mething must have gone
wrong." He broke off his speech, for at the half-open door stood
Paul. He was very pale, and his eyes had the expression of some hunted
creature. His attire was in disorder and betokened a night spent in
aimless wanderings to and fro.

"Ah, sir!" said he, as he caught sight of Mascarin.

"Leave us, Beaumarchef," said the latter, with an imperious wave of his
hand; "and now, my dear boy, what is it?"

Paul sank into a chair.

"My life is ended," said he; "I am lost, dishonored for ever."

Mascarin put on a face of the most utter bewilderment, though he well
knew the cause of Paul's utter prostration; but it was with the air of
a ready sympathizer that he drew his chair nearer to that of Paul, and
said,--

"Come, tell me all about it; what can possibly have happened to affect
you thus?"

In deeply tragic tones, Paul replied,--

"Rose has deserted me."

Mascarin raised his hands to heaven.

"And is this the reason that you say you are dishonored? Do you not see
that the future is full of promise?"

"I loved Rose," returned Paul, and his voice was so full of pathos that
Mascarin could hardly repress a smile. "But this is not all," continued
the unhappy boy, making a vain effort to restrain his tears; "I am
accused of theft."

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mascarin.

"Yes, sir; and you who know everything are the only person in the world
who can save me. You were so kind to me yesterday that I ventured to
come here before the time appointed, in order to entreat your help."

"But what do you think I can do?"

"Everything, sir; but let me tell you the whole hideous complication."

Mascarin's face assumed an air of the deepest interest, as he answered,
"Go on."

"After our interview," began Paul, "I went back to the Hotel de Perou,
and on the mantelpiece in my garret found this note from Rose."

He held it out as he spoke, but Mascarin made no effort to take it.

"In it," resumed Paul, "Rose tells me she no longer loves me, and begs
me not to seek to see her again; and also that, wearied out of poverty,
she has accepted the offer of unlimited supplies of money, a carriage,
and diamonds."

"Are you surprised at this?" asked Mascarin, with a sneer.

"How could I anticipate such an infidelity, when only the evening before
she swore by all she held most sacred that she loved me only? Why did
she lie to me? Did she write to make the blow fall heavier? When I
ascended the staircase, I was