ithout inspiring a particle of commiseration. Still Florian
was not cruel, and contented himself with keeping his prisoner in a
room in the Residency, satisfied that there was no possibility of
escape. Some of the officers, however, were loud in their
condemnation of Florian's mildness, and asserted that the dungeon and
the chains, which had been inflicted by him on the Montresors, should
be his doom also. But Florian thought otherwise, and held him thus a
prisoner until the Vengeur returned. Then Cazeneau was sent back to
be tried and convicted. His life was spared; but he was cast down to
hopeless degradation and want, in which state his existence
ultimately terminated.

Before the scene with Cazeneau was over, Claude had gone away and
found his wife. Already Mimi's strength had begun to return, and her
new-born hope, and the rush of her great happiness, coming, as it
did, after so much misery and despair, served to restore her rapidly.

"I should have died if this had lasted one day more," said she.

"But now it is all over, Mimi, dearest," said Claude, "and you must
live for me. This moment repays me for all my sufferings."

"And for mine," sighed Mimi.

Margot saw that her mistress had for the present an attendant who was
more serviceable than herself, and now all her thoughts turned to
that faithful friend whom she had been compelled for the time to
leave, but whom she had not for one moment forgotten. She waited
patiently till she could get a chance to speak to Claude, and then
told him what he did not know yet--that Zac was still a prisoner. At
that intelligence, his own happiness did not allow him to delay to
serve his friend. He at once hurried forth to see De Brisset. To him
he explained Zac's position in such forcible language, that De
Brisset at once issued an order for the release of himself and his
schooner, without any conditions, and the recall of his seamen. To
make the act more complete, the order was committed to Margot, who
was sent in the ship's boat to the schooner.

On the arrival of this boat, Zac seemed quite indifferent to the
safety of the schooner, and only aware of the presence of Margot. He
held her hand, and stood looking at her with moistened eyes, until
after the seamen of the Vengeur had gone. Terry looked away; Jericho
vanished below, with vague plans about a great supper. Biler gazed
upon Louisbourg with a pensive eye and a half-eaten turnip.

"I knowed you'd be back, little