ttention, sir!" exclaimed the general harshly. "Do you recollect the
circumstances connected with the theft of Captain Leroux's yacht,
`Mouette,' from Ajaccio?"

"Perfectly, sig-- I mean, monsieur," he replied.

"Did you happen to know the lad who was taken away in her?"

"Francois? Yes, I knew him," he replied.

"Is he at all like this fisherman?" asked the general.

The fellow turned his gaze on me with an expression of stolid
indifference. Regarding me steadfastly for a full minute, I saw his
eyes brighten and gleam with an expression of fiendish malice; he
approached me so closely that his hot breath fell full upon my cheek,
his eyes glaring into mine like those of a tiger when he scents blood;
then, turning to the general, he replied,--

"No, _monsieur le general_. This is the young naval officer who
conveyed the despatches to Count Lorenzo di Paoli, and who, it is
believed, stole the `Mouette' on the night when the count's chateau was
attacked; afterwards leading the `Vigilant' into an ambush whereby she
was captured."

"Are you certain?" inquired the general.

"Quite certain," replied the Corsican. "It was I who watched him land
from the frigate, and afterwards discovered his lurking-place in the
woodman's hut. And I also saw him frequently, after his escape from the
troops, in the chateau of Count Lorenzo."

"That is sufficient," replied the general. Then, turning to me, he
remarked sarcastically,--

"If you have anything to say in refutation of this man's statement, say
it. But no, I see you have not. It is well, sir. You have chosen to
enter this town in disguise and with a false story; the inference is
plain. You are a spy; and as such you will be shot at daybreak to-
morrow morning."

"Take him away," he continued, turning to Lieutenant Saint Croix;
"confine him securely in the tower; and you, Guiseppe, take charge of
him; I can spare none of my own men to play the part of gaoler. And
remember, I shall hold you responsible for his safety!"

"I will answer for it with my own life," exultingly exclaimed the
scoundrel, as he roughly seized me by the collar and led me away.

As we passed through the guard-room, Lieutenant Saint Croix summoned a
file of soldiers, who promptly placed themselves one on each side of me;
and in this humiliating manner I was conducted to the prison from which,
in a few short hours, I was to go to my grave.

On leaving the guard-room, we crossed the small o