spread the Do you know' how many letters have been Aubin in as received from my rn~ther, Nicholas?' ' t~s h~id beOn F 'How many? Not oi~e! Only yesterday ~ As Niche your father-in-law sitid, ;~ I mpst go and see captain he fri' tvhy my sister~ Euphrosine, does pot 'write.' 'Holla! me 'Why she did not write ?~ replied Pierre. -go as he bat 'why? Because we thought. it useless to The~ ga~me~ write, as I could answer for both iu~ my owit as he couPl,~ i proper person.' arisen and 'gi 'So! you come 'from 'Pang, eli?' ' stood op the .t 'Yes; certainly from P'aris2 ' ' Instead 'of'4 'It is the 'fashionth~re, F suPpQse~then~ to the 'old soldier wear one's beard lik~ a horse's nian~, an~I ~ the inner ro~n hat, is it? No' hat, eb?' salti Nichc4s, ~ 'Wbenc~.c viciously, fur he remembered that P~erre'o hat ~'me this the ~lr had been 'found at tl~ hurnipg of Fleuiiines.' . I can rapt 3-keeper was disconcerted, but 4 c~rri~d oft my hat ~as I, w4~ a bride; and us i~o my 'b~r4~ it as long as I p!e~s~.' well; keep it uV'you li~V.~ ut~ about the matter: only' ~h4~ so,'thut just now I really t~oJ~ acendiary.' spoken' in a more atsur~d ~ ad just restored the - r~usket ~j feUow. you 'cdntinuallypratt~ing ,~bout ?. What incendiaries are to be country P You come from Paris and 'kno~~ *t$rds of the country has' beeAi Ah! ha! Tell us I"pra~you k about there, if they dop't'men- ags. louncement of the disaateit~ (so that had befallen 'the country, me Pale, ard.. tre~pbl~d. His observed5 by NiohoI~'S~a~jr~ ther cau~'e than the 'true on~.. rant to know what 5hp~ passed, 3ught to be no new~'t~ you, go Decadi, who of cou~trse 'will be tee y6u.'5 ile too?', ' ' enquire about her ~ls~ "said h coarse jro4 "len 'bluid~ hour's ,gua#~ is al an ey have n6t cometo ri4ieu~ me, myself itud gQtobed' ~nid'~1ad n the presence of 6n~ whomii~ ad to be in ral ked atyay' league iv'iibI*~j itdA'ast~ a~ he' 'ne\vs or the ~efurn'~f ~ tingularly nilystenious'a fa4iio~n is di5appeau~auic~. is' las wa~1pps~ing ~h'e Aloor~f '1ii~ page: 74-75[View Page 74-75] dare Aay 'is able to g~ss. Say where is my own Cecile ?~ ~ ~sk ' - ' 'Opee again whence came you 'You Wiust explain wh~ one of your - 'shoes ~as found.. at Valgane'st-thie buttons of 'your taunting ~.uiif~orm' n~ar Oaz~ran-and the oth~ day'yo'tir hat at'. Flearines! Why has '~i~ti~r aia~n& b~er heard at every fire? 'I do not understand4 you. father-but i~r d's sake jell me where is Cecile! How is Phihiberie P ' - 'Miserable! ~o you'not know?' flox~ 4oxPd I know?' "Be&aus~ii~y' daughter' must have goneto join y~u with her child!' - ~!It ~jva~ impossible. - She - could n5t huow where I \va~ when I did not know it myself.' - ' Yes I 'swear 'to it.' 'You are no longer soignorant I suppose.' -' Agaha II repeat I may not tell yoi.t father.' '~ 'This i~' absurd, 'inctedulous. But you will l~ve.to ~~&ak wher~ the law interrogates.' - 'What. has thelaw to do with me?' "I ~ compromise myself to silence the reports that were raised abput your myste- ~i6u5 ab'seaice, ' was 'die answer,' and r~oW you wilt be called upon and 'obliged to con- fess where you have heen. To jaoi(y my phild, your wife, arid to ~piiet the neighbors 4f hied~ Yes, I who' have ever scorned to ~egl~ fa~eI~. I 'paid you went' to ~felu9 to a ~dps~n who ~vas dying?' Oh"d~rP exelal ed~ierre, 'Wi dear, I f~av~ hot n~v told that babbling blockhead ~ ~odar~, diat I hai~e just returned ~tvi~siV to' qxy mother in Paris-but what eiAni~e~that1 Speak to m~ of Cecile! How 15' ~1~e'? 'Whe~is she?' '' C~'ciIe'ha~ gone crazy, aii~l night before last she fled we know 'not whitherr' but ivct tancj sI~ -tnu~t~ h~tve tone ibrough the forest of lIa'tfale; because her go~d ci~ss was found in ~ti~ Pierre Axdiin'. uttered a piercing cry, his xaiii4~6nk l~is fcrehea~d and ran off h~1i~nad~'nar~ heedless of ofd De~,axli's' en- ~ him to stop. - ' 'Thp heart of the ag~rised'p'ar~nt'assured hIWiha~t 1i~ e~tbabe- ~vbich' ~ad - strdc~c tiisn~nation so' strongly '~shu passe~i the WQQ4cL1tter's~'hut *a~' his own li'~tl~ Ph~hifei~t~ ~f~rg~ttV4,'of 4~atig'ue. thithrn~ ~WX~S he -' *~*aW'h"e Wi~uig I" - 'From 'die' ofd wo man '~' answers to his anxious enquirics he arrived at a thorough conviction that it really was CeclIe, his beloved wife who had left the babe theie, whilst on her w'ay' to Gar~erari, which they had made out from her incohe- rent sentences. There was 'great and fresh &ause for alarm! Had the unf~rtuna'te woman reached her ii- val's castle previous to his quitting it? Was' this the solution of Regina's permitting him escape? Perhaps she knew full well the tortur~ irt sfore for him when disappointed of his wife's smiles and caresses, and thus ven~ gence would pierce him to the very quick What dreadful' doubts to assail an affec- tioruate and devoted husband! Poor Cecile! so gentle! How would her crushed spirit bear this additional misery, if indeed, sepa- rated from child as well as husband, she were captive to' the fierce and 'vindictive lady of Gazeran, and perchance now an inmate of that dreadful dungeon from which the game- keer had but' just' emerged! Pierre Aubin determined, at all hazard to himself, to return and learn the 'worst. Ilair- ing with difficulty obtained permirr~ion, from the old woman, td'embrace the in~nt.le~ in hei charge-for she liked not his looks-he once again set out' on his travels. Disappointment 'still awaited him. On reaching 'the castle he learned to his dismay that' Regina had left at dawn fbr Paris! In reply to his eager and almost frantic inquiry, whether Cecile had been 'there, he was as- sured she had not-but she had been seen wandering in the forest like a crazy woman. It was, by this time, evening, and faint weary and sorrowful Pierre retraced his steps to the hut, where hi& child had been left, trusting 'That maternal instinct' would bring the wanderer there, 'i*~ unharmed 'and at Ii- be~'ty. - It happened that the old couple, who lived iii -this xohit'ary place, were but recently esta~ tabli~hea in the forest and knew nbt the 'name of Pierre or Decadi 'Robert "It Was' there- fble~ rio r&assuran~e to be 'told tlf~t their unwelcome visitor was Game-keeper ~f the forest of B~'~sseuse. ' - 'This maybe the case. Doubtful it is, since'ybu say so,' they replied as die intru- der 'v~ainly endeavou~ed to 'remove thO unea- siness whieh'it was visible that they feltat his' retixrn.~' E*ery' effort'' li~ made, to 'thia effect, onl~y confirmed their'fears~' - 1U~Gi~A. I ___________________ Pierre had requested permission to await the return of the mother oCthe child entrust- ~d them, and they dared not refYise him. Truly they fancied it was but a pretext, and that he was one, of the band of incendiaries, whom it would be as dangerous to affront as to retain. This was quite natural and made them, whilst fearful, assume to be hospital~le. Feeling hungry, and wishing to propitiate the'poor people, the gamekeeper' pouredd the contents of his leather purse on the table, and begged the woman to give him some supper and allow him to lodge with them for the night. Now this purse whs pretty well filled, containing the sum provided f6r the minor expenses of the christening, having remained untouched in his pocket ever since1 that disastrous occasioti. This liberal payment, for wretched fare, confirmed the prejudiced mincA of his hosts, against the man so meanly clad. Every ex- cuse was made to get rid of him. They said that the had nb spare bed-but he replied that he i~ouId willingly sleep on the 'floor by the 'fire. Ak ! thought the aifrighted paid-out fate is settle! Our humble abode is marked out as the next prey to the devouring flames! They resolved at all events not to pass the night with this terrible man. 'So they con- sulted, apart, and riade up a little plot for the h~isband to denounce him whilst pretending t~ be seeking a bed at the nijller's, that t~e guest ini~ht have the only one-and the wife was to remain till the arrival of the posse to s~cure him. The old woman would in have, gone at once, but that would arouse sus- picion, also she did not 1i1~e to desert th~ chil~-so, Vthrough terror of the imaginary villa~u with' whom she was al6ne~sh& became more talkativeand complaisant. 7 No sootter had the old wood-cutter got a few' paces from the hut, that.~ tj hi~ surprise and 'terror his arm was laid 'hold 9f by a str~pger~ He begged hard i~ b~ spared, ~ be was huif a poor man witose life was n6i'~orth taking. 'I neither wish tQ rob -oat rn~irder '~you~' was Ahe. reply. 'On the contrary , I mean to enrich you 1' "It would not take much to make' aie rich, I am so poor!' ' 'Tell me truly where 'you are ~ofra~?' £ Wherev'eryc~u please I' REOINA. 'You were-going'to denounce theimtd~ in you't house 'P ' ~ I' had thought of it replied thri~ subinir~ sive man,' bui if that is dis~Ieasin~io'yota ~' sir, I will give it up.' You will do well;!' ' ' ' -' '~ '~ 'I~he poor frightened fellow thodght-thi an accomplice of the man'withih.t im'-ihw~ nice predieament~axad he shook' withitet*or. ''Doxi't tremble so, but hiatertto me ~boldl~ said 'the strander. ' - -" A conversation then ensued, and'asin~ lar bargain was c6n~ltkded, to the' 'effeet4th~ th& wodd-cutter should, that -very niMht)a- bandon his lint, and all in 'it,' add escnji&fi~ww that part of the country in se~recy,-that1~e should ask no questionss, and that he~iid hi~ Wife should no 'more be sedn-in 'consiaev~ tion of which he should, on the spo't,'iatft4w &id of .their'walk, be' pai4 a sum of meiley double the value he had set en l~is sions. '~ ' ' - The compact was agreed to, and fulfilled on the' part of the"st~anger. The old ~ returned to his hut' with moi'e' nieneyain his p6c&e~t than he 'had ever owned, atone timer in his life before, and telling his wife~lwt they must sleep at the miller's, where* they. were~ immediately expected, she- relucthhtly set' out at that unseasonable' hour,' loath t*O leave the house with such a man 'in At. The game-keeper. and 'his sleeping Phuli~ berte were now -alone in the hut-.-bui hit hour after midnight the wretched shanty ~'as a mass'oflurd flame! ' ';'~ ~'- ~ The 'light of the combustible hovel att1~t4 ed -pedple to the spot' b~re 'the writlsvfeli in. ' No cry came forth from the 'interi~rt. N&~pe~son was seen to emelge fr~anthe Ibfrn- ingbuilding! ' '~ - 'Ir~ the niidst of the eommotiorx a~iA dismay, at 'the supposed fate ~of the cotta~ers,'ach'- mor arose, a cry of exult~tion ~as heard. ~rA 'man had been arrested~-' One'of the; gaii~ of incendiaries was takexi, wittrthe-usuahvatel,- word-'-.Pien-e Mbin~n-on 'hia lips~ It was, at4firet,' believed that this peiwora was th~ garte4t~eepe~ "thus d~fyiuxg vhe~rn~'as h&was eacaping-~ fr6m'~theita.sLbut ~tvln*rrithe prisoner was broughtt wih~iight tbe~"shwit wds~-xiet'Pi~rre.~~ ~Ne~riheless, the inarra~ uri-the~biut'N~ 'bein~'i~aa~sacrefl oui the-~pe~, ht~d not~a deta~h*&etit of mounted p~lioe~rttdh tip; at' that ffl5Mtlt~n'dJ ptiitex~tdd~ hitx~froqa the ~dpiila~)fb~3r.~) -~ page: 76-77[View Page 76-77] Tfr Rlf~OINA REGI1~A. uAt'aen* distance, standing onan eminence, attentive audience) the person of the suppos- two persons were anxiously Watching the pro- ed ~tcopmplice p1' the game-keeper, now niore gzesa'of tbe tire. One was a woman u~iite than ever believed to be an incendiary, thaf' deli,~otis~ the ether a stern ~l4 grey~headed unanimous and simultaneous convictipa pert man. This men was holding! hack the poor vaded the assembly.-and it seemed as one woman, who with heartbreaking sobs, kept voice when all exclaimed rop~ting-' Let me go; I tell you it was 'It is Antoine de Labourdilliere, ti'~e tbem&I left my child.' wicked dwarf!' After this another mart arrives at tbe same The public excitement now took ~no~her place, he was breathless and covered pith direction ; .the wood-cutter was removed, and sweat. In silence he places, into the arms of no longer thought about. - the young mother, a little child. Then see. The suspicions which had been lulled by ing~ her companion, he uttered a shp~t of joy. the burning of the pavilion and the death of Cecile4 then, h~s regained both husband Francois de Labourdi~!iere, now broke out an& child-Abut hpw comes she, here, at Vil~ with. violence. ve)~t?. - How'happened Pierre Auhin to direct A tumultuous scene succeeded, and aftei his ~Ii~lfl frorathe burning hut to the same much noisy parlcying and altercation, it was spot!? Who is the protector of the frantic decided to assemble in full force and proceed woman~? at once to the castle of Valganest before in- Tb. explanation of all this mnst for .a short mor of what had transpire4l at Brasseuse be postponed. The wood-cutter and should reach the detested family and put his wife did not get clear of the forest. with them on their guard. their. i4oney unseen and unquestioned. As niay well be supposed, old Decadi Ro They Were discovered;' and their being abroad bert followed, the wnod-cu~ter to the tempo at that 4wtur, without any s~ttisfactory reason, rary prison to inquire particulars of the news ~eeined so suspicious. that they were taken, that was more interesting to him than the byJtlie~patrol, before a tasgistrate for exami- debate in progress. ~aAlon., Armed and equipped in baste, the nume- AlI'tl*-poptilation of Brasseuse and its vj- rous party set out with hostile purpose to- emily collected in the morning, to know the wards '7algan~st. But in advance of them a result, for now they. expectedd to obtain a clue man, unnoticed, had slipped away, untying t~ tb~i inyaterieus 'burning, since two suspect- the bridle of his horse, which was fastened *d ~oen were taken up. to a stnmp behind the, ruins of' La Grange,' The terrified -wood.-man in giving his ac~~ he' galloped off in the direction of the lordly count of himself, mentioned the circumstance j residence of Labourdillere. t~tUir mazy young woman,. who said she came At .a little inn, in th~ ha inlet adjoining the fl~rn Drasseuse, having come to his 'hut with cdstle, the horseman paused, entered, and her~oMI4. called for something to drink, as a pretext td Isis~ay such person missing from amongst write a note, which he sealed with moistened y'u?' he inquired. bread for lack of proper material. The ad- .' Y~s;it iS my ':POOin -fI~ecjle a~d the little dress~vas that of Antoine de Lalbourdilliere Dhiliberte~ excAaimed Decadi Robert arous- with-' In great haste,' superadded. ~'g from~his despair. . This written the man remounted, and soon Thetpottr~woorJ~cutter, encouraged hy the was afilie castt~ enfr~n~e. He' rang without 4tezai~n now igive~ j~ his story, 1~gan tp descending frpvz~jIiis horse, and as the portet mtertain hop~s ef clearing Jgms~f~ and ha~ opened ihe~gate; he flung the letter at his feet, ~.eed~to'tell all- th~t, It. had, ilwu.g14,, ~nd amid Without a Word, 'rode off at full sph~d. feared; anti 4ene~, ~witI regar~to~ tl~~ macu His face was muffled so that his features cal~ imimself Pierre At~bin, .and the1hu~.. could ~otbe~disc6Ve~ed.' bam'tbe rirs~y woman. ~l4 then r~lat~t4 Cai4~fully securing the gate, the astonish- -iIi#cQIivereMi9n withtIte~tramiger5t1~lliog~-tl~e ed menial picked up the note and :htt~tened ,haegsi4ihat!he bad rt~ade, which ast~Q~Ialj~d With 'it'to thecorntnon sitting room, ~to deli- 'foa~ithe J..~'gc -swm of ~m~oey. fenad iwhjs~ verrit and tell the three brothers how strange- ~poeketj~i~4A~neJly, Ite 4e~cr~be4sfrtni~utely ly he ha4 received it. and with such accuracy (at t 4esire ~fthe They already were 'surprised at the unu- I usually prolonged absence of Antoine, audhe gan to be uneasy on his ac~ount. The letter, perhaps might explain the cause and enlight- en them. At all events they decided that the circumstance justified opening a letter plainly intended for him. How were they then surprised at the con- tents, which Honore read aloud, as follows- 'The burning of the woodman's hut is to' lead to the discovery, of the instiga- Iik:ly you, whom it most concerns~ if found orsof the other conflagrations. I hasten out, that Clodomir was caught on the spots and is in the keeping of the Gendarmes. The wood-cutter also is in custody, and the in- habitants of Brasseuse are coming en masse 0your castle. If you have any papers that ~n compromise yourself, or any of us, de- stroy the documents immediately.-..an hour hence will be too late.' This revelation of a secret, which Antoine had kept from his brothers, tilled them with indignation and concern. They had admit- ted him into their fullest confidence, and now they accidental learnt his participation in a crime, that had devastated the country, of which they were guiltless. For though these men scrupled not to~ use any means to further their own interest or gratify revenge and hate, yet they were not familiarised with guilt, simply for the pleasure of inflicting misery on others. But right or wrong, An- toine was in danger, and his peril night af- fect themselves also. 'If the people force an eritranqe here' oh served Honore, 'there is something tjnmt np one ought to see-and yet It is liable ,t~ be found.' He spoke of the chest whjch had been de- posited in the room which Antoine had not used since. Many times they had resolved to remove it, and yet had always put it off, a feeling of horror making tb~m dread to touch the, sn'bsritute for,. acofflir which -en- closed the corporeal proofs of Par~rid4ef 'It must now be done,' said theothex two~ The three brothers then went tt~ether tq th~ park to open the tomb, -where Fr#mneois had perished, and where his relpains had beer~ interred. Having accomplished this, they repaired to the, forsaken apartment, resolved, t~ cnn- quer remorse and repugnance, - and to p~aea the murdered, by t4e side of tke murtdere,' I Already from the~wirtdows, ofthe castle might Ire seen at -a distance the infuriated 'peasantry -from Brasseuse, their numnber~ greatly augmented, as they came along~by volunteers from the surrounding hamlets, who came prepared for deeds of violence. They are coining, gentlemen! - Couinage~ -be quick!' The closet was thrown open. Consterna.~ tion took the place of all other feelings-the chest had disappeared!!! In~ its place was a paper' on which was traced the ominoua threat,-2-- - 'Pjerre Aubin is your brother-he is free. You have endangered him once; woe be to yqu ~f you peril him again!' CHAPTER XIV. - - It is time now to e~tplain how Pierre, his wife, and her unknown protector, came Icr meet on the eminence adjoining the village of Vilvert at the critical time of the confla- gration of the woodman's hut. ' - At day-break of that morning the present guardian of Cecile, whilst wandering about the skirts of the forest on the Vilvert side, ha~discovered -the unfortunate woman in -a fain~iing condition, at the foot of a tree where she had dropped down overcome with fatigue and alarm. All night, after leaving her child at the wopd~cutter's, had she beenT in the damp airy She had been captured by a party of .tbe bandits, and was terrified almost to d~ath-at their. srreech-owlcry, which vividly - brought back the events that had driven her to rnadr' ness. L. The signal, this time oft repeated, brought around her, such. a fierce group that, she flung herself at the keeper's feet -and wildly pleaded Coin her, life. - Convinced that her insanity was not as~ sunied, they took phy on her and revoked their purpose of-death, but impressed on ~her feeble senses-that if she, would save her hu~band'~ life, and if she hoped~ ever tq see her child~again,.shemuust repeat-to every body the words they tel4 her, namely- - There is~ut -Pie' incendiary~ and that is Pierr~e Aubin-L h~v0 seen him~' ' , -- Having-thus. pinovk~ed for their owp secu~ rity and the furtherance of the enmity ag~n~ her husband, Ceoile was escorted -for som hours, by two hf the men, through ~o ~n~py paths-ef-the forest that, even had she posses- page: 78-79[View Page 78-79] R1~O~A. 7tt sed all her faculties as fully as eVer, she could tiot have guided any one 'to the secrefrendez- vous of the incendiary-gang. When found by the stranger, the poor creature was senseless and" nearly frozen. He knelt beside the forlorn one chafed her hands in his own, and recalled her to life by whispering in her ear 'the names of her hus- bend and child. Cecile opened her eyes at the appeal, and looked without alarm on the face of her pro- tector, whom she knew not. To induce her to go with him, her preserver told her he would conduct her to her husband. So she arose, and leaning on the strangers s arm in full confidence, went willingly along with him. On the way to the cottage, near the vil- Itige, where the old man dwelt alone, he ga- tliercd, from the mass of her incoherent 'dis- course, the object of her intended~expedition to Gazeran,. and he learnt the place where she had deposited'Philiberte. Having thus enticed her within his lonely dwelling, the old man changed his tone from gen'tlene~s to that of stern authority, for he had powerful reasons for not taking her either to (azeran or Brasseuse, to one or other of Which places she implored him to guide her. These reasons he could not 'ex- plain/1 tc~ the unhappy Cecile, therefore he was obliged to intimidate her into acquies- ence with 'his wish that she should, for the ~reAent, remain with him. Sternly' then the really kindheartedd old man assured the poor wearied ineaniac that she must~ not attempt to leave the house or make 'any outcry to attract attentida, for if she did either-never more would she see husband'~r child. From that moment Cecile Wa~' quiet and resigi~ed.' ' Towards evening a peantint came to the cottage vith a supply of" provisions' 'for' the old man, ~vho gave him some seCret order, Which Cecile could not hear, and soon after the countryman went away saying,- 'It shall be done as you direct., sir.' The messenger took tJ~e 'direction to the forest of ilallate, and arrived at the wood- maui'sh~t juSt after the a~ed' couple had ipiitted it. He was sent by the 'friend of (~cile to bring aWay the child from th'ose'in *1te~e care the little one 'had been l'efl. Great Was this maWs astonishment~to meet Pieri-e, in this place, for he had known the gamekeeper of old, but had not heard of his return. No sooner had the man told his errand and where Cecile was, thaxi sure now where to find his unhappy wife, Pierre Aubin snatch- ed the babe from the cradle, and without asking if the honest peasant were willing to return without rest or refreshment-he com- menced a rapid walk towards Vilvert, leav- ing the man to follow at his leisure. Thus' it was that Pierre Aubin escaped the death prepared for him 'by the revengeful dwarf. To explain this we have only to mention that the aristocrat brothers being aware that the escaped gamekeeper could reveal their dastardly capture and imprisonment of him, and their murderous purpose, were most an- xious to have him again in their power. To this end, Antione volunteered l)i5 ser- vices. His jealous heart suggested that the beloved of Regina would linger in, or return to the vicinity. He 'was repaid for his vigi- lance by seeing Pierre (though on a different errand t6 that which he expected might at- tract him there) at the castle-ga.e, of Gaze- ran, inquiring for Cecile. How bitterly the dwarf regretted his im- portance, alone to cope with the object of his hatred on~whose traces he followed in hopes of tracking him to his hiding place. But as the wolf follows in the rear trusting that accident may furnish an opportunity of a~itacking atno powerful prey, unawares-so did Antoine dodge the unconscious object, hoping that Bdrtholomew, the faithful and unscrupulous old servitor of the family, or Clodomir, chief amongst the incendiaries, might 'accidently come t~ his aid. But no one appeared to help him, ~ai~d he saw Pierre enter the wood-cutter's hut. Antoin& did~net' apply' for admittance, but he~ peered thrc~1igh & crevice in the rude build- ing,. and 'listened until he was assured that ~the game-keeper intended to pass the night there. "With ~endieh joy he overheard the phiL o~the old~peopIe to denounce their ttn- bidden gwest ~s'an incendiary, and he laid his plans on the suggestions 'which it in- spired. It will readily be imagined, therefore, that it' Was Antoine de~Labourallierc who pur chased the hovt~l, meaning' to burn it; with the uucohscioue father and child, hoping thus to rid himself of the man whom' he fear- ed and hated-and at' the same' time cdstihe blame 'of the crime on the innocent Pierre, by having hig name called out, as usual, ~t the burning of the dwelling. tiC concluded that the old couple, being missing,' would be supposed to have been consumed in the flames. We have seen that Clodomir was taken on 'the spot with the name of his supposed ac- complice, Pierre Aubin, on his tongue. The ~bargain had been revealed, and the same- keeper had escaped the intended destruction. It would seem as if the diabolical plot' was about to recoil on the head of its projector, and that Antoine, instead of Pierre, would be sacrificed to the popular fury. It is now appropriate that we revert to the party which we left marching to Valganest, and see how they were received, whilst Ce- cile, her husband and child are sojourning with their protector, to whom she shall pre- sently refer. It cannot be forgotten that the ocCasion of the tumultuous excitement of the populace of Brasseuse against the inhabitants of the castle, and Antoine in particular, arose from their identifying the dwarf as the purchaser of the wood-man's hut. They were deter- mined on sacking the house, should, he not be delivered up to them. As for the brothers, notwithstanding th& consternation they felt 'on discovering the abstraction of the important coffer and the substitution of the menacing letter-the im- minence of the emergency restored their courage and presence of mind. ' The angry mob'were close at hand. They were to be seen, from the windows, fiercely gesticulating. These men must not be ~rri- tated by oppcsiition, they must be courteously reo~ived, imposed on by apparent frankness, tind the absence of all appearance of appre- hension. This course alone would give any chance of~ allaying suspicion and a ~search. avoiding Had it not been for the dread that the' c/~est of mystery might still be in the castle,, and that the cover might be raised; to seek the missiiig Antoine in its 'dark recess, atid reveal the skeleton remains 'of anotkeminstead I of the living object of their search 'th haught~r lords of Valganest Would doubtless have dared and defied scr~thi~' ~Acting on 'this wise impuistythey gave 'di- rectione for the gates to be thrown open to the turbulent visitoi~s. The three brothers then met the intruder's' and blandly iriqul~red ,what was desired. The peoplewere unprep~.red with a reply suited to ~the unexpected suavity and' unco4- cern of the brothers. 'The reasoOs they' aS- signed for the absence of Antoine passed as valid, and one by one all their prejudices and convictidna vanished' for the time. The doors having been opened withoi~t dCt~urt, had dispelled a portion of the anger of' the crowd, who debuting a small portion of their number to enter, the rest remain outside, and after the conference-they all slunk away stammering excuses, embarrassed and ashain- ed of their temerity and audacity. Three weeks passed away, during which no further manifestations of ill feeling had been evinced towards the masters of Valga- nest-and Antoine had not yet returned home. It was not to be imagined that he was inactive, but of what he was about, his brow thers were ignorant, ~and were'anxious about his fate, dreading also the 'clisgface to the noble name of Labourdilli~re, should it tome out on the trial of Olodomir, the incen4iary, who had 'been arrested, that Antoine was one of the principal leaders of the atrocious band. The three weeks during which the iiit lasted, were an age of torture, and to secnre correct and speedy information they sejit Bartholomew (the day after the rising of the ~oh) to Pont St. Maxence-ivhere Clirdomir Was at first conftnecl in prison-from which place he followed the prisoner when ren~ove~ to Beauvas. Thence he , daily d~spatch~d nOtice of the incidents of the trial and~r~ seedings the court of assize. To the great relief of the aristocrat' brow thers, they found that Clodomir had coura.. geously allowed himself to lie' sentenced to death without be4rtiying'Antoiue.' According td the provhiqial' custom,' in Francs, eight' o'clock' was the f~milv suppe~r- hour amongstt the ~tountry-arisfoJacy, at4i.i 'this was the 'mqst important and most sociri meal. One evening whilst partaking of thih repair; unannounced, and unlooked for, An- toine presented hiiiiself~ At the sudden ~ap~%earance of the delin.. quent; the brothei~ti arose frbrn the table;'bti~ instead of returirin4 his cordiall g~ktiftg,'t~ indignant lookd and gestures shoWed th~be ~*as by no means Welcome: page: 80-81[View Page 80-81] RI~GINA. * 'Devilish strange this, gentlemen,' he grum- scrupulous brothers, and I think we shall be bled forth, 'a short absence it seemed is obliged to admit, that vone of us have a right * ~n~ugh .to elicit a singular reception. How- to upbraid one another as vile, seeing there ever, whilst you are explaining the meaning is so slight a difference between us~-If I in- of your condnct you Will excuse my eating deed am an incendiary, are not all of us tny supper for I am deucedly hungry after a P~rricides?' lengthy ride.' It required all the hardihood of the wretch Thus saying, the dwarf went to work in to make this allusion to the common crime earnest. , whjch weighed heavily on his less deformed The cool effrontery of the incendiary s'ome~ brothers, sleeping or waking. Au three of vhat, calmed the indignation of his brothers, theni looked down, self-condemned, and as and in whispered consultation it was remark- they remained silent, Antoine continued ed l~y one of them- ' Never mind; I wish to act the part of' a 'The more culpable he really is, the more good brother, at all events, and you will re- cautious should we be not to arouse the atten- member' that it is for our common interest to tion ofjustice. To drive him away would be be united and true to each other. Though to attract notice and to compromise ourselves.' I confess I am doubly guilty, yet if we shoul This timely reflection caused them to re-, be called to account by the law, I am a ~ume their places, and silently the. repast more compromised than you, since IhaA was concluded. Not till then did Antoine. only one life to lose, and death would as- speak, when he remarked ,vith perfect sang- surely be your portion as mine. As it is evi- froid-.-. dently best for us to draw still closer, if' pos- 1 think I can guess what has put you in sible, the bonds of' fraternity, let us drink to- such a bad humor, doubtless you have heard gather in token of this amicable resolution.' evil reports about me!' To this speech the brothers made no reply, Dreadful, indeed l' responded Honore. no friendly advance. 'Bah! What 'may they be?' 'I see,' remarked the dwarf, ' that you *.' We know ~you to be a wretched incen- view ine~ in a wrong light. You entertain the diary,' said, James with a frowning aspect same opinion as those whose dwellings etc., ~n4 gloomy voice. have been destroyed, by mysterious agency. Antoine, not in the least confounded, made, You think, I suppose, that these multitudi- answer :- nous disaste'~s are the work of mere thievish ~' As to a wretch, that I am not-but an villains for the paltry sake of plunder! How incendiary, certainly I am; that is a fact. it blind are ye! The object of. these confla- is 'fortunate that some one l~s relieved me of gratioes that extend over the whole of France, ~he .unpleasantness of making the circum- is a great political one. We shall save tl~e stance known to you.' ' monarchy l' 'It is then absolutely true that you are , The brothers' partly incredulous, yet in- thtts guilty?' ' 'terested by this dawn of confidence, drew ., ~ I have admitted it~' ' nearer, and Antoine continued 'Then we ought. to, give you up to the 'Yes; in spite of itself we wjll sustain and law, and let you meet the fate you merit- prot~ecr the throne, whiclll feels not that it is you who have shielded yourself under the tottering, but which we ~see daily is failing paine of Matthien,' said William Ilercely~ fast. A fatal security is causing the crown 'Ah I you know me 'by th4 name also. to be insecure, the. populace must be excited, iithat proves to you that I have respected 'despair must urge them to the utterance of .the, name and hopor of the family l' retorted clamorous cries of rebellion-then the par- the dwarf, ' ties of the restoration will muster their for. '~ V~ou vile 'wretch!' exelaipied Jam~s, ices, and perceiving their inefficiency to hold clenching his hand and frowning darkly. ~iu check the mutinous people who desire its ~Antoirte,, still composed and tinmQv~d, con-, fall, will call to their aid those who establish- ~t~pu~d with ~iittej~ satcasniu, ~ ,Pqr.~tieu! I ~d,'jt ~A the fir4 place. The brothers of the ~jyousu4t~enly very squeamish, gentlemen, inopg~eJ 1~'e~ne under which we Uve, will ~i4~i~ ~ppear~ to me that you are unreaso disappear' before. the will and might of the nably so. Let us .ei~amjne fairly, my vcry .ajlied sovereigns, who' this time, and for a permanence, will give us monarchy free from all mixture with revolutionary elements.' 'And is it for the accomplishment of'this great work that bandits, such as Clodomir, have devoted themselves?' No indeed, only five men in France know the true meaning of what is doing and the high object at which we aim. I am one of these five! As for the instruments we em- ploy, weak or wretched, hey obey the prompt- ings o~ revenge or repine. If taken, so' be it. We can find Qthers to replace the vic- tims of the guillotine.' As Antoine gave this explanation, the three brothers passed from horror of the crime to respect for the motive that scattered disaster and destruction over France. 'Now,' continued the dwarf, who sudden.. ly appeared so great in their eyes as one of the secret but mighty prime movers of a great political party-' Now I have only to speak of myself. You have' not questioned me as to the cause of my absence.' 'That is what I was just about to do,' said William. Antoine deliberately emptied his glass and gave a long narration of his late proceed- ings, the brief summary ~f which we shall present to our reader. The dwarf having witnessed the capture of Clodomir, to avoid risk to himself in case of betrayal, had retreated to the cellars of ilaut Mantel, where he had been securely concealed, and had prepared a fresh plot to gratify his party against the game-keeper of Brasseuse-which he assured his brothers, to their great alarm, he was pretty cem~tain would ensure his destruction by means of the law. Antoine also stated that he had greatly bettered their fortune whist thus' in hiding, in proof of. which he produced the identical sum, two hundred thousand francs, once prof- fered by major Seignerolles, and rejected, by the -old Marquis, as also subsequently by themselves. ' To their eager queries a~ to h~w'and where he discovered the ~treasnre, he told them that having ventured to light a fire, one cold i~ight on the hearth of the kitchen, of 'some oldb room handles etc., when being a a loss to keep it up-he took hold ~of' an old- fashioned chair 'and broke it up to bzrn. From a cavity in the back of this antiquated piece of furniture the roll of bills fell out; which he now handed over for' general use. In their delight at this seasonable increa~ of' funds the brothers forgot their alarm about Piem~re, but wondered how Antoine had si~ lenced Coldormr. 'Tell us quickly what you have done, and theti we will explain much that concerns you, said Wllliam.' 'Well, then, as Clodomir knew that I wa~ the so-called Mr. Matthien, from wj~om this division of the band received orders, 1 had fears that he might compromise me at~ the trial. I therefore repaired regularly at night to the place of rendezvous in the fore~t,~n4 at last I found a billet in the hollow elm, eu.~ place of deposit, in which he promised to maintain strict silence regarding me, proitid~ e(l that I would pay one thousand francs.to ~ certain woman named Elortense Malsaigne, whom he had formerly loved,, but had for- saken, and whom he now wished to secure from indigence. 'The abode of this person he designated.i it was in Paris. I agreed to the terms, akrd went to the house indicated, where I satv Hortense. She is a beautiful, hut thorough.~ ly-debased, creature, and ' excessively vulgar, jealous, and revengeful. Having set ~ a-talking, I soon discovered this; and it. Wa~ not long before we concluded a treaty, which will effectually rid you, Honore, of a 'siv~1; and all of us of an enemy .muoh to be feareJ.~ 'Alas I unhappy man I' said William ;' 'yor have lhrought us all into danger.' 'How so!!' inquired the dwarf. They then told him of the coming of th~ mob to the castle-the visit to the closet- the disappearance of the chest. They put inio his hands the written threat against them, should' they' ever' again molest their brother, Pierre Aubin. The paper fell from the hands of Antoine, andhe muttered,- ' 'It is too late 'to stop! How unfortunate! The train is laid'!' We must ahid~ the eon~ sequences!' The bargain which Antoine made with Hortehse~Malsaigne was, thttt, in' considerr. tion of a' certainn large sum' of money, she should prevail bpon Clodornir to make ap~ib'. lic confession that Pierre Aubin, the gante. keeper of' the forest of Br~ssel~se, was' one of the incendiaries, and had huen 'pree~M with him, arid assisting on several occasinims. page: 82-83[View Page 82-83] at' R~GINA. ____ Iii fact, that he was the very worst of them idea suggested itself, unless Bartholomew condemiwd himself, whose mother had been the nurse of The man was to be beguiled Etienne de Labourdilliere, had thus secretly into the belief that if he did this, repeating given sepulture to the remains of his foster- it on the scaffold, his pardon would most as- brother and former master suredly-through the interest of Mr. Mattien 'Try to re-call to the memory of my sons, -be pronounced then and there, and he would that Pierre Aubin is also a child of mine,' be set free. they had once overheard their father say to For the sake of revenge for former slights the old man; and this injunction now re- antI insults, as well asin order to obtain fhe curred to them. large bribe, the woman undertook the job, Each of these unnatural sons preferred l)e- and completely succeeded: Th~ poor vie- living either of these solutions of the strange tim believed, until an instant before the fatal removal of the proofs of their guilt, to a re- knife descended and instantly terminated his turn of theirformer hnpressions on the sub- niortuil career, that the wicked falsehood he ject. But one thing was certain, the thre~- *58 uttering would preserve his life. er~ing paper had lost its power over their * Thus perished Clodomir; and thus was the actions. unfortunate game-keeper again stigmatized We have seen that they had, in their fright, as a villain, prevailed upon Antoine to give anonymous notice to Pierre t~iat he had better flee froul CHAPTER XV a threatened prosecution in time, and con- ceal himself from the public indignation, now IMMEDIATELi~ after the execution of Clo- rousedto an alarming pitch, in consequence dornir, Bartholoxnew quitted Beauvais and of Clodomir's accusation on the sca~qld returned to Valganest. He had ever felt a This frustration of their ~vell-laid plan to strong attachment for.Francois, the principal ruin the ganw-keeper, they now regretted, parricide, and prompted by the pious wish to and released from superstitious fears, they visit his remains, in the new family-vault, once against gave reins to hatred. cofistructed over the fatal spot, on the very Pierre had at last discovered from Pe~tudi day of this old servant's return he went to Robert, the stigma attached to his absence, the ~rnournful bt~ilding. Hardly had he enter- and felt the im possibility of clearing himself j~ walls, than he uttered an exclamation and keeping his promise-on no account to of surprise and joy. accnse his legitimate brothers; and he griev- ~There was the~missing chest by the side of ed to see the puzzled state of his father-in- the coffin of Francois de Labourdilliere. law's mind. Bartholomew, having previously learned The kind old man did not in heart believe from his young lords of the mysterious, and, Pierre to ~be 5e of the guilty sand; yet he as they supposed, the supernatural, disappear- could not dismiss a dread of the conse- anee of this important depositary ~f Some quences which might spring from the circum- :~tih tvhich St weighty secret, hastened to commun~ca e. ~ stantial evidence wrongly condemned discovery and remove their apprehensions re- the unfortunate man. guarding its fate. l~ierre wasgreatly shocked at the altered When terror of ghostly interference vanish- manner of all his neighbors whom he en- ed, the brothers were astvni~heU at their countered on his way from Vilvert to Bras- former fears, and each tacitly explained the se~use, and still more so when at right th~y matter to his own satisfaction, on th~ suppo- assembled around the house with 'cries'~f- sition that one of the others had privately 'De~th to, the incendiary! Burn his house removed the che~t, and deposited t~ie paper over his head, as he has burnt our homes!' in~its place, hoping thus by fulf~ll~ng tl~e most Mr. Sirneron, the mt~gistrate of the district, ardent w~isIi of the departed to atone for ac- and gendarmes, appearing, at this juncture, .qn~escence in the murder, andin a measure to investigate the rumors by Pierrc'~ report.. al~ay the pangs of' remorse. ed strange return, saved his life on that oc- llowever none of them gave utterance to' ~ion, but not his home: 4tese~ thoughts at the time; so they retained ~Vhe game-keeper satis'Aed the worthy rn~.- Lb coq~qiing idet~t of, security. N& other gistr~te1 th~it the cyideuce of the wittiesses REGINA. $8. against him was altogether fauLty, contadic- tory and inconclusive. Some swore positive- ly tQ his being present at fires at such time and place; whilst others as positively; depos- ed, that he was at some other burning, far distant, on the same day and at the specified hour, which conflicting evidence it was~ im- possible to reconcile to truth. Although Pierre would not explain where he had been for the last two months, Mr. Simeson credited his assertion that he was bound to secrecy by an oath unconnected with the incenpi~iries or their wicked doings. Poor Cecile believed the tale that wa~ invented to pacify her shattered intellects- that the neighbors had assembled to celebrate Pierre's return. Decadi se~~orded the magistrate's advice, to Pierre, to retire from Brasseuse for awhile to the asylum of his own residence, i, e, Mr. Sime.ioiis, for the sake of his wife and ~hild, but relying on his innocence Pierre resolved to stay and face the calumny. When, how. ever, at d irk, the house was fired, it was time to flee, aud secretly~ by the garden they escaped. Quietly had they stayed in their friendly refuge di~rhtg the trial of Clodomir, whichof course Pierre could not suppose would effect as he had never seen the man. Neither was there any further notice taken of Pierre by the people of Brrssense who were satisfied with having destroyed his 'dwelling and got rid of' him. During those~ three ivee~s the game-keeder &as exempt from popular indignation, but when the false accusation ot Clodomir, in his last moments revived in full force the old belief that he was one of the miscreants, he felt that the magistrate's house would no longer affi)rd him protection, nor could he hope to contint~e to be secreted by him. The intelligence of this fresh irritation of the 1)ublic mind against, the victim of cir- ctimstances, was brought by Decadi whp had remained at Brasseuse, but hurried to~ warn Pierre of the an' 'nymous advice. (aent\by the brothers) to escape, and of Clodomir's accus- ative confession Of course no one suspected that the crim. inal had been wrought on, by delusive hopes of pardon, to this perjury, therefttre the dis- closure was believed to be conscientious and true. 'I see that I must bend to the stQrin of persecution, and out of proper consideratiQn~ for the kind Mr. Simeron wh% has generously, allowed me to take refuge here during his absence, I must go hence-but how can I remove Cecile who is stIll confined to bed with fever.'. 'Do not grieve about that my poor follow, I will manage it for you. Rely securely on'. me. If she cannot walk I will get a vehicle for her and the dear little Philliberte.' Decadi, who thus spoke, would gltidly have' removed his 'cherished ones instantly from the impending danger, but he had to s~ek a horse and cart, and that so discreetly that no one should suspect he was going to help Pierre to elude justice. 'To-morrow night,' said the old soldier of Nap~deon, ' I will he at the entrance of the~ wood with a good horse and cart, mattress; and some warm coverlids for the mother and her babe, so you need not fear that they will' be any the worse for the journey Meanwhile you must decide whither we are to go.' t~ierre rd~lied jhat he would consider what was best to be done, 'though he had ~ady decided whither to turn, but ~vas not at liber- ty to mention his plan without per~nissi~t~ Dec~di Robert stayed not to await the awakening of his dear daughter Cecile, btft started back again to Brstsseifse to make preparations for the their safety. Pierre Aubin left Chamecy for the cotta~o of ihe old man who had 'rescued Cocilo, to see if this asylum Was still available. ~ The poor, demented wif~ besought hii~ not to leave her, saying, she was sure sh~ was able to walk. - ijer terror at every absence, of even an hour's duration, was so excessive that bd husband did not notice at the time that seemed to have it prophetic presentiment 'of' impending peril. He thought it was only her usual nervous anxiety, and.soothing her with assurance of a speedy return, he set out, aone, for Vjl- vert. . Alas! during that fatal absence, a visitQr had leen at Chamecy. The tuckless gatue- keeper returned, entered the house9and ja ~ few moments rushed forth from it like ,a madma~i, and uttering fearful cries of woe and vengeatice. When Decadi came at the appointed boar to remove the whole party, he found enI~ page: 84-85[View Page 84-85] R~HG1NA. the' tmhappy C~cile, who was writhing in d~epair on tier ~ck bed. * * * At Gazeran Castle there has been a wed- ding, Regina has. this day given her hand to Uonbre de Labourdilliere~ They had become reconciled and had publicly solewuinzed. a marriage, although each knew that love was wanting, and they had entered into an agree- ment mutually never to upbraid each other in private) arid before the p~bli~ alwaysto preserve the semblance of conjugal esteem and affection. Splendid had been the feast from which the numerous guests had arisen to proceed to the bulk-room where the nobility and gentry of the neighborhood, and others, were assembling fast and thick, for the joyous dance.' Truly it was a princely sight. a noble ap- tertairiment! Presently the orchestra struck up'the most enlivening sounds, the dancers took their pIae~s, and the bride opened thehall. Frc~m a~rece~s in one corner, Antoine, the deformed and'gialevolent, cast invidious gl&uces on the newly married couple. ,~Tlie hilirity and excitement had reached it#~ highest pitch, when all &t once; in' the midst of the intoxicating~ebdllitions of pleasure a man-who certainly is not one of the in- vited-presants himself ifl the ball-room.' 'iThis person's dress is soiled and 'dusty, his features,.are distorted, he is pale and out of Iur~fnh. With a bound he had sprung through the outer enteranCe, and rushed violently past every one until he arrived at the saloon, and mnter;upted the dancing by widly demanding to see the Lady of the castle. 'Fear seized on the astonished company.- They regard the intruder with curiosity, emotion and even with sympathy, as they perceive the tears rolling down his, cheeks and his knees knocking together. In his trembling hands he holds something wrapped up in a sheet. Every one expects some dismal disclosure All eyes are turned on Regina as she advan- cesitowards the man, who is calling for 'her with the authority derived frorti grief and deeper tioui. 'As soon as ~Pierre Aubin, for he it Was, per~. ceived Begina, he darted angrily forward tb rweet'her. Casting a look on the lady, that rooted her to~ th~ spot,' he opened the ~rheet end held up toher view-a dead infa,~t. It was Pidliberte! Behold your work, madam,' shid he to' the bride, with a hoarse, deep voice. 'It is you who 'havekillad my child!' Having said this, the bereaved father co- vered the inanimate corpse with kisses and tears. Regin~t uttered a cry of horror, and with her' hand pushed away the dead little one preserfted to her; then. as she staggered 'badkwards, she stammered- 'The man is mad-turn him out!' The spectators of this mournfully inter- esting scene were petrified with astonishment. A' dead silence prevailed as they contemplat- ed the unhappy parent and the strangely-ac- cused bride. The three brothers alone looked elsewhere.' Their angry regards were simultaneously 'turned upon~Antoine. Before the mute ap- peal, th& dwarf was confused, pale, and guilty-looking. As for the assemblage of the lofty and high-born, it may well be supposed that they, being ignorant of the love on one side and aversion on the other, were unable to con- ceive 'any grounds of accusation. Pierre Aubin, the game-keeper, seemed by his social position so far removed from the beautiful and aristocratic bride, that no ac- quaintance or 'cause of hatred could be ima- gined to actuate her to such a crime. The actual belief that the noble lady's pride and self-respect would necessarily have kept her aloof from any familiarity with a man in his station, made them accept the few words that had escaped her as the true ex- planation o'f the melancholy and incredible assertion of her guilt. 'He is mad I' she had said, in reply to the grave charge of murder; and many believe this to be the case. However, in the opinion of some of the company, Regina appeared more surprised than indignant~ She had denied the charge, but not with' the energy of voice and look that might have been expected from an inno- cent person; whilst the tone and manneY of her ~ccusei had, the unfaltering imnpress~ of truth and confidence. ,Opinions were divided ho~v to treat the aUthor 'of this' dreadfully scnndalous intetL eruption to the marriage festival. The greater ntAbber of the guests were for turning Pia'rre REGINA. _________ o't; but one imposing minority said,- seeded' to promise all that they~ ~onl4 i~ 'Let us hear him first !~ 'I ask no confession or de~wilal fr6ni 46~ar T'he bridegroom and his brothers seeing lips,' pursued the in~eiised tttagistra& thai the sensation was becoming somewf~at 'We knew, beyond a doubt,,that y5~i favorable to Pierre, catn~ forward to make an one of die guilty parties wh~ se~ fh'~e~tb 1~Idi.~ end to the painful scene, by directing the rines. You were discovered, also, eonAeal- servants to put him out as carefully as might ing yourself in the village. This was ~ouj' ilie be, and to t~eat him gently, as one whom six~k day of November 'last; and has '~ been great sorrow had driven out of his senses: duly deposed on the bath of a maz~ djthe These apparently 1iii~d and considerate point of death-the wretched C1odomi~'. ordei~ were given because they feared that Pieir7 heard the words of Mr. Sin~r~n any display of roughness or needless severity without seeming to' heed or und6~stand 4brh, towards the afflicted parent would increti~e his mind was pre-oc~iipied, his heaii~ *as sympathy for him. The menials' obeyed; oppressed and accessible only'to the i~Ieim~of but when removed from th~ observatiomi of his heavy loss; and "in tb~ delii4umn bf the guests, they brutally ill-treated' the in- despair find anguish, he exclaimet1-L~.' trader, and, despite his resistance, forcibly 'My daughter! my daughter! 'rhey'hi~e ejected him. killed my sweet little Philiberte! Oh, iY~,t4~- At the gate of' the castle, as they were ig~ not be deceived! It is she! It is' l~h~t nominiously expelling Pierre, ihe hard-heart- 'wicke~l woman' who has mufdered my dtkrflhig ad set were confronted with Mr. Sirneron, child!' Then addressing the magist~a~.e, ~be the magistrate, who had furnished tl~e game~ continued,- keeper a retreat in his own house at Ghamecy, 'Mr. Simeron, you said truly, jusi io*, and old Decadi, who finug his arms around that Providence sent you here. My eat~ghter the neck of the ill-fated son-in-law, tund' took 'has been murdered. I deniand jt1stic~ t' ~ the now i~fdess pet of his old age fiom its Thus saying, he pointed to DeeadiA~io. father's ar'ms and pressed it to his own heart. still held the scold remains of fhe ~h4~i~s This time, Mr. Simeron-who was accom- Philiberte, which he was tearfi4ly emb'rm.ubi~t. panned by an efficient number of the niyrmi- The magistrate, touched with ~ dons of the law-was not, as formerly, ami- plied~- eably disposed towards Pierre Aubin, for he 'I respect your grief, Piorre, but I c~1i~it no longer believed him innocent. admit your accusation, because Cecile, y~Mtr The persecuted game-keeper soon disco- wife, informed me that her i~hild ~as &1i*e vered that the opinions of his hitherto staunch when she fell asleep with it besi !e ber-ittM friend was changed, for he addressed him as when she awoke, ther? it was, but de4d I.- a Wretch and deceiver, saying, sternly and rand yet no one had seen in the' rno~, solemnly,- must then,'of course, have been stifled WMIK 'Pierre Aubin, you have impQsed on me ~he slept.' once by your~ protestations of innocence.- 'But' look!' said Pierre, ~oi4itig to~le You managed to draw unmerited compassion neck of his little one; 'see an 'assassi~ has on yourself; but Providence does not long strangled the babe. Cecile had n~t her rl~ht permit falsehood to triumph. it has ordained senses, it '~is true; but Ce~ile never ~onfd that one of your accomplices should ~wow destroy her own, her beloved 'child.' your crime before expiating his Own upon the '.Whom, then, do you' suspect!' asked scaffol4. In short, when to-day~ I went to Mr. Simeron, compassionately. Charnecy to arrest you, 'it was Providence 'Who? Her who has threatened to,' i~it directed my steps here. The judgmetut which her persecution of me on those whom I love. you hoped to elude, has overtaken .you. You I have already named the guilty' one b~fd .a need not expect to escape from just punish~. crowded assembly, and I would re~ai~itK~in piant.' the face of' the universe, W&e It pass b~f6r The brothers, who had followed to see Ovary one to hear me. It was to abot~ '~y what became of' the game-keeper, and pre. 'ei~iemny,~ sfr, and not to escape from ju~tI', vent hi&holding conversation with any ~ne that I came here. 'I repeat it, it is * about the castle, witnessed 'his at'rest, ~t~d Wlio"ha~ stilled n~y ~hl1d.. Ijuatre slme~d~'~ were overjoyed at this turn of the ~'affair whi6l~ 'dared' her niune before them alliri ther6,'ali4 page: 86-87[View Page 86-87] 86 ~~REGWNA- RIN.7 J~was not believed; but you will credit me, ~you will avenge my cruel wrongs, notwith. standing that, the culprit bears a noble name, ~ahhough she is mistress of this castle-the ~beautiful and high-born Regina de Gazeran!' 'Impossible l' said the astonished magis- trate. ' - Honore' now stepped forward, and tried hard to make it appear ~that Pierre ~musV be mad to suppose that his bride had done such a Aeed; and he stated that it was because they felt so certainthat this' was the case, ~tbat.they had out of compassion and genero- sWy,'tahen np notice of his absurd accusation, except by 'turning him out of the' castle.' 'Do r.ot believe him!' vehemently exclaim- e4 ~the indignant game-keeper; 'I am not triad. Unhappily I speak the dreadful truth. I say my child is killed !-behold her dead body. 1 say, the Lady of Gazeran is the author of the murder-that is~ if she did it n6t herself; she must have caused it to be dQfle. 'I assert this positively, because I most .firmly believe it; and assuredly I have good grounds for belief. Is it not she who has driven my poor Cecile crazy? Was it not by her orders that a rifle-ball nearly deprived my bride of life, on our wedding night ?- What hand but her'~directed the murderous itrt~? From whence came the gold which ,paid this attempt at the assassination of a ~young~ and' innocent creature? From ker -~ ''Cecile has lost her senses. See sti{l The ~work of the implacable Regina de Gazeran. ~hiliherte, the darling of my soul, is no longer in existence, because Regina d'e Gazerirn willed her death! 'I shall prove what I say, Mr. Simeron.- So ~yiany crimes' ~nust surely draw down vengeance on' her guilty head.' 'Justice shall be done to every one,' was the emphatic reply of the magistrate, who, nevertheless, placed no faith in the shocking intputations against the lady. 'rThanks, kind sir. After this promise, :1 am content to be taken wherever you -pl~ase. * You may accuse me, condemn me, or any thing. Provided the death of my child is avenged by the arm of justice, I ask no more. Bt4 stay; before being taken hence, 1 would (e$n,, in your presence, be led before her whom 1 accuse., 1. will reproach her with ~,her ~rime~ and we shall see whether she will dare treat me as a madman, having you for a judge between us. 'This melancholy affair will 'take its regu- lar turn when the proper time arrives. If tthen it i deemed right to have the investiga- ion you demand, it will take place. Mean- while, yoLe must be taken into custody, to render an account to society for the crimes of which you, yourself, are accused.' 'Ah! yes; I remember! They pretend that I am one of the incendiaries; and you, Mr. Simeron, have come, at last, to cr~lit the abominable calumny? Would to God that I p'iight speak !-that I were permitted to tell all that has befallen me!' I And who hinders you?' asked the magis- trate. 'Both law and conscience make it' a sacred obligation to disclose the truth. But would it not he the truth to confess yourself guilty, and to say that you are overwhelmed by the accusation of your accomplice, Clo- domir?' 'Clotlomir? Who is he, sir? I assure you I never heard of him until you mention- ed the name!' said Pierre. The truth was, that the trial at Beauvais and its results, had not reached the ears ef the game-keeper in his seclusion at Chamecy, and Decadi, when warning him to escape, had, in his hurry, said nothing about Gb- domir. 'You inquire who Clodornir is V rejoiced the' magistrate. 'Well, he is the man 'with ~hom you ~vent to Fleurines on 'the sixth day of November.' "The sixth of November?' repeated Pierre eagerly. 'I could not have been at ~'leurinc~ on that day. This I can prove.' - 'How ?-by what means?' 'Let me be confronted with Madame de Gazeran I-and she shall acknowledge that I was here-a prisoner in this very castle at that identical time !' must remark, that what you assert is highly improbable.' 'Nevertheless, it is the truth. I accuse no one. I am not breaking my o~ith! said Pierre, looking significantly at the legitimate sons of his father. 'I will not tell how er by whom I was brought to Gazeran; but I may declare that I was here, in confinement, at that date; and I invoke the testimony of Aladame de' Labourdilliere, since it seems ,tkat now is the name of the Lady of Gazftan. I beseech you to consult her, Mr Sime'on. [, expect she will ~ot deny' the fact.' We shall see,' replied the magistrate who thought that Pierre had ~become corn pletely crazy by the murder of his child, am therefore spoke compassionately to him.- Then apologizing to the brothers for having disturbed theni hy the arrest, prepared to away. The brothei~s, seeing they were about t have Pierre Aubiti removed oat of thei, way, and firmly entangled in the meshes o. the law, expressed hypocriti&al pity for th~ poor deluded man; and Antoin~, eager t account for th~ murder, ventured to say,- ''~'he poor devil who accuses every body~ has, perhaps, in a fit of insane frenzy, him. self been the death of die little innocent whose fate ho now so pathetically bemoans.' 'Horrid wretch! Dare you say that I could kill my own sweet Philiberte?' shouted Pierre, trembling with rage, and with a vio- lent effl~rt escaping from his guards, and rush~ ing towards the villainous dwarf. At this instant, Regina, uneasy at the long conference with the delegates of justice, ap- peared, bedecked in bridal attire0! CHAPTER XVI. IT must be granted, that the victim of so much persecution, the unfortunate game- keeper, judgiug from the past, might well be- lieve Regina capable of any ~ct of violence and cruelty; yet in the present .instance he wronged her. This crime was committed by Antoine, al- though it 'was not premeditated on his part. His only object was to delay Pierre one day longer at Chamecy, in order to secure his arrest. The discovery of the ehest in the 'pavilion -sepulchre having, as already noticed, re* moved the superstitious dread of the denun- ciation of the paper found in the closet, re- newed the hostile feelings of the brothers against Pierre, whose death they now again desired. Antoine, who doubly hated the game-keep.. er as the beloved of Regina, was even more desirous than Honore that this man should perish on the scaffold as an incendiary, lie therefore determined-to destroy the effect of the warning that had been sent to Pierre to escape, by stealing the child and th~rs de- 'tainiig the father in the ieighborftood., - -It will now be understood #ho was the visiter during the, fatal absence ,of Pi9r. The . kidnapper possessed himself ~ ~4e unconscious little one without di ku1ty~ the I father being away aQd the motJ~er ~mvi~g - fallen asleep from~sheer exhaustion. The villain had~quitted the house, aud~was passing along tue garden hedge, which ~ high enough to screen him from the 5ig~tf~t the gardener who w~is at work, whew~ the hapless infant, frightened at the stranger's iii. f looks, began to scream.. - The gardener raised his head at the ~OJiJI~, and Antoine heard l~is heavy steps 4pproacJ~- ing. He stepped back, and hid behind a wall, then, to still the 'cries of the ehi4d~ J~e * sat down on the gro.uud and Inid~ her acr~qs his knees. With one hand he ru~lely gra~pe~ its tender throat1 and, with the other,'he pressed heavily on its little mouth. The child became siler~t, for it had e~sed tolivel On discovering this, the. assassin. wpu4,d preferred leaving the body on the spp~hut he feared detection. Therefore, hidix~ under his cloak, he returned to tha lio&ise, and 'laid it by the side of the still sleeping Cecile. It was a bold step to vanttire back wi4i the inanimate babe, but Antoine was turous in crime, and had faith that his eyil genius would not' desert him. Indeed, every thing seemed to be favorable to the s'4c~e~ of his wickedness: the lengthened sleej~of the poor mother-the solitude of the pla~e.2- the absence of Pierre. S~, with n ligl~t heart, this inhuman wretch quitte4 the '~p~t where he had wrought this 'fresh evil on tWe devoted game-keeper. ' ' 'Pierre will be. taken to prison to.urior~ow, said he to himself, 'for he will stay here '~o console his wife, and his destruction cured.' ' ' It had been settled that Anto~rte ~houIdj~- pait' to Ga~ran, after his se~ret. ~ the unexpected result of w~iich ti~e have jujst narrated-without returning to Val~'a~i~(: for the wedding which had'beon deenedex.. pediment, was to take place on the same on which they hoped the law would the detested son of ~hejr murdered par~ajt. This will -accounV for the surp~'ise of ~h~e three brothers in t baIl roorn4'Qr 4IKj~t the dwarf had said when he joined tl&~$4~l parjy was,- All is satisfactorily arr~nged. '1heg~ane. 86 SEGINA, 27 - page: 88-89[View Page 88-89] REGINA. RThiINAA l~ee~er will cause you no more heart-burning, 'lionore!' We will now revert to what was passing, ~&t 'the castle-gate, where we left off at the end of the last chapter. - - ~' 'The gendarmes were about to lead their ;4~risoneraway, ,when Regina appeared on the On seeing his enemy, Pierre struggled hard to free himself, begging to be allowed to remain a few minutes to speak to her, to which the magistrate reluctantly consented, ~nd pierre cried 'out boldly,- £ Madam ~I am accused of having set fire ~ Pleuritmes ori the sixth day. of November 'last. I conjure you to speak the truth. Say, 'Was I not, on that day, in this very castle ?-.. t4Yefl*~Itso I pray you, at what date I quitted it.' - - This unexpected question at first confused ,~egina, but, being re-assured by the presence %f her bi~others, she replied,- - 'What means the man? I do not even ~kuow him!' - * "CThen you refuse to exculpate the, when ~uy" character and life are at stake, and a word, of ,trutlt from you' would save me. I ~bLtght to'have expected this from you. Go tin, madam; I shall be able to prove it with- 0ut your concurrence. Growing animated as he continued to ~p'eah, and exasperated beyond measure, '~letre~ said to the Tmagistrate,- - 'Tdu ought to be informed, sir, that'the ~lady w~ho will not speak at my request: and ~ii~etends not to know me, hag, nevertheless, 'Wkltte~i to me-yes, familiarly, too! One day, whilst I was detained here in a-dungeon, ''on 'the occasion of her going to some festi- (tVal when she was to. be absent for a day or "~Wo; th~ Lady of Gaz~ran condescended to - Write me a' note in which she named the con- '~itions'bn Which she would release me, for I w~* her prisoner. By providential g~od luck, ~ ~t 'this letter was dated sixth of important date indeed to me, alnce 'it appears to be that of the conflagra- ~'tidn of 1~'leurines. 'Will you say this, also, 'WfaL~e, Madam 'P 'The lady wns powerfully affected, but her ~A~u~ins Aur(ounded her, and begged Mr. ~~iIneron *o excuse an "Ontotion compatible i~~jj perfect innoce~ice suddenly assailed by such scandalous imputations. ~tt~egina, restored to 'composure by the words of her husband and his brothers, took courage, and 'again assured Mr. Simeron that the man must be mad. Then casting a con- temptuous glance on Pierre, said it was time for her to re-join' the company in the ball- room. I'Iumbled, scorned, and disbelieved by everybody, Pierre, foaming with rage and goaded by despair, exclaimed,- 'Wo betide my wicked persecutors! Thib letter which the cidevai~t Regina de Gazer~tn pretends not to have written-this letter - 'Well, that letter 'P. interrupted the law- officer, who began to suspect that all the prisoner was raving about could not be wholly imaginary-' that letter, if such as you des- cribe, would clear you, I grant; but perhaps you will tell us it has been destroyed.' "No, sir; no such thing. It still exists.' 'Does it?' 'Yes'; I am sure of it.' 'Why not produce it, then? or do you mean ~o say you do not know where it is 'P 'There, fortunately, you are mistaken, Mr. SimerWm I gan tell where it may be found, because I hid it myself in the ground, in a Corner to the right of the door in my dungeon, in the second dungeon to which I was transferred. .1 put it there for safety intending to carry it away with me if ever I should leave t~e castle alive. But my flight was so sudden, and attended with such hci- dents, that, when leaving my terrible prison, I did not think of the letter-I only thought of preserving my life and regaining liberty.' rI~he Messieurs de Labourdilliere had not followed the bride, wishing to see their enemy fairly in custody and removed from the pre- mises; and on hearing Pierre's assertions they looked at each other in consternation. The worthy and humane mnagist rate, busied with turning over in his 'mind the strar;~ charges of the game-keeper, did not observe their troubled mien, as he replied to the prisoner,- 'Admitting that what yoy say is true, my poor fellow, it seems very unlikely you should- 'leave so important a paper behind you, in a castle where, according tO your account, you were imprisoned.' - "It would appear quite natural, sir, if I might tell under what circumstances I escap- eel from mn~y dungeon; but I must not, I ought not, I 'cannot reveal.' Mr. Simeron, riot knowing what to think of such contradictory statements, turned t. Honored, and inquired, saying,-: 'What am I to make of this 'I' 'Truly, this is a pretty question to addres~ to me, sir!' was the bridegroom's sarcastic reply. 'What must you believe respectjn~ the accusation against my wife? Has nol every bad action' some powerful motive 01 interest to instigate its commission? Now what motive or reason could the lofty Regina de Gazeran have had for persecuting Pierre Aubin, the game-keeper?' 'Besides,' added William,' if the shadow of a doubt could exist, our sister-in-law will doubtless consider it her duty to throw open the interior of the castle to the examination of the officers-of justice.' The magistrate being satisfied, was about to withdraw, when 'Pierre again earnestly im- plored him td make instant search. 'Oh, sir, if you go not at once and seize upon this precious letter, it will have disap- peared ere to-morrow, and I shall be ruined. I demand, in justice, to be taken at o'ce to the subterranean dungeons of this castle. I will show you the letter where I have told you I buried it.' The subterranean dungeons!' thought- fully repeated Mr. Simeron, aloud. 'How comes he to know that there are any such here?' 'Pqrbleu I' sneered Antoine; 'there is nothing strati ge about that, seeing Pierre is, as it were, one of the household of Gazeran -"--he was game-keeper when the old lord was alive.' 'Yes,' added James; 'he had every op. portuatty, as a domestic of the late lord, to become, in the execution of his master's orders, thoroughly acquainted with the secret places of the castle.' 'Ah !-indeed! Then how happened it that Madame de Labourdilliere disclaimed all knowledge of the man?' 'Sir, do you mean to cross-questioii us?' said William, haughtily. 'Certainly; it is my right and my duty to do so,? was the firm rejoinder of the magis- trate. 'It is very plain, that, in your official ca~ paucity, you are not u~ed to dealing with honorable men,' said James, in a loud voice. "Silenc~; you will spoil all,' whispered Honore. 'Gentlemen,' continued Mr. Simeron, 'the unseemly tone of your remarks, ~nd your. very improper manner. of treating n~e haves' induced an 'alteration of my views, and iii.' mentions. The searcb which Pierre' Atibii~ has demanded, shall take place in nu~dia~e 4,.. I will superintend it myself.' 'As you please,' said William, ~ litd~ - bered by this men~e; 'we will a~mcompa~ you as guides, if you choose. * 'I accept your offer.' 'You will permit me to assist your in~es~ tigation ?' said Pierre, whose cotinteaaz~ was radiant with joyful hope. 'Certainly; you shall go with us to 'mdi-- cate the spot.' Torches were instantly brought, a~d whilst Regina, all impatience and anxiety was com- pelling herself to act the apparently uncon- cerned part of amiable hostess with the briiI~b party, the bridegroom and the game.~keeper, with the officers of justice, were descending~ deep below the festive-halls, into the gloom~r vaults, before entering which Ilonore h~id- contrived to send word of what was pining to his anxious bride. On learning that a search was actually~ taking place for the criminating letter, R.egip~ had difficulty from fainting, in'earnegit; Lt~4I curious eye~ were watching every chnng~of countenance, and she succeeded, 1y a violeJ4 effort, in repressing 'her feelings. She Jooke4~ calmly and "even smilingly around her. For an hour this frightful uncertaint lasted. It was, indeed, a k~ng period 4 agong and restraint! At the end 9f that time the four 'brothe~ returned to the ball-room, and by their ~ it was evident that the paper hal not b~t~ found. On approaching her, Jlonore whi~h, pered,- 'Pierre could not discover the entrnz3c~ the cell.' 'How fortunate!' exclairne4 Regiz~; arx4) she breathed audibly, ~s though her ~he4 had been frOe& from a heavy ~mgb1j. Honore frowned, ar~4 ~ inquir~g$yj..~ T4en there is suck ~ letter 2-',, 'Yes, too truly I' gasped kegi~tt. 'In~prudent woman, wl~y write?' 'Absent in person, I must- confes4 ~~s~t'~r ed to be present to-his tljougl~ts~.' 'You rove him gr~tly, then, u~a~i 1'~ 'That is a. fact which I n~qr 4i~gu~e4~ froni you, sir. You~ were awar~p$j~ ~ first accepted your hand. ~pM kzte~,k ~ page: 90-91[View Page 90-91] 9 ' R~GiNA. yend&~ll doubt when, a week ag6, you came ed him f~om the idol of his love-yet the again to-~olieit my promised hand, in Paris.' feeling acquired, by degrees, the gigantic Rer~m'ber what passed then, and our mutual force that frequently is the result of secretly vOWs not to reproach each other with by. and intensely dwelling on one idea or pas- gones. You had your motives of self-interest, sion until it makes head against every ob- etc., and [ -, ' ' stable. 'Regina, I am not reproaching you-what The passionate (nnsuspeeted) lover was y~u say is strictly true-but this proof must willing to cherish her image in his breast be destroyed.' without grv~ng utterance to his feelings. 'Yes, undoubtedly so; and presently, when He would have beeti happy to have bestow- they leave me alone in my own chamber, I ed on Regina his soul's ardent worsl~i~p, aiji will ~o myself, alone, and bring away the unknown to her, had she never loved or mar- letter.' ' ' ' ned, as at one time he thought might be the ~ Regina, I will only stipulate Ahat you give case. it to me. I would fain destroy the i'exatious It would have satisfied this singular being, d~6cument myself.' and been bliss enough to content his hopes 'It sha(l be so!' the lady repliect in admiring and loving Regina-provided Thin oo~rversation was held in a t6~e so that she had been insensible to love. He I~w that no one could overhear it; but the was infatuated to such ~a degree that she jealous dwarf defined from their looks, and should be like a marble divinity, insensible by watching the movement of' the speakers' to the adoration of her numerous admirers-- lips, the project for recovering the letter. 'though living in an atmosphere of love and A strange and ferocious light shone in the adoration, that she should bestow no sympa- dark eyes of the wicked Antoine, ~nd a bit- thy or ~ifI'ection, in return, on mortal man. ter smile wreathed his cynical lips-he, too, This hope ceased when his divinity prov- fortueld a sudden plan, rtnd slyly he' clipped ed she was not cold and impervious as mar- f~bm 'the asseijibly as the guests were prepar- ble. Oh! what torture she had inflicted upon ipg to depart. . him by the smiles which she lavished on her Whilst bent on putting his horrible design admirers, and the encouragement she gave ibto'eieeution, Antoine was making a circuit them since the death of her uncle! More- of the castle-walls, minutely searching for a over she had accepted Francois, without particular spot - Pierre Aubin' was being being in love,-and after his death she had tidrne away, under a strong escort, to prison, just become the wife of Honore. flt~ had4~een unable to find the passage that How dreadful, during th~at period, had led to the entrance of, his 'last dungeon-the been the feelings of' the wretched dwarf! s~crelt asylum of the former Lords of Gazeran Every smile had ~ut him tq the heart. Every as all, hopes of obtaining the, hidden kind word that Regina battered wrought his letter was at an end, it appeared that no evil passions to a species of delirium. He chance remained for proving his innocence, could contemplate the death of a rival with- Leaving the unfortunate game-keeper for out even the hope of taking his place. A tB~ ~i'~senr, we must (imagining his despair rival to him was not an obstacle to his love, and agony o~m ~he mournful journey~) proceed only an enemy the more, the life or death of di 'narrate the, object ~tnd the result of whom could change nothing in the destiny of A-rr~to1ne's ~rcjeCt. him'~vho felt that his ardent imaginings'were The vile end unhappy dwarf was consumed not ordained to become realities. Neverthe- by"the ~Ji~Ienc~ of' two opposite passions- less he viewed a rival with abborence. Thus love and hatred. He detested the game- we might say that his hatred was in a rnea- keeper; am~d'nbthing had lessened the love sure disinterested although, ferocious piti- whi~h ~Tor years he had cherished, in secret, less. for his cbusin,'Regina. Such was the love of Antoine-jealous, From the flfst' moment when he dared ad'. without hope for himself, yet resolved that mit 'to ~hinis~lf flifi fact of this passion, 'he had the object of his p~1ssion (unrequited and un- b~en '~en~ible df the folly, the utfer hopeless- known) should die rather than belong t~ nes~"~ff ~iis' adoration. 'He fully realizedd a another. s~iise cf'tlxe invincible obstacles that separat-' It was in order to prevetit the marriage of e REGINA. 91 Rigina with Francois that he had made use such as lie couLd never again~have. of obtairw~ of his pow~r as a chief amongst the incen- mg a hold over Regina-.and he determined diaries, intending that the castle should have to profit by it. been fired-but the pavilion-and this at a Could he reach the prison before Regin&, late hour, when assistance wo~~ld not have and seize the letter, then on her ac~uiesoenee~ been at hand to stay the devouring flames- would depend its restoration to herseW-Irer but his directions, as we have seen, had been very life perhaps-and also the honor of the~ misunderstood; the pavilion was consumed, family. For in his blind passionhe resolve ~ and Francois perished in the ruins ef it. ed that, should she prove invincible to TJ7~ object of Antoine in wishing The cas- prayers and threats, either from re~u~nav~ce~ tIe to be set on fire, was, that he might have to him personally, or from regard to her new an opportunity to bear Regina au~ay from position, or any other cause-he would him~~ the fi mes in his arms. If saved, he would self place in the magistrate's hand the docu'. have r~ claim on her gratitude. If she perish- ment which world completely 'blast her re~ ed even, that would be better than to let her mutation and clear Pierre Aubin. live for another. It would be in his arms Having great' faith in the power he sho~ild that she would die, and she could not prevent acquire by means of the letter, Antoine' did' or rej)ulse the caresses he might imprint on not reflect that the proposed alternative, her lovely features-and he looked forward whilst punishing the woman whom he )oiretl to a frightful death with frenzied ~delight in- better than life itself, would exonerate anti' stead of horror. save the man he mortally execrated. '0,' The anticipated catastrophe did not oc- trusting that this extremity would not arise, cur. Regina, it is true, became free once he thought only of discovering the outlet to 'more-but the weight of a brother's death, the dungeon made by Pierre. fruitlessly brought about, was added to his The attempt to enter the cell, he felt must' load of sin, be made~ from the~ outside, for if the game- Without affection had Regina consented keeper, having so strong an i~terel~'t in th& to marry him who had thus suddenly been matter, could not find the moveable entrance balled out of ~this world, and still without to the corridor, how should he s~ieceed'~ love, she had just espoused another. Thus Besides, should he ever make it out, 'and was removed the struggle in the fiery breast reach the door of the inmost-cell, he had not of the only one of the aristocrat brothers, the key of it-iherefore the attempt rnt.is~ ~b&' who really loved the lady made from without. Bad as these considerations were to be At last, after '~rigid scrutiny~ he~ found the borne, the ~suffering the'y occasioned was large flag-stone which he sought. The sanie light compared to that proceeding~ fro~n the that had resisted his efforts from underneath; certainty of Regina's love for the game-keep- but now he had room to work, and he ~i~n'~' er of the forest of Brassense, and bitter was rously applied himself to the removal of this Antoine's hatred in consequence of it. impediment. The great weight of it i~h~ The errand- on which this malignant man such, that in spite of his incredible exk was now bound, has not fire and cert~iin erti6ns, he could not stir the obstacle that death for its object-yet it is an appalliiig barred hi~ entrance. one. He has satisfied himself that Regina Antoine wiped the profuse perspi'r~ititb will repair to the cell froip which Pierre es- from his reeking brow, raid Iboked abott f0jJ caped, by the hole which he 'had burrowed something to assist his efforts.' 'Stxddeidy h~ with his hands, to gain possessing of the im- remembered Archimedes and the lel~er! £J~ portent love-letter,, and although he gnashed had found what he wanted. his teeth with fury to ~hink that she should A trong pole from an arbor in the~ pI~sts~ waste a love (so prized by him) on due who grounds close by, furnished' the extra jf~Avqr was insensible to and scorned it-"yet he hat. which ~his arm lacked; the stone was~di~p1~4 ed not Pierre the' less, for being Co indiffer- ed sufficiently to permit him ~o insirm.uat& lji~ ent. ' ' body into the narrow conduit. - To the wild and wicked imagination ,of The dwarf soon 'found, to his ~d1isiii~ay, thuit the dwarf, this visit of the bride, to the loath- this passage 'was ntmt ~ easy ~p penetit'~"~ some dungeon, appeared. an 'opportunity, when h~ had passed through it in Viir~uWbf page: 92-93[View Page 92-93] I R~Gl~NA~ .;t~figitive prisoner. Lither the natural -caving inpf the- earth had narrowed the way, or it had been ib- ~trrnite& or~ purpose. Howevpr he had ~n- t*~a4 wit?1 his hands extended before him, apd -his head bent forward, he pushed his wayonward, hoping that the tunnel would be larger a~ he progressed. But oh horror! ~A little furthereon it was completely chock- The dreadful thought assailed him, and terrifying it1 wns~ that possibly the cavity was clQsed up, intentionally, from within the dun- gewi I If this were the case, what would be- come of him? Retreat was next to impos- ~hle, for the ascent wits steep and sudden; also the deformities and the corporal weak- ~f Antoine would be drealiful, if not i~ae~rmouiitahle, hindrances to his extrica- tinge himself from this perilous pass by re- -ce4ing~. The-dwarf therefore tried hard to advance -4ntt his efforts only weakened him, and proved the strength of the obstructions above and in front of him. -~he blood began to. mount to his tern- pI~,s. L~'fte air became rarified around him. The eurth artd gravel falling down, as it was disturbed by the motion of hi~ feet, rolle l after him towards the inner end of the pas- sage, blocking up the rear; and his mouth filled with foam, He bit the ~tones that wounded his face-and gave himself up for 193$ I l~erea here he was to die! To die in the gsave which was" momentarily closing tighter and tighter on him! It was impossible to call for help. Impps- aible was it for him even to hu.dg~ at all. He, f91~ that~he was being thoroughly wedged in. tha smaIle~t possible compsss. The fallen rubbish trom beneath the -dungeons had en- 9m~~paSsed him, and was bearing heavily on b~ back aad shoulders, and seemed to com- press hi3 very niuscleti. His feet only had o4t~y~spa99 at all wherein ed not stir for o move, but, he dat- fear aggravati~ng his fright7, fj4,pp~zo~. ~ dwarf now felt ~qnvinced that ha was, aJ~out to perish of suffocation! His chest lwl r~o reogi to heat, h~c could scarcely~ re~ spire. He felt as it' he must soon - explode Iike a bomb. The, bloo4 filled his eyes, ~eIess aa tl~e~. wez~ in the utter darkness, It rushed into his mouth, it burst~ fortl~ from his ears! 't'he torture was horrible! In his despair, at this crisis, Antoine made a convulsive motion with his feet, as he writhed in this shea~ of earth and gravel- the agony he was enduring lent force to the kick-the stone which he had but partially displaced to allow his entrance to this horri- ble place.-~-was knocked off the hulance, and it fell in, sinking down and pressing hard against the miserable helpless man! Surely now it is all over with the guilty Antoine!. Not so I fly good-luck, or rather by, per- haps, the reverse, it happened that the fall of this stpne which overwhelmed him and seemed to ensure destruction, was tl~e means of providing escape. The enormous weight of the stone urging the body of Antoine forward, as the passage inclined downwards, and the jar produced by its fall setting in motion the rubbish that choked up the inner mouth of the excava- tion-~-the adventurous dwarf thus impelled onward, descending in to ~he cell, amid a shower of earth, dust and gravel! Notwithstanding the perilous and agonis- ing situation from which he had so miracu- lously escaped-though still trembling as ha wiped the clammy death-sweat of horror from his brow-the determination of Antoine de Labourdilliere to carry out the purpose for which he had penetrated thus hazardously to the late prison of Pierre, was not in the least shaken. Having r~cover&d a little by the faint air that entered the cell through the iron grat~ ii~g. above the door, and recruited his strength by a few short minutes of rest, he, flung him- self on the stone floor and began eagerly to scratch in the corner that Pierre had indi- cated as the, depositary of the important letter. The search was not in -vain! Presently he scrainned with 4elight. .' i.kav~ gc4 it! Oh this precious let4r .1 have it nozp!' Qvercon~e by the fatigu~ that he had nn~ dcrgone, the varied and intense emotioxis which had excited him, the moment of the acqemplishutept; of this great object, was oyerpQwering, and he sank back exhausted against the humid walls of the dungeon, elenchipg the paper with convnlsive grasp! ~me. little time after, as he was reviving~ he- heard ljght footsteps approaching th~ D door~ and he muttered ferociously- - 'Here comes Regina! Her- litter has cost me d~ar-but how much greater the pric~ she will have to pay for it!' CII APTER XVII. Whilst on the one han&Pierre Aubin, a prey to sorrow and despair, was being con- ducted by the Gendarmerie, ~o the prison at Senlis, and Antoine* de Labourdilliere was fighting his xv~iy to the dungeon, as describe~ ed in the last ch~ipter, the ball-room in the castle of Gizerai~ had resumed its gaiety, the music resounded as before the embarras- sing interruption,, and the company assembled to celebrate the nuptials, returned with fresh vigor and animation to the festivities of the night. Madame de Labourdillere having been in- formed of the inability of the game-keeper to find the letter, and of his departure for a jail, recovered her self-possession, and by her flow, of spirits, grac~, urbanity and beauty, attracted the attention, and commanded the admiration of her numerous and- distinguish- ccl guests. Notwithstanding this appearance of ease and unconcern, Regina felt the time long until she was at liberty to retire. - At length the moment arrived when Re- gina could set abou*he important undertak- ing, on the success of which depended her dignity, her reputation,, her honor! With a lamp in one hand, and the keys she required i0 the other, this bold woman made her m'duiight-journey. through the sub- terraneous intricacies which led to the vault in which was concealed the imprudent avow- al of her guilty and scandulous passion. This tell tale paper she was about to recover, and it. destroyed, nothing would he left to sus- tain the blighting imputations of Pierre.' Thus thought Regina, who knew not that to recover, it would be requisite to ptrrchaso it With a shudder of inward exultation she applied the key to the lock of the secret dungeon in which she had for so long a time immured the- man who had despised;and re- jected, her love. Still she hesitated an in- stant, before opening the dood, to cast a look hehing, in orded to ascertain . whether any one had followed her. It was of Honore that Regina thought; and yet why should she dread his espio- nage or presence? Was he not- informed of the past? Had ~sha not' that - e~mening, even, adm~tt~d her former love? - - - -' This was perfectly, true, nevertheless4 Re. gina did not wish the love-letter to fall into~t~ hands of her husband. She - intended to t9U him in the first instance that~ she had not. been able to find it; and to reserve to hera self the power of using it at a future period, according -to circumstances-either to put- an end to the persecution of Pierre 'by Rn. nore-or in case the former, by fresh insults and humiliating disclosures, should drive her to extremities, to produce this galling epis*le as a means of causing the death of the game, keeper through the invitation of her husband. - Being satisfied that she, was alone ip the corridor, Regina entered the cell aud' fI~w towards the spot where she expected to fipd the letter. Instantly she recoiled with horroi,'shriel~- ing involuntary ! - al;ne in the -~ - Regina was not dungeon! On the ground lay a man in convul~is. His clothes were torn and covered with di'r~. His lips were covered with foam, his e~s bloodshot, and almost- starting out of their - sockets. His contortions and apjrent, - a~., - gony were fearful to look upon. The soPrAds which proceeded from his mouth. were nam-- telligable, but expressive, in the greatest 4e~ gree, of fear and rage combined. - - What could this mn'ean? Who c9uIdt~1is~ manbe? - Notwithstandirsg her own terror, R9g$~a drew near, and holding the light in hi~ face, she recognized, inthis miserable object, An-. tome de Labourdilliere! - The wretched creature appeared to kniw her also, .Liut his agitation was too great t~' - allow him to express what he was Jabourij~ to say; and the astounding spectacle depr~t ed Regina, for a few moments, of the power of speech. As soox~ as Antoine was able to make ar-f ~icglate - sounds, he exclaimed over' and oi~eri again, ~in rapid succession, and a vivid ext pression of horror-~- - - 'The phantom, the phantom-l It was i~1~ He hasstden the letter from me! X*elhe phan$pm" - 'What! has any one - been here?' inqum. ed Regina. Yes,;he has, the~spirit!' 'The phagom, the-phantom-!' was all tl~at~ could he extracted from the raving dwarf. - page: 94-95[View Page 94-95] 04 . '~4Ail that the lady of Gazeran 'could make out,, from this incoherney was-..--th'at some stage event had very lately occurred in this r~rriote and se~iret place, and that some mys- te*iot~i personage had appeared to her bro- tfier-in.isw. Without staying to puzzle 'her- self about this strange matter, she hurried to the corner where the letter was said to have been, Plainly she saw that it had been'but r&~ent1y removed, the earth was fresh that had, covered it, and appeared beyond doubt to 'have just been scratched out. Yes, indeed, but a few minutes 'previous, Antoine had held it ii~ his frenzied fingers, a~i exulted at the anticipation of his triumph over his coveted -idol-and yet the paper hi~d vanished, and he seemed maniac. How this had hiippened.~-what had taken pizice-who had parried off the missing let- ter'~on which so much depended-remained for the time an impenetrable mystery. Tte~ina, in this dile~nma, was obliged to acquaint her husband immediately with a true statement 'of her adventure in the dun- g~ibn, and he, with his brothers, hurried down t~ remove the miserable dwarf, who was at or~ce carefully escorted to Valganest. '1*'or eigbt days and nights Antoine was in a raging fever, and completely delirious, ta- ving ineessently about-' the letter' and 'the phantom!' I~uring the whole' of this time, one or other of the brothers, kept vigilant watch and guard at his 'bedside. The disappear- ani~e'of the Fetter was a constant source of uneasiness to them, for whilst it would esta- bhish ,the~ innocence of Pierre Aubiri, it wbuid,' as we have seen, as effectually dis- grace the lady who had become the wife of oil~ of the aristocrat brotkei's, and of course ttr6 sister-in-law-of the rest. li was impossible for them, in the mean time, to 'obtain any clue as the person who had ~bstra&ted the letter,' n~ light having been thrown on the subject. by' the dw~irf *ho could only say- ' ' ' 'It was he !-It was the phantom! He todc 'the letter!' ' ' - liav'iizg made these exclamation~ the deli-' rious wretch would, in his paroxisms, refer to the'xnurder of their father, and the chest that was ernploy~d to coneal~his remains. - These dreadful revelations were ~f too ~ei~,u~ a' nature to be allowed to reach other ears kiian their' owii, therefore the' brothers took the precaution' riot to allow any one else to enter -the sick man's chamber under any-pretence. S * Once, and once only, had they departed from this rule. Honor had called in a doc- tor to see his brother! Doctor Pascal 'ivas eminently successful in his profession,' and was highly esteemed, throughout a large extent of country, by high and low, to whom he devoted his rare skill and care indiscriminately. Thus he waS a favorite every where, ,and did not fail on all occasions, save one, to be well and cordially rec4ved wherever his valuable ser- vices were required. The ezc.~ption, to this universal~ welcome, occurred to Valganest, on the occasion of his calling to pay a second visit to Antoine. James-'who had giving his opinion, that it was better to allow the fever to take its course, should it even carry off their brother, than admit any one to see him whilst thus raving-had encountered doctor Pascal, and refused him admittance to his patient. The doctor insisted, an altercation ensued. From being rude, James became absolutely inso- lent, and ended by imperatively dismissing him. Immediately after, James entered the (oom where William and Honore were sitting at the bedside of Antoine. ~'Iis' face was still' flushed, and the traces of his 'late anger were visible. 'Well, James, what is the 'matter? Who has been vexing you?' asked his elder bro- ther, who had indistinctly heatd the sounds of wrath. 'It was that rascally doctor, who would come in here~wh'ether or no. in vain I tried, bysoft words, to dissuade him, saying it was too early-, etc. He replied that 'a doctor mus't consult the state of his patient, and 'not the' time 'of day. At last I lost all patience with hirri, I had a great mind to pitch him out of the window.' 'Gracidus Heavens l exclaimed the ever timid Honore;-' I hope you did nothing of th~ kind.' - ~ Miorbien, I almost regret that I did not.' - 'You would have done very wrong. I think as you 'dothat it was a~n unwise thing on our part to call in the' doctor, because Antoine 'babbled worse than ever, arid there is no knowing what suspicions it might cre- ate, nevertheless, the doctor ought not te I I RE~!N~A. have been dismissed without the greatest po. likeness and precaution. Thus said William-- and ftegina's husband added- Yes, indeed, it becomes us, above all things, to try and raise up friends.' A That, I think, is not our fate ' replied James,' in proof of which, know that the ac- cused doctor dared almost to threaten us.' To threaten? With what? What does he know? What ~n lie do to us? Surely you have not compromised?' 'Why, Honore you are always a fraid," remarked William. ' What can signjly, the words or actions of this Esculapius? I va- lue them not a pin. But though I am 'not uneasy about so trifling a matter, I should like to know what the man threatened.' He muttered, that 'he was driven away from Valganest because he was attending Cecile, the wife of Pierre Aubiii, whom he called our victim,' said James, carelessly, and he continued- '.It appears, that old Decadi Robert, the father ot' this woman, is straining every nerve to substantiate the' innocence of his son-in- law. Doctor Pascal also told me that this devil of a Decadi asserts that we well know that Pierre is not guilty, and that we could prove it, only that the whole of us have sworn the destruction of the gdme-keeper of Brasseuse.' Honored shuddered at each word, and William, who had become uneasy, and very attentive, asked his brother- - 'Did doctor Pascal say nothing at all a- bout Antoine then?' Oh yes, but I- had nearly forgotten it, for in truth I did not pay much heed to his imper- tinence. He said we were afraid to let him approach the sick man on account of the re- velations which he was making under the in- fluencc of lever. In short, in his rage at being turned out of doors-he called ot4, when beyond my reach, something about the law-that the law knew .9othirig about nobility, or gentry, or commoners, that 'the only distinction in i~s sight was guilt or in~' nocence.' 'God help us, can this doctor know ?'- exclaimed ilonore, in utter dismay. 'What can he, know, you frightened fel- low, except flying, reports? Had he the slightest suspicion of the truth, he would n~f have scrupled to have cast it up to me in his passiqn-and then gentlemen Ithink it would have been un~Vise to have allowed him to leave Valganest in a hurry.' 'I think, with James, that doctor Pasca1~ a, only an echo of the family of Decadi Robert by whom we need not expect to be held W the order of sanctity. Any evil that the)r may say of us can only be of little impor- tance. Pierre Aubin, denounced as an iu.~ cendiary, has assumed the 1)ositiofl of ac~ii. ser of Regina. Nowas Regina has become allied to us, so long as the accusation ~' against her remains unproved, we can not 'I' f~r from this calumny.' it is in vain to talk so,' replied Honore7. 'I am not satisfied. James was too hasty. Lie ought not to have turned out the doctor so unceremoniously.' 'Say rather that we ought never t~ have sent for him,' 'Then perhaps Antoine would not be 'a-- live at this time,' remarked William. 'This' may be 'true,' continued Honore, nevertheless it would haw~ been the moat prudent course for us to have pursued.' £ Let us be (lone with this. Wh~t I ~li~ I do not regret,' said James, and to put an end to the conversation, he walked out of the sick room. At breakfast time James re-appeared, but he did not appear as easy and satisfied as when he had left them. He hel~1 in hi~ hand a newspaper, folded in i~ wrapp&~tl~ address on which he read, with evident sur~. prise, and then exclaimed- 'How long have you been a subscriti~r to the ' Propagateur de L' Oirse' H6nore~' I a subscriber indeed? Never+i~~r shame - a radical paper I' nerv~p~ly, r~ monstrated he. But why the question. Is that. number addressed to me?' Assuredly l' 'The devil it is. What can this ~ It must contain something that relates to ~a. Quick, let me open -it.' Witl~ tret~bIiag hand he tore off the, 99r. ver, unfolded the paper, and running eag~r-1 ly overcohim'ns, his rapid glance w~s arr~s$~j by the following notice, tender a fla~wg caption- He read with tr9rn~lous voice- ~UP1I~ME - %~OU~tT AT S~NLIS. We l~rn fronA ~ur cor~e~pon~en~t ~ Jis, ~a §trange avid highly ~ntetes~n'g IneQ*~ of intelligence.' page: 96-97[View Page 96-97] 9%4 A4sQNA. It will not have been forgotten that in con- the probable speedy deliverance of Pierre se~qu~nce of the confession of Clodomir, the Aubin, with honoI~ab1e acquittal, and the al- incendiary, Pierre Aubin, the gamekeeper most certain public disgrace of Regina- of t~he forest of Brasseuse, was arrested and the three aristocrats assembled in the chain- thrown into the Jail of this city notwith- be~ of Antoine. staiiding the grave charges so solemnly made The dwarf continued getting worse, and against this man, he persisted in asserting his sorely perplexed were his brothers at the ei~tire innocence, but the evidence was so complication of troubles which oppressed overwhelming, that no one would credit his them. reservations. With dejected arid sorrowful looks, the It is now stated, on the most reliable au- three brothers watched the prostrate dwarf, thority, that a mysterious and providential preserviiig a mournful silence, for they feif irtervention - has occurred, that will comple- how useless would any thing be that they tely justify and absolve him whom the public, could suggest! in advance of a tral, had already condemned Sttddenly a great noise is heard without as a guilty man, an incendiary! the castle-thea in the court-yard, over the We are positively assured that a letter has dungeon-vaults of Valganest, the tramp of reached the hands of Mr. Simeron, (who has men and horses-and nearer yet, the sound laid it before the court,) which it is said will spurred heels on the stone-flagged corridors, pto~e an alibi on the part of the accused. and the martial clank of sabres railing Neither is this all that the. letter will esta- through the arched halls. blish! At this instant, old Bartholomew, pale and From the saifle soi)rce we learn that this trembling, rushed into the room. The three letter compromises, in the most scandalous gentlemen had arisen, and were approaching manner, a cei'taii4great lady, recently mar- 'the door, when they we~e arrested by the ~en- ned, belonging to one of the noblest and trance of this man, who, almost beside him- most aristocratic families in the country. self with fear, exclaimed- This ailair promises some rich disclosures, ' The Police I- ~li'he Gendarmes!' which we will hasten to lay before our read- Mr. Simeron, the magistrate, who presid- ers.' 'ed over the affair, with the most formal po- It was' indeed with fear and trembling, liteness, apologized for his appearance with and in broken accents, that Honore read this so numerous and formidable a retinue.- aU$ouncement so menacing to the parricides, "But, gentleman,' he continued, ' resistance t&lhe persecutors of Pierre Aubin, their alone will render necessary the assistance of brother. this force ' that I hope, will, not be required.' When Honore had concluded the fatal James, ,with difficulty, restrained by his p4it~raphhe sank in a chair, saying, in de- brothers, haughty replied to the magistrate- Spare your politeness, sir, and tell *us at. ~ I am a dishoi~ored' man!' My wife will once what this is about. Speak, I say be ha object of public scorn and contempt- What do you want V add Pierre Aubin has escaped from us!' With magisterial dignity, Mr. Simeron Then he cast a mournful and imploring made answer- lQok upon James and William, biit' they re- 'Messieurs de Labourdillere, you are ac- malned m"ute, confused, and ashamed. cused of having murdered A~ajor Seigner.' '.'he sick man, the dwarf, without h lving olles !~' of what ha'd passed) caught' the Deathl~y was the pallor that overspread the words of Honore, uttered iii the piercing counteriances of the guilty men as the name tQneQf an~uisli and despair, and rlsin he shouted-' ' . g up in was pronounced. bid' Antoine, who, up to ibis instant, had re .1~i~rr~ Aubin has es~apedfre~m us!' mined immovable as a corpse, started up in this bed, 'his haggard eyes wildly rolling, 'and CHAPTER' XVIII. '' repeated i~i a hollow yoke-' O~,r the evening& of that" 'day on whhh, 'Major Seigneroltes,' adding ' Yes, yes, th~b~.igh the tiiedium of the newspaper' wli~ch. Pari~icides, Parricides, all 0/us!' ttieyhad'ieceived, they '~became apjmnised of ' ~Fhe wretched being having thus exclaim- I 1~1~G~4A, ed, sank back on his pillow. 'For proof?' growled James, ' Then seek it!' 'As a first step, I demand the key of the family burial-vault.' 'The key of the tomb of our family? eja- culated Honore, with evident fear and horror. 'It shall never be given up. The sepulchre of the Labourdillieres shtdl not be profaned without passing over my dead body,' furious- ly exclaimed Honore.' 'In the name of the law I insist upon your producing this key instantly,' said the magis- t~ate, most peremptorily: 'No magistrate can allow such' a violation -it is sacrilege.' 'The door must 'be opened without fur- ther delay.' Finding opposition useless, Honore or- dered Bartholomew to unlock the entrance to the tomb. Dreadful was the suspense, and ominous the sullen silence ! At length heavy steps are heard ascending the stairs. 'Oh, my God, they are bringing the fatal chest!' staid Honore to his brothers, and his face became livid and ghastly. Too surely, borne by four gendarmes, the dreadful chest was brought into the room, and set down in the middle of the floor. 'Do you recognize this chest, inquired Mr. Simeron of them, but he 'received no reply.' 'Then we will proceed to open it. Two of the gendaA'mes where then ordered to burst open the lid of this large, heavy, ahd mysterious, chest. 'Se'arcely had they struck the first blow, when the work was arrested, by the sudden entrance of a stranger. Ths instant that the brothers caught sight of this man, they simultaneously uttered a shout of surprise and aifright. Decadi'Rol~ert seemed to recognize the new comer also-and he, too, shouted, but it was with delight-and he sprang instantly - forward, and seizing the stranger's hands, he~ kissed them, and bathed them with the tears of joy. At this loud noise and fresh commotion, Antoine once again raised himself up, and catching sight of the unexpected visitor-he pointed at him with his attenuated fingers- and with the most sp~alling 'ook of horror, he exclaimed- 'It is he!' l7hepharztom!' As the dwarf pronounced these words, he fell backwasds, gave a last groan, and ex-, pired!! 'Walking up to the bed', 'the new-coriier took hold of the hand of the corpse,' and pressing it with emotion, exclaimed- 'My son! OIimyson!' Then turning ~to the bewildered specia. tors of the extraordinary scene, this person thus 'addressed them-. 'Gentlemen, I have learned that my sons were accused for Parricide-therefore am I here. .0ehold 'me I-Recognise me !-I am Major Seignerolles-or, rather, lam Etien~c de Labourdillere!' CHAPI'ER XIX. As there could be no doubt ~f the existencs~ or identity of Major Seignerolles, the magis.~ trate and his suite soon took their departure. There, in the chamber of the cltty~.coM dwarf, the brothers stood, self-condemned and utterly humiliated! The father's heart had compassion, 'even for his wicked children, whom h~ m9utned with bitter sorrow-and for a'time all Were silent. Through the opportune appearance of tiv~ Major, that is, Etienne de Labourdillere, his sons were preserved from public punishnient, -but not from the disgrace of having l*e- meditated the crime, which the dying wtn~ds of Anoine proved his belief had been treated. ' prp Pierre Aubin was cleared from the 'stigma that had been attached to his name, andthe danger that menaced his life, when it Was ascertained wher0 he had passed his tinie during the absence whiQh it had been sup- posed Was spent amongst the incediaries-~-- not in the dungeon-vaults of Gazeran Castle. But, he too, wus in trouble, on account of his child's death, and his wife's impaif~d health and reason. Decade, however, the old soldier, and lie alone, seemed tofeel pleasuraNe feelings on the occasion. He was unteignedly glad~ i~ find that his old commander, the Major, was still 'alive. Etienne de Labourdilliere then gave a ~- lution of the mystery 'of his escape frotwthe death they believed F'tancoi~ had infli~ted, and to this, all 1istene~d with attention. ' 'Ma foi,' said' the old soldier, we'behieY~'d page: 98-99[View Page 98-99] I~G11~A. that you had repented ofyour resi~lve to. ac~ linoi#i4edge Pierre, and had abscouded to get eleuir ofus!' ' ' 'You wronged me Decadi, and this my fu. sure actions will declare better~ than words- but my sons 1 see are anxious to. learn how it comes that' I am luckily alive to save theta ;not onI~y from condiga punishment, but, I Would fain hope, from the~pangs of remorse.' You speak truly, father!' said Honore, ti- midly. 'Indeed we have known no peace 8mce that dreadful hour, when our brother Francois re~appear~d from your chamber, wounded and bleeding-with, as we believ- ed~ your blood on his hands, and your death on all our guilty consciences. Honor paused, and shuddered at the re- collection; and William added- ~ We heard a fearful struggle, too, as it Rpppared.' 'I will relate what occurred,' said Etienne * de Labourdilliere- ' When Francois entered my apartment, (saw from his livid look, and the desperate exression ot~his countenance, that his pcir- r.pose wasto put an end. to my existence, wl~ich I knew, my sons unhappily considered a burthen to them. I saw also that he was ~s~ot altogether so hardened as to have no ~ornpunotions about the dreadful deedhe had 4ndertaken to perform, and resolving to 8pare him the certain remorse that would as- j~uredly follow and avenge such a crime, I said- 'Beware! I am armed! Approach not a step nearer at your peril I' 'Disregarding my warning, Francois rush- e$ upon me, and the dagger which I' had drawn to protect myself,~and deter him, un- mte~nipnally wounded him. I threw the wea.~ pon from me, and grappled with my adver- sary, determined, it' possible, to overpower, a$ then. force him to listen to wy plan for his salvation. .i This 1 managed to effect, and easily, for my arms were ~erved with the courage of section and a good pu~pose~-whilst his were enfeebled by the wickedness of his ob- ject. When I had mastered and pinioned my unhappy son, 1 implored him to listen to me. ~ assured him, that notwithstanding this out- rage, he was too dear for me t& h~rm, and I placed his conduct in such a light as drew tears from the eyes~ of both of us. "What shall J do t6 make atonement for thjs~ sin, oh my father,~ said he, penitentially. You must allow your brothers to believe that you accomplished your mission. To keep up this appearance, we will bring out that chest, which you can privately fill with stones, at your leisure, and you will persuade them that you have put my mangled corpse into it, as you doubtless intended.' ,'The horn which your brother were sounding down stairs, in order, I suppose, to drown my cries, and which fortunately hin- dered their hearing your appeal to them for aid-has ceased, we will therefore make a noise, as if scuffling, which will account for your sound. Obey m~,'I continued, and I will be as though dead/to you all in future, as much so as if I really were an inanimate occupant of that chest, whose very sight, I prophesy, will be torture to your brothers. Never shall I re-appear unless to save or serve! On these terms he went. down unstained by a father's blood. Alas! it is too true-but I forgive him, and Pierre also will pardon him, I am sure.' ~Antoine is gope to render his final ac- count,' said William, solemnly, ' Let us not judge the departed. As for me, I will hide my shame within a cloister's walls! To-mor. row I will take refuge from poverty and con- tempt in the solitude of the great Cliatreuse of Grenoble.' 'I will accompany you wherever you go, said James, ' we4inave never yet been sepa- rated, and I am sick of a world where every thing is t~mrned topsy turvy. There will be none but upstarts in high places soon, I ama weary of this miserable state of things, .1 will, with you, withdraw from the world.' Having thus given vent to his spleen, James inquired of his brother Honore what he meant to do? 'Valganest is no place for ~me,' he replied, 'I am no longer it~ lord-I will at once leave it, and give place to the present Marquis, Etienne-Ae Labourdilliere, whose rank and title none can dispute.' Whither will you turni your steps?' I must, without delay, hie to Gazeran, to break 'this, intellig~hce to Regina, and consult with her about our fttttmre mov~nicnts. You know that being married, I am n~t fr~e to act so independently, as you, brother~4' he a~ded, noticing their looks of surprise. A surely you will not live with her after the public are aware of her prior, love and in~ trigues?' ~It is rather embarrassing and unpleasat~t, but' doubtless some means may ~e found to hush up the matter and 'avoid scandal. My wife is rich, young, noble 4n4 beautiful; we may make some kind of a compromise; for I am almost entirely dependent on her.' Having thus explained his views, Honore ordered his horse, add taking leave o~' his forgiving parent with more cordiality and good feeling than he had ever before express- ed or felt, he left the castle of his ancestors for ever. On arriving at Gazeran, he found that Re gina had fled from thence on the day follow ing the announcement of the newspaper Cod- cerning the discovery of the fatal letter. It appeared that she had hurried to Paris,. settled her afThirs with the utmost dispatch, and with a large amount in cash an~d jewels, had proceeded to a seaport, whence she em- barked on board a vessel bound for the Brazils. All this the determined spirit of the woman had infected, while the brothers were supinely watching the progress of events, py the bed side of th~ir conscience-stricken brother. Regina left a letter for ~her husband, in which she stated her reasons for taking the step of expatriating herself without consulting him Thus 'she skilfully avoided the un- pleasant sce~ws which she well knew would be inevitable if she remains. The letter concluded in these words,- "It' you really love me, Honore, and choose to follow as soon as your affairs in France can be arranged-I promise, sacredly, you shall. htve no reason to regret having made Regina do Gazeran your wife, if the most complete devotion and the strictest constancy with 'a never failing desire to please on my part can secure your happiness.' Honor did not hesitate. He had no longer any estate to embarrass his move~ ments, and but little property of any kind. He sailed-but the vessel did not reach its destination and he was never more heard of! The other brothers put their intentions into practise, but, ore their noviciate concluded, a contagions fever, sweeping with destructive fury through the cloistered cells, assailed life; without allowing preparation for death, and speedily tI~ey were no more. None but Etienne de Labourdi1lier~, thJ aggrieved father, and Pierre Aubin, the di*~ 2 owned~ and persecuted brother, were round to regret the extinction of tke~ aristni*~r~ brothers.' But little now remains to relate, thQugh that little can not well remain untohi. Ttm~ fortune of the game-keeper of t~6 forest of Brasseuse, took a new and 'happy turn from the date of his acquittal, an~l he was looked upon as a noble martyr 'to p~rse.' caution and tyranny, and a pattern of forb~ar~. ance and hpnor, in thathe had not betr~.yed those who had so shamefully ill-treated him. It may readily be surmised, by the reader, who was the (to her unkno~vn) protector of Cecile-and why Pierre was so delighted'to see that old man on the nigljtt of his es4ape i'rom the woodman's burning hut. In Vilvert, had the supposed victim ~f par~'icides, remained in seclusion, watchitig over the lives of his children. He had. ob- tamed a promise from Pierre, not to prosef~ute or accuse the aristoc~i'at brothers, when he received him on his escape from G~zera~i dungeons. This sacred promise it was that caused the giiine-keeper, to endure the suspicion~ ~and calumny-of his neighbors, without making known the truth, which would have 6xeu~* ed him. When, at length, Pierre Aubin was s&t free, in virtue of the alibi which Regina's let- ter established-.~-he found Cecile at her fathers (for his house had been burnt down by the indignant peasantry) a prey to grief, sickness, aa4 delirium, and under the care of D0ct4*~' Pascal. Qa the first visit which The Doctor paid, subsequent to his ignominious expulsion 'fr~om Valganest, he detailed the treatment he;~ha~d received at the hands of James de Lahour- pilliere, and related the terrible ravings ~ff An~ine, which' confirmed the suspicions 'f old Decadi Robert that the Major Seignerolle~' had mpt with foul play. Pierre being bound by his promise tp~&l- cea' this knowledge of the existence or t1~e Major, could say nothing that would reu~o~e the impression that this person htnd1i~n murdered, Without having the permission,, 61' Etienne, which he immediatelywetfl tose~k. - Decadi, thereupon hurried to the riajfk. trate, a~d laid before him the staterneuto~he page: 100-101[View Page 100-101] V ~ 4a9~his o~Vd ~A~flds ~ ~f~rii~ft~ the ~4t from the '~sud4~n an§~oliiitable ~p~ar~c~ of 'M~j~r Sei~u~ro~l~s. r. Simer4,' tadng the .d~or~and Decadi i~ert wit~ him, repaired~ ~ ~ve' h&e seen, t~ eastl~ to investigate the matter. 'Y'~erre Aubin, ou&~ &~ind consideration of foij his fallen per~et~utor~, did not rpak~ his appearance, but wben all the legitimate sons 5~f 1~tenne, th~o4ackn owledged Maxquis de Lab~,urdiIliere, had left him to his solitary grarideur the gamr~-keeper was heartily welcomed by the old man. 'i'he Marquis resolved, without delay, to set about making atonement to his long-neg- lected son, and to the exemplary mother of thai son. TQ this end, he made use of his recovered titl~T and consequence to obtain a decree 'le- ~git~mating that son, Pierre Aubin; and he determined to marry the unfortunate mother, for which purpose h~ journeyed to Paris.' ,Thisobj~ct was not so easil~1 attained as he had expected. It took the iu~ited entrea- ties ~of Decadi 'and Pierre~ besides his own, to induce Euphrosine to accept the tardy act ;of justice, which would. render herthe sharer o~ hjs name and rank! 'lThwever, Euphrosine did consent that the ~e~rnony should be performed, which made hem' Marchioness de Labourdilliere! She, who had toiled, with her needle, for years, W give, bread to her son! Once, mid for a long time, Euphrosine had patiently looked forward with delight tb the nuptial day; but it came so late, it found her ~ahiv~mnd sad. The romance of feeling was ov'ei~Z~the 'romance of reality -was taking pI~ce! She was at once raised from mdi- gemice to ~vealth--from insignificance to a lofty position. 'This marriage also restored her tG'h~r soh's society, and that of her brother Decad i, -1'or which she was truly gr~teful. Ere long, 'her tender care and judicious nursing, ~lded to the happiness of ali,'by being the means, ,un4~r Providence, of restoring Ce~ile to bealt~iteason, and the enjoyment of domes- tm~ jove. - Puring thisperiod the Castle of Y~lganest - wap occupied solely by the domestics in Whose oar.e it had been 'left: for the marriage t~ere- ctf'Etienne d~ Laboilrdilliere and tho *~e~tle 1~phi~oshie had taken place in paris, wbither Cecile had beea taken for change oft 9 air,' ~irai~e oPscene, 'and medical advice. Thei~', al~6~th~' party remained for a consi- derable time, as it was resolved that until Pid~re Aubixvcould be received at Valgnnest as .th'e'legitimate heir of its lord, he should not enter-the halls of his ancestors. This delay was profitably spent by the happy family, the newly 'adopted members of which were gradually prepared by the eccentric but accomplished Etienne, to lake their. places creditably among' the magnates of the country. The game-keeper of the forest of Bras- seuse and his dear Cecile, furnished occasion for another christening festival, which was celebrated on a grander scale than that with which our story commenced, but which we will forbear to describe; suffice it to say, that the whole country participated in the joyful fete, at which Pierre Aubin appeared no longer as the game-keeper, but as the heir to the property of his brother, now no more. The republican bias of the nobility, even, as well as the other classes of society, caused 'this triumph, of the- plebian-mother and son, to be looked on with complacency. The rejoicings on the return of Etienne' with his f~a~riily to take possession of Valga- nest, with the christening of the grandson Qf the Marquis de Labourdilliere, were univer- sal and sincere; for few, if any, regretted t*he change of masters which had taken place. Etienne, known and esteerried formerly as Major Seignerolles, passed his last years happily, in carrying out his republican prin- ciples, in ame~orating the condition of his tenantry, and in the quiet domestic' circle he had wisely gathered about him. Decade Robert and he, used, together, to talk over their old campaigns and the glories of the consular days, and amuse themselves with the grandchildren successively present- ed~to them by the faithful and ever-loving couple, 4?ierre and Cecile. Rventr~ally, on the death of Regina, Gazeren Castle' and estates came into the possession of Pierre as the lawful heir. Thus was the game-keeper rewarded for his constancy to Cecile, and uis generosity to the unworthy aristocratbrotkers, by a' very unusual share of prospehty and happiness. THE ENDg I
