tainly catch her, but that he could not say when.

Michael, finally, had in vain searched the whole district, and been all
over Oleron; no one had been able to give him any news of Trumence.

Thus, on the day when the session began, a council was held, in which
all of Jacques's friends took part; and here it was resolved that his
counsel would not mention the name of the Countess Claudieuse, and
would, even if the count should offer to give evidence, adhere to the
plan of defence suggested by M. Folgat.

Alas! the chances of success seemed hourly to diminish; for the jury,
very much against the usual experience, appeared to be excessively
severe. The bankrupt was sentenced to twenty years' hard labor. The
man accused of murder could not even obtain the plea of "extenuating
circumstances," and was sentenced to death.

This was on Wednesday.

It was decided that M. de Chandore and the Marquis and the Marchioness
de Boiscoran should attend the trial. They wanted to spare Dionysia the
terrible excitement; but she declared that, in that case, she should
go alone to the court-house; and thus they were forced to submit to her
will.

Thanks to an order from M. Domini, M. Folgat and M. Magloire could spend
the evening with Jacques in order to determine all the details, and to
agree upon certain replies to be given.

Jacques looked excessively pale, but was quite composed. And when his
counsel left him, saying,--

"Keep up your courage and hope," he replied,--

"Hope I have none; but courage--I assure you, I have courage!"

XXXI.

At last, in his dark cell, Jacques de Boiscoran saw the day break that
was to decide his fate.

He was to be tried to-day.

The occasion was, of course, too good to be neglected by "The Sauveterre
Independent." Although a morning paper, it published, "in view of
the gravity of the circumstances," an evening edition, which a dozen
newsboys cried out in the streets up to mid-night. And this was what it
said,--

ASSIZES AT SAUVETERRE.

THURSDAY, 23.

Presiding Judge.--M. DOMINI.

ASSASSINATION! INCENDIARISM!

[Special Correspondence of the Independent.]

Whence this unusual commotion, this uproar, this great excitement, in
our peaceful city? Whence these gatherings of our public squares, these
groups in front of all the houses! Whence this restlessness on all
faces, this anxiety in all eyes?

The reason is, that to-day this terrible Valpinson case will be brought
up in court