we my life, Mademoiselle d'Estelles.'

I heard no more, nor did she either; for, faltering, she uttered a low,
faint sigh, and fell into the arms of those behind her.

'What's this, Tiernay!--how is all this?' whispered Prince Louis; 'are
you acquainted with mademoiselle?'

But I forgot everything--the presence in which I stood, the agony of a
wounded leg, and all, and with a violent effort sprang from my seat.

Before I could approach her, however, she had risen from the chair, and,
in a voice broken and interrupted, said--

'You are so changed, Monsieur de Tiernay--so much changed--that the
shock overpowered me. We became acquainted in the Tyrol, madame,' said
she to the princess, 'where monsieur was a prisoner.'

What observation the princess made in reply I could not hear, but I saw
that Laura blushed deeply. To hide her awkwardness perhaps it was, that
she hurriedly entered into some account of our former intercourse, and
I could observe that some allusion to the Prince de Conde dropped from
her.

'How strange, how wonderful is all that you tell me!' said the princess,
who bent forward and whispered some words to Prince Louis; and then,
taking Laura's arm, she moved on, saying in a low voice '_Au revoir_,
monsieur,' as she passed.

'You are to come and drink tea in the archduchess's apartments,
Tiernay,' said Prince Louis; 'you 'll meet your old friend, Mademoiselle
d'Estelles, and of course you have a hundred recollections to exchange
with each other.'

The prince insisted on my accepting his arm, and, as he assisted me
along, informed me that old Madame d'Aigreville had been dead about
a year, leaving her niece an immense fortune--at least a claim to
one--only wanting the sanction of the Emperor Napoleon to become valid;
for it was one of the estreated but not confiscated estates of La
Vendee. Every word that dropped from the prince extinguished some
hope within me. More beautiful than ever, her rank recognised, and
in possession of a vast fortune, what chance had I, a poor soldier of
fortune, of success?

'Don't sigh, Tiernay,' said the prince, laughing; 'you've lost a leg for
us, and we must lend you a hand in return'; and with this we entered the
salon of the archduchess.

CHAPTER LIV. MAURICE TIERNAY'S 'LAST WORD AND CONFESSION'

I have been very frank with my readers in these memoirs of my life. If
I have dwelt somewhat vain-gloriously on passing moments of success,
it must be owned that