The Clique of Gold

e his horses literally go as fast as they could; and, but for his great skill, the foot-passengers would have bee

rive at

of his love, as a young collegian hurrying to his first rendezvous with his beloved. During dinner he had been sulle

than ever in his life, by the thought that he was to see, face to face, this formidable adventuress, Miss Brandon. And like the wrestler, who, before making a decisive ass

re!" cried

odern structures which attract the eye of the passer-by by a ridiculous and conspicuous splendor. Looking at it from the street, you would have taken it for the modest house of a retired groce

's coats, and showed them up stairs. When they reached the upper landin

e stammere

here he had held Miss Brandon in his arms the day she had fainted. But Daniel had no time to ask any questi

ust risen from table,

A

ease sit down in the parl

n it, from the carpet on the floor to the chandelier on the ceiling, betrayed the Puritanic taste of Mrs. Brian. It was splendid; but the splendor was cold, stiff, and mournful. The furniture had sharp angles, and sugg

ly gilt frame,-a horrible daub, representing a man of about fifty years, who wore a fancy uniform with

deep respect, which unnerved Daniel. "As a work of art, this portrait leave

cture nearer by, and more closely, he thought he discovered a studied and intentional coarseness of execution. It looked to him like the work of an artist who had endeavored to imitate those wretched painters who live upon the

d in the room. He was in evening costume, looking taller and stiffer than ever in his white cr

exclaimed the count, "your

y marked English accent,-"a great deal since this morning. The

dages became visible which he wore around his leg. Count Ville-Handry looked at it with pity; then, forgetting that he had introduc

ed to appear so early; but I kne

y a few

see you for a fe

the honorable gentleman was capable. He made it twic

and I heard her tell Mrs. Brian that she was nearly ready. I

ntlepiece, while Daniel had withdrawn into the embrasure of a window which looked upon the court-yard and the garden behind the h

ought, "or did he really break his leg? If he did so, that fa

ulations, when the noise of a carriage entering

a cry of surprise, for he thought he recognized Miss Sarah in that woman. But could that be so? He was unwilling to believe i

now on his mind.

ed the house. He heard distinctl

ed to enlighten Daniel. But now this was a very different matter. It was a poten

im. Not a word had been said of her being out, and of her return at that very moment. Where had she been? What new intrigues had compelled her to leave the house just t

active complicity of M. Thomas Elgin and Mrs. Brian. What their game really was, and how Count Ville-Han

epared! How marvellously well even the parlor was arranged to serve the purposes of the owners! This simple eleganc

Sir Thorn, Daniel no

ore broken than

eman, who, in order to prove a falsehood, consented to wear his le

"the performance, no doubt, is to be s

t, Daniel was now fully prepared for the battle. He even returned to the fireplace,

ng wedding. He would live, he said, with his wife in the second story of his palace. The first story was to be divided into two suites of apartments,-one for M. Thomas El

tood as if he were petrified, his eyes star

that night a dress of tea-color embroidered with tiny bouquets in Chinese silk, and trimmed below with an immense flounce of plaited muslin. In her hair, which looked even mo

Ville-Handry, and, offering h

k well, d

uld do was to stretch out his lips, and to s

iful! too

ugh, I am sure," said Sir

hed a miracle of expeditiousness; for it was not a

he fresh and hearty manner of a child; "and I am very happy that

imed Mrs. Bria

d round, with her hand ou

!" she said. "I am sure we shall

ould have read in the way in which she looked at him, that her disposition towards him h

er?" he repeated as

de no

; and from that moment the invited guests did not cease to arrive. At eleven o'clock there were pe

ionable costumes-were not free from suspicion; but they all belonged to Paris high-life, to that society, which, under a dazzlingly brilliant outsi

th which their slightest remarks were received. And to this crowd Count Ville-Handry displayed his good-fortune. He assumed all the airs of the master of the house; as if he had been in his own

But in spite of the multitude of her admirers, and the number of compliments she received at every moment, she ne

eing that he was a perfect stranger here, she was good enough to point out to him some of the most remarkable men in the crowd. In doing this, she was so anxious to make h

and how they would defend me i

long since counted up all the obstacles in his way. While the conversation was going on around him, he arranged

how the rooms became gradually empty. It was so, nevertheless; and there wer

se, and, coming up to

e ten minutes' co

saying a few words in a tone of reproach to her niece.

oing is highly

added M. T

shoulders slightly, a

ght to judge my conduct; and he has

aniel, she said t

with m