the one circumstance of my flight--it was my last view of my last 'pretty mamma.' Shall I describe it to you?" I asked the Count, with a sudden fierceness. "Avoid unpleasant details," observed my great-uncle gently. At these words a sudden peace fell upon me. I had been angry with the man before; I had not sought to spare him; and now, in a moment, I saw that there was nothing to spare. Whether from natural heartlessness or extreme old age, the soul was not at home; and my benefactor, who had kept the fire lit in my room for a month past--my only relative except Alain, whom I knew already to be a hired spy--had trodden out the last sparks of hope and interest. "Certainly," said I; "and, indeed, the day for them is nearly over. I was taken to Monsieur de Culemberg's,--I presume, sir, that you know the Abbe de Culemberg?" He indicated assent without opening his eyes. "He was a very brave and a very learned man----" "And a very holy one," said my uncle civilly. "And a very holy one, as you observe," I continued. "He did an infinity of good, and through all the Terror kept himself from the guillotine. He brought me up and gave me such education as I have. It was in his house in the country at Dammarie, near Melun, that I made the acquaintance of your agent, Mr. Vicary, who lay there in hiding, only to fall a victim at the last to a gang of _chauffeurs_." "That poor Mr. Vicary!" observed my uncle. "He had been many times in my interests to France, and this was his first failure. _Quel charmant homme, n'est-ce pas?_" "Infinitely so," said I. "But I would not willingly detain you any further with a story, the details of which it must naturally be more or less unpleasant for you to hear. Suffice it that, by M. de Culemberg's own advice, I said farewell at eighteen to that kind preceptor and his books, and entered the service of France; and have since then carried arms in such a manner as not to disgrace my family." "You narrate well; _vous avez la voix chaude_," said my uncle, turning on his pillows as if to study me. "I have a very good account of you by Monsieur de Mauseant, whom you helped in Spain. And you had some education, from the Abbe de Culemberg, a man of good house? Yes, you will do very well. You have a good manner and a handsome person, which hurts nothing. We are all handsome in the family; even I myself, I have had my successes, the memories of which still charm me. It is my intention, my nephew, to make of you my heir. I am not very well content with my other nephew, Monsieur le Vicomte: he has not been respectful, which is the flattery due to age. And there are other matters."