all, everything you possessed. I held the
titles in my possession, for I was the owner of this broad chateau,--ay,
Leon Guichard! even so; you were but my guest here. I kept it by me many
a day, and when your brother was drawn in the conscription I resolved to
assert my right before the world.'

"He paused for a moment, while a tremendous convulsion shook his frame,
and made him tremble liker one in an ague; then suddenly rallying, he
passed his hand across his brow, and in a lower voice, resumed, 'I would
have done so, but for you.'

"'For me! What mean you?' said she, almost sinking with terror.

"'I loved you,--loved you as only he can love who can surrender all his
cherished hopes, his dream of ambition, his vengeance even, to his love.
I thought, too, that you were not cold to my advances; and fearing lest
any hazard should apprise you of my success, and thus run counter to my
wishes, I lived on here as your servant, still hoping for the hour when
I might call you mine, and avow myself the lord of this chateau. How
long I might have continued thus I know not. To see you, to look on you,
to live beneath the same roof with you, seemed happiness enough; but
when I heard that you were to leave this, to go away, never to return
perhaps, or if so, not as her I loved and worshipped, then--But why look
you thus? Is it because you doubt these things? Look here; see this. Is
that in form? Are these signatures authentic? Is this the seal of the
National Convention? What say you now? It is not the steward Leon
that sues, but the Citizen Guichard, proprietaire de Rochefort. Now,
methinks, that makes some difference in the proposition.'

"'None, sir,' replied she, with a voice whose steady utterance made each
word sink into his heart, 'save that it adds to my contempt for him
who has dared to seek my affection in the ruin of my family. I did not
despise you before--'

"'Beware!' said he, in a voice of menace, but in which no violence of
passion entered; 'you are in my power. I ask you again, will you
consent to be my wife? Will you save your brother from the scaffold, and
yourself from beggary and ruin? I can accomplish both.'

"A look of ineffable scorn was all her reply; when he sprang forward and
threw his arm round her waist.

"'Or would you drive me to the worst--'

"A terrific shriek broke from her as she felt his hand around her, when
the brushwood crashed behind her, and her brother's dogs sprang from the
thicke