certain clue to the detection of his crime, and he passed a night of such fearful torment as had shaken his frame, and death already waved his dart over him.

The sight of Matilde, whom he believed dead, achieved the blow; but ere he sank under it, he had the misery of beholding his son seized as a criminal, and of meeting his fate without a friend or relation to close his dying eyes, yet happy in thus escaping the infamy his crimes merited.

When Roussel had left the presence of the friends on the fatal night, he concealed himself in the garden, in the hope that chance might disclose to him some portion of their intentions. The result answered his expectations, for he overheard all their conversation. He thus discovered that the gaming propensities of the Comte de Breteul were now known to his son, and that the plan suggested by De Villeneuve of assisting him with money, would probably extricate his dupe out of his hands. This knowledge alone would have been sufficient to instigate him to the commission of any atrocity; but his rancorous mind was still further ex

cited by the disgust and antipathy the friends had exhibited towards himself: and thus impelled both by apprehension and malignity, he determined to remove the one and gratify the other, by murdering De Villeneuve and accusing Gustave of the crime. The pocket-book and money given by De Villeneuve, if found on Gustave, would, he felt certain, be received as conclusive proof of his guilt. He retired to his lodging, wrote a note to the commissaire de police, informing him of the murder, and then resolved to absent himself for some time from Paris, fearing that the Comte de Breteul, in the horror of seeing his son accused of murder, might betray the other fatal part of the tragedy, and implicate his safety.

On leaving Paris, Roussel directed his course to Mantes; where, having remained a few days, he took an outside seat on the Diligence to return, and was one of three people killed by the overturning of that vehicle.

Thus perished, within a week from the period of his double attempt at murder, a wretch whose life had been one long tissue of crime, and with him was buried the secret of the guilty partici

pation of the Comte de Breteul, whose children were thus happily saved the deep and enduring misery which must have arisen on their knowledge of their parent's infamy. In a few months the double alliance between the houses of De Villeneuve and De Breteul took place, and they enjoy all the felicity they deserve. The amiable Matilde has found a husband in a near neighbour of De Villeneuve's, and continues as much attached as ever to her dear friend Louise, whose society constitutes one of her greatest sources of happiness.

Nothing now remains except to wish our readers all the blessings enjoyed by our heroines and heroes, but without their trials, and to impress on their minds the counsel to Beware of gaming.

241

THE COQUETTE:

A TALE.

CATHERINE SEYMOUR was the prettiest girl at Cheltenham, and of this fact no one seemed more fully aware than the young lady herself; yet, strange to say, each new proof she received of it, in the admiration she excited, appeared to give her as much satisfaction as if she had been sceptical as to the extent and power of her personal claims,-a scepticism of which no one suspected her. There are some passions that increase with their gratification. Ambition and avarice are of this number; but the thirst for admiration is still more insatiable, and, if once indulged, is rarely if ever satisfied. Of this truth the vanity of Catherine Seymour

VOL. II.

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