at the treatment which He taught us to expect!

My Companion in danger seemed entirely to have got rid of her chagrin
at being delayed. She laughed, and conversed with the family with
infinite gaiety. I strove but in vain to follow her example. My
spirits were evidently forced, and the constraint which I put upon
myself escaped not Baptiste's observation.

'Come, come, Monsieur, cheer up!' said He; 'You seem not quite
recovered from your fatigue. To raise your spirits, what say you to a
glass of excellent old wine which was left me by my Father? God rest
his soul, He is in a better world! I seldom produce this wine; But as
I am not honoured with such Guests every day, this is an occasion which
deserves a Bottle.'

He then gave his Wife a Key, and instructed her where to find the wine
of which He spoke. She seemed by no means pleased with the commission;
She took the Key with an embarrassed air, and hesitated to quit the
Table.

'Did you hear me?' said Baptiste in an angry tone.

Marguerite darted upon him a look of mingled anger and fear, and left
the chamber. His eyes followed her suspiciously, till She had closed
the door.

She soon returned with a bottle sealed with yellow wax. She placed it
upon the table, and gave the Key back to her Husband. I suspected that
this liquor was not presented to us without design, and I watched
Marguerite's movements with inquietude. She was employed in rinsing
some small horn Goblets. As She placed them before Baptiste, She saw
that my eye was fixed upon her; and at the moment when She thought
herself unobserved by the Banditti, She motioned to me with her head
not to taste the liquor, She then resumed her place.

In the mean while our Host had drawn the Cork, and filling two of the
Goblets, offered them to the Lady and myself. She at first made some
objections, but the instances of Baptiste were so urgent, that She was
obliged to comply. Fearing to excite suspicion, I hesitated not to
take the Goblet presented to me. By its smell and colour I guessed it
to be Champagne; But some grains of powder floating upon the top
convinced me that it was not unadulterated. However, I dared not to
express my repugnance to drinking it; I lifted it to my lips, and
seemed to be swallowing it: Suddenly starting from my chair, I made
the best of my way towards a Vase of water at some distance, in which
Marguerite had been rinsing the Goblets. I pretended to spit out the
wine wit