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had undertaken for him a secret mission
in Italy. My father is the Count Lionel
de Valcourt."

had undertaken for him secret MISSION
in Italy. My father is the Count Lionel
de Valcourt"
Daddy Tabaret started. ...,-.
The name pronounced by Noel WAS one
of the most ancient in France, and had,
hitherto, been handed down without
blemish or stain from father to son until
the present time. -- r.
ayes" continued the young man., in
low voice, taking up one of the letters,
and clancing at it's date, "it was at Naples,
in the middle Of the month of May, 1872,
that nv father, man in the full possession
of his intellect--a statesman, celebrated
for his willy policy-a gentleman OF high
birth and education, led away by an ab-
sorbing passion, committed to paper a
scheme as monstrons as it was unjnst!"
aston q bit--stop bit" again said
Daddy Tabaret. "Let's stick to tls bare
and simple facts. which are as follows -
Two children were born in the same
month of the same year! One the child
of the poor girl called Valerie the other
of the Countess de Valcourt.
~At the instiSation of the Count Lionel
de Valcourt, the children were changed.
and tho real heir to hs name and estates
was consigned to the care OF Valerie,
whilst her child was broughtup as the
future Count. - -. -. T'i
"Thc accom,lices in this scheme were
Gcrmain, the Counts valet, n wet nurse,
named Clnudinc Lerougc; the Count
himself 4 and, ,Iof course, VALERIE
"Tha manner inf'whirh the plan WAS e1-
: : aThc two children, a few days after
their respective births, were sent in the
care of two wet-nurses into Normandy,
where the De Valcourt estates are situ-
ated.
"Thcae women were, of course, un-
known TO- each other. .~'.f
"An accident OH the road. previously
arranged by Germain. the valet, who ac-
companicd the nurse who had taken
charge Of the Countess little son, caused
the two women to pass the night in the
same room Mt n wuyside inn, where the
change was effected. 80 D. j.
"A munhcent reward for her services
had been given to Claudine Lerouge, the
wife Of IN honest but poor sailor. who
carefully kept the secret, and !cnderly
nurscd the child of Valerie, who was thus
brought up us the future heir Of the Count
and Countess. ..
"Am right SO far !" asked Daddy Tab
aret ~
Noel bent his head in token Of acqui-
escence.
sand now," said Old Corkscrew, sud-
denly sitting bolt upright in his chair, aud
fixing his piercing eyes on the pale face OF
his yonng friend, ,rhere d~e yo,r proefs9"'
Noel took back the packet of letters.
replaced them in his desk, and then look,
ed steadily into the sharp countenancs
that was peering into his own.
"Suppose," he said, slowly, and in meas
urcd accents, "that nil the proofs pos
sess in the world stop here. What then 7"
Daddy Tabaret took some minutes be-
fore he answered this { question. He was
weighing the strength Of the circumstan-
tial evidence contained in the letters OF the
Count de Valcourt. =
"Speaking from my own impression
he said, at last, " I'm convinced that you're
not the son of Madame Gerdy."
Noel seized his hand, and shook II
warmly. = :, = 4, 4EtGlTi 6.
, ," aThank you--thank you!" he burst out,
with n joyful energy. "fou were never
more right in your life, and I'm sure che
world will be on my side when It is made
acquainted with myfsad story, d.
Daddy Tabaret watched him a. he COM
menced pacing the room, talking the while
in quick, excited way, and waited for
further information.
"Of course you may guess" he said; "that
Isought out Claudine Lerouge. sheloved
me, poor thing! She had sucked me, and
hers. She knew the injustice Of which I
hoJ l,aar ba ;pnh,apt xsc{sp, onI how ho0-
est heart bled for me. Need l tell you
ncfariousscheme weighed heavily upon he-
conscience Re,norse, like a viper. was
gnawing at her vitals-the burden laid
her to bear. When questioned her, she
was deeply moved, and confessed to me
whom she 30 deyot. ..ly loved-the whole
plot. Three days after my birth, the end
they had in view was attained, and IL.
poor helpless infant. was deprived Of
my birthiight, Of n mothers love, and a
poor, faithful nnrse! she, at least, remain-
ed my friend, and promised to come for
ward rs a witness whenever / wished to
assert my rights"
"And she is dead and her secret buried
WIN ner.. ETouHcfl lnt olu ulaIiS covering
his face with his hands, 80 .!,n -,
4;But still" argued Noel, eagerly and
enxioilsly, may have a chance left, you
know. won't throw up the sponge as
yet" 49,. - ,,.... ... 3. .l..,
"Quite yight-erite right" murmnred
his listener. al like a brave heurt-l like
courage and perseverance," .....
"1he widow" pursued the other. "pos-
sessed letters Of inrortance-foolish, inn
prudent, compromising letters; some writ
ten by my father, some by Madame Gerdy.
know this to be a fact. for I've had them
in my hands, I'Se!.ead them Cla,Idino
even wished to place them in my keeping.
Fool! fool that was 10 refuse themw so.
Alas! there was no chance left in that
qparter. Nobody WAS better aware Of il
than Daddy. Tabaet. ,1uoE 8. = .'-.
These letters. Of course, had ,beenthe mo-:
tive Of the murder ,stothe village of La
Jonchcre. ,..,,!
The assassin had found and had burned
them, with the rest Of the widcas's papers,
in the little stove already described in the
tirst chapters Of this story.
CHAPTER XIII.