, for he said almost with the same breath: 'Your
pardon, but there is but one man in the world besides myself who could,
under any circumstances, have a right to that name.'

"'And that man?'

"'Is my cousin, the deceased marquis's son, long esteemed dead also, and
now legally accepted as such.'

"'And what assures you that I am not he? Your eyes? Well, I am changed,
Louis, but not so changed that a good look should not satisfy you that I
am the man I claim to be. Besides, you should know this mark on my
forehead. You gave it to me--'

"'Isidor!'

"I could not comprehend it then, but I have learned since that the
marquis--our marquis, I mean--had only just come into his title; that
the son of the preceding Marquis de la Roche-Guyon had been so long
missing that the courts had finally adjudged him dead, and given up his
inheritance to his cousin; that the first act of the new marquis was to
liberate the Demoiselle de Fontaine from an engagement that stood in the
way of her marriage with one more desirable to her; and that the
unexpected appearance of the real heir in this sudden and mysterious
manner was as great a surprise to him as any mortal circumstance could
be. Yet to me, who waited with palpitating heart and anxious ears for
what should be said next, there was no evidence of this in his tone.
With the politeness we are accustomed to in Frenchmen he observed:

"'You are welcome, Isidor;' and then, as if struck himself by the
incongruity between this phrase and the look and manner of his
companion, he added, in slow tones--'even if you do bring a sword with
you.'

"The other, the real marquis, as I suppose, seemed to hesitate at this,
and I began to hope he was ashamed of his dreadful threats and would
speedily beg the other's pardon. But I did not know the man, or realize
the determination which lay at the bottom of his furious and
uncompromising words. But he soon made it evident to us.

"'Louis,' he exclaimed, 'you have always been my evil genius. From our
childhood you have stood in my way with your superior strength, beauty,
prowess and address. When I was young I simply shrank from you in shame
and distaste, but as I grew older I learned to detest you; and now that
I see you again, after five years of absence, handsome as ever, taller
than ever, and radiant, notwithstanding your nearness to death, with
memories such as I have never known, nor can know, and beliefs such as I
have never cherished nor w