y unjust; that my case was one of the greatest
hardship, and so on; that the money was gone, and there was no help for
it. In fact, I was pitied by some, and laughed at by others; and out
of sheer disgust at the deplorable spectacle I presented, a daily
supplicant at some official antechamber, I agreed to take my indemnity
in the only way that offered,--a commission in the newly raised Polish
Legion, where I served for two years, and quitted three days ago in the
manner you witnessed."

His narrative scarcely occupied more words than I have given it. He told
me the story as we led our horses up a narrow bridle-path that ascended
from the river's side to a little elevated terrace where a cottage
stood.

"There," said he, pointing with his whip, "there is my _pied a terre_,
all that I possess in the world, after twenty years of more persevering
pursuit of wealth than any man in Europe. Ay, Gervois, for us who are
not born to the high places in this world, there is but one road open
to power, and that is money! It matters not whether the influence
be exerted by a life of splendor or an existence of miserable
privation,--money is power, and the only power that every faction
acknowledges and bows down to. He who lends is the master, and he who
borrows is the slave. That is a doctrine that monarchs and democrats
all agree in. The best proof I can afford you that my opinion is sincere
lies in the simple fact that he who utters the sentiment lives here;"
and with these words he tapped with the head of his riding-whip at the
door of the cottage.

Although only an hour after the sun set, the windows were barred and
shuttered for the night, and all within seemingly had retired to rest.
The Count repeated his summons louder; and at last the sounds of heavy
_sabots_ were heard approaching the door. It was opened at length, and
a sturdy-looking peasant woman, in the long-eared cap and woollen jacket
of the country, asked what we wanted.

"Don't you know me, Lisette?" said the Count. "How is madame?"

The brown cheeks of the woman became suddenly pale, and she had to grasp
the door for support before she could speak.

"Eh heu!" said he, accosting her familiarly in the patois of the land,
"what is it? what has happened here?"

The woman looked at me and then at him, as though to say that she
desired to speak to him apart. I understood the glance, and fell back
to a little distance, occupying myself with my horse, ungirthing the