Within an Inch of His Life

name of a garden. But appearances are deceptive. The inside is marvellously comfortable; careful and painstaking hands have made every provision for ease; and the rooms display that solid splendor f

masterpiece of iron work; and the wainscoti

ve like a huge atelier; and would fill the heart of an artist with delight. Immense glass cases, which stand all around against the walls, hold the treasures of the marquis,-price

well worthy of

nose, which absorbed immense quantities of snuff; his mouth was large, but well furnished; and his brilliant eyes shone with that restless

and the way he brushed his hair, all betrayed the admirer and friend of the citizen king. But for all that, he did not trouble himself about politics; in fact, he troubled himself about nothing at all. With the only condition that his inoffensive passion should

my

ences, representing scenes of the Revolution; and at about three o'clock, he was busy, ma

nce celebrated beauty had left remarkable traces enough to justify her pretensions. She denied having any claims to being considered handsome, since it was impossible to deny or conceal the ravages of time, and hence by far her best policy was to accept old age with good grace. Still, if the

hat even he, who for many a year had made it a rule of his life to show no emotion, was seri

matter? What

ble misf

ad?" cried the

oness shoo

omething wor

t the sight of his wife, san

mered out,-"tell m

paper which she had brou

have just received from ol

he old marquis unfolde

on fire, and murdered Count Claudieuse. Terrible evidence against him. When examined

h, which in its laconic terms betrayed Anthony's abject terror. But it was not so. H

s abs

understand it.

read it carefu

ve committed. You surely do not doubt his innocence? What a mother you would be! On my part, I a

the telegram," excla

your

hat there was evid

have been arrested. Of course, the t

d not defe

ody accused me of having robbed the till of some sh

t Anthony evidently thi

old fool!" decl

fbox, and stuffing his no

not tell me that Jacques is in love

y. Like a r

d s

ores Ja

also tell me that the

hree da

itten to you ab

ellent

tells you he

self." With a gesture of magnificent indifference th

arried, and has his head full of wedding-presents, could have committed such a horrible crime?

felt reassured by the perfect assurance of her husband. The blood came back t

have been too ea

assented b

uld not say much about it. How could the officers hel

up the telegram, and was

ions, "who in my place would not have been fr

ost honorable gentleman,-the best man in t

hates him

ot mind him any

repeatedly

s such he always talks with the utmost contempt of al

s been at l

ms. He wants at all seasons, and according as he may desire, to direct the waters of the little stream into his own channels, and thus drown the me

oness was not

nother troub

ha

ld like to

s hinted at

r children. The young woman is perfectly charming; and, as we were going to give a ball the week after, it occu

not like dancing,"

told me, in a manner that was hardly compatible with respect, that I had been very wro

istened with partial attention, looking al

Claudieuses. What does that prove? God be than

insist any longer

hat must

it of consulting her husband

cques out of jail. We must se

light knock was h

in!" h

a large envelope, marked "Te

arquis. "I thought so. Now

nvelope; but at the first glance at the contents

at G

chioness seized the fatal p

onfessed. Infamous calumny! His judge is his former friend, Galpin, who was to marry his cousin Lavarande. Know nothing except th

SIA CH

s with tears in her eyes. The marquis, how

is innocent. But I see he is in danger. A criminal prosecution is always

," said the mother, n

ute. We have friends: let us s

rite to M.

had turned quite

ou dare utter that n

rful; and my so

threatening gesture, and cried

son should die innocent on the scaff

to be on the p

now very well that I was

aid the marq

elf-control by a power

t know how the matter stands. You wi

lo

will tell you what to do, and will write to me, so that I can do here whatever may be best. Dionysia is right. Jacques

ell so violently, that a number o

for my lawyer, Mr. Cha

so expeditious, that, in less than

y friend," said the marquis to him.

tray what he felt; for he believed Jacques guilty, knowing as he did how

r the marchioness,

A

inguishing himself so far, although I know he is one of

is his

I shall send him

oiscorans. He was a man of thirty-one or thirty-two, with large, wide-

nform him as to the people down at Sauveterre,-who would be likely to be friends, and who enemies, recommending t

ossible shall be done,

ht, the Marchioness of Boiscoran and Manuel Fo