to some account of our former intercourse, and I
could observe that some allusion to the Prince de Conde dropped from her.

"How strange, how wonderful is all that you tell me!" said the Princess,
who bent forward and whispered some words to Prince Louis; and then,
taking Laura's arm, she moved on, saying in a low voice to me, "Au revoir,
monsieur," as she passed.

"You are to come and drink tea in the Archduchess's apartments, Tiernay,"
said Prince Louis; "you'll meet your old friend, Mademoiselle D'Estelles,
and of course you have a hundred recollections to exchange with each
other."

The Prince insisted on my accepting his arm, and, as he assisted me along,
informed me that old Madame D'Acgreville was dead about a year, leaving
her niece an immense fortune--at least a claim to one--only wanting the
sanction of the Emperor Napoleon to become valid; for it was one of the
estreated but not confiscated estates of La Vendee. Every word that
dropped from the Prince extinguished some hope within me. More beautiful
than ever, her rank recognized, and in possession of a vast fortune, what
chance had I, a poor soldier of fortune, of success?

"Don't sigh, Tiernay," said the Prince, laughing; "you've lost a leg for
us, and we must lend you a hand in return;" and with this we entered the
salon of the Archduchess.

Maurice Tiernay's "Last Word And Confession."

I have been very frank with my readers in these memoirs of my life. If I
have dwelt somewhat vain-gloriously on passing moments of success, it must
be owned that I have not spared my vanity and self-conceit, when either
betrayed me into any excess of folly. I have neither blinked my humble
beginnings, nor have I sought to attribute to my own merits those happy
accidents which made me what I am. I claim nothing but the humble
character--a Soldier of Fortune. It was my intention to have told the
reader somewhat more than these twenty odd years of my life embrace.
Probably, too, my subsequent career, if less marked by adventure, was more
pregnant with true views of the world and sounder lessons of conduct; but
I have discovered to my surprise that these revelations have extended over
a wider surface than I ever destined them to occupy, and already I tremble
for the loss of that gracious attention that has been vouchsafed me
hitherto. I will not trust myself to say how much regret this abstinence
has cost me; enough if I avow that in jotting down the past I have lived
my