egot, Francois's father.

The young man stepped back and sank again into his seat, and the
others, coming forward, laid the bag quite open, and drew forth a
watch and an embroidered vest; in a pocket of the coat was found a
purse. "Here is an odd treasure," said one of the workmen, holding
up a locket of dull gold.

Francois seized it and opened it. The color forsook his face and his
eyes filled with tears. He simply said,--

"My mother."

The town official now whispered to the surprised organ-builder, that
the villanous Lacombe had killed poor Tegot on the morning of the
trial, and had secreted the body in some unknown place and hidden
the valuables here. Frightened by the fear of discovery, he had
attempted to remove the treasures, had fallen into the pipe, and had
thus met a horrible death.

"There is nothing secret," said Francois, "but shall be revealed.
Sin is its own detector, and its secrets cannot rest."

The excitement among the townspeople was for many days even greater
than it had been at the time of Tegot's disappearance, and many and
bitter were the reproaches heaped upon the wicked organist's memory.

Francois was immediately chosen organist, and held the position
during his entire life.

CHAPTER VIII.

EVENING THE FOURTH.

SEVEN NIGHTS ON THE RHINE:--HEIDELBERG.--STUDENTS.--STUDENT
SONGS.--THE STORY OF LITTLE MOOK.--THE QUEER OLD LADY WHO WENT TO
COLLEGE.

"Heidelberg," said Mr. Beal, "stands bright and clear beside Neckar, a
branch of the Rhine, as though it loved the river. It is semicircled
with blue mountain-walls, and is full of balmy air and cheerful faces.
The streets have an atmosphere of hospitality. Its history dates from
the Roman monuments on its hills, and is associated with the romantic
times of the counts-palatine of the Rhine.

"The world-wide fame of Heidelberg arises from its university. This
was founded in 1386, and is the oldest in Germany. It made Heidelberg
a student-town; there art flourished and free thought grew, and it
became the gem of German cities.

"The ancient Castle of Heidelberg is one of the wonders of Germany. It
is like a ruined town of palaces, and historic and poetic associations
are as thick as are the violets among its ruins. It is said that
Michael Angelo designed it: we cannot tell. The names of the masters
who upreared the pile of magnificence for centuries and peopled it
with statues are