"Public rumor," interrupted Von Apsberg, "accuses you of having betrayed A----, Ober, B----, and our other friends." "Public rumor!" exclaimed the Count, whose eyes seemed ready to spring from his head. "Public rumor says that Count Monte-Leone, ruined and desperate, obtains the money he now spends, most disgracefully. He has sold his brethren to enable him to continue his luxury." The Count uttered an exclamation of horror. "Count Monte-Leone, proscribed two months ago in France, owes the right of remaining in the realm to the fact that he is in communication with the French police, whose agent he is." "Are you done?" said Monte-Leone, sarcastically. "Count Monte-Leone has sold the secrets of his brethren in every land, and filled the prisons of France, Spain, and Italy, with his victims." "Then," said Monte-Leone, with a far different accent from what might have been expected from an injured man or discovered criminal, for his tone was almost joyous, "this is the explanation of the obscurity amid which I have wandered. No, it is impossible! Paris may speak thus, but you do not! You do not think me such a being?" "On our honor we do," said the three. The ball which reaches the soldier's heart, the bolt which falls on the traveller, have not a more sudden effect than these words on Monte-Leone. "They, too!" said he, "they, too!" "Yes," said Von Apsberg, "we accuse you more distinctly even than the rest of the world. We have horrible proof." "What is it?" "General A---- swore on the soul of his son that you betrayed him; and that he saw the list he gave you in the hands of the Prefect of Police." "This one you gave me," said the Doctor, handing the document to him. "Here are the lists of the five other ventes, all of which are false and counterfeit. You alone had these lists, and could give them up." "Horrible!" said Monte-Leone. "A man," said D'Harcourt, "went yesterday, at eleven o'clock at night, into the Prefecture of Police. This man got out of a carriage which was your own. The man gave your name to the keeper of the gate. He did not however know that two of his brethren overheard him. Those who overheard him are now before you. Will you deny it? "The carriage and name mine?" said Monte-Leone, beside himself. "Finally," said Taddeo, "I saw the disgraceful brevet you received from the police. I saw the name of Monte-Leone linked with the infamous word 'SPY.'" Taddeo had no sooner finished reading this letter than Monte-Leone hurried towards a press, and took out pistols, one of which he threw at Taddeo's feet. "Take it," said he, "kill me before I shoot you; for I will not survive this insult one moment, or live with him who has pronounced it." At that moment, a cry was heard in the next room. The door was thrown open, and the Marquise of Maulear fell between her brother and Count Monte-Leone. VII.--DESCENT OF THE POLICE.