the stamp
of fear and vacillation to be on every act of our lives? This abbe, the
creature we have made, the man whose fortune is our handiwork, could
render but one service to our cause; and he fails us in our need. And
now, you--"

"Beware, sir, how you speak to one who has never been accustomed to
hear his name slightingly used nor his honor impugned. With your cause,
whatever it be, I have no sympathy. Remember that; and remember, also,
we are strangers to each other."

"No, _par Saint Denis!_ that we are not!" said he, seizing me by the
arm, as he turned his head round, and stared me steadfastly in the face.
"It was but this instant I deemed my fortune at the worst; and now I
find myself mistaken. Do you know me now?" said he, throwing off his
travelling cap, and letting his cloak fall from his shoulders to the
ground.

"De Beauvais!" exclaimed I, thunderstruck at the sight.

"Yes, sir; the same De Beauvais whose fortunes you have blighted,
whose honor you have tarnished--Interrupt me not. The mill at Holbrun
witnessed the latter, if even the former were an error; and now we meet
once more."

"Not as enemies, however; at least on my side. You may persist, if you
will, in attributing to me wrongs I never inflicted. I can better bear
the imputation, unjust though it be, than involve myself in any quarrel
with one I feel no anger towards. I was in hopes a few hours hence might
have seen me on my way from France forever; but here, or elsewhere, I
will not reply to your enmity."

De Beauvais made no reply as I concluded, but with his arms crossed, and
head bent down, seemed lost in thought.

"And so," said he, at length, in a slow, sad voice, "you have not found
the service of the Usurper as full of promise as you hoped; you have
followed his banner long enough to learn how mean a thing even ambition
may be, and how miserably selfish is the highest aspiration of an
adventurer!"

"The Emperor was my good master," said I, sternly; "it would ill become
me to vent my disappointment on aught save my own demerits."

"I have seen as slight deservings bring a high reward, notwithstanding,"
replied he; "ay, and win their meed of praise from lips whose eulogy was
honor. There was a service, Burke--"

"Stay, no more of this!" said I. "You are unjust to your own cause and
to me, if you deem that the hour of baffled hopes is that in which I
could see its justice. _You_ are true and faithful to one whose fortunes
look