nces of her censure; he danced about
the room, snapping his fingers, and chuckling with self-satisfaction,
the thought of being believed to be a police spy giving him the most
intense and heartfelt pleasure.

"She has moments, Tom, when she's downright clear; you 'd not think it,
but sometimes she's actually shrewd. You saw how she hit upon that."

"Would that her brother was favored with some of these lucid intervals!"
was the thought that ran through my head at the moment; for I knew
better than he did how needful a clearer brain and sharper faculties
than his would be to escape the snares his folly and vanity were
spreading around him.

"Shall we make a morning call at our friend the countess's,
Tom?" said Bubbleton. "She told me she received every day about this
hour."

I felt nowise disposed for the visit; and so, having engaged my friend
to dine with me at the Luxembourg the next day, we parted.

As I sauntered homewards, I was surprised how difficult I found it to
disabuse my mind of the absurd insinuations Bubbleton had thrown out
against his sister's sanity; for, though well knowing his fondness for
romance, and his taste for embellishment on every occasion, I. yet could
not get rid of the impression that her oddity of manner might only be
another feature of eccentricity, just as extravagant, but differing in
its tendencies, as his own.

To assist him whose kindness to myself of old I never ceased to remember
with gratitude, was my firm resolve; but to ascertain his exact position
was all-essential for this purpose, and I could not help saying, half
aloud, "If I had but Duchesne here now!"

"Speak of the devil, _mon ami!_" said he, drawing his arm within mine,
while I was scarcely able to avoid a cry of astonishment. "Where do you
dine to-day, Burke?" said he, in his quiet, easy tone.

"But where did you come from, Duchesne? Are you long here?"

"Answer my question first. Can you dine with me?"

"To be sure; with pleasure."

"Then meet me at the corner of the Rue des Trois Tetes, at six o'clock,
and I 'll be your guide afterwards. This is _my_ way now. _Au revoir_."

CHAPTER XVIII. THE MOISSON d'OR

When I arrived at the rendezvous, I found Duchesne already awaiting me
with a carriage, into which we stepped, and drove rapidly away.

"A man of your word, Burke; and, what is scarcely less valuable in the
times we live in, a man of prudence too."

"As how the latter, may I ask?"

"You have