d, to the face of the ex-carabinier, whose turn
had now come to speak.

Fabian was prepared to act his terrible part, and the countenance as
well as the attitude of the young man, though clothed in rags, expressed
the nobility which characterised an ancient race, as well as the
collected coolness of a judge. He cast an authoritative glance towards
Pepe, and the half savage trapper was compelled to submit to it in
silence.

Pepe at length rose, and advanced a few paces, by his manner showing a
determination only to utter that which his conscience approved.

"I understand you, Count Mediana," said he, addressing himself to
Fabian, who alone in his eyes had the right to assume this title. "I
will try to forget that the man here present is the same who caused me
to spend so many long years among the refuse of mankind at Ceuta. When
I appear before God He may require of me the words I have spoken, but I
should again repeat them, nor regret that they had ever been uttered."

Fabian made a gesture of approbation.

"One night in the month of November, 1808," said he, "when I belonged to
the Royal Carabiniers in the service of Spain, I was on duty upon the
coast of Elanchovi, where three men disembarked from the open sea upon
the beach.

"Our captain had sold to one of them the right of landing in a forbidden
spot.

"I reproach myself with having been this man's accomplice, and receiving
from him the price of culpable neglect of my duty.

"The following day it was discovered that the Countess Mediana and her
young son had left the castle during the night.

"The Countess was murdered--the young Count was never seen again.

"A short time after, his uncle appeared at Elanchovi and claimed his
nephew's fortune and titles. All was given up to him, and I, who
believed that I had only sold my services to favour an intrigue or an
affair of smuggling, found that I had been the accomplice of a murderer.

"I upbraided the present Count Mediana before witnesses, and accused him
of this crime. Five years' imprisonment at Ceuta was the reward of my
presumption.

"Here before another and more righteous tribunal, and in the presence of
God who is my witness, I again accuse the man before me. I declare him
to be the murderer of the Countess, and the usurper of her son's titles.
He was one of the three men, who, during the night entered by escalade
the chateau which Don Fabian's mother never again beheld.

"Let the murderer