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Again, Delphine, the wretch who poisons. my existence has asserted his fearful authority over me! and this time in a manner that con

vinces me I have nothing to hope from his forbearance.

Lord Annandale dined with the ministers yesterday; and I was sitting in my boudoir, superintending the arrangement of some diamonds which my maid was attaching to my court-dress, when the groom of the chambers announced le Chevalier Carency, and that monster entered.

The case of jewels I held in my hand fell to the ground, and I uttered a faint shriek; while Claudine, who, in the elegantly dressed man of fashion before her, did not recognise the mysterious visitant of Annandale Castle, respectfully retired. He approached me with alacrity, kissed my hand with easy politeness, and said that, having only that day arrived

from Paris, he came to deliver a letter, and sundry messages, from our mutual friend, la Marquise de Villeroi. Though I dreaded finding myself alone with him, I dreaded still more the possibility of Claudine's recognising him, if suffered to remain, or to be a witness to an interview in which I felt a presentiment that new demands would be made; so I was glad to see her withdraw. I then asked him why he stood before me?

"The question is neither polite nor hospitable, ma belle comtesse," replied he, with an air of the most insulting familiarity; "mais n'importe. I am no longer the ruined mendicant you saw at Annandale Castle, and whose apparition seemed to give you so little pleasure. Your compulsory liberality has enabled me to reassume that place in society to which my birth entitles me: I flatter myself that my appearance would not discredit the most aris

tocratic salon in London ;" and he looked in a large mirror with undisguised complacency. "But Fortune owes me a grudge, and pursues me with a guignon as provoking as it is inconvenient. Last night I lost a considerable sum, the final remnant of your supply, and I am come to demand another. Seeing in the papers that monsieur milord, votre mari, was to dine with the ministers (for the English papers leave us ignorant of none of the engagements of les messieurs et dames à la mode), I determined on paying you a visit. Should milord arrive before I depart, you will, of course, present me to him as an old friend just arrived from Paris, and the bearer of a letter from your friend, la Marquise de Villeroi. Sa seigneurie will, of course, act l'aimable -I, le gentil: the acquaintance thus made, leave the rest to me he shall present me to the persons I desire to know, and all will go

off à merveille. I see that you disapprove this arrangement," added he, with a look of perfect nonchalance; "but I have taken it into my head to enter into fashionable society in London, and your husband is the person I have selected as chaperon."

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"And you tell this to me," said I, my blood boiling with indignation; to me, who know you for a robber sassin !"

for an

as

His countenance assumed a fearful expression of malice as he glanced at me, and replied,

"Bah, bah! you still remember that little episode; but you appear to forget your own share in it. Who gave me ingress to the house, and who secured my egress from it? Without your aid, I could not have effected the objects to which you refer. But let that pass; I am not here to listen to your tragical

reminiscences.

I am come for money, and

must have it quickly."

I declared that he had taken all my funds at Annandale Castle, and that I had no more.

"What! can you not ask your husband? He is still too short a time married to have ceased to be uxorious enough to be generous to you;" and he looked at me in a way that brought the blood to my cheeks.

"But there is no occasion to have recourse to his liberality," said he, "while these baubles can be converted into money," taking up the diamonds that lay scattered around; "they will do quite as well."

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They must not

cannot be yours!" said

I; "they are the family jewels, in which I

have only a life-interest."

Bah, bah!" answered he, "I stand on

no such idle ceremony."

As he spoke, he gathered up the scattered

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