Year: 1865

When she returned to me again was in
the act Of removing the empty g lass from
my lips She saw this, and on the instant
strange expression of wicked triumph
fitted across her beautiful features. 1t
was momentary, but it was fiend-like |
felt my blood curdle. My worst suspicious
then were just | was ensnared How
was to escape ? Instantly resolved that
she should not again quit my sight and my
hope lay only in threats upon her life, while
alone with me and in my power. She now,
without alluding to the plan which We had
ostensibly come together to discuss, COM
menced an animated conversation about the
masked ball-glancing furtivcly at me the
while, as / fancied to note the effects Of the
wine To be certain | was right in my sur
mise, thought it best to feign heavy
drowsiness, and secretly watch her motions.
| did so, and gradually appeared to fall as
leep. AS she perceived this, the mask of
nature was also removed, and | saw her
dark eyes CLEAN with deadly light, and
her proud lip curl in scornful triumph. At
length she ceased speaking, and for min
ute or two sat and watched me in silence.
Then as if to make sure, she approached
me, saying


" You pay me but poor compliment Sir
Richard, to fall asleep in my presence !"
And then, on finding gave no sign ofcon-
seriousness, she added, III quite different
tone " Poor fool It shall be my care you
do not awake again You have played your
part to suit me, and ! will play mine to suit
myselfw


She turned away as if to leave the room,
hohl lxr tn bar 70 fin
ish her wicked work and at that moment
laid hold other arm. AS she looked around
in alarm she found me wide awake, and my
eye fixed upon hers, with a severe and pen
etrating expression.


Madame" said |, in low stern meas
ured tone, if you would save your guilty
life, do not attempt to escape, or call for
help | am not the poor fool you suppose
You have played your part and mine Do
not fatter yourself have been ensnared I!
know you, and boldly came here to de-
tect you in your guilt Not a single drop
of your poisoned wine has passed my lips
Your whole establishment is under the sur
veillance of the police, and unless | return
to my friends by daylight, your mansion
will be entered by the dread officers Of the
law, and every living soul in it will be ta-
ken into custody! Now mark well what
say You must instantly yourself conduct
me clear of your premises, and if you dare
to falter in the least or attempt to raise an
alarm, that moment, so sure as there is a
God in heaven, you die Now give me
your hand lead the way !"


White with terrified amazement, and
trembling like an aspen, the guilty wretch
ed woman stood covering before my stern
penetrating glance. For nearly minute
she seemed to much overpowered to move
from the spot. | took her hand, grasped it
like vice, and silently pointed to the door
At length she went forward with tOttering
steps In silence she led me through the
dark corridor, down the stairs through the
passage, into the court, through another
passage, and opened the last door that ad
mitted to life md light. Morn was Just
breaking, and as felt the cool air of heav-
Ell upon my fevered brow, and thought of
my narrow escape from death, there came
such a whirl Of strange emotions that |
reeled forward like man intoxicated


The mansion Just quilted stood on the
banks of the Seine, about two miles below
the old city and | believe if had drank
the Wine offered me, my rihed body would
SOOh uttNC DttL CdSl IHtb tlit IuSHiIlS Wat
ters. | believe, moreover, the mansion,
grand as it appeared, was only a den of rob
bers and murderers-that the woman was
simply beautiful decoy for strangers and
toreigners-and that many a poor unsus-
pecting soul had taken its flight from there
to the eternal world did not communi-
cate with the police, for the reason that, in
the first place | could bring no charge Of
crime against any and in the second place,
did not wish to become involved with the
French courts of law but thankful beyond
expression for my own escape, | firmly re-
solved never to risk my life again i'll anoth-
er mysterious adventure in Paris