The Vision Of Evil. A Story Of Old Paris.

intended enterprise might be successful . They then emptied the contents at a draught and smacked their lips with mighty relish . " As the affairs in which I am engaged may require your co-operation singly , I desire to know your names or appellatives , and as you may require the same confidence from me I will tell you by what title to addi-ess me on all occasions and that is the ' Chevalier . ' "

Thereupon the three masks furnished their interrogator with their curious and , no doubt , appropriate cognomens , namely , " Le Tigre , " " Le Serpent , " and " Le Renard . " " Well then , messieurs , please to pay attention to what I am about to divulge , " said the " Chevalier . " " I will first tell you-the cause of my enmity to the individual who by your aid I trust will

soon cease to trouble me . ' His masked listeners having assented to the foregoing preamble by expressive nods , whilst their eyes flashed intelligence , again poured out some wine , drank his health , and then respectfully bade him to proceed . "You must know , " resumed the gentleman , " that I am rich , powerful , and the representative of a good Catholic family , whose ancestors settled in Normandy centuries

ago . Near my demesnes there resides an old noble whose kindred and mine have lived on terms of the closest intimacy 7 . He has a daughter , beautiful to a degree , and his sole heiress . I may here tell you that the lovely child of the Baron ' s was educated away from the Chateau , and therefore , I lost sight of her for some y ears . Upon her return I was surprised to witness the change that had taken place in the appearance

of the delicate girl , who in early days had been the object of my solicitude . She had become a strikingly handsome woman . Being a near neighbour and aparticularfrieiidoftlieBaron'sIfrommyyouth upwards had always possessed opportunities of visiting the Chateau whenever I had a desire , and when it contained so interesting a treasure my steps were directed that way very often . To acknowledge that I fell in

love with the lady would be a mockery , it was neither more nor less than a mad idolatory , an irresistible infatuation to become the possessor of so much grace and beauty . Suffice it to say that after several charming interviews with the maiden , I sought her father and boldly demanded the hand of his daughter in marriage . The Baron greatly to my satisfaction , informed me that my suit met entirely

with his views , and further , ho gave me the delightful assurance that I might consider the engagement as good as settled as he would exercise , if necessary , the parental authority to bring the matter to a speedy and successful conclusion . Thus buoyed up with hopes of future happiness I immediately loft the Chateau without having any further conversation with its charming occupant , thinking that that

proceeding was the best to adopt under the circumstances . Dolt that I was ! Some few days after I paid an early visit to the Baron and was informed that he had been suddenly summoned to Paris on an affair of the greatest importance but was expected to return on the morrow . I then , -with a lover ' s ardour , made my way unannounced to the library where the girl , who was of studious habits , was daily

in the habit of poring over the pages of the old black letter tomes that lined its shelves . Upon my entry she 1 'eceived me with a coldness of demeanour that effectually upset all the fine tender speeches I was on the point of making . In a distant manner she enquired the cause of my gracing the mansion with my presence . Thereupon summoning my courage to my aid I threw myself at her feet and

passionately avowed the love that was consuming mo . In conclusion I said that as her father had given me his sanction , I fondly hoped that she would at least deign to cast a favourable eye upon my suit . To l'elate to you all the fine things I subsequently uiged , and the many denials couched in disdainful language I received from her , would be alike tedious and unnecessary .

However , 1 will tell you that finding all my entreaties vain , I started to my feet , and in my blind mad passion swore an oath that ere twentyfour hours had passed I would compel her to alter her determination . Instantly after tho interview , I mounted my steed , unmindful of the rain that was falling , and galloped from the scene of my disappointment and discomfiture . 1 was in such a fever of

excitement that it took several hours of hard riding to restore me to my usual composure , and at nightfall I returned home . I was thoroughly dis-spirited and vexed with myself for having severely punished my poor beast in my mad canter across country . At noon on the following day 7 , having previously 7 fortified my 7 faltering resolution with sundry libations of wine , I once more ventured to visit the

old noble s castellated retreat . Imagine my surprise when the servitor informed me that his master upon returning home that morning had almost immediately again set forth for Paris , accompanied this time by his daughter , and he had directed his servants in the event of my calling , to inform me that there was no message at present beyond this , ' That with regard to a certain matter I might

set my mind at rest , as all would come right in the end . ' Upon my return home I was taken seriously ill of a fever , occasioned , as the leech said , by over anxiety and a neglected cold , which indisposition no doubt had been accelerated , if not actually brought about , by my idiotic equestrian proceeding of the day before . However , to make a long story short , it was four weeks ere I left my bed of sickness , and six before 1 could with safety stir abroad . During my

severe prostration I was frequently visited by the Baron , who informed me that his daughter , by the advice of his chirurgien , had gone on a visit to his sister-in-law , in Paris , her health necessitating a change of air and scene , as the close seclusion of the Chateau had caused a deprcsion of spirits and had made other inroads upon her constitution . Such was the plausible conclusion that the old man had arrived at , but I felt convinced that her illness was feigned and that she left home to avoid , my attentions . Notwithstanding these

The Vision Of Evil. A Story Of Old Paris.

signs of aversion to my pretensions , I determined to press my suit with all the energy I possessed , which resolution was further fortified by the Baron , who , however , counselled patience , arguing that . a , few brief weeks' delay , would make very little difference , as ho was determined that the marriage should sooner or later take place . When I could conveniently mount my horse I also journeyed to the

capital resolving that whilst the maiden continued averse to my efforts at love making , she should not have the opportunity of tolerating a more favoured lover near her person . My jealous supposition proved to be correct , as on my arrival I learnt to my dismay that she was in the habit of allowing a young and handsome gallant to visit her at her aunt's house and with the full consent of

that lady . I likewise gleaned that the cause of such an intimacy having been brought about so quickly after her reaching Paris , was due to the circumstance that the fellow had rescued her from the rude attentions of some wild gallants of the Garde du Corps who had molested her and her relative in the open street . I had also reasons

for believing that he had inculcated in her mind the heretical doctrines of the so-called ' reformed religion , ' as I discovered her reading one day the ' Christian Institute , ' by the accursed Calvin , Death to his soul ! You have now heard the whole of the stoiy . What think you of it ? " concluded the " Chevalier . "

" By the mass ! a very tiresome tale , ' rudely answered the tallest of the masks , with a yawn . " May I die uushriven if you have not sent my brethren ' le Renard' and ' le Serpent' to sleep . ! Come , wake up , my drowsy 7 freres d'armes , and listen more attentively to his honour . "

The speaker then playfully administered to each a sharp buffet from a hand of formidable proportions . The blows thus given to his sleeping associates had the desired effect , for the men awoke with a start and rubbed their eyes . " By the Devil ' s dam ! ' Tigre ' " gruffly exclaimed one . " Be a little more careful in y our behaviour as I don't relish such striking marks of favour , and if thou "

"A truce to trifling both of you , " interrupted the other aronsed man . " Let us hear what Monsieur le ' Chevalier ' wishes us to do , as time grows apace and we have other business in hand ere wo seek our couches . " " You are right , M . le ' Serpent , '" inpatiently cried our love-sick swain . " I have yet much to tell you , and , as y ou justly say , we have

not much time to waste . What I require you first to do is this . Go to the lodgings of my rival , the address and description I have carefully written down , and watch from some secure place of concealment the premises . If you see him come forth , follow him silentl y to fiis destination , and on his return dog him again until you arrive at a fitting place for your purpose , then set upon him immediately . Yon can doubtless guess the rest ? "

" Wc can , my noble ' Chevalier , assented " le Tigre , " who apparently constituted himself as the spokesman of his party , " and yon need be under no further alarm as after to-night he will never cross your path again . "

"It is well my masters , " said the others , with a meaning smile . " Do not forget to ransack his sachet and bring to me all papers you . may purloin . You can meet me here to-morrow nt six of the clock , with full particulars of the undertaking , which I trust will be successful , and the hundred gold pieces shall be yours . "

. " Your servant hinted to us that you required our services in two matters of moment , " remarked " le Renard . " " If so , we must ask for a further guerdon , the amount of which must depend upon the risk the project may entail . "

" You have been correctly informed , my mercenary friends , " assented the "Chevalier , " with a laugh , " and j 7 ou may 7 rely , that provided your first duty is successfully performed , I shall prove by no means a niggard in any other affair that I may have occasion to employ you . "

" Is it your intention , monsieur , to make us acquainted with the nature of the other service at once , " asked " le Serpent , " " or does it depend upon the issue of to-night ' s adventure ? " " Not in the least as to the lattor query , " replied the individual addressed . " You , as good Catholics , are aware that the . day after to-morrow is tho Festival of Saint Barthdlemi . From reliable

sources I am informed that we Parisians of the true faith are promised great things on the eve of that day , the equal of which has never been witnessed in ' la belle France' or in any other country . " " May we be so bold as to enquire what event that will be ? " inquisitively demanded " lo Tigre . " Looking the man full in face the " Chevalier " said" May I trust you ? "

"You may , " was the reply of the fellow called " le Renard , " " My comrades and I are not given to chatter like a parcel of dames de la halle , or traders' apprentices . " " Well then , " continued the former , " it is a secret known tr . but few , I heard it at the Tuileries from the lips of Royalty itself . In fact , I may tell you that it emanated from no less a personage than the Queen—mother Catherine de Medici ' s . However , " he added , as

if repenting of his indiscretion in divulging so much , " it is useless for me to converse about the matter fully because it only excites a curiosity which I , as a loyal subject and staunch Catholic , cannot in honour gratify . To proceed to the nature of the subject in which your especial assistance is required . Daring the height of the intended surprise to both Catholics and Huguenots you must make your way to a house , the whereabouts of which I have noted down . If