Page:Tales of the Dead.djvu/192

 hat, appeared more to do, as all the rest of the party were doing, in preparing to return home, than from any anxiety of hastening away.

“You are lost,” said the other, as he saw an officer enter the room at the head of a detachment of military, who inquired for the marquis. The latter instantly made himself known to him.

“You are my prisoner,” said the officer. The marquis followed him, after saying Adieu with a smiling air to all the party, and begging they would not feel any anxiety concerning him.

“Not feel anxiety!” replied he whose advice he had neglected. “I must inform you, that they have discovered that the marquis has been detected in a connection with very suspicious characters; and his death-warrant may be considered as signed. I came in pity to warn him of his danger, for possibly he might then have escaped; but from his conduct since, I can scarely imagine he is in his proper senses.”

The party, who were singularly affected by this event, were conjecturing a thousand things, when the officer returned, and again asked for the marquis.

“He just now left the room with you,” answered some one of the company.

“But he came in again.”