he, smiling; "the witness is but a very subordinate
personage here."

I took the pen, and proceeded to write as I was desired; and, while thus
engaged, the door opened, and a short, heavy step crossed the room. I
did not dare to look up; some secret feeling of terror ran through me,
and told me it was the Emperor himself.

"Well, D'Auvergne," said he, in a frank, bold way, quite different from
his ordinary voice, "you seem but half content with this plan of mine.
_Pardieu!_ there's many a brave fellow would not deem the case so hard a
one."

"As your wish, sire--"

"As mine, _diantre!_ my friend. Do not say mine only; you forget that
the lady expressed herself equally satisfied. Come I is the _acte_
completed?"

"It wants but your Majesty's signature," said the chancellor.

The Emperor took the pen, and dashed some indescribable scroll across
the paper; then turning suddenly towards the general, he conversed with
him eagerly for several minutes, but in so low a voice as not to
be audible where I stood. I could but catch the words "Darmstadt--
Augsburg--the fourth corps;" from which it seemed the movements of the
army were the subject; when he added, in a louder voice,--

"Every hour now is worth a day, ay, a week, hereafter. Remember that,
D'Auvergne."

"Everything is finished, sire," said the chancellor, handing the folded
papers to the Emperor.

"These are for your keeping, Greneral," said he, delivering them into
D'Auvergne's hand.

"Pardon, sire," said the chancellor, hastily, "I have made a great error
here. Madame la Comtesse has not appended her signature to the consent."

"Indeed!" said the Emperor, smiling. "We have been too hasty, it would
seem; so thinks our reverend father of Saint Roch, I perceive, who is
evidently not accustomed to officiate _au coup de tambour_."

"Her Majesty the Empress!" said the _huissier_, as he opened the doors
to permit her to enter. She was dressed in full Court dress, covered
with jewels; she held within her arm the hand of another, over whose
figure a deep veil was thrown, that entirely concealed her from head to
foot.

"Madame la Comtesse will have the kindness to sign this," said the
chancellor, as he handed over a pen to the lady.

She threw back her veil as he spoke. As she turned towards the table, I
saw the pale, almost deathlike features of Marie de Meudon. Such was the
shock, I scarce restrained a cry from bursting forth, and a film fell
before my eyes