Year: 1861

merous rapidly revolving wheels of light
structure, Ike Catherine-wheels previou:
to ignition. 1t also appeared to me that
when spoke to my dog my voice had q
curious sound, and my words were very i'm
perfectly artlculatcd.


1t would happen, too, that when | look.
cd at the glass doors, my landlord was
there, peering at me through the muslin
curtain; or the horrid little girl would en-
ter, with no obvious intention, and having
loitered for a little time about the room
would leave it again At length the land
lord himself came in, and coolly walking
up to the table at which | was seated
glanced at the hardly tastel wine before
me.


1t would appear that the wine of the
country Is not to your taste, he said.


1t is good enough, answered careless
ly. the words sounded to me as if they
were uttered inside the cupola of St. Paul 5
and were conveyed by iron tubes to the
place | occupied.


was in strange s!ate-perfcctly con-
scious, but ilnperfectly able to control my
thoughts, my words, my actions | be-
lieye my landlord stood staring down at
me, as sat staring at him, and watching
the Catherinc-wheels as they revolveCl
round his eyes and nose and chin-Gen-
tlemen, they seemed absolutely to fzz when
they got to the scar on his cheek.


At this time noisy party entered the
main door of the auberge, which | have
describes as being visible through the
glass doors, ard the landlord bad to leave
me for time to 90 and attend them. |
think | must have fallen into slight and
strongly resisted doze, and when started
out of it, it was in consequence of the vio-
lent barking Of my terrier. The landlord
was in the room; lie was just unlocking
the cupboard from which the girl had ia
ken the paper parcel. He took out just
such another paper parcel, and returned
again through the doors. As he did so, l
remember stupidity wondering what had be-
come of the little girl, Presently his evil
face appeared again at the door.


| am going to prepare the coffee, said
he, perhaps Monsieur will like it better
than the wine.


AS the man disappeared | started sud
denly and violently upon my feet. Icould
deceive myself no longer. My thoughts
were like Lightning. The wine having
been taken in so small a quantity and so
profusely mixed with water, has done its
work Gas this man can see) but imperfect
ly. Tie coffee will finish that work. He
is now preparing it. The cupboard-the
little parcel>- there can bo no doubt. |
will leave this place while yet can. Now
or never If those men whose voices I
hear in the other room leave the house it
will be too late. With 50 many witnesses
no attempt can be made to prevent my de-
parture. [ will not sleep-I will act
will force my muscles to their work, and
get away.


Gentlemen, in compensation for set OF
nerves Of distressing sensitiveness, | have
received from nature remarkable power
of controlling my nerves for time. I stag
gered to the door, closing it after me more
! violently than l had intended, and de-
scended-the fresh air making ne feel very
giddy-lnto the yard.


As I went down the steps l saw the
truculent little girl ofwhom have already
spoken enterirg the yard, followed
by a blacksmith, carrying a hammer and
some other implements of his trade. Catch
ing sight Of me, the little girl spoke quick.
ly to the blacksmith, and in an instant
they both changed their course, which they
diricted toward and entered an clubhouse
on the ether side of the yard. The thought
entered my head that this man had beer
sent for to drive a nail into my horses
foot, so that in the event of the druggec
wine failing | might still be unable to pro-
ceed. This horrible idea added new fcrct
to my exertion. | seized the shafts of my
carriage and commenced draggipgjt cut o.
the yard and round to the front of the
house +; feeling that if it was once in the
highway there would be less possibility o.
offering any impediment to my starting.
am conscious Of having fallen twice to the
ground in my struggles to get the carriage
out of the yard. Next, I FASTENED to the
stable. The mare was still harnessed, witt
the exception of the headstall. | man
aged to get the bit into her mouth, an(
dragged her to the place where | had left
the carriage. After | know not how many
efforts to place the docile beast in the shafts
for I was as incapable of calculating dis
tancc as drunken mani recellect, but
how do not know, securing the assistance
of the boy Lad seen. l was making Fl
nal effort to fasten the trace to its little
pin, when voice behind said


/ Are you going away without drinking
the coffee?


| turned round and saw my detested
landlord standing close beside me. He
was watching my bungling efforts to Sc
cure the harness, but be made no move
ments to assist me.


do not want any coffee, | answered.


No coffee, no wine. 1t would appear
that the gentleman is not a great drinker
J Iou have not given your horse much of q
rest, he added e


I am in haste What have ! to pay


You will take something else, said he,-
a glass of brandy before starting out in the
wet


No, nothing more. What have I tc
pay?


You will at least come in for an instant
and warm your feet at tho stove