Year: 1860

the hotel and had been intended for me-
They dragged me away, and for months l
was confined in a loathsome dungeon, de.
barred from breathing the pure air Of heaven
and suffering for crime of which was in
nocent. At length escaped, after learn
ing that the murdered boy was your SOD;
and that they had searched in vain for you
everywhere; and after tedious journey
succeeded in reaching tbis-my native city.
My exile is over; and have come to take
the title which you bear, and which by
right is mine


Yours p cried the Count. yours p


'Ay, mine p cried the mountebank, draw
ing himself proudly up, and gazing at the
other with so majestic an expression that
he was involuntarily seized with sudden
awe of the strange man who stood before
him. Would you know who am ? he
continued. Il am he whom twenty years
ago you and your cruel brother, flung from
the cliff into the Neva; and who, aided by
Providence, was rescued by fisherman,
and after many weary months recovered.
1 am he who begat you, who taught your
infant lips to pronounce the holy name of
God, who nursed you child upon my knee.
Ranel, am your father, Francois Gotschof,
Count de Moner!'


My father = repeated the Count, cling
ing to the table for support.


Yes, your father replied the mounte-
bank Gas we shall still continue to call him)
sternly. Your long career Of crime, Ran
Ell, is over now. have come to dispossess
you of your titles and lands, and hand you
over to the ministers of the law, that they
may pass sentence upon and condemn you.


oh, no, you will not said de Moner,
coldly.


'And wby?'


For the simple reason that do not be-
lieve this fine story that you have told me
in plain words I look upon you as an i'm
postor.'


i see. You pretend to want proof o,
what l say


oh! no, not a: ALL, replied the Count
who felt in his heart that the mountebanb
was his father, but was resolved not to par
with the possessions which he had deemed
his own so long. Your appearance il
public would perhaps create trouble, and
intend to avoid it if possible. 1t is you
intention, l presume to betray me to Alex
ander?


'Itis. At6rst proposed that he shoult
marry my niece, if only for the honor o
being allied to the royal blood; but tha
dream of ambition is past now
well, sir mountebank, said the Count
, with sinister smile, 'let me tell you tha
it was dangerous for you to come here dan
gerous for you to threaten me and avoV
yourself; and dangerous for you to over
hear the conversation between my ward ant
myself. You possess some secrets of min
which you hope to use against ME, bu
which | do not intend shall ever pass you
lips. As Minister of Police of the En-
pire arrest you, and in the name of m,
sovereign, command you to submit to m,
, authority. What, bo ! without there ! h
E shouted, aud stamping with his foot in
peculiar manner Without there quick
and as several of the servants rushed int
the room, he pointed to the mountebanl
and added-'seize that man Bind ant
gag him at once so that not a word shal
escape his lips!


Hold ! William = cried Saint Pierre
starting forward. Il am your -.
Too late = cried the Count exultingly
as gag was forced into the juggler'a mouth
and his arms bound tightly behind him.
Jean Saint Pierre, if you have any prayers
to say, say them tonight, for tomorrow a
ten you will surely die Away with hin
to the imperial dungeon, and see that he
does not escape. Anon, I'll send Pietro tc
him when he returns. All, ha !! triumph
ant still! he continued, as they disap
peared through the door, and rubbing his
hands gleefully. Friends betray me, I i'm.
prison them Foes seek to crush me, des.
troy them: The dead rise from their graves
to frighten me, I laugh them to scorn -
Thus do I stride to power, triumphing over
all who seek to oppose me. Soon shall
De prime minister of the Empire, and then,
perhaps aim higher still. Well see,' be
muttered, well see!' and with a laugh
which sounded like the hiss of serpent, he
opened the door, and left the room.
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