"That is--" "You renounce forever all thoughts of Camillia Moraquitos; and that in the hour when, through my aid, you are elevated to name and fortune, you will make me your wife." "You--my wife!" exclaimed Paul, thunderstruck by the words of the Frenchwoman. "Yes. Is there anything so monstrous in the proposition? I am a few years older than you are, it is true. I have not the Spanish beauty of Camillia, but flattering tongues have told me that I am not destitute of the power to charm--I am no love-sick girl, but an ambitious woman, with a brain to scheme and plot a glorious future--I ask no love from you, but a share in the future to which I can elevate you. Do you refuse my offer?" "I do," replied Paul. "Camillia Moraquitos may cast my image from her heart--may join with the rest and think me guilty; but, to the last, she, and she alone, will possess my love. Through the deepest abyss of shame and degradation I will be true to the guiding star of my life. Keep your secret, Mademoiselle Corsi; it can never be mine at the price which you propose." "Fool!" cried the Frenchwoman, "you have refused rank, name, station, and wealth--nay, more than these, revenge! Be it so; abide by your choice. Perish in ignorance of the mighty secret which I have kept for thirteen patient years, and which will be a fortune to me if not to you. Rot in a jail; die in a transport ship; drag out your life in a penal settlement; Pauline Corsi has spoken for the first and last time." She walked to the door of the apartment, and, opening it, admitted the officer. "You see," she said, "there has been no attempt at escape." Without one glance at Paul, she descended the staircase, and returned to the chamber in which she had left heart-broken Camillia. That night Paul Lisimon was lodged in the jail devoted to the reception of those accused of felony. CHAPTER XIV. AUGUSTUS HORTON TRIES TO AVENGE HIMSELF. Upon the day following that on which the events occurred which we have described in the foregoing chapter, the Selma steamer started from New Orleans, laden with gay and fashionable company. It was nine o'clock in the morning when the bell rang for the starting of the vessel--a gorgeous summer's day, the sky blue and cloudless, the Mississippi dancing in the sunshine. Amongst the passengers on board the boat were Augustus Horton, his sister Adelaide, Mrs. Montresor, Silas Craig, and William Bowen. This latter personage had exchanged his ragged skin-jacket and patched cotton shirt for a costume which aped that worn by the fops of New Orleans. He followed close at the heels of Silas Craig, to the evident annoyance of the lawyer, who seemed, however, unable to shake him off. Augustus and his party were bound for Hortonville, the plantation and villa of which we have already spoken, and which was situated upon the banks of the river, some miles beyond that belonging to Silas Craig.