moiselle de Castelnau and her lover-that was the crucial question. Madame de Longueville's death left him powerless. He walked up and down the margin of the lake, reflecting on his difficult position, and finding no way out of it.

Through the darkness, presently, he saw a tall form approaching him. At first he thought it was Colonel Trafford, whom he had noticed wandering about the place at irregular intervals. Not so, however; this tall fellow was enveloped in a cloak, and had a mysterious appearance, altogether different from Fighting Charlie's. When the cloaked figure approached him, it paused; then came a whispered word -his own name— "Vionnet!"

rising.

CHAPTER XLIII.

CATELAN'S "COUP."

"Pistols for two."

COLONEL TRAFFORD, who had ordered a boat for Garthwaite, altered his mind very early next morning. He did not go to bed; but when he saw a chance of sunrise-just a faint streak of saffron in the east-he took his matutine dip in the cold waters of the lake, and then went indoors and dressed like a bridegroom. Few are the men who wake throughout the night before marriage, and then plunge in mere or river or ocean just as the stars wax pale before the sunrise.

"You have managed this affair very badly," said the new-comer, speaking French. "If I had not received warning of what was going on, there would have been a complete failure. As it is, I am not certain that we shall conquer the difficulty. Do you know that Mademoiselle is to be married to-morrow morning?"

"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Vionnet. "Pious exclamations are of slight service," replied the other. "You ought to have prevented this. You trusted that Corsican woman, and she got drowned just when she was most wanted. Besides, she had betrayed you before. This English Colonel must have bribed her."

"What is to be done, Marshal ?" said Vionnet.

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Aye, that's just the way. You get into an inextricable difficulty, and then you cry out for help. As I told you, they count on marrying to-morrow morning--at a little village church down the lake-Garthwaite it is called. Didn't you hear Colonel Trafford order a boat at six o'clock? You ought to have suspected something."

"I ought," said Vionnet. "I have been overdone these few days. What do you think of doing?"

"There is but one chance now, and it is a perilous one. I intend to interrupt the service -which is a usual thing here in England—and to say that the young lady is my ward (which is quite true), and that her marriage with Trafford is out of the question."

"I don't think you can stop it that way," said Vionnet.

"I mean to try," he answered. "You must come to bear witness that I am what I pretend to be. We had better start for Garthwaite at once, I think."

Vionnet slept on no mattress that night. He

Up at Hawksmere, early that morning, what a stir there was! What a sweet susurrus in the girls' bedrooms! What a pleasant excitement among the young fellows, Catelan and Sir Alured not excepted! A tremendous cold breakfast was ready in the hall at six-red-deer ham, boar's head, game pie, and other comestibles of a stimulating yet satisfying character. Therewith not merely coffee and tea-the catlap of the day-but also flagons of mulled burgundy, an excellent beverage for folk about to marry, or even to look on at that somewhat terrifying ceremony.

Cecile was not at all frightened. She had long ago made up her mind, and now it was quite clear that the right moment had arrived. Abrupt as was the arrangement, Earine managed to array her in something like bridal attire: and when she tripped down the wide old oaken staircase into the hall-where breakfast was laid, and a huge wood fire blazing upon the dogs-she looked extremely nice. Earine and Emily and Clara followed her-and 'twas really a bouquet of girls. The sun was hardly up: his earliest, faintest rays were struggling

I think it is exhilarating to drive four-in-hand to one's marriage. Jack Eastlake's favorite roans were in harness. Fighting Charlie drove : Cecile sat on the box by his side. Never was there such a drive as that morning along the margin of the lake, just crimsoned by the final flush of the sunrise, with a soft south wind meeting them, and kissing the sweet eyes and red lips of the bride and her bridesmaids. Jack Eastlake did his best to perform on the Colonel's bugle, but soon blew himself out of breath.

By-and-by they reached the little church, a gray lichen stained square - towered edifice, standing quite alone upon the shore. They pulled up at the lich-gate. Within the sacred boundary they perceived the parson and his clerk; outside the low stone wall two other persons were visible. Achille Catelan's quick eye caught them instantaneously.

"I thought so," he said to himself, as the drag stopped. He sprang down on the near side, so they could not see him. "Hand me that case, Mr. Eastlake," he said.

Jack Eastlake, much wondering, handed down a neat case of Spanish walnut, with a silver plate whereon were engraved Catelan's name and crest.

"Vivian," said the Frenchman to Valentine, "keep close to me. I shall want you. Let every body else go into the church."

Into the church they went, in the highest spirits, Sir Alured leading Cecile, and the Colonel following with Earine, and Powys with Clara Eastlake (whom the Fellow of Oriel was beginning to regard as a singularly marriageable young lady), and Jack Eastlake with Emily Sheldon. Catelan and Valentine Vivian brought up the rear tardily. The two strangers who had been waiting outside came slowly after them.

As the church door closed behind Jack Eastlake, Achille Catelan turned quickly round and met these two persons. One of them was a tall man in a cloak, with a long gray mustache, which almost concealed his mouth. Catelan put out his nervous white hand and touched him on the shoulder.

"Marshal Dessaline!"

He started back in surprise. In surprise, also, Vivian looked on, and Vionnet. At last the tall man said,

"M. Catelan!"

"I am

"Afterwards, if you like," he said. here to stop this marriage. It is a base tricka lady of princely rank to be married to an adventurer. She is my ward."

And herewith he tried to advance towards the

was in progress. But Vivian, whose muscles of steel had recovered their elastic energy, gave him a slight touch that made him recoil, and said,

"Better wait."

And then Catelan replied,

"Your ward! You wretched slave and spy! You have no claim upon her, no connection with her. Now, have you any courage? Here are pistols; I condescend to offer you satisfaction, though I know you to be unworthy of itNo, I can see you dare not accept my offer. Go! Take your miserable associate with you. Never let me see your face again, unless you wish to be punished as you deserve. Go!"

Unreplying, the two men sneaked away, looking extremely crestfallen. Eastlake's grooms saluted them as they passed with some contemptuous chaff, which they probably did not appreciate.

"That's one way of facilitating a wedding,” remarked Catelan with a smile, replacing his pistol-case on the drag. "I had a presentiment that fellow would be here." "He was evidently surprised to see you." "Yes; he had reasons for supposing me to be in Italy. It is sometimes necessary to resort to finesse when one is surrounded by mouchards. Come, let us enter the church; La belle Cécile must be Mrs. Trafford by this time."

Yes: at that very moment she was signing her maiden name for the last time: and, strange to say, it was not De Castelnau. Are you at all curious to know what it was, O reader? Search, then, the register of Garthwaite Church.

Very gayly did the wedding-party return to Hawksmere, with the silver bugle pealing a jubilant strain. Not till they re-assembled in the hall did Colonel Trafford and his wife hear aught of Catelan's achievement.

Then said Valentine,

"You were nearly interrupted, after all, Colonel Trafford."

And he gave a graphic relation of what he had seen.

"I am very grateful to you, M. Catelan," said Trafford. "But who were these people? There was a fellow down at the Ferry Inn last night who seemed very like a mouchard."

"That was one of them, no doubt," replied Catelan. "But the man to be feared was of a superior sorta Marshal of France, I assure

you. You know his name, Madame," he said to Cecile.

"Dessaline ?" she said.

"The same. Yes, he is a Marshal of France -in these days; and he is a coward, a spy, an assassin. Oh, I know him well. And you were to have married his son, Madame-a sensual, imbecile scoundrel. Now will Dessaline be hard at work to intrigue for your fortune." "He may have it, I am sure," said the Colonel.

"But

"Yes, she would," observed Catelan. for your own sake, Sir Alured, the thing should be done more delicately. Give her jewels; then, if she finds herself in want of money, she can turn them into gold."

"The idea is excellent," said Sir Alured; "but how am I to get jewels in time?"

"I can help you," said Valentine, "if all my luggage was brought up here. I spent a lot of money in that rubbish when I was in the East-and among it there's a set of sapphires and opals which the Jew at Stamboul swore was the finest in the world. They're in an old

Cecile smiled.

"I am promoted, you see, young ladies," she said. "I am Mrs. Trafford-thanks to M. Catelan. When will you three follow my example? There will not be such difficulties in your way as in mine."

Miss Sheldon blushed, and there was a queer look on Sir Alured's countenance, while Clara Eastlake gave an almost imperceptible glance at the Fellow of Oriel. But Earine said, laughing, "There is the immense preliminary difficulty of not being asked."

"Easily conquered," quoth Valentine. "Young ladies know how to extract a declaration of love."

Colonel Trafford had determined to take his bride right away to a country-seat of his in the very heart of England, in the very centre of Warwickshire. He was to have Jack Eastlake's drag to the station-to break the journey at Manchester, being sure of comfortable quarters at the Queen's Hotel-and then to settle down quietly for his honeymoon in Shakspeare's country, the omphalos of the realm.

While preparations for travel were being made, Sir Alured and his son and Catelan strolled down to the lake.

"Let us see," said Catelan, "if the body is found. I don't want Mrs Trafford to hear any thing of it before she starts."

Yes, the body was found-close to the shore at The Villa. And they had taken it into the house, and notice had been sent to the coroner.

Sir Alured gave the men money, and warned every body to say nothing about it when the wedding-party were crossing the ferry. The old baronet was a great prince in those parts, and his orders were carefully obeyed. As he walked up the hill towards Hawksmere, he said to Catelan,

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Pharaohs, I should think. If we can find them, they'll just do."

"I would far rather Earine had them," said Sir Alured.

"My dear father! Why, the little Nereid would be unhappy if she were loaded with gems. No, no: let Miss Sheldon have them. She will look charming in them at the theatre. It is rather a pity we did not think of it earlier, so as to get them reset. That priceless antique gold will not strike the American mind."

When Colonel Trafford and his bride were in the ferry - boat, Jack Eastlake's drag having crossed already, while Earine and Emily (Clara accompanied her father) were waving their white kerchiefs, Sir Alured said to Catelan,

"Shall we go down to The Villa? I must arrange for the unfortunate woman's burial. That she should lie in the shadow of the church where Cecile was married is a curious coincidence."

"Yes, let us go," said Catelan. "I want to find out who she was. I strongly suspect." The ladies were left to ascend the hill alone, and a boat was ordered. Soon they reached the place, and landed on the lawn. There was no one in the house except an old woman in charge, until the coroner should arrive. They ascended to the room where the body lay, and the moment Sir Alured looked on the face-disfigured as it was by the effect of the water-he recognized Miss Sheldon's companion at a certain little dinner.

"Why," exclaimed Valentine," it is Madame Garnuchot-the woman who persecuted Earine at Rouen, and who was a spy upon you at Broadoak, and who murdered Redfern. You remember her, Catelan ?"

"Yes," he said, "I remember her. And you remember that brand upon her shoulder. We will verify its existence, that there may be no

I

Too certainly was it the treacherous Corsican who had met sudden death on an English lake. The three men left the villa in a somewhat sober mood, and returned to Hawksmere. As they reached the shore, Sir Alured said,

"Well I must settle with that little American before I dine. Look for your jewels, Val; I'll see what can be done with them."

The jewels were soon found a set of unique splendor.

"Will you let me talk seriously to you? I am just past seventy: you are about twenty, I suppose ?"

"A very fair guess," she said.

"Well, my child, listen. I come of a longlived family: I am comparatively young at seventy. I shall certainly live another twenty years. It has always been my belief that an old man, if he retains his mental and physical power, may make a young woman very happy. I think I could make you happy. Will you try ?"

"A rash experiment," said the little actress. "Look at the matter coolly, Sir Alured. You are of the bluest blood in England: I come from Yankeeland, and have no distinct information about my grandfather. What will people say of you? And how long before I shall shock your patrician taste ?"

"What people say of me has always been a matter beneath my notice. And I am not at all afraid of your doing any thing to shock my fastidiousness. You have not found out my weak point yet, Emily-clear-sighted as you are."

"Will you tell it me?"

but I had an idea of my own. I wanted to see you again. I knew the whole thing to be very foolish-I knew that I ought to forget it altogether, but I remembered that evening on the terrace above the Thames, and I could not get the idea of you out of my mind. Very silly, wasn't it?" she asked, with a shy smile.

"I wonder," thought Sir Alured Vivian, "where the actress ends and the woman begins? I have met many women, but none so perplexing as this. Let us," he said, "forget this unfortunate Frenchwoman, who gave you such bad advice, and think of ourselves. I repeat my offer in all earnestness: I am not so eloquent as I was by the Thames, for that was a felicitous moment, but I am quite as sincere. Will you marry me, child ?"

"I think," she replied, "that I admire you too much to marry you. I am only just beginning to learn the differences between people. Yours is a higher blood than mine: your marrying me would be like some American citizen marrying a black girl. I am just an actress, with an imitative faculty, and a gift of understanding people's characters: you are a man, with a character stronger than most men's, and a power of thought and action which you have never fully exercised. I understand you-I am

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Ah, but I don't know what you wish," she said, "and I doubt whether you know what you wish. Let me tell you how I feel in the matter, Sir Alured. That night on the terrace you were too strong for me-you carried away my previous resolution-you were young, as I said before. I gave way. I was yours. But after you left me, I reflected much on the folly of the thing. If you were to ask a hundred people, at least ninety-nine would say it was extremely foolish, both for you and me. And now I will tell you more. Madame de Longueville was always with me at that time, though we only met by accident at the Colossus Hotel. I never quite liked her, yet she was a pleasant companion. She gave me bad advice: that is, she advised me not to lose sight of you, but to make you pay for deserting me. I am afraid I listened to her advice too readily; for in America, you know, we estimate every thing by money. She found out where you were; she took that cottage on the lake that we might be near you. And it looks like a punishment that her death has brought me into your house-brought, indeed, a renewal of your offer. But you see I can not accept it."

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'Wait," said Sir Alured. "Let me think a little. This woman-she was a French spy,

and is accused of murder-was a chance acquaintance of yours. Yes, I see. And you came to Blackwater in pursuit of me. Well, you were quite right. I ought to have kept my word."

"My dear child, you are wrong. You understand neither me nor yourself. Now, I will tell you your fortune. You are one of the cleverest little actresses in the world—why? Because, taking early to the stage, with your own character undeveloped, you have possessed a singular capacity for interpreting other characters, real or imaginary. Do you know what is going to happen-what is happening already? Your own character is developing, and you will lose that art of identifying yourself with others which is the secret of your success. Believe me, Miss Sheldon, you will never again be so good an actress as you were when I last saw you on the stage."

Emily Sheldon sat silent awhile, reflecting on Sir Alured's words. Then she said,

"Whether you are right or wrong, I am uncertain. But you told me I did not understand you. Will you tell me why ?"

"I will. You have not discovered my fatal weakness-the weakness which has made me an isolated exile for long years. It is, that I love madly, and that I hate bitterly. I love you now ;-but if you were to deceive me, I should hate you with the intensest hatred."

As he uttered those four words-I love you now - Emily Sheldon sprang from her chair, and stood looking at him with eyes that seemed full of fire. As he finished his sentence, she threw herself on her knees before him, exclaiming,