The morning times., 1897-02-28
lie lrPREGIhRLE CITY

s''"i' "uueu ANTONIO, having Deen or
dered to Westphalia to supplant the
count in command there, will be poisoned
by him on the eve Of Your departure. -
Inc old man spoke with such DELHI
crate emphasis and conviction, his story
was SO plausible, that Sabatier could
suffer it no longer.
'Corinne," cried he, rising from his
seat and uppressing the many emo
tions which rushed upon his brain, lit
is all like terrible dream to me l
must go home to reason with it. And
IL IL be as you say, then 1 thank God
THAT my brother is saved from this new
crime''
He held out his hand to her; but she
did not take it,
Eugene" she exclaimed, ''before you
go home tonight you have work to do. :"
Which is, Cornne?''
TO aVenge your brother Gilbert and to
become Count of Brives."
PerpleXed as he was, Sabatier smiled.
Oh" said he; now you speak to me in
riddles. What miracle shall make me Count
Of Brives tonight?''
Supper at the Chateau St Mande is the
only miracle necessary, Eugene
The young man drew back with an impa-
tient gesture.
''Corinne,'' he cried, lis it an hour for
.ests?''
~ do not Jest with you Eugene" she
answered very tenderly; Ibid not tell
you that fortune and future awaited You
tonight? 1t is for you to say whether you
will take the gift Or refuse
She spoke very simply, though deep feel
ing gave a quayer to her voice AS for
Sabatier, he began to tell himself that he
had lost his wits, and he walked up and
down the room like man distracted
''Ciel," cried he, stopping suddenly at
last. what mystery is this? You say that
my brother will poison me. and yet yol tell
me to sup with him. beseech you. be plain
with me. Oh. do l not suffer enough that
you should add to my burden?"
He turned from one to the other appeal
ingly. his distress being SO great that tears
stood in his eyes, and his voice was husky
ana broken. Bat it was the old physician
who ans wered him.
Monsieur" said he, laying down his
pen for the first time, you beseech me 10
be plain with you. and I will hasten to
obey your wish. Mad9moiSelIe tells you
truly that fortune and a future await You
at the Chateau st Mande tonight; but If
they are to be won. they will be won by
your own courage. The Count Of Brivcs
asks you TO his house that he may kill you
as he killed your brother Gilbert, If you
turn back now. thinking to spare him the
crime. you will diShOnor your fathers mem
ory aud add new shame to a house which
knew shame for the first time when your
eldest brother was born to it. Let me con-
jure you, then, to do no such thing, but to
ride hence at once for the chateau"
Where they will poison me- inter
rupted sabatier, little angrily.
Exactly" continued Antonio, where
they Will poison you. But you, If you
are careful to do exactly as l bid you,
will awake presently from the death
you shall seem TO die; and being awakened,
will find yourself in twenty hours Count of
Brives, and master of his fortune
Sabatier stood wonder-struck. The old
man. ex cited now by the story ne was tell
ing raised hi S head as in warning, and con-
tinued rapidly:
Monsieur, there is no other in the
world who is called, as you are now called.
to be Gods messenger in this work of ven-
geance and of right. Go, then, before the
clock strikes again to ST. Mande, and say
to yourself as you enter, am come to
avenge my brother Gilbert, Whatever
you see there; whatever may happen to
you fear nothing. The eyes Of those who
send YOU TO this work Will watch you, even
as you sit. j say no more-the min
utes pass swiftly, and what further coun-
sci I can give is written here upon this
parchment. Let me eXhort you to read
every letter OF that injunction-not once
but twelve times, as you ride toward the
chateau. For that writing is life or
death-as you remember or forget 1t.
There was great stiffness in the room
wien the olG man ceased to speak. Sa
better scarce knowing whether the words
were real or the echo OF dream, took with
trembling hands the paper which the ply
sician thrust upon him. Then he turned
uuestioningly to CoTinne; but she had now