The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-04-16 00:00:00

CHAPTER XIX.

TuriEE days passed away in comparative quiet. After
mature reflection, Adrienne wrote to Father Eustace
in place of meeting him for, situated as she was with
. M. Lecour, she could not bring her mind to play the
part required of her by the priest. She believed that
_ he had asserted the tie between them merely to gain
a more complete ascendency over her, and she feared
his influence over her future fate too much to place
herself willingly at his disposal.
M. Lecour received letters from France which oc-
cupied his attention, and gave him employment in re-
plying to them. His wild night orgies had not filled
the house with noise, as on the first night of her
arrival, nor had the White Terror again visited her
apartment.
Louis was indisposed, and Adrienne was commanded
to devote the greater portion of her time to his amuse-
ment. During those days the poor youth made her
repeat to him aga;n and again the story of Christ, his
wonderful teachings, and marvellous healing of the
sick and afflicted, and his benighted mind seemed to
open to something of a true comprehension of the great
lesson inculcated by the life and death of the Saviour.
Adrienne little dreamed that this poor wreck wouli
yet survive to a new life under the influence of free
air and an invigorating climate, and of all the ex-
perience of the past, this little seed dropped by the
wayside would be the sole remaining vestige of his
former existence ; that its influence would mould the
future destiny of the man.
• On the third evening, soon after she retired to her
own room, M. Lecour summoned her to his apart-
ment. She almost trembled to seek his presence, but
as no alternative but obedience remained, she nerved
her shrinking courage, and went immediately to him.
He nodded to her as she entered, and seemed in a
bettsr humour than she had ever before seen him. He
rubbed his hands together with an air of exultation,
and abruptly said—
"l sent for you, mademoiselle, to ask you how you
would like to leave this old den, and lead the life of a
gay and dashing belle ?"
She looked wonderingly at him, with tho fear that
he had quite gone mad, and quietly replied—
. "I see no possible chance for that, monsieur, and
therefore I must endeavour to render myself contented
here."
• " Contented, child: don't try to play the gentle
Griselda with me. it's not in a woman's nature to be
satisfied to live in a haunted ruin like this, with such
companions as you have here. Do you know that you
are very handsome, Adrienze ? that you might
fascinate almost any man by the charm of your
'manner ?"
She half smiled, and he went on—
" Yes, yea; you are handsome enough to grace any
Station; and if my plan succeeds, you shall have a
lofty one. Yes, you shall be queen of France yet.
Think of it! Queen of the greatest realm in
Europe.
Adrienne now felt that he was mad. She replied—
"l cannot understand you, mon pare. I have no
ambitious aspirations. I do not wish to wear a
crown."
"Then you are a greater fool than I believe you to
be," he rudely responded. "I say that if I can put a
crown upon your brow, I shall certainly do so, and
compel you to wear it."
Adrienne faintly smiled—
" There is so little chance that you will ever be
able to do so, that I need not object to the acceptance
of the distinction when it actually falls on me."
"Little chance, indeed! That shows how ignorant
you are of what is passing in the outside world. Read
those letters, mademoiselle, and then see what you
think of my power."
M. Lecour pointed to several sheets of paper closely
written, which lay open on the table. A glance re-
vealed to Adrienne that the first she took up was from
the most distinguished man in France. It had been
written by his own hand, and with breathless interest
- she read the details of a plan for restoring Louis XVII.
to his inheritance, while the actual power was wielded
by Napoleon's own hand.
As the price of his treachery, M. Lecour was offered
the decoration of the Legion of Honour, the position
of Councellor of State, with the title of Due in the new
order of nobility that would be established, and large
estates to support his new dignity.
He watched her eagerly as she read, and when she
had finished, he exultingly asked—
"What do you think now, mademoiselle? A few
days ago I regarded you as a nuisance and a burden
to me; but when a man suddenly finds himself the
Possessor of an hereditary title, with manorial rights
to sustain its prestige, he begins to think something
of his descendants, especially when they may attain
to loftier heights than he has gained. Can you not see
the crown shining in the air above your head, ready '
to fall upon it, and give you the place once held by
Marie Antoinette ?''

"Remember how it was replaced by the crown of
martyrdom," replied Anrienne, with a shudder. "No,
'en pare, the crown of France will never be worn by
?. Leaving out every other consideration, do you
think I could be so untrue to every womanly feeling,
• as to bestow my hand on the imbecile shadow who
lives in yonder room? Even a return to the convent
would be better than such a fat° *3 tliat,"
"Wait awhile, mademoiselle, and see what your
decision will be when you see the road to such dig-
Unction lying open before you. lam only preparing
the way for you to step into, all in good time. I have
been for some time past making arrangements for my
return to France, accompanied by Prince Louis. Look
through the wardrobe of Madame Lecour, and select
such things as may be of use to you on your voyage.
Once in sour native land, and your wants shall be
liberally supplied; but there are jewels and laces here
which must not be forgotten, for they will be necessary
to your future state."
"And it is your fixed purpose to go back to France
Immediately ?"
"A ship now lies near the mouth of the Mississippi
river, which has been sent there by the command of
the first consul with orders to await my arrival
at the Balize. To-morrow night, a boat will await me
three miles below this place, to which the prince will
be conveyed by two men in my confidence. You and
I will accompany him, and in four more days we
shall be safe on our way to France and its throne."
Finding that she did not reply to him, M. Lecour
went on in an irritated manner—
"What have you to say, mademoiselle? Will you
be ready to accompany me at the proper time, or will
You again elope as you did from the Lady Abbess, and
this time throw yourself into the arms of Adolphe
Ittendon ? Will you betray my plans to him, and at-
terept to circumvent them? Ha! the last will be
impossible, and you would be a fool if you exchanged
Louis XVII., even without an idea to bless himself
with, for a petty planter who has not a sou of his own
to support you on."
" I shall never mary M. Mendon, nor have I any
thought of treachery towards you, mom pere. Since
I have voluntarily cast my lot in with yours, I suppose
it is my duty to abide by you; but:if any other path
seemed opened to me, I frankly say that I should
eater it."
"That is well; go with me, and the rest is easily
managed. Make your preparation for departure with
seeresy and despatch; and be careful that no hint of
the change about to take place escapes you toany one
in this house. And now, good night."
Thus dismissed, Adrienne sought her own room, to
reflect on the extraordinary communication of the
evening, and to endeavour to decide which course
would be best for her future well-being: to go with
M. Lecour, or claim the protection of Father Eustace.
Since her fate was severed from that of Victor
du Vernay, happiness she believed no longer in her
reach. The thought of a return to her old prison
filled her with dread, and she felt certain that the
priest would send her to her convent as soon as he
found her in his power. A marriage with M. Mendon
was equally repulsive to her, and the final decision was
that she would go with her grandfather. She believed
that a powerful party would array itself in opposition
to the elevation of a girl of plebian descent to be the
sharer of the throne, and little did Adrienne imagine
that M. Lecour had decided in his own mind that her
hand should be given to Louis before they reached
France, thus defeating such party influence as might
be brought to bear against his own selfish scheme of
aggrandisement.

CHAPTER XX.
/TOURS passed away in reflection, and, unconscious of
the lapse of time, Adrienne sat beside her dying fire,
dreaming of the uncertain future before her, when
suddenly there was a sound outside her door, as
f
some one was endeavouring to open it. She started
UP in alarm, for, in compliance with the command of
M. Lecour, the key had been placed in the keeping 0
End', since the night of her visit to his picture room
and she had no means of securing it from within.
At length it slowly opened, and in place of the pale
Phantom she had reared to behold, a very black,
scored face was thrust into the opening. With a
feeling of intense relief. Adrienne exclaimed—
"It is only you, Eady. What has happened?
Why do you come to me at this hour of the night ?”
" Oh, lot'! I 'spected to find you in yer bed fas'
asleep at dis hour o' de night, and that you is, lookin'
ae white as the ghose herself. I's come for you to go
me to de room o' de prince. He's tuck a turn,
an' he'll die afore mornin' of I carn't get suffin to re-
lieve him."
"What can have made him worse? Have you
called my grandfather?"
L'in't no use to do dat ; de poor helpless creetur
is subject to cramps in his breas' ind I know it's
cam he eats too much, an' carn't take no ex'cise. /
knows well enough what to do for him, but he keeps
a cabin' for you, so I thought I'd better come arter
you."
"I thought you said he was it danger ?"
Whil,—mebbe he is, and mebbe he ain't. I knows
what to give him as well as de master does, for I has
cured him e wins turns den dis one. Kin you come
along o' me a little while, and speak to de poor boy?"
Adrienne could not refuse to comply with this
r
!quest, and she immediately followed Eady. When
she reached the ante-room, she found Pierre there,
awaiting their appearance, and heard from the inner
Chamber the groans of Louis mingled with entreaties