Captain Paul

n; how well i

service of th

weat for duty,

or the fashion

ll sweat but

t, do choice t

aving: it is no

espe

at had passed in the six months during which we had lost sight of our heroes, some details are, how

signan. Moreover, although he had anchored under the French flag, Paul, as we have seen, belonged to the navy of America, whose cause he had enthusiastically espoused. He continued, therefore, his cruise along the shores of England; but finding there was nothing to be done on the sea he landed at Whitehaven, a small port in Cumberland, at the head of twenty men, among whom was Lusignan, took the fort, spiked the guns, and put to sea again, after having burnt the merchant vessels in the roads. Thence he sailed for the coast of Scotland, with the intention of carrying off the Earl of Selkirk and taking him as a hostage to the United States; but this project had miscarried from an unforeseen circumstance, that nobl

rs, on once more seeing Marguerite, if it were only to reproach her for infidelity; but Paul, more calm and less credulous, made him pledge his word that he would not land until he had heard from him; then, being assured that the marriage would not take place in less than fifteen days, he set out for Paris, and was received by the king, who presented him with a sword, the hilt of which was of gold, and decorated him with the order of military merit. Paul had av

rsonal revelation to receive, left his friend and again took the road to Auray. But this time he was on foot, and did not enter the cas

hich enveloped her from head to foot. Moreover, the habitation which our young adventurer, with the hesitation of ignorance, was seeking for, was to her familiar. It was a sort of keeper's house, situated at a few paces from the entrance to the park, and inhabited by an old man, in whose behalf the Marchioness d'Auray had for twenty years fulfilled one of those acts of sed

balmy to old people in the month of May. The house was however empty. The Marchioness d'Auray entered it, looked around her, and then as if certain that the person she was in search of would not be long absent, she resolved to await his return. She sat down. She had remained there about half an hour, motion

was the first to speak. "I have been waiting

arther, you would have found me under t

t way," said the marchione

ho has a right to our joint prayers, and who, perha

with a certain degree of feverish agitation. "Do you believe that

the dead are so exacting, madam; but I believe if any part of us lives under ground, it w

n a low and hollow tone, "if t

s voice, "do you not believe that blood and tears have expatiated it? God was t

e marchioness, "but did the world know that whi

madam; your feelings as a lover, your feelings as a wife, your feelings as a mother! your own happiness, the happiness of others! The world! It is the fear of the world which has clo

might look upon the person who addressed her in such extraordinary language; then, after a moment

reproaching me. Have I failed in any promise I have made? The persons who attend on you by my orders, are they wanting i

, and which fall back, drop by drop, upon the heart! No, I have not to complain of any one, madam, since first, from a feeling for which I am truly grateful, without seeking to know whence it emanated, you

the servant who is charged to wait upon you; and I have seen with pleasu

lived far from the habitations of men, I have kept away every living being from this dwelling; so

ing her hand upon Achard's arm; "but this is a stronger incentive in my mind not to lose in a single d

e idea, do you not? But, tranquilise yourself; that man, when but a boy, fled from the school at which we had placed him in Scotland, and for ten years past nothing has been heard of him. In short, destined to obscurity, he himself rushed forward to meet his fate. He is now lost

ry to his existence that he cannot live, unless it be revealed to him? Believe me, Achard, for himself even it would be better he should still remain ignorant of it, as he has been to this day. I feel assured that to this day he has been happy-old man, do not mar this happiness-do not inspire his mind with thoughts which may induce him to commit an evil action. No-tell him, in lieu of the drea

which you wish to lead me astray. Only to-day, you speak more openly, and if you dared to do so, or if you kne

a gesture as if abo

ur son, shall present himself before me with the token of recognition, and shall demand to know the secret. I shall reveal it to him, madam. As to the papers which attest it, you are aware that they are to be delivered to him only after the death of the Marquis d'Auray. The secret is here," said the old man, placi

ir, "you might die before my husband, old man; for although he is more dangerously il

last moments will receive them

ity rivetted to my tomb. There is in this world a man, the only one perhaps, who is as immoveable as a rock; and God has placed him in my path, not only as a

left the cottage, and ret