do? Should I discover myself,
no explanation could possibly account for my situation, nor would any
assurances on my part have satisfied them of my ignorance. I will not
presume to say that if these were my first thoughts, my second, with
some tinge of sophistry, suggested that if treachery were intended me,
it would be unpardonable in me to neglect the means of defeating it.
There is assuredly a stronger impulse in curiosity, united with fear,
than exists in most other incentives; for, reason how I would, it was
impossible for me to resist the temptation thus presented to me.

"You mistake him, Anatole," said the lady; "believe me, you mistake
him. I have watched his countenance, and read it carefully as he sat at
cards, and my interpretation of him is, that he would never consent."

"The greater fool he, then," replied the other. "Take my word for it,
his splendid abilities will not stand him in such stead as his mongrel
parentage and mongrel tongue. But I do not, cannot, agree with you. It
is just possible that so long as the world goes smoothly with him, and
no immediate pressure of any kind exists, that he might refuse. But why
need that continue? If fortune will deal him bad cards, don't you think
we might contrive to shuffle the pack ourselves?"

She muttered something I could not hear, and he quickly rejoined,--

"Even for that I am not unprepared; no, no. Be assured of one thing, he
may decline, but will not defy us."

"I know where your confidence is, Count," said she; "but that rapier of
yours has got you into more trouble than it has ever worked you good."

"Parbleu, I have no reason to be ungrateful to it!" replied he,
laughing; "and, perhaps, with all its rust, it may do some service yet."

"At all events," said she, "bethink you well of the consequences before
you admit him to any confidence. Remember that when once he is intrusted
with our plan, he is the master of our secret, and we are without a
remedy.--Pshaw!" said she, scornfully, as if in reply to some gesture on
his part; "that remedy may be applied once too often."

My heart beat fast and full as I heard these words, whose significance
there could not be a doubt of, as the same curiosity to discover some
clew to the scheme by which I was to be snared was superior to all my
fears, and I half resolved, at whatever risk it might cost, to suffer
myself to be drawn into the intrigue. They now moved on, and though I
could hear their voices stop