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It was close upon ten o'clock as we rode into the yard of the ied a private roo the courtyard--and in answer to the inquiries that I made I was informed by the landlord that Monsieur de Marsac was not yet arrived

"My assignation was 'before noon,' Monsieur de Castelroux," said I "With your permission, I would wait until noon"

He made no difficulty Two hours were of no account We had all risen very early, and he was, himself, he said, entitled to some rest

Whilst I stood by theit caentleman issued from the hostelry and halted for some moments in conversation with the ostler below He walked with an enfeebled step, and leaned heavily for support upon a stout cane As he turned to reenter the inn I had a glimpse of a face woefully pale, about which, as about thethat was fa that puzzledwhen presently I sat down to breakfast with Castelroux

Itat an end, ere sitting talking--I growing impatient the while that this Monsieur de Marsac should keepso--when of a sudden the rattle of hoofs drewvery recklessly, had just dashed through the porte-cochere, and was in the act of pulling up his horse He was a lean, active man, very richly dressed, and with a face that by its swarthiness of skin and the sable hue of beard and hair looked al between a snarl and a laugh, and addressing somebody within the shelter of the porch "Par la mort Dieu, I had hardly looked to find you!"

Froasp of amazement and a cry of "Marsac! You here?"

So this was the gentleman I was to see! A stable boy had taken his reins, and he leapt nie of vision hobbled now the enfeebled gentleman whom earlier I had noticed

"My dear Stanislas!" he cried, "I cannot tell you how rejoiced I am to see you!" and he approached Marsac with arms that were opened as if to embrace hirown dull Then abruptly raising his hand, he struck the fellow on the breast, and thrust him back so violently that but for the stable-boy's intervention he had of a certainty fallen With a look of startled aarded his assailant