The Nameless Castle

in St. Petersburg instead of in Paris, in the Rue des Ours, a side street leading into the Avenue St. Martin. The street, never a very busy

ely toward the doorway in which the shivering child was concealed, but would turn when he came to the circle of light cast on the snowy pavement by the swinging lantern, and retrace his steps, thus appearing and disappearing at regular intervals. Surely a singular time and place for a promenade! The clocks struck ten-the hour which found every honest dweller within the Quartier St. Martin at home. On this evening, however, two belated citizens came from somewhere, their hurrying footst

e swinging lamp, it was evident that they had arrived at the

hild crouching in th

taller of the two gentleme

letting the light of his lantern fall on the child's face. "Wh

mama!" wailed the child,

ama?" queried

is the

re does

he pa

which avenue

n't-k

She knows that her mother is a countess, and that she lives in a palace;

e, little countess?" in

ell you," wa

o may D

lse but mam

lder man. Then, to the child: "Diana is the perso

my clothes-just see; I have nothing on b

the faded shawl and reveal

when he saw that her thin morocco slippers were buried in the

this manner?" pursued the elder man. "Why did

ped her th

Diana is a

se; what else

or a hound, you know," smiling

ll at the marquis's. Instead, she brought me to this street, made me get out of the carriage, took off my silk ball-gown

little countess to tell the tale to-morrow," observed the elder man. Then, tur

would be inhuman," was the re

e her in; it woul

innocent prattler who cannot ev

he conciergerie," sugge

police when they are asleep," in a si

t take the child to our ap

cent child has been placed in our way by Providence; by aiding

door I will arrange matters up there so that you may bring this poor little half-frozen creature directly with you." Then, to the child: "Don't be afrai

and ran hastily up

and, with a meaning glance, announced that everything was ready for the reception of their small guest. They entered a

signs of alarm. "Are you going to

man laughed me

s to be croquemitaines who de

rl of your own?" queried

sibly affected by the question. "I have no w

sband, and she 's got

f I have not got a little girl, I

d stockings, rubbed her feet with a flannel cloth,

ried the child; "just as if so

betrayed some confu

e warmed it with

did you get

t is!" muttered the old man. Then, aloud: "My dear

shall have plenty of time

, your convictions will not prevent you from drinking a cup of

r man rummaged from somewhere a large, beautifully dressed doll. All thought of fear now vanished from the small guest's mind. She c

ether the faded damask bed-curtains, and walking on tiptoe back to the

tient response. "We can't stop here much longe

d to death. To-morrow he will be e

the son of a tailor at St. Leu. The true dauphin, the son of Louis XVI., really died a natural death, after he had served a three years' apprenticeship as shoema

ld man, restlessly pacing the floor. "I received a letter from my ag

ovence, afterwa

He, too

sed the elder man. "That c

awake, what could

young man's side. "Everything is at an end here," he added in a lower tone. "We must remo

ged two days ago. The most difficult part was to get away from this hou

old gentleman, glancing s

g-place? Even England is not safe. The bullets of Dillingen can reach

know of a country in Europe where order prevails, and where there are no police spi

such a place may be found," with an i

toward it." The two men spread a large map of Europe on the table, and, bending over

something. The map was folded up and

nce," he said, with

n which the mother with her own hands embroidered the well-known symbol, and a million of francs in English bank-notes. These, however, you will not use unless compelled to d

y await m

pon. Until I hear from you I shall be in a terror of anxiety. I am sorry I cannot accompany you, but I

aid the young man, producing from a secret c

he undertaking; but the task is not a suitable one for so y

nsidered e

at is worse, you will be the

I promise you," with a grim s

-six years! And who can tell ho

dread the task. Those in power

ng maiden-what then? Already she is fond of you; then she will love you. You cannot hinder it;

he inhabitant of a different p

is greater than that of the captive knight who cut off his own

e," interposed his compan

e one in the oth

lestick from the table; his companion carefully closed the iron doors of the fireplace; th

not asleep. She had listened attentively, half sitting up

bed. The old gentleman entered the room. He had no candle. He left the door open, walked noiselessly to the bed, and drew aside the curtains to see if "this" child was still asleep. The long-drawn, regular breathing convinced him. Then he took something from the chair bes

ering near her-as if she heard a stifled sob. Then cautious footsteps crossed

k in the adjoining room, and the elde

r of letters and papers into the flames, then several dainty articles of girls' clothing. He watched them until they had burned to ashe