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his scabbard, and tried the sharp edge; a cannon shot thundered along the walls of the fortress. A Cosack Soon after entered.

"Several bombs have been thrown, general,” said he. "I am to inform you from the Lieutenant-Colonel Schouvalof, that it is the time; that the advanced guard of the enemy have surrounded the gates. Will you put on your breastplate? shall I order your horse?" He seized the breastplate, but Alexiew said to him, "We must yet wait a moment. Order the cavalry to mount. Desire Captain Potocki to bring the duke hither."

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He wrote and sealed several letters in baste. No, I dare not constitute myself judge here!” said he, when he "The monarch alone can decide. It is the duty of every one to prevent sin, and bind the hand of the sinner; but to pronounce judgment, without being called thereto by the father of all mankind, would be presumption. But thou invisible and incomprehensible spirit above, why dost thou place so many sins and crimes in my way? Why must my youthful eye behold such numbers of sinners who embitter this life? Am I thereby to be warned, that man is naturally inclined to evil; born from the dust of the earth, the property of the demons? Is it thus? Answer me thou oracle above the stars! And is then death not delightful in its prospects; an heavenly gate to freedom; the victory of him who is tired; who, like the thrown cavalier, strikes the overwhelming giant from beneath?"

He rose from his seat, and walked hastily round the room. "I must be gone," exclaimed he hastily. "I must go into a life of action which will save the soul from the overwhelming power which here attacks it. These walls seem to totter; these vaults are on the point of destruction; every figure on the tapestry becomes animated; the sceptre, and swords in their hands menace me, and seem as if driving me hence with their looks. Prepare the signal Schouvalof, I must seek peace in the bloody conflict of the night."

Alexiew seized his arms, and was rushing out of the room, when he met Potocki with the duke. He recollected himself, fetched a deep sigh, and returned. The face of the duke glowed with hellish fire.

"Leave us, captain!" said Alexiew; and turning to the duke, after a pause, he thus began:›" my lord duke, we see each other most likely for the last time in this world. I know your heart and your doings, and dare not raise the deep veil which covers both. You and all that belong to you are traitors to us; here lay the proofs. Your own confidant accuses you of the murder of your cousin Giulo. I myself shattered your attempt on the life of the duchess; crimes sufficient to awake your judges in every christian country.

"Where are these judges ?” said Giacomo, clenching his fist. "At Rome alone is the tribunal to whom my equals are answerable; but power and the right of the sword have ever spurned the holiest bonds."

"You cannot complain of injustice," interrupted Alexiew coldly, "the greatest monarch in Europe shall be your judge. What I am doing is but providing for my personal safety. Your regiments are disbanded, and shall be conducted to their respective homes. Your-i self must ascend your travelling carriage this very hour and proceed to head quarters. Your fate depends on your silence and acquiescence. I will have nothing further to do with you; and that you may not be an object of derision to your people, I return you your dagger.", Alexiew handed him the weapon, which the duke eagerly seized.

“And now the last word; in which I will explain the reason of my deference to you! I loved your niece Giovanna; she loved me, and she became my wife this night at the altar of your church. Your nephew begs you to believe that he is but performing his duty; the general warns you not to hate or much less covet the property of another, or to tremble before his just resentment."

Saying this, Alexiew turned round in order to arm himself completely; while satanic pain evinced itself on the countenance of the duke.

"The man is a rascal!" roared he, nearly suffocated by the blood that rushed to his head; "who, when arms are in his hand, suffers himself to be commanded where he is lord!"

Saying that, he drew his dagger and approached the

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count. Murderer!" exclaimed Alexiew, on féeling himself wounded in the shoulder; his sword flamed like lightning through the air, shivered the duke's weapon in pieces, and bathed its broad point deep in his black blood.

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The exclamation and clash of arms was heard by the attendants of the general, who thronged in through the folding doors; at the same moment another door opened, through which entered the Duchess Madalena, accompanied by Giovanna, Dominika, and Luca. She no sooner saw the weapons than she hurried between the antagonists.

Swords and battle!" said she. "O stop! Giacomo, he is your son! Alexiew, he is thy father, and I am thy unhappy mother." All approached and formed a circle. Alexiew retreated, and his hand, in which lay the bloody weapon, sunk motionless...

It is the chain, your ornament! See here!" cried the negress, and fell on her knees. "I am she who first bore you in her arms; therefore forgive me the evils I helped to accumulate on you."

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Away from me you lying woman!" said the count in terror. "Truth is horrible."

Giovanna and the duchess embraced him. « Will you not be my son ?" asked Madelena tenderly. "I owe you my life; but love reconciles everything, and maternal affection is more than every thing."

"Yes!" said Alexiew unconsciously pressing both to

his breast. "Yes, you are mine, I knew it; I felt it before. But he does not! Giacomo cannot be my father." "He is, as truly as there is a lord in heaven!" returned the duchess.

"Then I am an outcast from the grace of God!" stammered Alexiew." Mother, thy crime extends to both son and grandson. Look there! thy sin has made me a parricide, and oon my clear forehead will burn an everlasting curse."

Every eye turned on the spot on whichh is trembling hand pointed. The duke had sustained himself in an arm chair, but death already spread his banner over him; the dagger lay before him, and he beheld and heard what was passing around.

"Woman's lies," said he now. "I acknowledge him not; and curse my murderer."

A stream of blood followed his exertion, and he sank a corpse on the floor. Madelena accompanied his fall with a shriek of horror; and was with difficulty withheld by Giovanna from falling beside him.

Two loud peals of the cannon thundered in the town ; the drums beat, and the trumpets sounded before the palace. The whole staff of the general entered the room, and messages were brought from every quarter announcing that the enemies had commenced to storm the town. Alexiew pressed his forehead with his left hand as if anxious to collect his spirits; his right grasped his sword. He approached the ladies, embraced them both,

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