who proved to be a sea-captain resident at Bridlinquay—a man of general information and most agreeable manners-we mutually enjoyed an hour or two in each other's society, and arranged to meet again before his departure back into the country.

The after conversation with my French acquaintance proved of the greatest importance, surprising and exciting me beyond measure, placing fresh power in my hands, fresh though undefined hope in my heart, increasing the rim of light which already seemed to grow upon the darkness of the past month, and inducing some belief that the horrors of total eclipse were really passing away.

My next interview with Monsieur Antonio Roselli was rather of a stormy nature. He happened to be in a hurry, for the morning after he was to leave with his companion for Paris, M. Alphonse Leroux continuing thoroughly out of spirits, more than ever impressed with the conviction that he had been visited by an inhabitant of some other region than the earth, and tormented with a morbid desire to proceed to the capital to make some investigation concerning the original, who was supposed to be lying quiet under the turf in that region.

I expressed curiosity as to the whole of the circumstances, and took the side of Monsieur Alphonse, alleging that the wisest course surely was distinctly to prove the facts of the death and burial of the individual respecting whom there existed any doubt.

"And thereby," rejoined Roselli, "confirm superstitious and foolish belief beyond the power of cure; the original having been neatly run through the body by a sword thrust in such a scientific way that recovery was impossible."

"Where

This speech brought up several recollections in my mind, and awakened some surmises. was the dead man taken to," I inquired, "from the Bois de Boulogne ?"

"Ma foi, I do not know," exclaimed the Italian, "is it likely, mon ami; there are other places of meeting than the one you mention, and in the Bois de Boulogne there are more meetings than one !"

The scene in the library at Ty-y-gan-wy came again before my eyes, the date of the sad letter which was shown to me there, and the beseeching glance of my lost love.

"I presume, Monsieur Roselli, that you acted as second to your freiend on the occasion in question ?"

Parbleu, one sometimes acts as second, sometimes as principal; will Monsieur do me the honour to name the date, and the antagonist in the special instance to which he refers ?"

"The Ides of March, my friend of the Rue

R

Etroit, the Ides of March, mon enfant du Passage des Voleurs?"

"Bah! what have I to do with Casca, or with Julius Cæsar, you speak in enigmas to say the least of it."

"For Casca, substitute the amiable acquaintance with whom you part for Paris in the morning, for Cæsar we will name-Eh, Signor Antonio, whom shall we name ?"

Ha, ha, ha! mille tonnerres, assez de cette plaisanterie; Monsieur Smith if you like."

"Not Mr. Smith, but Mr. Rowland Seyton!" "If it pleases you; the contest was a fair one, and every arrangement made strictly in accordance with the laws of honour."

At this I began to lose my patience. "Is it you who talk of honour," I exclaimed, "you, scélérat, you, brigand du Cabaret du Loup-bretailleur du cabaretier."

The Italian ground his teeth, but replied quietly enough.

"Monsieur cherishes one grand delusion, he is ten times more mad than mon ami Leroux."

"No, for I am sane enough not to trust you, as he appears to do. Listen Signor Villini of the Strada Mala of Verona, Signor Antonio of the Passage des Voleurs at Paris; I have you completely in my power, and you will lose by every question you answer falsely. Tell me all that you know respecting Rowland Seyton."

Que le diable emporte tous les Anglais. I know nothing more than you do. He was killed by a sword thrust and left on the ground."

"And the cause of the quarrel ?"

"Parbleu, Mademoiselle de Ruisseau! This Englishman thought fit to fall in love with her, to continue his attentions after her engagement, and was very properly punished. What is there wonderful in all that ?"

"Is this the only instance in which your friend has killed his man in a duel ?"

"Not by scores. Ha, mon ami is very skilful and very brave. He is well known for a true eye

and nerves of steel."

"How comes it then that these nerves should be in this instance so much affected, or that one out of so many slain assailants should disturb him ?”

"I am going to tell you a secret, Monsieur," replied the Italian, with a sort of half-grin, very unpleasant to perceive, and sidling up to me; "le bon enfant Leroux has taken to Absinthe lately more than is good for his health!"

Disregarding this absurd evasion, I continued my questions. "It appears," said I, "that this unfortunate Englishman had been for some time in love with Mademoiselle de Ruisseau. Did she encourage his attentions ?"

"One thousand excuses Monsieur, but it is really impossible for me to reply to so many enquiries, and, if report speaks truly, you may obtain an answer more readily at first hand. Why you should trouble to make

come here and give yourself the

them is a matter of amazement? Hola, garçon, un

autre verre d'eau-de-vie, toute suite."

"You are keeping back all that you can, Monsieur