was a fine sunny day in June; and as they drove along the crowded
boulevards, and through the Porte St. Denis, the young bride and
bridegroom, to avoid each other's eyes, affected to be gazing out of the
windows; but when they reached the part of the road where there was
nothing but trees on each side, they felt it necessary to draw in their
heads, and make an attempt at conversation, De Chaulieu put his arm round
his wife's waist, and tried to rouse himself from his depression; but it
had by this time so reacted upon her, that she could not respond to his
efforts, and thus the conversation languished, till both felt glad when
they reached their destination, which would, at all events, furnish them
something to talk about.

Having quitted the carriage, and ordered a dinner at the Hotel de
l'Abbaye, the young couple proceeded to visit Mademoiselle Hortense de
Bellefonds, who was overjoyed to see her sister and new brother-in-law,
and doubly so when she found that they had obtained permission to take
her out to spend the afternoon with them. As there is little to be seen
at St. Denis but the Abbey, on quitting that part of it devoted to
education, they proceeded to visit the church, with its various objects
of interest; and as De Chaulieu's thoughts were now forced into another
direction, his cheerfulness began insensibly to return. Natalie looked so
beautiful, too, and the affection betwixt the two young sisters was so
pleasant to behold! And they spent a couple of hours wandering about with
Hortense, who was almost as well informed as the Suisse, till the brazen
doors were opened which admitted them to the Royal vault. Satisfied, at
length, with what they had seen, they began to think of returning to the
inn, the more especially as De Chaulieu, who had not eaten a morsel of
food since the previous evening, owned to being hungry; so they directed
their steps to the door, lingering here and there as they went, to
inspect a monument or a painting, when, happening to turn his head aside
to see if his wife, who had stopped to take a last look at the tomb of
King Dagobert, was following, he beheld with horror the face of Jacques
Rollet appearing from behind a column! At the same instant his wife
joined him, and took his arm, inquiring if he was not very much delighted
with what he had seen. He attempted to say yes, but the word would not be
forced out; and staggering out of the door, he alleged that a sudden
faintness had ove