The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-09 00:00:00

CFIAFTER X

The unwilling conspirator—A sudden and unexpected visitor.
TttE uttera-ce of this distinguished name -welled at once
the indignant feeling that had been gradually gathering in
Fabien's breast. He now began to perceive the task that
was required of him.
"And' is it," s.,id he, with an honest energy, " the first
prince of the Royal blood—the great Coade—that it is
proposed I should assas..inate ?"
" Peace ! peacel in 1-leaven's name," said the Baron,
with an air of aim m ; " some one will hear you."
"And do you, brother, require me to embrue my hands
in such noble blood ? Is it your wish that I should strike
the hero—the very saviour of Prance?"
" Silence, Fabien—or I swear"—

" And do you think that you can make me believe—l
who am but a simple countryman—that the Queen of
France has given so horrible a command ?
" Be silent, Sir, I command you," said the Baron,
seizing him by the arm.
The next moment Fabien beheld a dagger glittering
over his head. Quick as lightning, the hardy youth flung
off his brother's grasp, and caught hold of the threatening
steel; he was about to direct its point against the Baron's
breast—he, however, cast it from him, and sunk on the
nearest seat, covering his face with his hands.
A silence of some moments followed this rapid scene.
" Monsieur de Creissi," at length murmured Fabien,
in an altered tone of voice; " what would our poor father
have said had be seen us—his sons, just now ?"
" He would have said, Fable.'," replied Albert, with
boldness, " that you are an ,bstinate and thick-headed
fool, who instead of coolly discussing those measures which
cannot but tend to your advancement, can utter words so
loudly, that, if heard, would inevitably cast both of us
into a state prison. Come, Fabien," said he, all at once
moderating his tone, and approaching his brother, " let
as forget this disagreeable encounter, and let us calmly
converse, without passion or prejudice. You have taken
offence at a proposition which many of the nobles of Paris
would have accepted without hesitation ; if they could have
only complied with the terms of the agreement. To quote
an example in justification of this aff.ur, the great Duke
de Guise rendered to France quite as many services as this
turbulent and ambitious Prince de Conde ; nevertheless,
he was poignarded in the anti-chamber of Henry III!
There was no one could blame those gentlemen, who but
obeyed the order of their sovereign—their escutcheon did
not receive any stain from this act of during; and I could
call to your mind many of their descendants amongst
us who carry their heads hi h at court, and who speak of
their father's deeds as worthy of commendation, and as
proofs of loyalty. That which we must all deplore
the most, Fah;,,, is, that party rage should have put the
Queen in such an extremity that she cannot save Fiance,
without having recourse to the means which her own heart,
and the hearts of her devoted adherents, cannot but re-
prove as much as you."
The wily Baron now paused to judge of the effect which
this specious speech might have upon his brother. Fabien
remained pensive and abstracted, as if he measured the'
depth of the abyss into which his brother wished to plunge
him.
" Sir!" at length asked he, in a tone which he simu-
lated. and with a calmness which he did not feel, " I am
not skilled in casuistry, and I cannot dispute with you
upon matters like these. I wish to know what will become
of me if l refuse to accomplish the task which you have
prescribed me ?"
" You must have thought. Fahieti," replied the Baron,
his brows lowering as he spoke, " that is, if you think at
all, that in the event of your refusal to accede to orr
wishes, when you were possessed of the important secret,
we have not omitted to adopt means for our safety. Your
betrayal of our intentions to the Prince would be a pretext
fora civil war, and a specious one it would be, indeed, to
the new faction. If, therefore, you refuse to serve us, be-
hold that which would shelter us from your indiscretions."
So saving', the Baron laid upon the table several blank
lettres-de-cochet. _ _

" I need only endorse your name upon one of these pa-
pers," continued he drily, " and in one hour the doors of
Vincennes or the Bastille would be closed for ever upon
you."
" What, sir," said Fabien, in an accent of bitter te-
prose) ; " would you, Albert de Croissi, allow me to lan-
guish in a state prison because I have refused to accom-
plish a deed wi ich my conscience abhors? Albert, my
brother—you would not do this ?"
" I would—l would deliver you up myself," said De
Croissi, in a fierce tone ; " you little think, young man,
how slightly you are valued in comparison to the safe keep-
ing of such secrets as that you are now in possession of.'
" But I am something now before you," said Fabien,
drawing himself up to his full height, "we are alone. I
am more active than you, and I will defend myself against
such an act of tyranny."
The Baron shook his head with an air of pity; when,
rising gravely, he laid hold of Fabien gently by the arm,
and led him to the window, where, r.inting to the court-
yard below, he showed him several persons of sinis-
ter aspect who were lounging about.
" I told you that all my precautions were taken. Look
at those fellows ; those men a ould slay you in an instant
were Ito make to them the least sign. Without the least
compunction they would not scruple to execute a lettre-
de-cachet to conduct you to Vi cennes. A coach awaits
our coming close by. Several confidential persons surround
the house, and would enter it, on the least noise being
made. hile I now speak to you any one may come into
this hotel, but no one can leave it without my express
permission."
" I care not. I will proclaim your secret ; I will stir
up the people."
, lf you cry out, you shall be gagged ; and if you divulge
the secret to your guards, they will be doomed to partici-
pate in your captivity ; and I look upon you as being a man
of too honest a nature to drag a poor fellow into the same
scrape as yourself. As it is, I have so arranged matters
that they will not believe you, whatever you should say to
them ; and no credence would be placed in your words,
if the people even should gather about you on your way to
prison • I need only show the royal mandate, and every
one will satisfied and quiet. We must hay, no non-
sense, sir;it may perhaps cost you dearly to trifle with
me."
A silence followed these words ; the younger De Croissi
cast himself on a seat with an air of despair, convinced
that all resistance was useless.
The Baron stood before him, calm, cool, and inexora-
ble. "Come, be quick," said he, after a pause; " have
you decided ?"
c" Sir," said Fabien, slowly, " you have spoken to me
re
f ward committing a crime; but why do you not mention my
?"

inquiry This
at length
to announced that Fabian had de-
cided to yield This seeming consent,
however vague and necessity. This
given, appeared to con-
vince Albert that his
was, gained. But he dared not
leave him to himself.
that you .. The reward," said he, " you know that will be im-
mense, and, I may add, all
r.. A magnificent
Mlle. de Montglat, and wish to marry her. You love
Le allotted to her; title, anti
dowry willaches also, will
be yours.
" But," interrupted Fabien, warmly, " is it true
h
the Countess is 'acquainted with this arrangetneni,tand
at
that she is ready and willing to ratify it ? She has b
efq
deceived, or I deceive myself." . .

" Upon my honour, as a gentleman, she is deeply en-
gaged in this plot, and has undertaken on her part to re-
ward with her hand and fortune your devotion to her royal
mistress."
" And is she, too," cried the young man—" is she, too,
in league with my brother to induce me to become an as-
sassin ?"
Fabien hid his face in his hands, upon the table, and
shed abundant tears.
_ _

The wily Baron prhfited by this show of feeling, and
employed all his perfidious arts, acquired by long expe-
rience at court, to extract from Fabien a consent. He
entreated, then threatened. He enumerated at length
the grievances that had accumulated in France since the
death of Louis XII., all of which he attributed to the
pride and ambition of Conde. He endeavoured also to
prove to his brother, that in obeying a legitimate power
he did nothing contrary to divine or human justice, and at
length alluded to the great rewards which he would have
a right to demand, and obtain, when he had succeeded.
Fabien did not seem to listen to him, so absorbed was
he in grief. At length, raising himself up—with a chok-
ing voice, he asked, a"
Can vou show me an order written
by the Queen, in her own handwriting, which commands
me to strike so foul a blow?"
Such an order as that, Fabien, would be too danger-
ous to sign, and it would be absurd to ask it ; but if you
wish, and will be content with a verbal instruction, I will
promise you that you shall see the Queen, and she shall
deliver it to you herself."
" And Elizabeth, the Countess de Montglat ; can you
place me in her presence, and let me hear from her lips
her approbation of this terrible enterprize?"

I can."
" Well, then," said Fabien, " I accept the task on this
double condition ; I will do what is desired of me by these
two ladies : one I respect, the other I dearly love."
This was said with some little wildness of manner,
but Albert saw rilthing but the gratification of his wishes.
" I hope you do not—l think you cannot wish to de-
ceive me, Fabien," said the Baron ; " if you intend to do
so, let me tell you that you are playing a perilous game. I
repeat to you that you shall be told by both the Queen and
Mile. de Montglat that this act is necessary to save France.
But, Fabien, you will have, in your turn, to swear to us
devotion to our cause, and discretion when put to the
test. If the blow fails, we will assuredly save you, but
you must not murmur At the tortures you will have to
sustain, or the rigours with which you may be treated.
You must swear to us to remain silent as the grave ; one
avowal from your lips would perhaps bring about destruc-
aon to the Queen, the Countess de Montglat, and many
others."

" I will not make this promise to you, brother," said
Fabien, in a tone of reprimand; " it is not to you I will
swear to maintain my vow. None other than the Queen
has a right to demand it of me."
" Well, you shall see her to-night."
" And Elizabeth ?" •
At this moment, a gentle knock at the door was heard,
and a soft voice calling on the staircase.
Fabien at once recognised it. " Here she is herself,"
cried he; we will now see if you are deceiving me."
At the same time, Fabien unbarred the door, when Eli-
zabeth, enveloped in a dark mantle, and wearing a black
mask, suddenly entered the apartment.
(To be continued.)

NOTICES.

Blackwood's Magazine.

We have perused the number for the present month
with much pleasure, and, we trust, no little profit. It
contains several sound, argumentative, and well-penned
articles of a political character, as well as a considerable
variety of others, some of them involving interesting real
adventure and perils, and some of that lighter and inven-
tive description which range themselves amongst the pro-
ductions of the tale-writer, the novelist, and the poet.
The first article, headed " State Prosecutions," inquires
into the relative systems of it gal procedure pursued in
past and in present times, and successfully combats the
opinion too widely entertained of the superiority of the
former, adducing incontrovertible instances proving that
the discord, tyranny, and oppression of those days has
given way to a practice more humanely considerate to
offenders, to whom every possible chance of vindication
is allowed ; more in accordance with the benevolent feel-
ings of the age, and, though apart from all vindictiveness,
more sure and effectual in the punishment of delinquents,
while at the same time the majesty of the law is main-
tained with ride( na firmness, and the people are led to
respect it from it, justice and certainty, rather than to
fear it from its extreme severity. He furnishes a succinct
view of the principal state prosecutions for the last thir-
teen years, including the cases of O'Connell, Lawless,
and others, in 1831,—0f the Canadian convicts brought
from Canada in 1838,—the Monmouthshire riots in 1839.
—the Chartists in 1842,—and the Rebecca rioters ; and
from these it appears that the failures of state prosecu-
tions have been comparatively few. In noticinv the fair-
ness with which these prosecutions are now conducted,
he forcibly remarks :—" Every consideration is shown,
every indulgence is granted to the unfortunate being who
is in jeopardy. The crown has no interest to serve be-
yond that which the state possesses in the vindication of
the law, and that cool, deliberate, and impartial adminis-
tration of justice which has so long distinguished this
country. Nothing is unduly pressed against the prisoner,
but every extenuating fact is fairly laid before the jury by
the crown ; it is, in short, generosity, candour, and for-
bearance on the one side, matched against craft, cunning,
and the resolution by any means to win, upon the other.
Such are the real difficulties that may be often felt by
those who conduct a state prosecution ;"—but, he argues,
it is better that those difficulties should remain, than that
any change should come over the spirit in which these
trials are now conducted. The writer furnishes much
information on the manner in which law proceedings are
conducted in our courts ; the pleas a prisoner may put in,
the challenging of jurymen, the trial itself before a jury,
&c.; and concludes with some remarks on the present
case of O'Connell and others, from which we elsewhere
quote a passage.—The " Adventures in Texas " are con-
cluded in this number, and abound in extraordinary mili-
tary adventure—" the struggle" ending with the freedom
of that country. A classical review of a curious Greek
romance follows. The " New Art of Printing "—that is
by illustration—is quizzically hit off. The story entitled
" The banking House," continued in two former num-
bers, is concluded in this. It is, we think, rather too long
fot such a publication, and rather mechanically construct-
ed, though containing some striking and effective scenes.
The finale appears to us to be also rather severely retri-
butive on the erring but humane hanker, who is killed in
a duel—a mode of exit happily becoming unfashionable.
This is, however, a matter of taste. " Marston, or Me-
moirs of a Statesman," is continued with, if possible,
increasing interest. It is replete with military and diplo-
matic adventure during the revolutionary mania in France,
and Lafayette and other prominent characters form dra-
matis. personce. The last article, and in our opinion the
best in the number, is on " The position and prospects of
the Government," which ably vindicates Sir R. Peel and
his ministry from the vague and groundless aspersions
thrown upon them, and shows their policy to have been
wise and benefic al. From this an extract or two will be
found in another column. The writer, in the course of
his remarks. inflicts a sound castigation on the Anti-
Corn-Law League.