every minute, an advantage scarcely equivalent to a hair's breadth. At last, he touched the cold iron keys, passed the fingers of his right hand into the ring which kept them together, and drew them slowly from beneath the pillow, holding them fast with his left hand, that no clanking sound might betray the theft. He was in possession of the treasure which made vengeance sure. His object gained, he turned towards the door, observing the same precautions as on entering the chamber; for, though the worst was now over, there was still a fearful chance. The sleeper might be roused; and, once awake, the light of the lamp would afford him a full view of the intruder. Had it been so had the father awaked-had he moved-the son had been a parricide! The old man awoke not.

Leclerc experienced a feeling of relief as he gained the street, and rushed up the step leading to the rampart. He had been spared at least one damning crime. The clock of the neighbouring monastery of Cordeliers now chimed eleven-the hour at which l'Ile-Adam had agreed to present himself and his five hundred lances on the other side of the Porte St. Germain. Leclerc listened he distinguished the march of a cavalcade approaching the spot on which he stood. "Qui vive" cried a sentinel the rude and well-known voice of the constable d'Armagnac was heard in reply to the challenge.

:

Not an instant was to be lost. Leclerc threw himself flat on the ground. Without noticing him, the detachment passed, relieved the sentry, and continued its march. Leclerc stealthily advanced upon the soldier just posted, and, before the latter was aware of his danger, sprang nimbly forward, and stabbed him to the heart. The wretched man uttered but one groan, and expired. The assassin removed the body to some distance, placed the dead soldier's casque upon his own head, seized his halberd, and took his place upon the rampart. He then looked towards the plain, and, when his eyes had become habituated to the darkness, he could discern a broad, black line, resembling a column, on the advance. Perrinet now gave the appointed signal, by imitating the scream of an owl, and having been answered from the plain,

he descended the steps, and opened the gate. L'Ile-Adam, who was already on the outside, was soon joined by his men, and when the column had been admitted, Perrinet again closed the gate, reascended to the rampart, and threw the keys into the ditch, which was then full of water,

"What mean you?" asked l'IleAdam.

"I would save your men from the temptation of looking behind them,” said Leclerc :-" there lies your way— I take another"-and he paused not for

an answer.

L'Ile-Adam divided his troop into four parties, each receiving orders to penetrate into the heart of the capital by a different quarter. Along their respective routes the Burgundians rent the air with shouts of Notre-Damede la paix-Long live Burgundy! To arms, citizens, to arms, and follow us!" These vociferations excited varying sensations among the inhabitants, according to the degree of favour or dis. favour in which the constable and his authority were held by each. Nevertheless, consternation at the approach of the enemy was not the prevailing sentiment; few of those who now appeared at the open windows, along the streets followed by the Burgundians, looked on with disapprobation, or even in silence. Most of them, on the contrary, recognizing the red cross, answered to the shouts of the soldiers with cries of Down with the Constable !' while not a few armed themselves in haste, and joined the ranks of the invaders. D'Armagnac himself, whilst proceeding on his midnight rounds, had been the first to hear the shouts of the Burgundians, and to perceive both the extent of his danger, and the inutility of resistance. He therefore sought, and obtained, refuge in the habitation of a poor mason, to whom he avowed his name and rank, with the promise of a rich reward for the service rendered, and for the secrecy of his host. Meantime, one of the hostile bands, under the command of l'Ile-Adam in person, invested the constable's hotel, battered down the principal gate, and effected an entrance. Rushing headlong up the great staircase, l'Ile-Adam and a few of his followers minutely examined every apartment, and after some time thus spent in vain, descended with impreca

tions and cries of vengeance to seek their enemy elsewhere.

Horrible was the massacre that now ensued. On all sides re-echoed the ferocious cry of Death to the Armagnacs! The populace, in their wild rage, burst into the houses belonging to the constable's partisans, to whom no quarter was given. Even the churches afforded no protection to the miserable beings who sought a momentary shelter within their walls. The Burgundians penetrated to the very altar, brandishing the blood-stained axe or sword, and butchering scores of defenceless victims in sight of the ministers of God, who in vain held up the crucifix to check the fury of the assassins. Whilst the carnage was at its height, one man, wilder and paler than the rest, rushed into the midst of the party who, in hopes of capturing the Dauphin, had surrounded the hotel St. Paul.-"The Constable," cried he, "the Constable!-is he yet taken ?"

"No, no," shouted twenty voices at once-" Death to the Constable-down with the Armagnacs !" and the work of destruction continued.

"Master Leclerc," exclaimed a virago, whose appearance bore ample testimony to the share which she had borne in the night's business-" we shall soon hear tidings of the heretic who converts the vases of Saint Denis into coin of the realm. Villiers de l'Ile-Adam has made proclamation, offering a thousand crowns of gold to him that will discover the constable's retreat."

"A thousand crowns of gold!" repeated an individual attired in a doublet begrimed with stains of plaster and lime, and who now forced his way into the throng. "A thousand golden crowns for the person of the Count d'Armag

nac ?"

;

"Yes, yes," said Leclerc, eagerly "I guarantee the payment:-know you, Thiebert, where the constable is concealed?"

"Under my roof-follow me."

With a laugh such as fiends might imitate, Leclerc hurried with his guide towards the latter's house. On reaching the door, which the constable had secured on the inside, "knock thrice,' said the mason; and, unwilling to witness the result of his treason, or to bear the sight of his victim, the betrayer fled in an opposite direction.

Leclerc grasped his poinard, and gave three knocks as Thiebert had directed. The constable, who had extinguished his light, having half-opened the door, his enemy rushed upon him, and, striking at random, stabbed him in the shoulder. A deadly strife now commenced. Trusting to the good faith of his host, and believing himself in safety, d'Armagnae was totally unarmed; yet, spite of this disadvantage, he might with ease have strangled Leclerc, but for his wound, which paralyzed the motion of one arm. As it was, with the nervous grasp of his right hand he strained his adversary to his bosom, and fell with him to the floor, keeping him undermost with the whole weight of his gigantic person. Leclerc's situation would have been hopeless, but for the good service of his dagger, with which he inflicted a second wound on the constable. D'Armagnac groaned heavily, relaxed his hold of his foe, raised himself upright, and, bleeding profusely, staggered towards a table in the midst of the chamber. Leclerc, too, sprang upon his feet, when suddenly l'IleAdam, with a lighted torch, appeared at the door. Leclerc again rushed upon the constable.

"Hold," cried l'Ile-Adam, seizing him by the arm-"hold, on thy life!"

Messire de l'Ile-Adam," said Perrinet Leclerc, "come not between me and mine enemy. His life is mine;" and thrusting his hand beneath his doublet, he displayed the parchment, scaled and signed Isabelle. The count, whom his wounds had rendered incapable of the slightest resistance, leaned backwards against the table, and in silence regarded his butchers.

"I seek not his life," said l'Ile-Adam, "but I have a vow-a solemn vow registered on high." With these words he drew his sword, and grasping the blade within an inch of the point, approached the constable, who closed his eyes, and uttered a last prayer.

"Constable," said l'Ile-Adam, tearing asunder the garments which covered the dying warrior's bosom-"Constable, dost thou remember thy vow? Didst thou not swear by the Virgin, that never with life wouldst thou bear the red cross of Burgundy ?"

"Ay," replied the constable, "and I have kept my oath-am I not about to die?"

"Count d'Armagnac," answered l'Ile-Adam, stooping towards his victim, and, with the point of his sword, carving the form of a crucifix on his breast;"Count d'Armagnac, thou liest! Behold the red cross of Burgundy traced upon thy flesh in characters of blood! I have kept my oath, and thou-thou art forsworn! Now, Perrinet Leclerc, deal with thine enemy, in mercy or in hate, even as thou wilt."

The constable opened his eyes, already glazed with the film of death. "Perrinet Leclerc," murmured he, in faint accents.

"The same," cried Leclerc, throwing himself on the now expiring count, "even he, Perrinet Leclerc, whose flesh thou hast galled, and whose spirit thou hast crushed with stripes!

I, too, have made a vow to tell thee, count, at thy dying hour, that Isabelle of Bavaria takes Paris, thine own capital, in exchange for De Bourdon's life-and having told thee so, count, to bury this dagger in thy heart!"

A party of Burgundians now rushed into the house, and with the hideous fury of party-spirit, trampled on the remains of the noble and gallant Count d'Armagnac. The fanatics then raised the body on their shoulders, and bore it in triumph through the streets of Paris, yelling the while like demons, and pointing to the red cross of Burgundy, formed by the still bleeding wounds which disfigured the bosom of their fallen foe. His spirit felt not the insult-the dagger of Leclerc had struck home.