for any attack the other was about to make. At length Lachaussée made a creeping movement in advance; when Benoit, whose mountebank engagements had given him a certain kind of gymnastic superiority, trusting to his knees to keep him from falling, caught hold of Lachaussée by the legs. But he lost his equilibrium in so doing; and, after wavering for an instant as if in uncertainty, he fell on one side of the beam,-still, however, keeping hold of the other, who was now driven to support both himself and Benoit by his arms, half hanging from, half leaning over, the timber.

"Look out, mes braves," gasped the Languedocian, " and catch us. Our friend won't hold long.-No, no," he continued, as Lachaussée, struggling, tried to free himself from the grip, "you don't shake me off. I will stick to you like the hangman will some day.-Come under, and hold your scarves."

The guards were quick in taking the hint. Not a quarter of a minute had passed before they had pulled off their scarves, and some ten or a dozen standing in a circle laid hold of the different ends, pulling them tight, so as to form a sort of net-work, as they stood in a ring directly beneath Benoit.

In vain Lachaussée tried to get away. Every struggle expended what strength he had remaining, until, unable any longer to cling to the beam, he fell, and Benoit with him. They came heavily down, pulling one or two of the watch to the ground; but the scarves broke their fall of some twelve feet, and the next moment Benoit was on his legs, whilst Lachaussée found himself in the custody of the guard, at the head of which he perceived Sainte-Croix. Gaudin had fallen in with the patrol soon after leaving the house of Exili, and, knowing the Chevalier du Guet for the night, had sauntered on in conversation with him at the head of the watch, until they had been attracted to the Rue de l'Hirondelle by Benoit's cries for assistance.

"To the lock-up with such a gallows-bird!" cried Benoit. "I can tell you as much about him as will last until to-morrow morning. Guard him well, or the devil will strangle him in the night, as he did the other sorcerers."

The officer directed his party to move on, guarding Lachaussée between them, whilst Benoit brought up the rear. As they started from the Rue de l'Hirondelle he looked up to the house they had just quitted, and saw Exili's vulture face peering from one of the windows at the tumult; but of this he took no notice.

On the way to the guard-house Gaudin approached Lachaussée, at a signal from the latter.

"You can free me if you choose," said the superintendent shortly. "I shall not interfere in the matter," replied Sainte-Croix. "Only be satisfied that you are not a prisoner by my agency."

"If you refuse to liberate me," returned the other, "the earth may tell some strange secrets, that you would not care should be known."

"What do you mean, cur?" said Gaudin contemptuously.

"Civil words, Monsieur de Sainte-Croix," answered Lachaussée. "We have chemical compounds that, in the event of M. Dreux D'Aubray's body being exhumed, would bring every atom of his last beverage to its simple elements. Do you understand? There cannot be so much difficulty as you imagine in procuring my libera

"Silence!" returned Gaudin in a low quick voice; "silence-or we shall be overheard."

"But my freedom!" continued Lachaussée in a loud tone.

"Wait until we get to the guard-house," said Sainte-Croix, as he passed on, and was once more at the side of the Chevalier du Guet. They passed on through some of the narrow tortuous streets that lie towards the water boundary of the Quartier Latin, and at last arrived at a guard-house in the vicinity of the Hôtel Dieu. Gaudin spoke a few words to the captain of the watch aside, which the other appeared to agree with: they were evidently companions as well as acquaintances.

"There is some mistake here," said Sainte-Croix. "I see now the prisoner you have captured is my valet. He has been lunatic enough to go and consult some predicting varlet, and met this other simple fellow. They have had a brawl between them; and whoever first called the guard would have given the other into custody."

"Pardieu!" said Benoit, "you great seigneurs have different notions of a brawl to us artizans. I suppose, if his snap-haunce had put me beyond Master Glazer's skill, who can cure anything, you would have thought lightly of it."

"Silence! common person!" said the captain.

"I will speak," said Benoit, who began to be very angry at this unexpected turn that things were taking; "and I am not a common person. Ask Monsieur Sainte-Croix if he found me so when we met one night at the corner of the Rue Neuve St. Paul. I believe that all the Bohemians and the great folks in Paris are so leagued together, that they are afraid of one another, and the people receive all the buffets of their disagreeings. The man Lachaussée there is an inhabitant of all the cours des miracles in Paris. I know him, I tell you."

"You are at liberty, fellow; you can depart," said the officer.

Liberty, forsooth!" continued Benoit with increased excitement. Why, I have never been arrested. I am the accuser; and M. de Sainte-Croix knows that Lachaussée is no more—"

At a motion from the captain of the watch, two of the guard seized Benoit whilst he was thus pouring out his anger, and, without allowing him to finish his speech, very unceremoniously turned him out of the guard-house, and half-drove, half-walked him to the end of the street, where they left him to go home to the boat-mill, vowing that he would still be even with all of them.

CHAPTER XX.

Two great Villains.

MEANWHILE, things being thus arranged, Sainte-Croix and Lachaussée left the guard, and proceeded to the Rue des Bernardines, where Gaudin still resided. On arriving at his chamber, whither they passed unnoticed, Gaudin complained of cold; and, in effect, the evening was damp and chilly. At his wish, the other fanned the embers of the fire-place into a flame with his hat, and his socalled master then produced a flask of wine, which he placed on the table with some glasses.

venture.

"There is some of the best hock," said he, "that the Rhine ever produced. Drink-you need some wine after your late adFear not a long draught a cask of it would not hurt you." "You will drink with me?" asked Lachaussée, as Sainte-Croix filled a glass for his companion, and then replaced the bottle on the table.

"Not now," replied Gaudin. "I have to play to-night, and must keep my head cool. A little water will quench my thirst."

"Here's to our renewed acquaintanceship, then, mon capitaine," said Lachaussée, as he raised the glass. But before touching its contents with his lips, as if struck by some sudden thought, he held the glass between his eyes and the lamp, and then, replacing it on the table, took a small set of tablets from his pocket, and pulled from them a leaf of white paper.

"What are you going to do?" inquired Sainte-Croix.

"Nothing," replied Lachaussée, "beyond using a common precaution in these treacherous times. I do not mistrust you; but you know not who is about you."

As he was speaking, he dipped the slip of paper into the wine. The effect was instantaneous-the white was changed to a bright scarlet. Sainte-Croix uttered a feigned exclamation of surprise. "Poison!" he cried, as he saw the change.

"Ay-poison," repeated Lachaussée calmly. "Did I not well before I drank? It was doubtless intended for you, Monsieur Gaudin. Your cups are evidently not of Venice glass, or they would have shivered at its contact."

"This shall be looked into," said Gaudin, as he threw the remainder into the fire-place," and closely. But, at present, to busi

ness."

"Ay, to business," answered the other, as a most sinister smile passed across his otherwise ill-favoured countenance-the result of what had just occurred.

I have something to propose to you," said Gaudin, “if you feel inclined to join me in the venture. We have worked together before, and you know me."

"I do," answered Lachaussée, with meaning emphasis, as he glanced at the drinking-glass. "We can both be trusted to the same extent, for we are in each other's hands."

"You allude to Milan," observed Sainte-Croix.

"No," replied the other coldly; "to the château of M. D'Aubray at Offemont."

"Hear what I

"A truce to this recrimination," said Gaudin. have to say. M. D'Aubray is dead-how, it matters not-and buried. One hundred and fifty thousand livres were to have been the legacy to his daughter, Madame de Brinvilliers, and, what was perhaps more, her absolute freedom to act as she pleased. The money has passed to her brothers, in trust for her, and she is entirely under their surveillance. This must be altered."

"And you would have me assist you?"

On consideration of paying you one-fifth of whatever possessions might fall to the Marchioness thereupon. Do you agree to this ?"

"Go on," was Lachaussée's reply, " and tell me the means."

"Ay-the mens-there is de oficity' sai Same-T -Wag tik va dé?”

There was a minute of sience, i de terriei an me va fixed intensity, wing fie the sucrescim. Punge & de vet i the dregs of crime, they destined a uma der ba ation_st they knew there was but one scheme mended Lachuse va de

first who spoke

The

“Diseases are hereditary sad he and his brother the exmaller mark in metery, which keeps the secrets it is arrugat ca de dat the Bastille."

"We are agreed.” sbserved Gavin - - but some sure and JACENCE will be necessary. Of course there is a damer beven de intens of Madame de Belles mi ned that must. U SVE PREVAL our meeting. I will provide te mers Ed Tim ter amictum.” - I care not if I d:" meweret Lachinees mirace have I that you wifi? THE É ME Trat Jr vrt m breaths of air-car souls are M HEger our 1911 DER VIL.”

“You shall have a far and wTEA CHITHER OF THE BUT TH said Gain; on me. I turve C juur ete re de Milan"

far e He rose to depart as he rowed there wirts: and wie le Lat quitted the room, Gavin tev tinsed on a “ru cei ant vs ir a time wrapt in fence. Then, Srecng Liner if us muer paste ments, be pat ce a vring-te simudet mu lines, aut black with the smoke and fun sé a sanomat and a mu at adjoining chamber, fired up vai a central excarcie e f ir ne study of co-my- the atvert pret via must if the decons of Tifina adopted to vell them pengere—de agdet mmeet a work with the most inteR SOLODIL.

of the persons he had kitteni vet defing al cens u re their existence, except of those vor dat menet den ta de a peared too slow for the properts de was einerrng mi le v commenting a series of experiments 1901 de precis in die deadly eements in ta prosessin, terre de sits if vid. THE achievements of Spara and Iofua i na as quiczne

"There is some of the best hock," said he, "that the Rhine ever produced. Drink-you need some wine after your late adventure. Fear not a long draught a cask of it would not hurt you."

"You will drink with me?" asked Lachaussée, as Sainte-Croix filled a glass for his companion, and then replaced the bottle on the table.

"Not now," replied Gaudin. "I have to play to-night, and must keep my head cool. A little water will quench my thirst."

"Here's to our renewed acquaintanceship, then, mon capitaine," said Lachaussée, as he raised the glass. But before touching its contents with his lips, as if struck by some sudden thought, he held the glass between his eyes and the lamp, and then, replacing it on the table, took a small set of tablets from his pocket, and pulled from them a leaf of white paper.

"What are you going to do?" inquired Sainte-Croix.

"Nothing," replied Lachaussée, "beyond using a common precaution in these treacherous times. I do not mistrust you; but you know not who is about you."

As he was speaking, he dipped the slip of paper into the wine. The effect was instantaneous-the white was changed to a bright scarlet. Sainte-Croix uttered a feigned exclamation of surprise. "Poison !" he cried, as he saw the change.

"Ay-poison," repeated Lachaussée calmly. "Did I not well before I drank? It was doubtless intended for you, Monsieur Gaudin. Your cups are evidently not of Venice glass, or they would have shivered at its contact."

"This shall be looked into," said Gaudin, as he threw the remainder into the fire-place," and closely. But, at present, to busi

ness."

Ay, to business," answered the other, as a most sinister smile passed across his otherwise ill-favoured countenance-the result of what had just occurred.

I have something to propose to you,” said Gaudin, “if you feel inclined to join me in the venture. We have worked together before, and you know me.”

"I do," answered Lachaussée, with meaning emphasis, as he glanced at the drinking-glass. "We can both be trusted to the same extent, for we are in each other's hands."

"You allude to Milan," observed Sainte-Croix.

66

No," replied the other coldly; "to the château of M. D'Aubray at Offemont."

'A truce to this recrimination," said Gaudin. "Hear what I have to say. M. D'Aubray is dead-how, it matters not-and buried. One hundred and fifty thousand livres were to have been the legacy to his daughter, Madame de Brinvilliers, and, what was perhaps more, her absolute freedom to act as she pleased. The money has passed to her brothers, in trust for her, and she is entirely under their surveillance. This must be altered."

And you would have me assist you ?"

"On consideration of paying you one-fifth of whatever possessions might fall to the Marchioness thereupon. Do you agree to

this ?"

"Go on," was Lachaussée's reply," and tell me the means."