ed for a second or two, and
then went on: "And now, brief as our acquaintance with him has been, see
what influence he already possesses over my mother! Even to her I dare
not whisper my suspicions; while to you, a stranger," added she, with
emotion, "I must speak my fears."

"But are they not groundless?" said I, endeavoring to calm the agitation
she suffered from. "In all that you have mentioned, I can but trace the
devotion of one seeking to serve, not injure; to be loved, not dreaded."

Scarce had I said these words, when I heard a noise behind me, and
before I could turn round, Duchesne stood beside us.

"I implore your pardon, Mademoiselle," said he, in a voice of
well-affected timidity, "nor should I venture to interrupt so
interesting a conference, but that the Comtesse de Lacostellerie had
sent me to look for you."

"You could scarcely have come more apropos, sir. The conversation was
entirely of yourself," said she, haughtily, as if in defiance of him.

"How could I possibly have merited so great an honor, Mademoiselle?"
replied he, bowing with the deepest respect; "or is it to the kindness
of a _friend_ I am indebted for such interest?"

There was an evident sneer in the way he uttered the word "friend,"
while a sidelong glance he gave beneath his deep eyelashes was still
more decisive of his feeling.

"Few probably owe more to their friends than the Chevalier Duchesne,"
said mademoiselle, tauntingly, as she took my arm to return to the
_salon_.

"True, most true!" replied he, with a low and deferential bow; "and I
hope I am not the man to forget my debts to either friends or enemies."

I turned round rapidly as he said this. Our eyes met, and we exchanged a
short, brief glance of open defiance. His, however, as quickly changed;
and an easy smile of careless indifference succeeded, as he lounged
after us towards the _salon_, where now a considerable number of
persons were assembled, and a more than usual excitement prevailed. Some
generals of the imperial staff were also there; and the rumor ran that
the negotiations with England had been suddenly interrupted, and that
the negotiators had demanded their passports.

"That is not all, Madame," said an old officer to the countess. "The
accounts from Mayence are threatening. Large bodies of Prussian troops
are reported on the march from the eastward. The telegraph has been
actively at work since noon, and several couriers have been sent off
from the W