Monsieur le Croix felt too much discomposed to rejoin immediately his wife and the Count. He turned into his study-" Julian is ruined!" exclaimed he to himself, "I am sorry for him; but there is no help for it. The moment one of his order begins to dispute, or even to examine the claims of those above him to his respect, he is fit for nothing but mischief, and sooner or later will think of nothing else." Not hesitate to strike the Count!"

"Papa!" cried little Eugene, running into the room, you are wanted."

"Who wants me?" inquired Monsieur de Croix. 66 My mother."

"Did she send you for me?"

"No."

Why did you come then, and what do you mean?" "She threatened the Count to call you."

Monsieur le Croix started from the chair, into which, upon entering the room, he had thrown himself, and stared upon his son.

"Threaten the Count!-Why, sir?" said Monsieur le Croix, lowering his voice.

"Indeed I don't know," replied the child; "but the Count was whispering something to her, and she told him she would call for you; and, as I thought she looked angry, I came of my own accord to tell you.

"Remain here, sir," said Monsieur le Croix, and left the study-in the act of shutting the door of which

behind him, he heard a shriek, which was immediately followed by the opening of the drawing-room door. As he was rushing up stairs, he heard a scuffling in the room, and presently a noise, as of a person violently thrown to the ground. Frantic with conjecture, alarm, and indignation, he rushed in, his hand upon his sword-The Count was stretched upon the floor, Julian was standing over him with rage and triumph painted in his looks; and on a chair reclined Madame le Croix, half swooning.

"Rise, villain, and defend yourself!" vociferated Monsieur le Croix: but the Count was either unable

The room was presently

to rise, or pretended to be so. filled with domestics, the Count's attendants among the rest, who obeying the signs of their lord, raised him, and conveyed him to his carriage.

"His life shall answer for it!" exclaimed Monsieur le Croix, pacing the room, after his wife, upon being left alone with him, had acquainted him with the insult which the Count had offered to her.

“He has been punished sufficiently,” said Madame le Croix, "thanks to the brave and faithful Julian.' "Where is Julian?" exclaimed her husband. The bell was rung and answered.-Julian was on his way to Paris. He had gone by the diligence, which passed the gate of the chateau.

"A lovely sunset!" exclaimed Madame le Croix, sitting beside her husband at a window which looked to the west, her head reclining upon his breast, and her little boy on the other side of him-"A lovely sunset!"

"Yes;" replied he, "though its beauty is waning fast. The moon, however, will soon be up. Come, throw on your shawl, and let us take a stroll in the grounds." Madame le Croix caught her husband's hand as she rose, and looked up anxiously in his face.

"You are afraid of the stranger, whom, for the last three nights they have observed about the grounds," said Monsieur le Croix.

"What harm have we to apprehend from him?

"What brings him here, and at night?"

"What mischief can he do, and alone?"

"He may have associates, who are at hand;" said Madame le Croix, after a pause.

'Did you not part

"Do you think 'tis Julian?" asked Monsieur le Croix.

"Julian could not meditate any injury to us," said Madame le Croix, musing.

"Do you think it is he?" repeated her husband, more earnestly.

"Would you be uneasy if it was?" inquired his wife. "I should almost think so, from the tone in which you speak."

"He has taken up with companions, I fear," said Monsieur le Croix, "who are not very scrupulous in the respect which they pay to the laws-some of those vile bands of Republicans who have given rise to the recent ferments in Paris, and caused so much alarm to the court. Do you think it is he?"

"Jacqueline thinks so,” replied Madame in a whisper. At that moment a heavy and hurried step was heard in the passage, the door was burst open, and Julian stood before them! Madame le Croix shrieked, her husband half drew his sword, and the little Eugene instinctively sprang forward and clasped Julian round the knees.The man had been always particularly fond of the boy.

"Conceal yourself, sir," cried Julian; "they are here!"

"Conceal myself from the bandits of Paris?" ejaculated Le Croix; "I'll perish first!"

"From the executioners of the Bastile!" rejoined Julian.

"What!" exclaimed Le Croix.-Several steps were heard ascending the stair-case.

"They are here!" cried Julian despondingly; "for these three nights I have been expecting them, and hoped to have time to give you warning; but they have taken me by surprise, and you are lost!" The door, which Julian had shut after him, was rudely opened, and a band of armed men entered the apartment.