gave him power over his father, took
a more careless and independent tone, often absented himself from the
house for days together, joined the revels of young profligates
older than himself, with whom he had formed acquaintance, indulged in
spendthrift expenses, and plunged prematurely into the stream of vicious
pleasure that oozed through the mud of Paris.

One morning Dalibard, returning from a visit to Madame Bellanger, found
Gabriel alone in the salon, contemplating his fair face and gay dress in
one of the mirrors, and smoothing down the hair, which he wore long
and sleek, as in the portraits of Raphael. Dalibard's lip curled at the
boy's coxcombry,--though such tastes he himself had fostered, according
to his ruling principles, that to govern, you must find a foible, or
instil it; but the sneer changed into a smile.

"Are you satisfied with yourself, joli garcon?" he said, with saturnine
playfulness.

"At least, sir, I hope that you will not be ashamed of me when you
formally legitimatize me as your son. The time has come, you know, to
keep your promise."

"And it shall be kept, do not fear. But first I have an employment for
you,--a mission; your first embassy, Gabriel."

"I listen, sir."

"I have to send to England a communication of the utmost
importance--public importance--to the secret agent of the French
government. We are on the eve of a descent on England. We are in
correspondence with some in London on whom we count for support. A
man might be suspected and searched,--mind, searched. You, a boy, with
English name and speech, will be my safest envoy. Bonaparte approves my
selection. On your return, he permits me to present you to him. He loves
the rising generation. In a few days you will be prepared to start."

Despite the calm tone of the father, so had the son, from the instinct
of fear and self-preservation, studied every accent, every glance of
Olivier,--so had he constituted himself a spy upon the heart whose
perfidy was ever armed, that he detected at once in the proposal some
scheme hostile to his interests. He made, however, no opposition to the
plan suggested; and seemingly satisfied with his obedience, the father
dismissed him.

As soon as he was in the streets, Gabriel went straight to the house
of Madame Bellanger. The hotel had been purchased in her name, and she
therefore retained it. Since her husband's death he had avoided that
house, before so familiar to him; and now he grew pa