partment? Your aunt has, doubtless, diamonds

of value?"

A vague dread that this question was only the prelude to some proposal of theft, induced me to answer in the negative.

"What! would you have me believe that the owner of the costly things before me has no diamonds? Bah! I know better; you are disingenuous, Caroline. Ye gods, how thirsty I am!" pursued he, having again recourse to his bottle; "it is the infernal bacon I partook of, by way of a supper, that has produced this insatiable thirst. Apropos de souper, how can you, ma belle, who have lived in civilised countries, exist on English cookery? Faugh! the recollection of it makes me sick! Mais, revenons à nos affaires. What do you intend? How are you to procure a sufficient supply of money to place me at my ease, and prevent

the necessity of my exposing you to your aunt? I really have no malice against you, ma chère; and, if I am compelled to any hostile measure, poverty alone will be the cause.

I told him that, except a few trinkets, all of which were at his service, I had nothing that could produce money.

"Where are they? let me see them," replied he.

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They are in my bed-room, above stairs." "Go for them: why do you hesitate?"

I dared not tell him what was then passing in my mind, but he divined it.

"You are afraid to leave me here with these costly things," said he, pointing to the rich toilette-service; "but I am ready to attend you to your bed-room, if you prefer this alternative" and this was uttered with a glance that made me shudder.

I instantly took a light, and glided with

stealthy steps along the corridor, and up the stairs, leaving him in the dressing-room below. It was several minutes before I could find the key of my jewel-case; and when I did, in my trepidation, I could not open it for as many more. At length, having placed the trinkets in a large silk reticule, I left my chamber, but had only advanced a few paces when I heard a noise. I returned in terror to my room and locked the door, convinced that some one had detected the nocturnal visitor below. I listened in breathless terror; but, finding all continue quiet, I again stole down stairs, and found him where I had left him, but with a face nearly as pale as my own, and nearly equally embarrassed in manner.

"Did you hear a noise?" asked he, eagerly.

I answered in the affirmative.

"What could it be?" demanded he, eyeing

me scrutinisingly.

Having ascertained that I was ignorant of

the cause, he hastily added,

"I think I had better depart; there may be danger in remaining longer."

"But you have not seen the trinkets for which you sent me," said I.

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True, true," he replied; "where are

they?"

I delivered to him the silk bag that contained them, which he snatched, saying,—

"I will examine them another time, but now I am in a hurry. Adieu, Caroline!"

"What are your plans?" I asked, in fear and trembling. "Do not, I entreat you, send any more notes here from the alehouse: a repetition of such a course must excite suspicion; and my aunt is already but too much disposed to think harshly of me."

"She will think harshly of you no more,"

said he, and a change was visible in his countenance; "for I will never betray you to her." "Promise me this!" I eagerly exclaimed.

"I promise you," he answered; and there was a wildness and strangeness in his countenance that I had never before seen it wear.

"I must go," resumed he, hurriedly; and he opened the casement and disappeared.

An oppressive weight seemed removed from my breast when I again found myself alone. I examined all the room; for, to say the truth, I suspected that the visible change and trepidation of his manner arose from his having purloined some of the articles of massive silver which he seemed to examine with such longing eyes. I was the more inclined to this suspicion from having heard a noise, resembling that produced by the closing of a window, when returning to the chamber, which