The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-12
VOL. TX.
The man nodded his head mysteriously, and

understand L am still In Paris. Only te~
DAYS delay, and am SAFE"
The man gave another sign. Mark went out
As he crossed the courtyard, he stopped to lool
at the railway time table. Having obtained the
information he sought, he ascended to his cham
Der, clinging to the balustrade as he mounted
for his body was so shaken and bruised b.
could scarcely crawl, now the great excitemen,
of the moment was passed.
He locked his door, and presently looked al
himself in the glass. Could that CHASTITY, thai
haggard face be his? Oh, it was a wicked
an evil-looking face! and he felt it, and turned
away from it with chill.
AZ must not remain here long," he thought
Darkness and promptitude are now my best
friends"
He went to his secretaire, and gathered up a
few napoleons and silver pieces-all that re
manned of his then available means. His pass
port, also, he folded up in a case; and then he
took out a brace of twobarreled pistols, which
he loaded and primed. Out of another drawer
he took phial, containing clear liquid, like
water. he let fall two or three drops into a
glass half full of water, and drank the mixture
1t emitted a strong oder, like that of over-ripe
apples. He made a second mixture of the
tincture, putting about dozen drops Of it into
the same glass, but this time filling it up with
water, which changed to milky hue. He then
removed his garments, bathed his battered and
bruised limbs, and afterwards rubbed them with
the mixture. In few minutes he felt relieved. y
He put up the precious phisl into its case, and
laid it on the table by the side of his pistols
Clean linen, clean flesh, and a complete change
of raiment transformed him into another man
When he looked at himself again in the glass
his countenance assumed more satisfied eX
preston, though it retained its scowl and its
uneasy anxious look. In less than an hour the
whole of his preparations were completed. His
weapons he carefully concealed beneath his
vest, buttoning close over his breast loose
travelling coat. He took with him no luggage
of any kind, not even a change, but only his
money, his pistols, his passport, and a few
memoranda. The remainder of his effects he
packed into two trunks, that stood, nearly full
at the foot of his bed for, as he had truly re
marked to Pelligrin, his arrangements for
journeying had been previously made, in the
anticipation of sudden departure. He locked
the trunks, put the keys into his pocket, and
having cast one rapid glance around the room
went out, leaving the key in the door and the
waX-ight burning.
81 am going" he said to the porter, whom
he once more aroused. "Let me quietly out
| leave my trunks to be sent as addressed
Now"
The porter gave Mark significant sign, and
did as he desired, accompanying him to the gate
which he closed quietly after him.
! 1t is between three and four o'clock, and
| piercingly cold. The moon has gone in, and
heavy black clouds hang over head Marks
teeth chatter, but he wraps his coat about him
and walks on. He does not meet with many
persons, and them he avoids. Soon he reaches
the Rue Montorg,lel, near the Marche DIES Prou
| l. r L e
| pie are already coming in. He enters wine
shop, and, burying himself in corner of the
room set apart for the accommodation of the
customers, orders refreshments = edibles and
wine, the latter the best. He eats with an ap
| petite, and praises the wine, but there is some
thing about him that attracts the notice of the
host His guest has evidently been unaccus
toned to dine in such humble places as that
Mark observes him, and reckoning him aside
asks if he could be obliged with private room
for few hours. He is willing to pay hand
somely for it. The host, nothing 10th to carr
money, conducts him to small room on the frs
floor, also set apart for guests, and informs
Mark that he is at liberty to remain there a:
| long as he pleases. Yes II he will take care he
| be not disturbed.
1t i, a troubled sleep Mark has, with his heac
resting against the wall and his feet on stool
The figure of the attorney rises before him, anc
causes him several times to start up, uttering
| a groan. But it is soon over. He is satisfied
| he has had revenge, and he again composes him
self to doze. 1t is not strange that scenes long
since past should haunt him now. 1t is nc
longer the attorney, but Edward Wilmot, whom
| he sees. The whole of that dark transaction il
| enacted again. Then suddenly it is his victim
who attacks. He lays his hand - cold ant
| clammy with the sweat of death-upon Marks
throat, and begins dragging him to the ranl
| pool where the obscene monsters are and where
he can see them with their greedy jaws gaping
open. ready to devour him. In vain he strug
| giles. Some superhuman power nerves VIII
mot's arm, and paralyzes his own. They are
already on the brink of the pool, when, with
loud yell, he wakes. 1t is broah daylight, anG
he remembers what he came there for. Shud
dering with cold and terror, he leaves the room
and, having literally paid the hostess, sets ou
again. There is snow on the ground, and more
is falling. He heeds it not, but makes the bes
of his way, through by-streets, to the terminu,
of the Great Northern Railway. He has three
places in his mind: London, Liverpool, New
York. Oh, how he wishes the Channel were
already crossed
He has time to take coffee, for he is cold
very cold. His marrowappears frozen. What
do people look at him so for2 Cannot the
waiter take his fee without staring 30 ? Can
not the man who gives out the tickets at the
railway terminus give him his change with
out peering so inquisitively into his face
Surely traveller may hire one entire compart
ment of frst-class carriage all to himself, i
he likes. How long those seven minutes in the
waiting room appear! Ali there is the sig
nal Thank God for safety thus far
Hallool Who is that gentlemanly man
81 Hn fhn rYnosA ha.
taken the carriage to himself. He can no
oblige him. He won't. He feels relieved wher
he withdraws his face from the door. He ii
very meek and polite, but he does not like those
sharp, gray eyes of his.
Now they are off, and Mark begins to breath,
more freely. The more rapidly the train fiel
along, the higher his spirits rise. The snoring
and screeching of the fiery dragon, whose iror
strength is now put out to its utmost, is music
to his ears. Yet does it not speed fast enough
for him. His eye has suddenly lighted on some
curious wires that run along by the track, ant
his cheek has gone winter, as if new danger
menaced him. He thinks of a messages
swifter even than the red-hot speed of that fer,
dragon ahead. at is possible, Just possible" ht
mutters. He strives to Danish the thought, anc
to laugh at it as absurd but his eve fastens it
self on those wires, and his mind ponders or
| the strange power thdt is making tnem 10 wins
per mysteriously together.
He keeps close in his carriage, and they
reach Amiens. Here he must per force ge
out The meek-looking gentleman descend
from another carriage; and as Mark does no
Join the company at the buffet, the stranger pc
litely inquiries whether Monsieur will take
cigar?" Mark declines the offer, with a cour
tesy somewhat modified by its abruptness, ant
PAGES the platform modify, still thinking of tn