Monsieur Le Blond home, and carry the gold to his house. Le Blond was astonished; he thanked the old man courteously and went off. The ser

vant accompanied him to his dwelling, and having delivered the sacks to the amazed domestic who opened the door, disappeared without saving a word.

This incident, as may easily be supposed, interfered considerably with Monsieur Le Blond's sleep. He began to believe the most unbelievable things in the world. When he awakened next morning his first thought was of the Chaldean, as it used to be of Jacqueline. "But with the morning calm reflection came," and he felt persuaded the old man had filled the sacks with sand-for he had not as yet opened them-and as the suspicion crossed him, he sprang out of bed in a horrible rage, and rushed to the moneybags; but great was his astonishment and we may add his gratification no less, to find that no sand was the contents, but in each of the bags fifty Louis d'or, new and shining as if that moment from the mint.

"Forged to a certainty!" was his half-audible exclamation, as he hurried for the scales. But the weight was correct to the fraction of a grain, the sound clear as bell-metal, and the honour and integrity of Abubeker as indisputable as the holiness of Saint Gudule. The poor young man was grievously to be pitied; one after another his faculties stood still; and in this interregnum of the reason, the existence of the treasure at Valerien des Anges established itself as one of the best authenticated events in history, whether sacred or profane. What object, he thought, could any man have in playing a trick on him at such an incredible expense. Vague hopes of wealth began to crowd into his soul; a vision of claiming the rank that he inherited from his father, and of claiming at the same time another object dearer to his unsophisticated heart than the rank of a crowned king. For Jacqueline was the aim and end of all his aspirations. It was not long before he betook himself to Abubeker, determined to be a little more communicative with him than he had previously been. The old man, who did not seem, from the liveliness of his movements, to be nearly three hundred and twelve years of age,

received him in the friendliest way possible.

"Have you discounted the bill?" he inquired.

Le Blond confessed his stratagem; and after many apologies for it, told him he was now going to let him into all the secrets he had. And this he did. He told him every thing-the whole story of the jasmin bowerthe lessons-the mistake about the sisters Buonvicini-the love of Jacqueline-the pride of General de Fano and his despair of ever attaining the hand of the fair and noble lady. The Chaldean listened with great attention.

"Friend," he said, after a long fit of thinking, "why should you despair Lift the treasure, buy a noble estate, and present yourself to the General as a lord of acres. He will not refuse you his daughter."

"Ah! don't deceive me with false hopes of a treasure."

"What interest have I to deceive you?" replied Abubeker to the intreaty which the glistening eye and quivering lip of the young man showed to proceed from the deepest recesses of his heart. "Deceive you !—No, no, my good friend-what deceit there has been has proceeded from yourself. You should not have told me that story about the bill of exchange." Le Blond hung down his head and blushed. "But you don't like to be absent from home so long, perhaps, as it will take you if you accept the treasure I offer you?"

"What have I to do if I go?" inquired Le Blond.

"Set your house in order," answered Abubeker; "tell no one of what has passed between us; pretend that you must be absent some time on business; or better than all, sell off your whole concern, root and branch, for the treasure will make you independent of trade or profession of any kind. If not, give over your property to the care of some friend."

"Shall I tell Jacqueline about it ?"

can be no harm in trying; I will lift the treasure."

When the appointed time came every thing was arranged; Jacqueline had been made acquainted with his hopes, and parted with him amid vows of eternal constancy and bright antici pations of a happy meeting. The shop was closed and locked, and Le Blond placed himself by the side of Abubeker in a handsome travelling carriage, and hurried from Namur when it was pitch-dark at midnight. The first crack of the postilions' whips sounded exactly as the cathedral clock struck twelve.

The Chaldean remained quite unchanged; quite as big-speaking, and cool and careless, as in the coffeeroom at Namur. The whole day was spent in the close shut-up carriage, with many changes of horses. The weather was dull and rainy; they did not even pause for refreshments, but ate and drank in the carriage. In the evening they pulled up at a solitary hunting lodge, or something of that kind, in the middle of a wood. A sort of yager, in a handsome but decayed uniform, received the travellers, and conducted them into a chamber whose broken windows, repaired with pieces of paper, consorted very well with the tattered remains of the once splendid tapestry that hung from the mildewed walls. When a stove had been lighted in this cheerless apartment, the Chaldean's servants brought in wine and some cold provisions, while the yager and his assistant spread a couple of mattrasses on the floor.

"Do we spend the night here?" inquired Le Blond, looking round with a disconsolate air, for the whole place appeared to him " "uncanny."

"Ten steps from this are the ruins of Valerien des Anges. At midnight exactly-not an instant before, not an instant after-we must be there. Let us drink a little here in the meantime, and warm ourselves at the fire."

A cold shudder passed through Le Blond. All the horrible stories he had ever heard of awful apparitions that had taken place at the lifting of

subterranean treasures occurred to his memory. He inquired of Abubeker if they were likely to encounter any thing of the kind?

The Chaldean shook his head and laughed. "Nonsense!" he said. "Are you afraid of old women's tales?""

Wine and conversation made them get through the long evening very well; but Le Blond was dreadfuily fatigued, partly from having had no sleep the night before, and partly from the labours of the journey. The Chaldean did not fail in many extraordinary stories, of which he himself was usually the hero, by way of diverting his companion.

When the clock struck twelve, Abubeker broke off in the middle of an adventure, and when he observed the extreme sleepiness of Le Blond, he stood in front of him, and said, in a solemn tone

"You have not deceived me with any falsehood? it may bury both you and me in the ruins."

"I assure you on my honour," replied Le Blond, "with the exception of the invention about the bill, which"

"Indeed?-that would be fearful," replied Le Blond, striving against his somnolency.

"Not at all fearful to the sleeper," said the Chaldean, "while the trance lasts; for he has the sweetest possible dreams, and can wish for nothing better than to be entranced his whole lifetime. But waiting so long for his recovery was a miserable bore to me; and "

"But the treasure was got up in spite of all that?" asked Le Blond. Abubeker looked at the hour, and motioned to Le Blond to be silent, and follow. He lighted a small dark-lan

tern, and went down a few steps. Le Blond followed, but so overcome with sleep that he scarcely knew what he was doing. They went a little way through the wood till they came to a broken down wall. The Chaldean signed with his finger that this was the situation of the treasure. While he took out a book and began reading it by the light of the dark-lantern, Le Blond sat down on a fragment of the wall, and settled himself to repose. The Chaldean read on, and Le Blond, in spite of the importance of the adventure of which he was the hero, fell very unheroically fast asleep.

When at last he awoke from this ill-timed sleep, it was full daylight. He rubbed his eyes. He was lying in a splendid bed, in the mild twilight of green silk curtains. He drew these back, and perceived that he was in a gorgeous room, whose walls were ornamented with the finest pictureswhose subjects, he observed, were principally the adventures of Cupid and other deities who owned his powerthe furniture was rich beyond description. On a table near the bed was an elegant vase, filled with fresh-gathered roses.

Le Blond had some difficulty in remembering all that had passed. He had but a confused recollection of the stone in the hunting lodge-the tumbled down wall-and Abubeker read. ing by the light of the dark-lantern.— He raised himself in bed, and looked for the Chaldean.

At the noise a side door opened; a chamberlain in rich gold livery came in, while two other attendants followed him walking noiselessly on tiptoe, and after them came a venerable old man, who took hold of Le Blond's wrist, and afterwards poured out some medicine into a silver spoon, and offered it to the patient.

"I don't need any of your stuff," said Le Blond. "If it weren't that I am a little bewildered, I never felt better in my life.

66

The physician shook his head, and said, "I beseech your Highness, take but one spoonful; twill do you good, I assure your serene highness."

Monsieur Le Blond stared at the old man with all his eyes, and putting

aside the medicine, inquired for Abubeker. The attendants looked at each other, and it was evident from their faces they considered him out of his mind. At last the physician ventured to inquire, Whom does your highness refer to by the name of Abubeker?"

"The person who came here with me last night-the Chaldean."

"Your Highness has been here for a considerable time, and no one came with you but your highness's wife, her grace the duchess."

"Wife!—-duchess!--considerable time!" ejaculated the amazed youth; "I beg you will leave off fooling me with your ridiculous titles about duchesses and graces, and let me get up.― Where are my clothes?"

The physician and servants looked at each other with pitying faces at their master's melancholy condition, and at last united in begging him to remain tranquil in his couch, at all events, till they had obtained the commands of his lady the duchess. One of the attendants left the room for this perpose. Le Blond considered the whole party insane, or the whole business a trick of the Chaldean's. He asked if he was at St. Valerien des Anges?

"Your highness is in your hunting castle of Charmes, as retirement is recommended for the recovery of your highness's health."

The emissary now returned with orders to give his highness his clothes.

"Will your grace have your morning robe, or the uniform, or your hunting-suit?"

"No; I want my clothes, I tell you, and be done with your folly about graces, as I told you before."

They brought him clothes of the finest stuffs; a coat of blue silk, on the left breast of which a silver star was fixed. At this Le Blond lost temper entirely. He demanded his own clothes in a whirlwind of passion.-The attendants trembled, and grew pale as death; the physician alone had the courage to entreat him to moderate his fury-it might have the worst effects on his distemper. Le Blond having exhausted himself in his anger, yielded at last to his destiny, and hoped to discover the Chaldean when he was dressed. When his toilet was completed, breakfast was brought in, in a magnificent china service. He ate and drank, though every thing was strange and wonderful. Such splendour he had, of course, never seen in his days before. On going to the window he saw that he was in an old-fashioned looking castle, in the middle of a forest, through which alleys had been cut in all directions.

"How far is this from Namur?" he inquired.

Nobody could tell. again for the Chaldean. ed him minutely, and told

He inquired He describthem all he

knew of him, and particularly that he was three hundred and twelve years old. The servants shrugged their shoulders, the physician assured him that nobody had seen such an individual as he described, and on hearing of the three hundred and twelve years, he seized again on the pulse.

"Gentlemen," said Le Blond, "either I am foolish, or you; for that I am awake, and not dreaming, I am perfectly convinced. Whose house am I in now?"

"Your highness is inhabiting your Chateau des Charmes, along with your highness's wife, her Highness the duchess."

"Wife? I beg you won't treat me any longer as if I were out of my senses. I never was married, and how the devil can I have a wife? I should like to see her, that's all.

"I will announce your highness's wishes to her grace," said one of the servants with a deep bow, and left the apartment.

At

"Folly!" exclaimed Le Blond, and was preparing to go out of the room, when he observed that he was in slippers, and called for his boots. this moment an attendant opened the door, and announced "her grace the duchess."

In a light morning dress, still more graceful than it was splendid-splendid as it was a lady glided into the room, and motioned for the physician and attendants to retire. "I wish to be alone with my husband for a moment; you can wait outside the door." Le Blond, when he saw the fair and elegant creature, whose face was perfectly unknown to him, approach him with a countenance of the most friendly interest, did not know whether he was actually mad, or only in a very vivid dream. She bent deeply and respectfully before him, and appeared to wish to apologise for her intrusion, but failed to utter a word. She laid her hand lightly upon his shoulder, and looked long and earnestly in his face; then in a voice of tender anxiety, inquired, "How do you find yourself to-day? Do be good and rational at last: and rave no longer about your lace-trades, and conjurors, and Jacquelines, and treasures. You have

spoken of nothing else for a year past. Ah! how happy should I be, if your grace were perfectly yourself again, that we might return to the Court; Paris, they tell me, is so gay just now! The Duchess of Nemours writes me such charming accounts, and inquires so affectionately after your health."

"The Duchess of Nemours!" said Le Blond, to whose handsome countenance, the lady's hand on his shoulder, her glances of affection, and her musical and confidential tones, brought one blush after another. "Most gracious lady, I know not where I am.I almost believe-may the saints forgive me! I am bewitched. I beseech you madam, rescue me from the delusions I labour under. I will tell you my whole history, from the day of my birth to the present hour. You shall then judge."

He related his adventures. lady listened and smiled sadly,

The

«Oh,

heavens!" she exclaimed at last, when Le Blond had finished his recital; "all this you have told me, at least a hundred times before. It was on this very account we were recommended by his majesty's physician to leave Paris, to avoid every thing that might increase your excitement. I beg, for my sake, you will keep yourself calm. Think no more of those vain dreameries. Be again as you always used to be before this attack, and banish your fantastic imaginations. Will you? for my sake, say you will!"

"Whatever you like, most gracious madam; but either I am as mad as a March hare, or betwitched; or that infernal conjuror has bewitched you, and all your servants: for I'll take my solemn oath, I am no duke; I am the lace-merchant, Le Blond, of Namur, I have"

"Alas! alas! tis but the old tale again!" sighed the duchess, sadly, "and this after having promised me to be rational. All seems to be in vain. You have forgotten who I am again?”

Le Blend shook his head; and yet there was something in the whole bearing of the duchess, and particularly in the sound of her voice, that did not seem entirely unknown to him.

"I feel, madam," he answered, "as if I had, some time or other, but when or where I know not, had the honour of seeing you before, but".

"Heaven be praised!" interposed the lady, "your senses begin to return. This is the first time you have spoken so rationally for many months. Let us have but patience, and you will remember every thing in time. As your strength returns, you will be able to banish your fancies. At all events, never speak of them again; and don't expose your want of selfknowledge to the servants. You are the Duc de Melfi; you are my husband, and might be so happy and comfortable if you".

"I the Duc de Melfi! I your husband! I must indeed be mad, madam, before I can believe so unlikely a story as that."

"But you are mad, my love, because you don't believe so true a story as that; because you are constantly fly. ing to the window, and wishing to escape into the wood; I have been forced to have the windows nailed down, the drawbridge drawn up, and carefully guarded. I have had to stay away from you for many, many days, the sight of me seemed always to increase your malady so much. I have had to station attendants at the door even now; for once you tried to murder me-me your faithful and affectionate wife, so completely has your disease banished me from your heart!"

Tears stood in the eyes of the beautiful duchess as she recalled this instance of the cruelty of her husband.

66

"What?" exclaimed Monsieur Le Blond, starting up, "I wish to fly out of the window? I wish to murder you? by heavens, madam, my head really begins to turn. How can you”.

"And you won't frighten me any more then?" said the duchess, coaxingly.

Certainly not, most honoured madam."

"Nor speak of your former fooleries, or at least, not make yourself ridiculous before the servants, but show yourself master here; my husband, Duc de Melfi, in short, every thing that you really and truly are."

“Fair lady,” said Le Blond, who doubted the evidence both of his eyes and ears, "I know no more than the man in the moon, who or what I am; may the foul fiend run away with the Chaldean !-but I am ready to obey your orders, and be exactly who or what you wish me."

The duchess cast her arms round his neck, and kissed his cheek in gratitude for this obedience. A flame ran through his veins at the touch of her lips, and having returned the salute without well knowing what he did, he gave his hand into hers, and was led through the rest of the apart

ments.