before the
wife, Felix would behold Rebecca on the threshold of the unknown land
where they would be united tor infinity. Her creed did not warrant such
a hope--his said that in heaven there were no marriages, but her heart
did not heed such sayings, and her feelings told her that thus things
would come to pass.

She had concluded the piece of music. She rose and, for the first time,
gave Cesarine her hand.

"Farewell!" she said.

"Why say it now?" answered Madame Clemenceau, surprised. "You are not
going till to-morrow morning."

"To-night! I may not see you again, we have so many preparations to
make."

"Well, as you did not come here to see me, it is of no consequence.
Farewell!"

"I am your servant, madame," said the Jewess, bowing.

"Ah, Hagar!" hissed she, "unmasked."

"Farewell, Sarah!" retorted Rebecca, stung out of her equanimity by this
sudden dart of the viper, but Cesarine said no more, and she proceeded
steadily toward the door.

Clemenceau had preceded her thither.

"What did she say?" he inquired.

"Nothing worth repeating. Beware of her as well as of that man!" but she
saw that he would not follow her glance and draw a serious inference
from the way in which the wife and the unwelcome guest had drawn closely
together. "Fulfil your destiny," she continued solemnly. "Work! remain
firm, pure and great! Be useful to mankind. Above transient things, in
the unalterable, I will await you. Do not keep me lonely too long," was
wrung from her in a doleful sob.

He could not speak, it was useless, for she knew already everything that
he night say.

"At last!" ejaculated Von Sendlingen in relief, when all had gone out,
as he sprang on the rifle and feverishly fingered it. "This is the rifle
of their latest finish. What an odd arrangement! Where the deuce is the
hammer--the trigger--and all that goes toward making up the good old
rifle of our fathers? Oh, Science, Science! what liberties are taken in
your name!" he cried in drollery too bitter not to be intended to cover
his vexation. "Mind, this rifle is included in our contract?"

"Everything," she answered in a fever, looking toward the doorway, where
her husband had disappeared with the Jewess. "Be easy! The rifle, the
cannon, the happiness, the honor and the lives of all here--myself as
well! If there is anything more you long for, say so!"

"Talk sensibly!" said he severely and gripping her wrist.

Restored by the pressure, she drew a long