embellished with the same blazonry.

We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed
among a crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De
Vlierbeck. How has it come to pass that these portraits have returned to
their old nails on walls which they seemed to have abandoned forever?

The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room,
stopped, looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and
approached an antique casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He
opened it with apparent indifference and took out some simple
jewelry,--a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He gazed long at
these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a
deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels in
their casket.

Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maids
saluted as he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and
went forth to the most secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at the
foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw himself on the ground, where he
sat long in moody reverie until aroused by the ringing voice of Bess,
who approached him with a book in her hand:--

"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman
went yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the
sale. After market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would
not leave him till he had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an
excellent book, as Mademoiselle used to love it so; and neither gold nor
silver could ever get it from me if it wasn't for you, sir. Husband says
it is called LUCIFER'!"

While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over
its pages without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank
you for your kind attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how
happy I am whenever I find any thing that belonged to your mistress. Be
assured that I will never forget your goodness." After offering this
expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he opened the book again
and began to read without heeding her further. But the good woman did
not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:--

"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?"

Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. My
search has been fruitless."

"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and wh