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I had been a half-hour in my cell when the door was opened to adht before He came to condole with me in my extremity, and yet to bid me not utterly lose hope

"It is too late to-day to carry out the sentence," said he, "and as to-morroill be Sunday, you will have until the day after By thenthe province for your servants, and let us pray Heaven that they may succeed in their search"

"It is a forlorn hope, Monsieur de Castelroux," I sighed, "and I will pin no faith to it lest I suffer a disappointment that will embitter my last moments, and perhaps rob me of some of the fortitude I shall have need of"

He answered e spared, and if Rodenard and uedoc then was every likelihood that they would be brought to Toulouse in time Then he added that that, however, was not the sole object of his visit A lady had obtained permission of the Keeper of the Seals to visitto be adht of Roxalanne flitted through my mind "Mademoiselle de Lavedan?" I inquired

He nodded "Yes," said he; then added, "She seeht him to admit her forthwith, and presently she came Castelroux closed the door as he withdrew, and ere left alone together As she put aside her cloak, and disclosed to entle eyes, telling of tears and sleeplessness, all my own trouble seemed to vanish in the conte each other with no word spoken Then, dropping her glance, and advancing a step, in a faltering, hesitatingvoice

In a bound I was beside her, and I had gathered her in ainst ht--"Roxalanne!"

But she struggled to be free of o,in her very voice "Do not touch me, monsieur You do not know--you do not know"

For answer, I enfolded her htly still

"But I do know, little one," I whispered; "and I even understand"

At that, her struggles ceased upon the instant, and she seemed to lie limp and helpless in my arms