The morning times., 1897-03-07

hearG or the WOODS or VInCcnneS, ana tne
silence of the thickets was like balm to
his weary mind. He was absolutely con-
vinced that the events OF the dreadful night
were the events OF a dream. He remem-
bered that he must pass his brothers
chateau on his way TO Chalons. Il will
call and ask a God.speed of him. said he
to himself; Il owe him that for allowing
myself even to repeat 50 cruel u calunny."
he had come by this time to that little
place upon the hill whence he could look
down to the Seine, and abserve the gloomy
towers of his brothers. house Here, de-
spite his resolution, shudder of fear
tremhled upon all his limbs. Strange as
he thought it, the dream seemed more real
with every mile he rode He could have
sworn that he stood last night upon that
very spot; he remembered the blood red
light upon the river; the shiver of the
aspens' the foreboding which possessed
him. Angry withr himself that these
thoughts prevailed he, set spurs to his
horse, and rode at gallop toward the
village.
"A plague upon it. said he; lit was
a dream, silly dream. / did not sup
with my brother and newer shall l be
Count of Brives-fdo that l am to think
of it,
Monsieur said q voice at his side,
permit me to tell you that you are
mistaken
Eugene checked his horse and looked
round quickly. He saw 10 his aStOnish-
Inent that a man who wore a rich dress of
black cloth, and a biack-plumed hat, rode
at his side upon magnificent beast, who
Kept pace with the other as easily as
though he had been walking for the show
OF IL in the Place Louis QuinZe.
Monsieur, said the dragoon civilly,
''you said?''-
That you are very mistaken, sir
you did sup with your brother last night,
and you will be Count of Brives before the
clock strikes again.
The words were spoken with such fine
air THAT Sabatier began To ask himself il
thts were some new apparition come to
cheat him as the others had done.
Oh, cried he, impaticntly, what
mystery is all this? Am | in my seAses, or
do l still slcep?''
He reined in his horse, and the stranger
came close up to his side.
Monsieur he said, you neither sleep
nor dream Ask yourself no such silly
question 1t is quite true that your brother
attempted To poison You last night with
flask OF Armagnac in which, ;ls the ysi-
clan Antonio would tell you, there were
four grains OF one of the most deadly
drugs known in the East You, however
remembering the warning, drank but half
OF the glass set before you-and SO you
become Count of Brivcs."
r. cried Eugere mipatieutIy; Il be-
come Count or BrveS?'
Exactly SAID the other; you have
only 10 ride to yonder chateau TO make it
your own"
The dragoon laughed scornfully.
"pah!'' said he; how could the wine
have been poisoned when my brother drank
of it; and how could your physician know
what the flask contained?'
The man in the plumed hat betrayed no
sign OF impatience.
Monsieur, :" "fsaid he slowly, ''you ask
me two questions and Will answer them
We knew what the wine contained be-
cause Armand, your brothers servant
has long been good enough to sell US for
money an account of your brothers life.
Three weeks ago the Count of Brives was
offered by an agent of my mistress,
MademoiSelle Corinue, preparation of
the poppy leaf, brought from YeZd So
fatal is tins to those whose bodies ire
not fortified against it by the continued
and gradual habit OF eating the drug, that
twc-thiTds OF a grain viii Kill the strongest
man. You, however, drinking but a hplf
of that which was Offered to you suf-
fered but a passing loss OF your senses
/ is obvious to Hrou that the count. hay-
ing been long in the East and accus-
toned to the use OF opium could drink
that which would, mean the death OF an
other not so prepared. The draught last
night steeled his viii to the dreadful
crime he sought to commit. You how
ever, succumbed, TO IT. and never, l
swear, did the living wear the cloak
OF the dead as YOU Wore it IN the Chateau
Saint Mande."
Sabatier groaned ut the remembrance
It seemed to him that he began To suffer
the terror of the garden for the second
time.
Gel cried he, lit is all a miracle-I
cannot believe it-I Cannot
1T is no miracle said the stranger
slowly-'it is the hand of Almighty God
avenging your brother who was slain
Go to the chateau-but go alone that the
eyes of no other may witness the deed
which must be. / wait here until yonGer
church bell shall tell rne that you are
Count of Brives''
He pointed with outstretched arm TO the
gate OF the darkening house upon whose
blackened walls the last crimson rays of
the setting sun were dying down quickly
AS Eugene rode away, he remembered that
he had seen the stranger before; and he
said-it was he who called from the Win
dow last night-''MoDsieur lie Comte, Mon
sieur le Comte, where is your brother
Eugene?''
Drawn on at the recollection as by a
fatality, eager to prove, to make sure.
now buoyed up with hope, now trembling
with excitement, he galloped through the
street OF the village and never drew rein
until lis hand was upon the bell at the
outer gate Of the chateau, and the birds
were winging upward at his clanorous
peal Asit had been last night-that night
of nights-so was it today, The toothless
old Armand gave him welcome; the lad
Germuin held his horse. Nothing seemed
altered in the great house; nothing of its
silence nor Of its mystery. But Sahatier's
heart heat until his whole body shook with
pusatiens; and so great was the dread
that he could scarce frame the question:
Where is my brother, the Count?''
Monsieur said the old man, with
a horrible leer your brother awaits you
in the garden
Bidding him stay where he was, Sabatier
assembled the rotting staircase and passed
raDidly through the hall II will know the