t be assured that you will have his gratitude for this act of true
benevolence. Thus chatting we rattled along over the paved highway, and
at length entered upon a deep clay road which conducted us to a spacious
park, with a long straight avenue of trees, at the end of which stood
what, even in the uncertain light, appeared a spacious chateau. The door
lay open, and as we descended, a servant in plain clothes received
us, and, after a whispered word or two from the cure, ushered us along
through a suite of rooms into a large chamber furnished like a study.
There were hook-shelves well filled, and a writing-table covered with
papers and letters, and the whole floor was littered with newspapers and
journals.

A lamp, shaded by a deep gauze cover, threw a half-light over
everything, nor was it until we had been nearly a couple of minutes in
the room that we became aware of the presence of the count, who lay
upon a sofa, covered up in a fur pelisse, although the season was far
advanced in spring.

His gentle 'Good-evening, messieurs,' was the first warning we had of
his presence, and the cure, advancing respectfully, presented me as his
young friend, Monsieur de Tiernay.

'It is not for the first time that I hear that name,' said the sick man,
with a voice of singular sweetness. 'It is chronicled in the annals of
our monarchy. Ay, sir, I knew that faithful servant of his king, who
followed his master to the scaffold.'

'My father?' cried I eagerly.

'I knew him well,' continued he; 'I may say, without vaunting, that I
had it in my power to befriend him, too. He made an imprudent marriage;
he was unfortunate in the society his second wife's family threw him
amongst. They were not his equals in birth, and far beneath him in
sentiment and principle. Well, well,' sighed he, 'this is not a theme
for me to speak of, nor for you to hear; tell me of yourself. The cure
says that you have had more than your share of worldly vicissitudes.
There, sit down, and let me hear your story from your own lips.'

He pointed to a seat at his side, and I obeyed him at once; for,
somehow, there was an air of command even in the gentlest tones of his
voice, and I felt that his age and his sufferings were not the only
claims he possessed to influence those around him.

With all the brevity in my power, my story lasted till above an hour,
during which time the count only interrupted me once or twice by asking
to which Colonel Mahon I referred