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ground, and felt that her cheeks were glowing like peony roses, without having the remotest idea of the cause, as she rendered his Italian into French. "J'aime," I love.

It was some time before he gained strength enough to go on to the second person. "Tu ame."

queline unconsciously went on, and said in the same tone as her scholar"Nous aimons," we love: but suddenly she corrected herself, and said the lesson was ill done.

"But it is no sin to be slow in learning grammar," whispered Le Blond, and raised the hand to his lips. To such a truism as that it was im-.

She sighed, and actually blushed possible to reply-and yet she appearagain, as she responded—

"Tu aimes," thou lovest. He continued-and involuntarily, as it were, lifted her trembling hand to his heart.

"Egli ama," he loves.

"Il aime," she muttered in answer, and lifted her eye shyly to his face.

He still held her band pressed to his bosom, and, forgetting his Italian entirely, continued in his own language, "Nous aimons," we love. "No, no," exclaimed the teacher, you must say it in Italian."

66

He looked into her beautiful black eyes and repeated what he had said before.

"Nous aimons," we love.

But looking into such eyes is no great help to one's progress. So Jac

ed uneasy; perhaps on account of the slow progress they made in parsing; but, after a somewhat embarrassing pause, they simultaneously returned to their lesson, and whispered at the same moment, as if in concord

"Nous aimons," we love.

This was the whole extent of their progress that day; yet both fancied they had learned a great deal; for the hearts of those young and innocent beings had learned a language that was neither French nor Italian ; but more intelligible than eithermore musical than the Tuscan ; more graceful than the French. Two hours passed in this lesson; and, when at last they found they had to part, neither of them could be persuaded it had lasted twenty minutes.

THE HELPER.

From day to day their studiousness increased; and it may be remarked, as a proof of the correctness of certain new theories in the art of teaching, that they soon acquired a power of carrying on a conversation without having committed to memory a single rule of grammar. Le Blond all this time was deeply in love with the mantua-maker from Milan-Jacqueline with the son of the President of the Sovereign Court. But, at last, when they discovered their mistake, it made no difference, except that it infused into the cup, where Love had brimmed before, a bitter drop of fear and disappointment. But this bitter drop seemed by some chemical transmutation, of which they, poor souls, were ignorant, to increase the strength of the contents of the aforesaid cup a hundredfold.

"'Tis true," sighed Le Blond, "that by birth I am a gentleman; I only wish I were rich!"

"And I," sighed Jacqueline, "ah! I only wish I were poor!"

And now, as if to increase their

misery, winter came on apace, and stript the jasmine bower of its leaves, and shed showers of snow upon the ground, that left every foot-print shamefully distinct. Their meetings were now more rare, and only took place at church, or in some appointed street; and then only for a moment. But even these meetings were some. thing; and spring, they thought, would bring its leaves again to the bower. In the mean-time, deep were the mutual protestations of love and fidelity, but no less deep were the apprehensions of them both that these protestations were vain. One day Le Blond sat, immersed in melancholy forebodings, in one of the principal coffeerooms of the city; but the wine, though the best of the vintage of Champagne, had no effect upon his spirits. It was eight days since he had seen Jacqueline; and all this time she was going out to balls and parties among the chief people of the townay, at that moment was gracing an assembly in the house of the President, but two flights of stairs above his

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out to avoid the revelry, and fly from his own miserable thoughts. Near him sat a gentleman in a grey ridingcoat-a man of middle age, calm and silent. He looked at Le Blond, and pledged him in a glass of Pontac.

"Have I not the honour of speaking to Monsieur Le Blond?" he enquired.

Le Blond looked at him closely, and recognised him, by a deep scar upon his left cheek, to be a gentleman he had seen frequently gazing upon him for the last two days: once he had come into his shop and bought something; then he had beset him on the street; then at church; then kept constantly promenading in front of his door; and now had addressed him here.

There was something repulsive in the stranger's appearance; a long haggard countenance, and eyes that glowed like flame. Le Blond answered his

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-more deeply than you think. You don't know me ; but let us become acquainted. I am sure I can help you, if you will only give me your confidence."

"You are very good," sighed Le Blond, and shook his head. "Has any one injured you?” "By no means.

"Or a lover's quarrel?"
"No, no, no quarrel !"

"Or do you want money? I can help you to as much as you want." Le Blond looked astonished into the long yellow face of the old man.

Say the word," he went on; "how much? Two or three thousand livres ? You are in luck's way, my friend, and may be the richest man in Namur."

"How?"

"That I will tell you whenever you wish to be so."

"Who wouldn't wish to be rich?" enquired Le Blond, with a faint smile.

"Good," said the stranger; " but we must leave this place, where so many eyes may be upon us. I am a stranger in Namur. Will you accompany me to my hotel, and do me the honour to sup with me to-night?"

Le Blond looked distrustfully at the stranger; but when he recollected that Jacqueline was, perhaps, at that moment dancing above his small back parlour, he resolved to accept the invitation for the sake of a little amusement.

THE TREASURE.

The stranger occupied two or three splendid apartments in the hotel ;-a couple of servants flew at his bidding to prepare a supper. Le Blond was wonderstruck at all he saw; for he perceived that the stranger in the grey riding-coat must be a man of great wealth, who might have his choice of finer company than that of a humble laceman.

"With whom have I the honour to be?" enquired the young man, modestly.

"Call me only Abubeker," answered the other; "by birth I am a Chaldean."

"My stars!-a Chaldean! How come you into our parts, so far from Asia ?"

VOL. XLIV. NO. CCLXXIV.

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"And twelve years, last month," calmly repeated the stranger. "I perceive you are a little surprised you think, perhaps, Iam quizzing you; but when you know me a little better you will think far otherwise. But think just what you like; and never trust to any man's words, but to his actions."

Le Blond thought it somewhat extraordinary, but resolved to let the old gentleman go on with his hoax, being determined not to be taken in.

The servants announced supper, and when Abubeker and Le Blond had taken their seats at the splendid table, which was covered with the richest wines and dishes, and were left again alone,

"Now, my good fellow," said the Chaldean, gaily, "throw aside all troublesome thoughts for a little ;fill up a good bumper, and tell me all your distresses in the same open familiar way I have spoken to you.'

Le Blond took the advice as regarded the bumper, and towards the end of the feast was lively and amused. The Chaldean exerted himself for his entertainment, but, in spite of all his efforts, he could not penetrate the "seeret sorrow" of his guest. Le Blond was very incredulous, and couldn't bring himself to swallow all the wonderful narratives given by Abubeker of his adventures by sea and land.

"Yes, yes, my good friend," he said at last, offended at the old fellow's exaggerations, "you tell your mar vels very well, but do you fancy that any sensible man would believe a word of them ?"

"It makes no difference to me," replied the other, "whether you be lieve me or not; the loss is yours. But you may easily convince yourself that my studies have been pretty deep. Did you ever hear of neeromaney? ?"

"To be sure, but never believed in it. It is a science that depends entirely on cheating and sleight of hand."

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"I make no turns, as you call it, of my art, but this I can tell you, young man, the lines of your face inform me you will be rich and fortunate. Tell me your exact position-you will find my assistance no affair of legerdemain. For example, are you in any mercantile difficulty? Do you need money?"

Le Blond laughed, and said, to try him, "Perhaps I am; what then?" "Ah! why did you keep this from me so long? You should have told me so at first. You are decreed to lift a treasure that lies hidden under the ruins of Valerien des Anges."

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Le Blond was somewhat startled by the dry manner of the Chaldean, but still believed he was amusing himself with trying to cram him.

"Very well, Master Abubeker," he said, "I will put you to the test. Tomorrow morning I have a bill of exchange to answer for five thousand livres; if this matter is so certain, as you say, you will perhaps advance me that sum, and I will faithfully repay it when we dig up the treasure.'

Le Blond, as he said this, fixed his eyes upon the Chaldean to enjoy his confusion; but that individual never altered a muscle of his features, and only said quietly," You shall have it, my friend." He then turned the conversation into its former channel about his own wonderful adventures.

About midnight Le Blond rose to depart; but out of delicacy to the feelings of the impostor he made no mention of the five thousand livres he had promised. Moreover, his story of the bill of exchange was an invention of the moment, to put an end to the old man's rigmarole stories about his achievements. But Abubeker, retiring for a few minutes to another room, brought with him four sacks of money, and laid them on the table. He then ordered an attendant to accompany

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 saying a word.

THE JOURNEY TO VALERIEN DES ANGES.

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.

he

"Have you discounted the bill ?” enquired.

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 entreaty 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?" enquired 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 ?"

"About your going away from home, and your certainty of soon being in a condition to make her your own, you may tell her without the least fear of disappointment. But breathe not a syllable of Valerien des Anges-breathe not a syllable of the treasure."

"When should we start?" "In three days I leave Namur." Le Blond promised to have all his preparations made by that time; for," as he thought to himself when he had reached his back parlour once more, "what have I to hope for if Jacqueline can't be mine? Better to die better to do any thing. There

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 anticipations 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 LIFTING OF THE TREASURE.

The

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. 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?" enquired 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 mean-time, 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 enquired 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 dreadfully 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"

"That was wrong," replied the other, " very wrong. But your sleepiness on an occasion of such importance -not to mention the interesting events I was telling you of awoke my suspicion. I have met with cases of the kind when the experimentalist fell into a trance that lasted a whole month the moment he had found the treasure."

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