the pacing of the sentry ceased. Claude listened; the
sentinel stopped; there was no longer any sound. Claude listened
still. This was the supreme hour of his fate. On this moment depended
all his future. What did this mean? Would the sentry begin his tramp?

He would; he did. In despair Claude fled from the grating, and fell
back upon the straw. For a time he seemed unconscious of everything;
but at length he was roused by a rattle at the door of his cell. In a
moment he was on his feet, listening. It was the sound of a key as it
slowly turned in the lock. Claude moved not, spoke not; he waited. If
this was his deliverer, all well; if not, he was resolved to have a
struggle for freedom. Then he stole cautiously to the door.

It opened. Claude thrust his hand through, and seized a human arm. A
man's voice whispered back,--

"H-s-s-t! _Suivez moi_."

A thrill of rapture unutterable passed through every nerve and fibre
of Claude. At once all the past was forgotten; forgotten, also, were
all the dangers that still lay before him. It was enough that this
hope had not been frustrated, that the sentinel had come to deliver
him from the cell at the midnight hour. The cool breeze of night was
wafted in through the open door, and fanned the fevered brow of the
prisoner, bearing on its wings a soothing influence, a healing balm,
and life, and hope. His presence of mind all came back: he was
self-poised, vigilant, cool: all this in one instant. All his powers
would be needed to carry him through the remainder of the night; and
these all were summoned forth, and came at his bidding. And so Claude
followed his guide.

The sentinel led the way, under the shadow of the wall, towards the
Residency. At one end of this was the chapel. Towards this the
sentinel guided Claude, and, on reaching it, opened the door. A hand
seized his arm, a voice whispered in his ear,--

"Welcome, my son. Here is your bride."

And then a soft hand was placed in his. Claude knew whose hand it
was. He flung his arms around the slender figure of Mimi, and pressed
her to his heart.

"Come," said the priest.

He drew them up towards the altar. Others were present. Claude could
not see them; one, however, he could see, was a female, whom he
supposed to be Margot. The moonlight shone in through the great
window over the altar. Here the priest stood, and placed Claude and
Mimi before him.

Then he went through the marriage service. It was a strange wedd