t on the staircase was the identical jockey in the pink jacket! I
concluded that, by some singular chance, the owner of the winning horse
must live in the same hotel as myself; but, as I entered my apartments,
I beheld the very gold cup awarded as a prize to the unknown horse and
rider. Inside the cup was a small piece of paper, on which were written
these words--'From Lord Ruthven to Countess G----.'"

"Precisely; I was sure of it," said Morcerf.

"Sure of what?"

"That the owner of the horse was Lord Ruthven himself."

"What Lord Ruthven do you mean?"

"Why, our Lord Ruthven--the Vampire of the Salle Argentino!"

"Is it possible?" exclaimed the countess; "is he here in Paris?"

"To be sure,--why not?"

"And you visit him?--meet him at your own house and elsewhere?"

"I assure you he is my most intimate friend, and M. de Chateau-Renaud
has also the honor of his acquaintance."

"But why are you so sure of his being the winner of the Jockey Club
prize?"

"Was not the winning horse entered by the name of Vampa?"

"What of that?"

"Why, do you not recollect the name of the celebrated bandit by whom I
was made prisoner?"

"Oh, yes."

"And from whose hands the count extricated me in so wonderful a manner?"

"To be sure, I remember it all now."

"He called himself Vampa. You see, it's evident where the count got the
name."

"But what could have been his motive for sending the cup to me?"

"In the first place, because I had spoken much of you to him, as you may
believe; and in the second, because he delighted to see a countrywoman
take so lively an interest in his success."

"I trust and hope you never repeated to the count all the foolish
remarks we used to make about him?"

"I should not like to affirm upon oath that I have not. Besides, his
presenting you the cup under the name of Lord Ruthven"--

"Oh, but that is dreadful! Why, the man must owe me a fearful grudge."

"Does his action appear like that of an enemy?"

"No; certainly not."

"Well, then"--

"And so he is in Paris?"

"Yes."

"And what effect does he produce?"

"Why," said Albert, "he was talked about for a week; then the
coronation of the queen of England took place, followed by the theft of
Mademoiselle Mars's diamonds; and so people talked of something else."

"My good fellow," said Chateau-Renaud, "the count is your friend and
you treat him accordingly. Do not believe what Albert is telling you,
countess; so far from th