CHAPTER II.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 138, 23 January 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER 11.

THE DE MENSIGNAO MANSION. The fever for demolishing, which followed the revolution of February more than fifteen yeara ago, had swept away that superb mansion of the De Mensignacs. At the conclusion of Louis Philippe's reign, those vast buildings still overlooked the river Seine, from the high deserted land, which, under the Restoration, received a Spanish name in memory of the war of 1823. The Trocadero had been chosen as the spot to build the palace of the Roi de Rome. The catastrophe of 1814 prevented the realisation of Napoleon's idea, but had not stopped the work undertaken about 1811 by General Marquis de Mensignac, Nobly descended from an old Gascon stock, son of an emigrant who died a f t'oolentz, the Marquis, by the favour of th 6 Fret Consul, had b«en able to restore hie bouse, and recover part of his wealth, in return for his services so loyally offered. Captain of Dragoons at Austerlitz, Adhemor de Mensignac, after the battle of Wagram. had been made brigadier-general, and, at the time of the Emperor's marriage with Marie Louise, he had increased his protege's fortune by favouring his marriage with a noble and rich Austrian, whose father had accompanied the new Empress to Paris. The Marquis wished to prove hif» devotion to the empire by building a munificent mansion near the ground consecrated to thedynasty of the young Napoleon. The empire fell before the building was finished, and the General did not inhabit it until 1817. Although hi" services under Napoleon, whom they called theusurper. made thecourt look coldly upon him, the Marqui* rallied around the Bourbons about 1 820, having remained long enough in retirement to pain a reputation for fide'ity to misfortune Then remembering opportunely that hi 3 ancestors figured in the Crusades, he was soon taken into the King's favour, who elevated him immediately to the grade of lieutenant-general and peer of France. After this he led a luxurious life, and was one of the men moot sought for in Parw until his death, which took place about the same time as the revolution of July. He left a son eighteen years old, and a daughter in the cradle— a daughter whose mother died in giving her birth. The son, whose name was Roger, became master of a fortune impaired by his father's extravagance, but still considerable. He showed, upon his entrance into the world, a firmness of character aiad a discreetness of deportment very rare at hi 3 age. But it was whispered that this precocious maturity was owing to sad events, as the General's home bad not been a happy one, particularly during the last years of his life. Unpleasant circumstances were spoken of, of which young Roger must have been the involuntary witness. These were little more, however, than vague rumours, as the General passed most of his time at the court, at the opera, and in the elegant circles of the gay world. He received no one at his house intimately, but opened it two or three times during the winter to give luxurious entertainments to the aristocracy, the Marchioness pregluing at them with timid grace, and this was all that Paris knew of her. Her death made more noise than her life, and persons did not hesitate to say that grief, caused by the preference given to a rival, had contributed to her premature death. The neighbours and little shopkeepers around spoke of tragic scenes of which the Be Mensignac mansion was the theatre, and they bad always looked upon the General as a kind of Bluebeard. The absurdity of these ridiculous stories was, perhaps, the only thing that kept them alive, and after the death of the Marquis and his wife, the house still retained its mysterious reputation. Nevertheless, nothing could be more simple than the life led by those who inhabited it, as Roger de Mensignac devoted himself entirely to the education of his young sister, with an almost paternal love. Jeanne had grown up under the same roof with her brother, and was now an accomplished young girl. Shehad had an English governess in her childhood, who now remained with her as a companion. Mi«»s Georgina Fassit had, at first, come into the family as a reader to the Marchioness, about a year before her unfortunate death, and her demeanour since the death of her employers had given a loud contradiction to the public r amour which had accused her of having been the cause of the trouble in the General's household, as she showed the warmest affection for Jeanne, who returned it with all her heart. In her youth she had been strikingly beautifnl, but at her present age tHese malicious suppositions were improbable. Many severe strictures and hostile remarks were made upon Roger de Mensignac Learned, intelligent, and refined in his tastes and habits, he had the great fault of not liking society —a wrong done to it that it never pardons. For some years after his father 'B death, he had tried its pleasures, but gradually retiring from it, had now but one intimate friend, Edmond de Sartilly, tbe companion of his childhood. Nevertheless, this friend was ignorant of certain parts of Roger's life, as he sometimes diFappeared for entire months, no one knowing where he was. From this fact arose all sorts of rumours.some of them even going co far as to accupe the young Marquis of giving himself up to some secret guilt. It has always been believed that under the hill of Trocadero were large subterranean caverns, and persons were not wanting to affirm that by these the De Meneignac family carried on their intrigues. Sartilly knew not what to think of these suppositions, and believed that the^absence of his friend could be attributed to a great gission for some woman of high position, ut the only mystery he could not unravel was the mystery of Roger's fortune. Coming as he did into tbe possession of his father's estate at eighteen years of age, and haviug, since his majority, the -wardship of his sister, Roger had always lived as a man who possessed an income of at least a hundred thousand francs ; nevertheless, Sartilly did not know of any other property than the De Mensignac mansion, which was rather an expense than a source of revenue. Roger did not gamble nor speculate, and it was by chance that Sartilly discovered that he had no money in the funds of the State, where, at this time, .nearly every one invested their property. Viscount, however, attached very little importance to this circumstance, for he felt ft strong friendship for Roger, and

this feeing, begun in their infancy, had' been increased for the last two years by a i more powerful one, as Roger waa the brother of the adorable givl whom he loved, and who he believed returned his love. Jeanne had jnst reached her eighteenth ''ear. Sartilly waa the only visitor received the De Mensignac mansion, and although there was a great difference in their ages, a reciprocal sympathy drew them together, Roger had always shown himself favourable to the future marriage of his sister with his best friend. They knew the marriage would soon take place, and while waiting they lived in that charming intimacy which naturally establishes itself between a pure young girl and the man who is to be her | husband. The evening of the melancholy adventure ot the Bois de Boulogne, Sartilly had passed three hours with Jeanne and her broiher, forming pleasant plans for the future. Roger had never seemed more gay He had playfully teased the lovers, had announced a serious conference for the next day to settle preliminary matters and fix the day for the marriage. On leaving the house, the Viscount had dined at his club, and afterward was enticed to the opera ball, and the foolish Port Maillot party. Very much agitated by the exciting scene he had just been engaged in, the Viscount felt, on receiving Jeanne's letter, that anguish o\ heart which seems to be a forerunner oi misfortune, and while galloping swiftly toward Paris, his head was # filled with gloomy supposition ; but still, ai moments, it seemed to him as if all he had gone through had been a dream The bloody head, the torn pocket-book, the frierhtful old man, seemed like so many childish visions that fever had producedjr his brain ; and when he saw the massive roof of the De Mensignac mansion towering above the trees in the garden, he hae almost forgotten these funereal realities, and only thought of Jeanne, perhap; exposed to some danger, as he had sent for him, and felt every second's dolaj might destroy tho happiness of both. At the sound of the furious galloping o: his horse on the pavement of this deserted part of Paria, the door of the house was opened, and a footman coming forward te take charge of his horst, he felt that h« was impatiently expected. 11 Has not the Marquis come home?" h< asked quickly, while throwing the reins te the servant. " The Marquis is not at home, sir," the footman answered, very calmly, "but h( came in this morning about three o'clock.' This unhopedfor reply reassured Sartillj in a measure, and he added, in a less agitated voice, " Can I sec Mademoiselle de Mensignac ?" •She desired me to ask you to go intc the library ; she will join you there immediately." Sartilly crossed the court rapidly, and bent his steps toward the well-known staircase that led to Roger's rooms. The library was built in the form of a high and narrow gallery, lighted by large windows, and situated on the southern front of the house, A single door led to the Marquis's chamber, and at the other extremity there was merely a wall, that being the end of the building. This was Roger's favourite room, and how many charming evenings had Edmond passed there, around the wide oak table, and where Jeanne, in spite of the smoke oi the cigars, had taken her place beside them. Here, all spoke of the master— the nev? romance still open, engravings and watercoloured sketches thrown here and there upon the table, large books piled upon the stand, and one might have sworn that Rogei de Mensignac had just left the room, as a white sheet of paper was lying upon the table, and a pea still wet with ink. With this peaceful picture before him, Sartilly's spirits rose, for it seemed to him tfiat nc misfortune could enter this beloved home. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, Sartilly was slowly walking along the gallery, when his foot touched an object the contact with which gave him a singulai feeling. Stooping to pick it up he could not restrain a cry of surprise, for he held in his hand a lock of hair, from which a ray of sunshine brought out the golden hues. H« had not recovered from this emotion when the library door was opened, and recpgnis ing the light step of Jeanne de Meneignac, he had only time to throw it aside when the young girl came quickly in, holdiner oui her hand and asking him, in an agitated voice, if he had seen Roger. " I thought I would find him here." Jeanne gave a gesture of discouragement, and sank down in an arm-chair. Her pale face, and eyes reddened by weeping, ex pressed so much anguish that Sartilly drew near to support her ; but repulsing hint gently, she made a sign for him^to sit dowc beside her. "What has happened, dear Jeanne?' said the Viscount grieved to the bottom ol his heart. He waited a long time for an answer. The poor girl had borne up at first against her grief, but in the presence of the man she loved her forced energj gave way gradually, and she burst intc gobs •'Dear Jeanne ! in the name of heaven speak to me." " My brother is dead !" The Viscount was shocked, and all the frightful events of tfie morning appeared te him at once. It was then true ; the detective revelation of the morning had not lied, and the pocket-book had been torn front the breast of his murdered friend. Jeanne, whom be adored, was before him, wringing her bands in despair, and he had no longei the courage to reassure her. " But I saw Roger last night," he mur mured, as if speaking to himself. ** Where ? at what hour ?" said the young girl, eagerly. " About two o'clock at the opera ball Yes, it was two o'clock," in the tone of t man trying to recall hi 3 recollections. " At three o'clock he was here." (l It is impossible ! he could not be killec in this boupe." •' You must have known that he was noi at home, as you sent to inquire for him !' " Dear Jeanne, did you not say that ] sent some one here to see Roper ?" "It is quite true," said Janne, raising her eyes, filled with tears, to her lover'i face. " Who came here to inquire for him ?" "Your groom Toby." A painful thought crossed Edmond'n mind. Could it be passible that Jeanne had suddenly lost her senses, and this feai gave him strength to interrogate her more calmly. "Jeanne," he said to her, in a voice thai trembled, in spite of himself, "you know that I love you with my whole heart, and you know also that Roger is like a brothei to me. When my father was killed in 182 C in defending the Louvre, yours welcomed me as a son, and since the death of General de Mensignac, Roger has inherited the affection 1 bore his father. If he is in danger.l will save him ; if he is dead, I will revenge him. But I must know all." These plain and simple words seemed to make a great impression on the young girl, who, raising her head and wiping the tears from her face, gave Edmond a look full oi love and gratitude, and, trying to collect her scattered thoughts, she pushed back the long ringlets of her hair, which had fallen in disorder on her face, remaining for ft moment serious and silent,

"I remember now," she said Blowly. " Roger stayed at home quite late ; we had been reading together some rereea of Lamartine, and I had wept. * He was gay, more gay than usual,and rallied me kindly. Gradually he became dull, spoke to me of our mother, then of you, and I remember his saying our marriage should take plaoe very soon." Jeanne blushed while saying these last words, and evidently hesitated ; however, making an effort, she continued : 11 He wished," he said, "to arrange my affairs with the notary this morning, and he repeated several times, in a peculiar manner, that he would not always be here, and that he did not wish to marry a woman without fortune. I tell you these things, Edmond, because it is important for you to know all that happpened before he left." I " When did Roger leave you ?" interrupted Edmond, who had been listening to I this recital with feverish attention i " Near midnight ; and before he left me, he told me he would return rather late, and desired me to meet him in the library this morning at ten o'clock. I recall at this moment his la9t words: 'It will be very dull to hear the contract read ; but at eighteen years old, your age, my dear Jeanne, you must begin to accustom yourself to these things.' Then," continued the young girl, in a broken voice, he kissed me, and I felt a tear fall on my forehead." '* But he returned, you told me." " What I am going to tell you may seem to you almost improbable, and perhaps you can scarcely believe me," Jeanne replied sadly. Sartilly held out his hand with so frank s gesture that she gave him hers, and in o low voice continued : " I believe in presentiments, Esmond, foi I am a woman ; and after Roger left me, 1 felt overwhelmed by an unconquerable sadness All kinds of mournful ideas sprang up in my mind —it seemed as if a great mia^ fortune threatened me, and a secret voice whispered to me that the quiet evening 1 had just passed with my brother would be the last. I tried to reason with myself, but the idea of death always returned to me, I tried vainly to sleep, but it was impossible—the least noise made me start, and 3 felt a nervous excitement before unknown to me. I did not suffer, but I was afraid, and after passing some hours in this way, ] foil into a painful slumber, from which ] awoke with a start. " You know that Roger's rooms can be seen plainly from my windows, and I saw a bright light shining from the library where we are now. At this sight, I uttered a joy ful cry, for I felt sure that my brother had returned Almost at the same moment a singular desire took possession of me. 1 wished to see him, to speak to him, to tell him of my foolish fears, and to beg him te reprove me well for them, and it seemed te m« I already heard him aak if I had forgotten that I had the blood of the De Mensignacs in my veins ; as he always laughed in this way at my childish fears. I thought, for a moment of awaking Miss Oeorgina, but I reflected that it would be wrong te disturb her, and throwing my cloak over my eho^ders, went out of my room. " 1 remembered that, as I ran rapidly along the gallery, the clock in my room struck three. I carried a lamp in my hand, keeping my eyes fixed on the lighted windows of the library, and just passed Roger's room when my lamp went out suddenly, and I was left in profound darkdesP." "In the name of heaven, what did you gee then ?" snid Edmond, almost as much agitated as Jeanne. "Nothing, nothing, Edmond ; nothing real, at least," replied the young girl, after a moment's silence. *' I heard only a strange noise which came from the left wing of the house, and that chilled the blood in my veins. It was a deep and dull sound, resembling the distant rolling of a heavy carriage, and almost at the same moment the light in the library disappeared. " Alone, in the silence of the night, I was seized with a mortal terror, and felt as if I were going to die ; but recovering a little strength, dragged myself back to my room, where I was very near loeing conpciousneas, when a feeling stronger than fear reanimated me, and drew me to the window. The moon, showing herself at interval*, lighted the court, and I distinctly saw a man come down from the staircase of the left wing of the house, glide along the wall, across the grass plot, pas 3 out by the garden-gate, and rapidly disappeared, but I had time to recognise him, and felt quite reaspured, for it was Toby." " Toby !" cried Sartilly,starting with surprise ; "It is impossible. He drove me to the opera ball at one o'clock, and at five o'clock, when we started for the Bois de Boulogne, he wasistillinchargeof mycarriage in the rue de Lepelletier. " Jeanne shook her head, as if wishing to express that, all had been strange on this mournful night. "This morning I sent to inquire foi Roger, who was not in the houae, although the porter had certainly heard him come in by the private gate a short time after two o'clock, and he thought he had heard him go out the same way between three and four o'clock — at least some one had opened the gate. " My feara again took possession of me, and when the notary came afc ten o'clock, and Roger, whose punctuality you well know, was not here to meet him, I felt that some misfortune had happened, and I sent immediately for you, and while waiting thought twenty times I would go crazy." While Edmond was listening to this account his face brightened, and when the young girl had finished, he had recovered his usual calmness. 11 But, my dear Jeanne," he said to her, •* you are alarming , yourself neeinessly. You know Roger absents himself sometimes for weeks, and even for months." "Never without informing me of ifc." "But there was nothing unusual in hia coming in and going out by the private gate, for I have heard Roger Bay twenty times that he always came in and went out that way at night, that he might not disturb any one." " I haye not told you all," murmured the young girl in so low a voice that Edmond could scarcely hear her. "Jeanne, if you love me, why conceal anything from me?" said the Viscount, kindly, "I will tell you all," began the young girl again. "At my father's death, I was four years old. It was on a winter's night, and I was in bed in a room next to that in which he was dying. All the servants of the houee were collected around him, and I was alone in my crib, when a strange form passed suddenly before me. It was , a woman clothed in a long red drees, with her loosened hair hanging down her shoulders ; she crossed the room, and it seemed to me that I lost sight of her in the hangings. A few moments later I heard sobs— Roger sobbing. Our father was dead I" Sartilly looked at Jeanne anxiously '; he feared again that her reason was wavering. " Well," continued Jeanne, in a trembling voice, "that woman—l saw her again last night ! You see, now. that some mem-, ber of our family must be dead." , , Fear is contagious, t particularly fear caused by supernatural events, and the

Viscount could not help shuddering while listening to the. young girl. There waB, besides, something in this fantastic apparition that might throw a gloomy light upon the frightful story of the Boia de Boulogne, and the mysterious death, whose image pursued Sarfcilly like a bloody nightmare. CoiHd it be, indeed, this woman dressed in red, who had wandered' into the De Mensignac mansion on that fatal night ? In spite of himself, Edmond turned round to look for the blond tress that he had thrown far away from him on the library floor ; but he could ace nothing of it, as only a wan and dull light passed through the library blinds, and the base of the high oak book caßes was hid by the shadows. But it seemed to him that a wavering figure "was passiug along the end of the gallery, and the pale head with golden hair was looking at him, Jeanne's agitated voice recalled the Viscount to himself -"I caw her," repeated the young girl. " 1 saw her pass quite near me— so near, that the long folds of her dress brushed against me. >3he walked noiselessly, as phantoms always walk, and disappeared suddenly in an angle of the gallery." *♦ Could you distinguish her features ?" said Partilly. " No ; my lamp had juet gone out, and the moon gave very little light, bat I caw thai she was very pale, and hor hair was floating in long tresses on her shoulders." These last words gave Edmund a feeling oi reality ,fou he could not doubt that strange and terrible events had passed last night ir the house. " Listen to me, dear Jeanne," he said, taking her hands in his own. "I canno< believe in visions, but there is a mysterj here that must be cleared up promptly, and until Koger's return you must give mi your entire confidence." "You know, Edmond, that I have nc other friend but you in the world " " Dear Jeanne, I beg you always to speat to me as if I were your brother." '•I have nothing to conceal," said tb( young girl, with a frank and cordial man ner. *' It is true," replied Jeanne, thought fully, " that it seems to me that her form, her step, her long waving hair recalls c person whom I have seen many times, bui it may have been in my d reams." " Was it at a ball ? or the theatre ? or the Champs Elyedes?" " You forgot, Edmond, that I have never been introduced into society, and that Roger took roe last week for the fii si time to the Italian opera." " But you might have seen her in a carriage in the Boia de Boulogne ?" "Mo, no," repeated Jeanne, hesitatingly, "No, it was not she ; nevertheless, when J was quite a child, Roger and I were driving together on a beautiful spring day in the Bois, when he bowed to a woman whose marvellous loveliness Btruck me, and t vague image of her came back to mj thoughts last night when the vision passed.' "And since your childhood, nor form anj years, you have not met this woman ?" lC No : if I had seen her again, I coulc never have forgotten her." "You are very sure that you have nol seen her this winter, in a superb carriage drawn by four horses ?" " 1 have been out very little since last autumn. Roger often went out on horse ■ back. I only had Miss Georgina to accompany me, and she feared the cold ec much that I gave up my drives in an opec carriage." Edmond was silent for a moment, for he had hoped that some light might be thrown on the subject, but all was obscure still. " Ate you sure that you Baw the same woman the night of your father's death that you saw last night ?" "I am sure of it." "And the unknown person you saw in your childhood, in an open carriage, did nol recall the first apparition ?" "I cannot say," answered Jeanne, " Both recollections returned to me at the same time last night— the first very clear, the other more vague, but never before hae they come together in my mind. Besides. I remember now that the day after the death of my father, I told Miss Georgina what I had seen, and she reproved m« severely, and forbade me ever ggain repeat ing so foolish a story." ♦'It is very strange," murmured Sartilly, ** Ah, since you despair also, Roger must indeed be dead," cried Jeanne, sobbing. The sight of Jeanne's grief restored alj the Viscount's energy. It would be wrong at such a moment to be depressed, and whatever might be the solution of this dart enigma, he must try to unravel it quickly, if he wished to save from despair the young girl he adored. " Jeanne," eatd he, in a firm tone of voice, "if you will aid me, I swear to you that you shall find your brother again." " What must I do ?" " You must let me act, and give me al] tho information you can. Do your servants know what passed last night ?" "They know that their master did noi return this morning, for I sent them tt look for him, but they no doubt think thai it wa3 in consequence of the broken engagement with the notary." "I will ace the notary to-day, but above all, dear Jeanne, try to hide your anxiety, Have you spoken to Mias Georgina aboul it?" " Yea; but she laughed at my terrors and, as I have already told you, she does not bel'eve in apparitions." Sartilly was silently reflecting, aa i: absorbed by a thought he did not wish t( express, and which the young girl tried te read in his face. '* But it is impossible ; Toby could nol have come here last night," said the Vis count suddenly, as if speaking to himself. Jeanne was going to reply, when a foot ,ijaan drew aside the curtain of the gallerj door, and announced that the Marquis's notary begged Mademoiselle de Mensignat to receive him on a very urgent matter. Edmond and the young girl jumped up to getber, a 9 if struck by the same electric shock. A vague presentiment warned then: that this visit would clear up a part of thu formidable mystery. ." Stay with me, Edmond," said Jeanne te the Viscount, after having made a sign te tbe servant to bring in the notary. An instant after, M. Chlniet came in, He wae still quite a young man, with a countenance expressing integrity and intelligence, and he came forward witb an ease of manner natural to a notary admitted to the richest houses oi this noble faubourg, and bowed respectfully to Mademoiselle de Mensignao. An observer might certainly have remarked on the face of the notary a shade of serious sadness, which foreboded bad tidings, as clouds announce the tempest. "Ibeg T you to excuse my persistency, but I had an appointment of * the greatest importance with your brother this morning. I have not been able to find him, and as the business I expected to transact with him was so urgent, I thought it better to inform.you of it," The notary stopped and looked at Edmond. " The Viscountde Sartilly, mybetrothed," Jeanne said,: simply. k „ "I am.vßogrer de Mensignac's, .most intimate friend," added Edmond. '* Then, t sir," replied M, Calmet, "you will certainly understand my anxiety; and my persistency, as the Marquis, whose

punctuality I have know for fifteen years, is not 10 be found, the day when he ought to put in ,my hands the amount of a bond signed by him in my office, for the benefit of one of my clients, who lent him a large sum of money last year, and I really do" not know how to account for hie inexplicable absence." "I did not know Roger ever had need to borrow," said Sartilly, rather coldly ; " but whatever the sum may be, it is quite useless to annoy Mademoiselle de Mensignac with it. If you will tell me the amount in question, 1 am quite ready to pay it for him ; for, as I have already told you, Roger is my best friend." "The payment due to-day, February 13th, 1847, ia five hundred thousand francs," M. Oalmet eaid, gravely. There are amounts whose enormity astonishes minds the least disposed to bend before the power of money, and five hundred thousand francs, at this time particularly, was a sum that the wealthiest person rarely paid or received at one time, and Sartilly sought a motive for this colospal loan contracted by his friend, and could find none. Roger had never said a word before him j that could make him suspect that he felt I the least pecuniary etnbarassment, and without knowing all the events in the life of the friend of his childhood, Edmond was sure that he had never been carried away by a passion for gambling, which often shatters the beat established fortunes. He played as a rich and elegant young man seeking a pastime by tempting a chance at cards, therefore the stupefaction of the Viscount was so great that he remained for some time without answering. M. Calmet's countenance expressed his sincere interest in his absent client, aa well as in the noble youngr girl to whom he had just brought this sad news. At the same time, one could see in his face that he believed thut the abeence of the Marquis was premeditated. Thia opinion, as carefully hid as it might be, had not escaped Edmond, and he felt wounded by it. "Pardon me, sir," he said, haughtily. "Did M. de Mensignac know exactly the time this debt was due— a debt whose enormity, I confess, surprises me extremely." "Did I not tell you, sir, that the Marquis sent for me to come to him yesterday, to speak to me particularly of this payment, and he left me after making an appointment for this morning at ten o'clock, telling me to prepare in advance a notary's receipt. I was to remit the funds to my client to day, and I have not yet taken upon myself to inform him of M. de Mensignac's absence." "Then, sir," said De Sartilly, quickly, "as Roger has spoken to you of thia affair, he must have consulted you also upon the funds it would be necessary to sell to meet this payment. Have you not his affairs in your hands ?" "I have been notary to the family for more than twenty years," answered M. Calmet, quietly ; "but a short time after the death of his father, the Marquis sold all hia landed estate, and doubtless converted the amount into personal property. Since then I have ceased to be the depository of his fortune. This houee and the grounds around it belong to Mademoiselle de Mensignac." Although he might have anticipated this overwhelming reply, Sartilly felt, while listening, the acute pain of a man who sees a precipice opening itself at his feet. The honour of his dearest friend seemed to sink suddenly before him. The De Mensignac name, nobly worn by those he loved, was overwhelmed by a gloomy cataßtropho. The unhappy Viscount held down his head, and his wandering look seemed trying to fathom the aepth of an invisible gulf. Jeanne seemed to have but one thought, and she scarcely understood that the ruin of her brother was in question, for the fright ful vision of the night was always before her eyes, and three words returned unceasingly to her lips—" Roger ia dead !" The deep despair of the young girl, who bad become an orphan a second time by the disappearance of her brother, recalled to Edmond de Sartilly that henceforth she would be under his care, as she had no other friend. " Sir," he eaid to the notary, in a calm tene of voice, " Mademoiselle de Mensignac is absolutely ignorant of money matters ; therefore, I think we can spare her the pain of listening to these details." The notary assented. "If I were only Roger's friend," continued Sartilly, " I trust his sisters would permit me to take hip place under theee sad circumstances. Would you not, Jeanne ?" added he, with a look full of entreaty and love. The young girl rose, pressed his hand, bowed to M. Caimet, and left the room without speaking. She had divined that Edmond wished to devote himself to her, and she loved him sufficiently to accept his devotion. "Now that we are alone," said the Viscount, with a feverish vivacity, "we can speak freely. My fortune is more than sufficient to pay Roger's debt, and I am ready to pay it for him." "Thi3 offer does you honour, sir," said the notary, in an agitated voice, "and I am very happy that the De Mensignac name will not be dishonoured." " I am only doing my duty, as she who bears this name ia to be my wife. Will you tell me as briefly as possible the arrangements that I must make to settle this affair." M. Calmet's face expressed a painful surprise, while he stammered out some unintelligible words. The Viscount had not at first remarked his emberrassment, and without waiting for his answer, asked him another question. "You, sir, who at least know Roger's business habits, can perhaps explain the reason of his borrowing so large an amount, upon so short a term of payment ?" " I have never been able to account for it," answered the notary, sadly. "Once before, about six years ago, the Marquis borrowed in my office almost as great a sum —four hundred thousand francs— and it was paid back at the end of the year. Moreover, the lender was the same person, and would not have consented to wait." ** And did Roger never speak to you of the use he made of the money ?" "Never, and I remember when once I ventured to risk an observation on this subject, it was coldly received ; but," the notary added, timidly, *' you have done me the honour of asking me what arrangements comld be made." " Yes," interrupted Edmond ; "of course you understand that I have not this sum immediately at my disposal, and I would like—" " Alas, sir," replied M. Caimet, with an accent of sincere regret, " your generosity unfortunately will be useless." «* What do you mean ?" j "The lender insists or* being reimbursed to-day ; he has even forbidden me to allow any delay, or accept any indemnity." "It is impossible," cried Sartilly j "a loan of this kind is not a biil of exchange." "There ia something hidden in this affair," said M. Caimet, "that escapes my penetration, and I fear that under this unusual rigour is concealed (dare I say it) some scheme of vengeance." " Perhapsj" said the Viscount, thoughtfully ; « ' but who is the < lender ?V •• A rich foreigner, who * spends part of his time in Paris; and who returned to it only a month ago."

."His name?" " M. de INoreff, and he lives in the magnificent hotel at the corner of the rue de Varennes." "Ah ! then, it is he !" cried Sartilly, running like a maniac to the other end of the library ; " here is the proof of it ; I have it," and stooping down suddenly, he picked up something that the notary could not see, and rushed into the court-yard, His horse was still waiting afc the door ; the Viscount jumped into the saddle, and, the gate being open, spurred his horse, and, with a prodigious bound, and at full speed, rushed down the Trocadero hill. Arrived at the quay he gave his steed full rein, and, bending over the neck and shoulders of the noble animal, began a mad race. The few passers-by turned round astonished _at seeing a young and elegant man thus risking his life by galloping over the slippery pavements at so furious a pace. In less than a quarter of an hour Sartilly reached "la place de la Concorde," which he passed quickly, continuing his race along the quay of tbe Tuileries, while his horse, with bloody flanks and covered with sweat, nearly fell when he reached the Louve. TSdmond raised him up with admirable skill, and pushed him on with even greater swiftness to " Port Neuf." Then crossing the bridge he went to the " Place Dauphin," i stopping short before the door of the policeoffice. The Viscount jumped lightly to the ground, and attempted to cross tbe formid able threshold, when a sentry at the entrance asked him where he was going. " I want to epeak to the chief of the police," said Sartilly, roughly. " Persons are not admitted in this way to the chief of the police," said the functionary, rather surprised at Sartilly's manner. " Have you a letter of admission?" " No ; but this is so serious an affair that those who stop me will be responsible for the delay." There is a tone and manner which rarely fail in their effect, and there was so much authority in the Viscount's voice and gesture that the sentry softened quickly, and calling one of his companions, told him to conduct Sartilly to the chief's office. In going through the crooked and gloomy halls of the old edifice, Sartilly reflected more calmly upon the step he Was about taking, and a thought sprang up in his brain, over excited by fever, that he was running to denounce this miserable De Noieff, whom he believed to be the murderer of his wife and Roger. When the notary mentioned his odious name,* he picked up the golden tress to dace it in the justice's hands, without remembering that his friend, who had disappeared the night of the crime, might be suspected of being an accomplice in the murder committed in the De Mensignac mansion Might they not accuse Roger of the crime 1 Notwithstanding, he must speak, he must revenge himself upon the cowardly assassins, for he felt sure that Roger had fallen igto some terrible snare, as a De Mensignac was incapable of an infamous act. His hesitation was short, and he resolved to relate the disappearance of the Marquis, and to declare that the decapitated head was that of Madame de Noreff, to describe the singular loan, but to be silent upon all the facts which proved that the crime had taken place in the De Mensignac mansion. They had now reached the door of the office, and the guard went in to present Sarfcilly's card, but returned almost immediately, saying that the officer could not receive him then, and begged the Viscount to go to the chief of the detective police. It mattered little to Sartilly who con ducted the inquiry, provided it was energetically and promptly done ; so he went down immediately to this formidable functionary. On hia name being announced, and on entering the office, he recognised the commissary of Saint Cloud, who was engaged in writing a long account of the strange events of the past night. " I was just going to write to ask you to come here," the officer said, very politely; "and I am going to send for Baron Polard and M . Versoix. We cannot have too many honourable witnesses," added he, courteously, " for this affair has begun badly, by letting the murderer escape, and I fear it will be very difficult to find him." "I have brought you his name," said the Viscount, quietly. " Permit me, sir, to thank you," said the officer, scarcely restraining a smile of incredulity j " a most precious discovery, as the identity of the victim is not yet proved. " '« The victim," replied Sartilly, in a firm voice, " has been murdered by her husband, whose name is De Noreff, and whose residence is No. 133, in the Rue de Varenneß." "Noreff," replied the officer, who had become quite serious on remarking the clearness of tbe Viscount's statement. "Is not that the very wealthy foreigner who travels so much ?" 11 The same; and hia wife's head wrlbe recognised by all the frequenters of the Champs Ely sees." " We must take out a warrant," replied the officer, ringing the bell, and giving a note to his secretary. " Will you have the goodness now to tell me briefly on what you found so serious an accusation ?" " This man has also murdered Roger de Mensignac, who disappeared last night, and he committed the act because he thought "B osrer was his wife's lover." The officer looked attentively at the Viacount, and seemed to be thinking deeply, when the secretary came back again, bringing in a paper covered with a fine and close handwriting. " Indeed, these notes are not very favourable," the officer said, in a low voice. " Ah! here is a possible connection ; the name of De Mensignac is here, at the date of 1834." " Sir," the officer said, suddenly, " are you ready to swear in a cnurt of justice to all that you have just declared to me ?" "I am ready." " Very well. Jottrat, have a cab below in five minutes for this gentleman and me. You must get into another with three agents of the secret brigade, and follow at the distance of fifty paces " The secretary started to obey, when the officer added, "See that these men are strong and courageous, and let each have two pistols in his pocket in case of need You," continued he, addressing himself to the commissary of Saint Cloud, " will have the goodness to wait for me here. I shall return before two hours, when I shall need your assistance ;" then bowing politely to the Viscount, he added, "Sir, I am at your service." " In what way can my presence be useful to you ?" asked Sartilly, coldly. "It is indespensable to prove. the identity of a man whom neither I nor my agents know." " And where are we going, if you please ?" " We are going to arrest in his house M. Christian Voldemar de Noreff, a Swedish subject strongly suspected of being a Russian Bpy, aud accused by you of having murdered hia wife." ( To be continued).

, A lady relates a pretty story of her little boy, whom she took last summer for the first time to the seaside. The little fellow was greatly pleased with the sight. One day, when be saw the first ocean 1 steajner approach the coast, he was exyiber'apt : "Oh, mamma, just come out and see ! There's a big locomotive* taking a batli j» u • [ ' ' -