“No, I cannot say I know him; I have seen him; but I knew his father, who was a terrible and cruel follower of Robespierre. The strange part of the affair is, that his father held possession of Coulancourt and the estates, till forced to give them up after the trial of madame, when Robespierre lost his head by the axe of the guillotine. Monsieur Gramont fled, and saved his life for a short time. His son, Eugene Gramont, then held a commission in the chasseurs, and after his father’s death managed, through great interest with those in power, to retain the family estate which adjoins Coulancourt; his château is not a mile from the place where you were fishing. I shall conclude for the present by telling you that Captain Eugene Gramont bears a very indifferent character in Paris; he is known as a gambler, and a duellist, and a notorious deceiver amongst the weaker sex. However, with the Parisian ladies he is, I have heard, a favourite, and considered a remarkably handsome man; and, as he is supposed to be in the receipt of forty thousand francs yearly, he is pronounced rather an advantageous party; but I strongly suspect that not only is he himself involved, but his estate also. Now, if he should come here to visit you, it will not do to avoid him altogether.” “But,” remarked Lieutenant Thornton, “do you not think the sooner I make an attempt to get out of the country the better? I was going to ask you why I take the name of De Tourville, though it turned out fortunate your telling me I was to do so, for when Monsieur Gramont requested my name I was prepared.” “Some name,” said Jean Plessis, “it was requisite you should take; and as Mademoiselle de Tourville was coming here on a visit, and will afterwards be proceeding to England through Flanders, I thought it a most excellent opportunity for you to pass as her brother, and that you could travel together into Flanders and afford her your protection.” The young man started; an emotion of pleasure he secretly felt sent a glow to his cheek, as he replied— “Do you not think, Monsieur Plessis, that I am rather young for the guardian of a young and very lovely girl, such as Mademoiselle de Tourville?” Jean Plessis looked into the handsome, animated face of the Lieutenant with a smile. “You are afraid, then, monsieur, of your heart. She is, I confess, a most lovely and fascinating young lady; however, I will relieve your uneasiness on that head; a widow lady will also accompany her. But here we are at the house. I pray you have patience for a day or two, and I will explain everything, no doubt to your satisfaction. I have ordered other apartments for you, and in them you will find a trunk full of all the requisites for a change of garments. I had them made in Paris, judging your size by my own; you promised when a youth to be a tall man.”