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sieur Morin's financial arrangements letters to-day, Louis?" he asked of were made.

It has been intimated that Richard Devaux entered readily into the projects of the emigrants; but, besides. the feeling excited throughout England by the bloody acts of the Septembrist, an additional stimulus to his zeal was given by Adelaide Morin, who had herself beheld the fearful spectacle which followed the murder of the unfortunate Princesse de Lamballe.

Adelaide Morin was well calcu

lated to make converts of those who listened to her impassioned words. Had there been no suffering to deplore, no wrong to redress, no right to sustain, royalty was so thoroughly a part of her nature that even from such as held a contrary opinion, her advocacy must have commanded attention. But when her auditors felt, or were disposed to feel as she did, it was no wonder that she created partisans. Of all the circle that surrounded her, none echoed her sentiments more warmly than Richard Devaux.

It is possible that, for the moment, this young man's devotion to the cause of French royalty was sincere ; but if Adelaide Morin had been separated from that cause there is no room for doubting which side of the question he would have taken. He had, indeed, fallen deeply in love with her.

III.

THE single purpose by which Monsieur Morin was inspired so completely filled his mind that he was alive only to that which reflected his own desires, and he unhesitatingly took for granted Richard Devaux's fervent declarations, and reposed unlimited confidence in them. The refugee's house was accordingly open at all hours to his new friend, who, one morning, went there much earlier than usual.

"Has your master received his

the valet.

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"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Adelaide. "What has happened?"

"It is reported that-the Convention-" he paused.

"Speak!-speak!" cried father and daughter, in one breath.

“Have condemned the King to death!"

Adelaide sank back in her chair. The pen fell from Monsieur Morin's hand.

"Condemned-to death!" he said. "From whom have you this news?"

"It is current generally. It was every man's conversation at the opening of 'Change. I came here instantly to learn the truth.”

"And they have left me uninformed," said Monsieur Morin, with bitterness. "When, do they say, was this fearful decree pronounced?"

"On the evening before last. A government courier is believed to have brought the intelligence. The funds have already fallen more than three per cent. Yet it may be only a stockjobbing report."

"I fear not. But I have still the means of finding out. Stay here, Devaux, till I return. I will be absent no longer than I can help."

Monsieur Morin quitted the room. The street-door closed immediately afterwards, and Adelaide was left alone with Richard Devaux. It was

the first time that this had ever oc- things, your words would be wholly curred. unavailing.'

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They will not dare to execute the sentence,' she continued, with flashing eyes.

"What have they not dared ?" he returned.

"It is true," she said, "nothing restrains them. Oh, if there were hands now to strike in the King's defence. But such hands are far, far away!"

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"Hands there are," said Devaux, near enough yet to serve him. They can never be wanting when you desire their aid."

There was something in the speaker's tone which sounded strangely in Adelaide's ears. She turned on him a searching glance.

Devaux met it without shrinking.

"Is there any one," he continued, "who would not give his life for the cause that interests Adelaide Morin?"

Still her eyes were fixed on his, as if she doubted what she heard. Devaux drew nearer.

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"If," pleaded Devaux, "I have chosen a wrong moment-"

"All moments are the same," interrupted Adelaide, "your suit is hopeless. Let the subject be no more mentioned."

"Mademoiselle Morin ?" cried Devaux, impatiently, "you love another! You are proud, Mademoiselle Morin, but—”

His speech was broken short by a violent knocking at the street door. It was Monsieur Morin. He hastened into the room like one distracted, threw an open letter upon the table, and buried his face in his hands. Deep and long-drawn sobs choked his utterance.

"Our kind, good master-come, Adelaide, come to my breast, and weep your heart away-the King is no more!"

While Monsieur Morin and his daughter were locked in each other's arms, Richard Devaux read the letter.

In a few lines it told of the execution of Louis the Sixteenth. There was a settled resolve on Monsieur Morin's brow when he spoke again.

"to

"We had hoped," he said, avert this blow. Our task must be to avenge it. Not an hour must be lost. Everything, Devaux, must be realized as soon as possible. You will kindly excuse us now. Adelaide and I have a sad day's work to do. There are dear friends abroad who should learn the news of to-day from none but ourselves."

Mademoiselle Morin said nothing. She did not even raise her eyes when

"Love me!" she cried. "You! Richard Devaux took his leave. Had at this hour!"

"From the first moment I saw you. If you will be mine, all I have is yours. Every resource I can command shall be at the service of your King."

"There is no traffic, sir, in love," said Adelaide, with dignity. "Were this even a time to speak of such

she done so, she might have marvelled at the singular expression which his features wore.

IV.

DAYS of agitation passed for each of the three persons whom this narrative most concerns. Events succeeded

each other so rapidly, that, within a month from the reception of the news of the King's execution, war against England had been declared by the Convention, and a counter defiance hurled against the regicide government. This furnished full occupation for Monsieur Morin, at whose house meetings were constantly held to organize the expedition of an emigrant force to operate on the coast of Brittany, under the command of the Marquis de Grandmesnil, and his son Henri. In all the business connected with this expedition, Mademoiselle Morin was indefatigable. She acted as her father's secretary, and something more. She had personal motives for desiring the presence of the destined chiefs of the expedition in London, and her letters to that effect were urgent. Richard Devaux also had enough to occupy his thoughts. Upon him devolved the supply of the sinews of this proposed warfare, derivable from the funds which Monsieur Morin had lodged with his house. This business, however, was not all he had to think about, the scene between Adelaide and himself being never absent from his memory. Undeterred by a first rejection, he was bent on renewing his proposals. An idea, not yet definitely shaped, had crossed his mind, which pointed toward success; but, before he encouraged it, there was a test to which Adelaide Morin must yet be submitted. He remembered that, when he abruptly charged her with loving another, her countenance changed; he also remembered what Monsieur Morin had said in reference to the dear friends who were absent; and these recollections strengthened his first suspicion. If Mademoiselle Morin wished her cause to prosper, she must be his, and his alone.

Upon this resolution he acted on the first occasion that offered of speaking to her again without a witness to their conversation. Vain, however, were all his words. With

VOL. XIV.-II

still more haughtiness than before, Mademoiselle Morin repelled his advances, and he left her presence with that in his heart which only wanted one assurance to change its feelings to deadly hate. Accident supplied him with it.

For greater security in a time so fraught with trouble to the French emigrants, wherever they happened to have taken refuge, it had been settled between Monsieur Morin and Richard Devaux, that all the correspondence having relation to the projected descent upon the French shores should pass through the banker's firm.

On the day of his last interview with Adelaide, when, with every angry passion at war within him, he went back to the city to bury himself in affairs, he found that a large packet, with a foreign postmark, had arrived. The envelope bore his address alone; within were at least a dozen letters, the greater part directed to Monsieur Morin. As he turned them over hastily, with the intention of dispatching them to their several destinations, one letter caught his attention. It was addressed, not to Monsieur Morin, but to his daughter. On the seal was the letter H, with this motto, in Gothic characters, "Plus est en vous." Was the key to the enigma here? Without a moment's pause, he tore open the letter, and, though every word in it danced before his eyes, he read it through, long as it was, to the end.

"This then,” he muttered, 66 contains the secret of my rejection. The dear friend' is here. Henri de Grandmesnil is her accepted lover. What tenderness! What constancy! What ardent affection! 'To clasp her again to his bosom!' A husband could scarcely say more. A French husband, if all I have heard be true, would never say so much. But whether true or false, Henri de Grandmesnil, since that is your highsounding name, you shall never see

her more, if I can prevent the meeting. But how? Does Morin know of this engagement? He trusts his daughter with everything; she may have done the same by him. It is ambition, Royalist as he is, which leads him, perhaps, to the hope of mingling his blood with that of these high-born nobles. Curses on them all! The son of the old Bordeaux merchant is beneath their notice! . . . I I may be wrong, though; Morin may not be aware that this preux chevalier courts his daughter! I I will see him before I decide."

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"Mademoiselle Morin has then You make them the condition of a

refused you."

Richard Devaux remained silent. "Surely, my good friend," continued the refugee, "you do not wish me to force my daughter's inclinations. This is a passing fancy of yours, which meets with no return. Forget it. Look rather at the state of public affairs; which, at this crisis, calls for every man's attention. Even were my daughter so disposed, the thing is impossible. That sacred blood is not yet dry upon the execu· tioner's axe; the stones of Paris still cry aloud for revenge; our souls are all bent on one great enterprise; and can we turn from it at this hour to think of our own affairs? No. I say again, wake from your idle dream! Adelaide cannot be yours."

"Is this, sir," said Devaux, slowly, "your final decree ?”

"As final, my friend-nay, do not look angrily. I mean everything in kindness-as final,-well, well,-it cannot be altered."

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And have you stated all your reasons?" asked Devaux, with an irrepressible sneer, which did not escape the quick Frenchman's observation. "Because," he continued, before the latter could say a word, "if any remain behind, they had better be rendered at once, that I may be able to meet them with some that I have to offer of my own."

"You are now speaking a lan

guage," said Monsieur Morin,

"which I do not comprehend."

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Let me make my meaning clearer then. Are you sure, in coming to

personal alliance? It is enough. Henceforward I claim no sympathy at your hands. We will at once regulate those affairs which cannot, at least, have been to your disadvantage.

And, in the first place, let us return to the subject whence I started. A credit of five thousand pounds is required for Monsieur de Grandmesnil on the house of Van Orley and Company, of Rotterdam. Be so good as to give the necessary directions for that payment. We will then go into the question of a general settlement; after which I shall select another banker."

The livid hue on the face of Richard Devaux might have prepared Monsier Morin for any credible announcement, but not for the words which the former now uttered.

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"I fear," he said, "that Monsieur de Grandmesnil must be disappointed. I have no funds belonging to that gentleman in my possession."

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Are you in your right senses ?” exclaimed Monsieur Morin, starting to his feet. "No money that belongs to the Marquis de Grandmesnil? You hold at least one hundred thousand pounds. Not to speak of the large sums which I have deposited on my own account, and on that of others."

Richard Devaux laughed bitterly. "A hundred thousand pounds," he echoed. "That, indeed, is worth claiming. Other large sums, too! Well, Monsieur Morin, when you can show me the necessary vouchers for

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