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produce a sum sufficient to satisfy his rapacity. What, what will become of me? Hark! I hear the signal- he is at the window !

I descended to the state dressing-room, opened the casement in fear and trembling, and offered to hand him the money; but he thrust it aside: "What," said he, "do you treat me as a mendicant? me, who hold your reputation, your position even in this dwelling, in my hands? I must, and will enter the house - I have much to say to you."

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Say it where you are!" I exclaimed ; " for into the house you cannot, must not come."

"We shall see," he replied, and vaulted into the window, pushing me from it and closing it down.

I shook so violently that I could with difficulty support myself-my terror of him suggesting a thousand fearful thoughts.

"Who would believe," said he, looking at me with an expression of mingled mockery and malice almost demoniacal, " that we two have been lovers; that we have met in rapture, and parted with regret? Who would imagine that the woman I see cowering and trembling before me, with averted eye and blanched cheek, has smiled with delight, and blushed love's own rosy hue, when I have approached her? Such are the metamorphoses wrought by time and circumstances; and I-yes, even I - could be sad as I note them. But I am a philosopher, and only laugh at what occasions tears to others;" and he laughed in a sort that caused my blood to chill.

"Do not make a noise, I implore you,"

said I ;

"for my aunt sleeps in the next room.” "And now to business," he rejoined, without noticing my appeal. I handed him the money, which he eyed contemptuously, but, neverthe

less, put it in his pocket; and, doing so, again I saw the handle of his poniard peeping forth, and shuddered at the thoughts it excited.

"Is this all your wealth?" asked he.

I answered in the affirmative.

"Why, what a stingy old animal your aunt must be! I shall make her more liberal, you may be sure. It is devilish cold here, ma

belle!" resumed he "no wonder you tremble;

:

for even I, who am used to be less delicately lodged, am half frozen."

As he thus spoke, he took from his pocket a leathern bottle, filled with some spirit, the odour of which was detestable, and emptied nearly half the contents of it into his mouth.

"I have discovered," he continued, "at the village alehouse, where I lodge, that your statement is correct as to your aunt's fortune not being settled on you-nay, more, it is said that she does not appear to feel any strong

predilection in your favour. There is no accounting for tastes, you know: every one may not admire you as much as your humble servant once did nay, still does; for, en verité, you are still a monstrous fine woman."

How I loathed him!

"Now, as her fortune is wholly in her own power, she might take it into her head to bequeath it to some one less likely to do honour to it than we are; and to drag on some tedious years in pleasing a stupid old woman, who, after all, may cheat one at last, is a triste affair. I know something of this sort of existence, for I tried it once. An old uncle, rich as Croesus, bête comme un Anglais, and capricious as a Parisian belle, took me to live with him as his adopted heir, at his old château near Turin. He kept an execrable cook, gave me bad wine and good advice, until I could stomach neither any longer; consequently, took

French leave of him one night, disembarrassing him of all the money in his coffre fort; a good round sum, too, by Jove! But he, stupid old dolt, chose to resent this little escapade of mine as a heinous offence; and, when he shortly afterwards died, left his fortune to another nephew, who could swallow bad dinners and good advice without murmuring, and prefer waiting patiently for a large fortune to anticipating a portion of it."

While he recounted this anecdote of himself, he was glancing round at the various articles of plate and furniture in the room.

"Every thing here indicates wealth," said he: "that silver-framed mirror, this silver basin and ewer, and the nécessaire," taking one of the large old-fashioned boxes from the toilette, and weighing it in his hand. "Do you know that there is a little fortune in this ap

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