h a deep and fixed attention. You may picture to yourself
my astonishment and surprise at recognising in this place the person who
had so long ago foretold my brilliant destiny. The color rushed to my
cheeks, and he could distinctly observe how much I was agitated by
his presence, and his beautiful countenance was lit up with a pleasant
smile; after which he gracefully waved his hand round his head as tho'
he would say, "Are you not queen of France?" This gesture excited my
astonishment still further; however, I returned his mute inquiry by a
slight inclination of the head, intended to say, "You are right." In
a moment a sort of cloud seemed to cover my eyes. So soon as I could
recover from the sudden dimness which obscured my vision, I endeavored
to bend my looks in an opposite direction; for so greatly was I the
point of general observation, that I feared to awaken suspicion by an
indiscreet attention to one particular person or place: and when after
some little time had elapsed, and I ventured to turn my eyes again to
the spot where the young man had been standing, he had disappeared.

I was unable to recover my astonishment at the whole affair, and the
suddenness of his departure inspired me with a lively desire to know
more of him, whether he were man or demon. I mentioned it to Chon the
same day, who, having listened to me with extreme attention, "Upon my
word," said she, "this is a most marvellous event in your history. Why
do you not mention the fact to M. de Sartines?"

"Because it appears to me folly to disturb or annoy a person who has
given me no offence; and were I to put him into the hands of the police,
I might possibly find reason to repent having acted so. On the other
hand, I would give any sum of money for one more interview with this
wonderful person."

There the conversation ended; but my sister-in-law, by an unpardonable
curiosity she ought not to have indulged in, wrote, unknown to me, to
the lieutenant of the police, entreating of him to use the most active
measures to trace out the object of my curiosity. M. de Sartines
delighted at having an opportunity of proving to me and mine his skill
and zeal, turned all his bloodhounds loose upon the track of this
unfortunate being. During these proceedings I received a letter, sealed
with five black seals, bearing the impress of a death's head. I thought
at first that it was to notify the decease of some friend, and I looked
upon the style as gloomy as