The Galley Slave's Ring

e Count of Plouernel, the merchant's wife and daughter were, as was thei

nary beauty. In the cadence of her voice, her carriage, and her countenance there was a certain calmness and firmness that conveyed a high opinion of her nature. A glance at her was enough to remind on

n not in tallness only, they also

ds these sign

n are fertile an

masculinity, the sight and nature of the beauty explained the paternal whim that caused the merchant to give his child the name Velleda, the name of an illustrious heroine in the patriotic annals of the Gauls. Mademoiselle Lebrenn could be readily imagined with her brow wreathed in oak leaves, clad in a long white robe belted with brass, and vibrating the gold harp of the female druids, those wonderful teachers of our forefathers who, exalting them with the thought of the immo

beautiful girl of eighteen, coiffed in her magnificent head of brown hair, and whose elegant shape outlined itself under

ldas Pakou, the shop-boy, stood at the door. The youngster was uneasy and greatly disturbed in mind, so very much disturbed tha

en the reality and his mother's promises, she having informed him that St. Denis Street in gener

ut and said to Madam Lebre

Madam!

ebrenn, proceeding unperturbed to m

! Listen! Besides-Oh, good

" returned Madam Leb

is the call to arms. There must be some fear that the agit

vant, "Monsieur Lebrenn's National Guard uniform mu

to it," answered Jeanik

eded, "can you see the St. De

as, all in a tremble; "woul

whether there is much of a crowd g

ng his neck. "It looks like an ant-hill.

it now,

the drums-they were abo

el

s. Listen! Madam! Look! The whole crowd is running this way. Do

too brave," said Mademoiselle Lebrenn wi

row that seemed to be heavily loaded, stopped before the door, pulled the barrow u

r Lebren

is his

e four bale

pose?" asked

so," answered the me

was casting ever more uneasy glances into the street, "

ut of the barrow. They were long and thick

s, with great effort, he was helping the barrowman to carry i

e man in the blouse, fixedly looking at Gild

n addressed himself to

end to you that the bales be kept in a dry place, and no fire near

mopped the sweat

indly; and opening the drawer in which she kept the small change, she took out a ten-s

am," answered the man, sm

ses a tip!" said Gildas to himself. "A

aised her eyes and saw a man of about thirty years, of an agreeable face, and who, an exceptional thing with pa

the merchant's wife, "whether the exc

me across two squadrons of dragoons on patrol duty, with loaded carbines. Everywhere the roll of the drum is calling to arms-although, I must say, the National Guard does not see

s handbarrow and whe

verwhelmed with a fresh flood of misgivings. Nevertheless, rocked between fear and curiosity, he

th the Count of Plouernel that very morning, and who improvised such giddy-headed ditties, emerged from the alley

passage. Nevertheless, Pradeline, believing herself unobserved, persevered in her efforts to obtain a look at the interior of the place. For some time Gildas watched with increasing curiosity the suspicious manoeuvres of the young girl. Appearances deceived him; he took himself to be the object of Pradeline's obstinate glances

e artillery where fuses are held lighted, young

sed the street once more and s

s of wine. If she does she will be capable of coming out again and pursuing me straig

ed Glass, drew up before the shop. The vehicle was in charge of two men in blouses. One of these, named Dupont, was the same who had been to the shop early that morning in order to recommend to M

ebrenn not yet

monsi

him three cases o

swered Madam Lebrenn. And

men to bring in th

ant obeyed, say

asses-and so heavy! Master, his wife and daught

das to place the chests in the room behind the shop,

sieurs? Is the agitati

nt with barely concealed satisfaction. "They have commenced to throw up barri

idable clamor was heard from the distance, the wor

ran to

er of a barricade; it would be premature-we have still several errands to attend

ve their horse the whip, and drove away in the dire

ple near the St. Denis Gate. Suddenly he saw Pradeline emerge from the cafe which she had ente

das. "The wretched woman is bringing me the letter herself! A dec

closed the door, turned the key, and cud

brenn, "why do you lo

w coming up from down below a ba

are losing your he

mad

there is someone trying t

ght Gildas to himself, more dead than alive. "Oh,

Instead, however, of seeing before him the young girl with her