FRKNCIT CONVULSIVE*. 649 



all. Madame Delmare suddenly returns from Paris, and entered the 

 house at this identical moment, before Raymon could make his escape 

 from her apartment. He has only time to withdraw behind the cur- 

 tain, in the hopes that Noun may mid him an opportunity of escaping. 

 As this scene is one of the best and most dramatic of the work, we 

 shall give it at full length, as a specimen of our author's style and 

 manner : 



" Tndiana entered in haste, threw her bonnet upon the bed, and embraced 

 Noun with the familiarity of a sister. There was so little light in the apart- 

 ment tbat she did not remark the agitation of her companion. 



" ' Then you expected me ?' said she, as she approached the fire ; 'how did 

 you know I was coming?' And, without waiting for an answer, ' Mr. Del- 

 mare/ said she, ' will be here to-morrow I set out the moment I received 

 his letter I have my reasons for receiving him here rather than at Paris. 

 But do speak to me you don't seem as pleased to see me as you are Wont 

 to be.' 



'" I am sad,' said Noun, kneeling beside her mistress to remove her shoes. 

 ' T, too, have something to communicate to you, but not at present per- 

 haps you will step into the saloon.' 



" ' What an idea ! why, 'tis bitter cold there.' 



" ' No : tbere is a good fire.' 



" ' You are dreaming I have just crossed it.' 



" ' But your supper is served there.' 



" ' I don't want supper : besides, there is nothing ready. Go fetch my 

 boa, which I left in the carriage.' 



" ' Presently.' 



"' Why not immediately? Nay. go now go now.' And as she spoke 

 she pushed Noun With a playful air ; and the latter, seeing that firmness and 

 presence of mind were requisite, left the room for a few moments. She had 

 not gone a moment when Madame Delmare latched the door, and unclasping 

 her pelerine, laid it on the bed beside her hat. At this moment she ap- 

 proached Raymon so closely that he made a motion to draw back : but the 

 bed being set upon very light castors, yielded with a slight noise. Madame 

 Delmare, astonished, but not alarmed for she might have fancied that the 

 bed had been pushed by herself nevertheless advanced her head, drew aside 

 the curtain a little, and discovered, by the uncertain light cast by the fire, the 

 outline of a man's head upon the wall. Startled, she screamed aloud, and 

 sprung towards the bell to give the alarm. Raymon would prefer to be again 

 taken for a robber (he bad been fired at by Mr. Delmare, on a former occasion, 

 as a robber) than to be discovered in this situation. But if he did not adopt 

 this latter part, Madame Delmare would summon her attendants and com- 

 promise herself. He had hopes in the love with which he had inspired her, 

 and, springing towards her, he attempted to silence her exclamations and to 

 withdraw her from the bell, by saying to her, in an under tone, for fear of 

 being heard by Noun, who, doubtless, was not far off, 



" ' It is I, Indiana ; recognize me, and forgive me. Indiana, forgive a 

 wretch, whose reason you have bewildered, and who could not prevail upon 

 himself to restore you to your husband until he had seen you once more.' 

 While pressing her in his arms, as well to soothe her as to prevent her from 

 ringing, he perceived that she was almost undressed. Noun knocked at the 

 door in a fit of agony. Madame Delmare, then disengaging herself from the 

 grasp of Raymon, ran to open the door, and again sunk into an arm-chair. 

 Pale, and almost expiring, Noun placed herself against the door of the cor- 

 ridore to prevent tbe domestics, who passed to and fro, from stumbling upon 

 this strange scene. More deadly pale even than her mistress, her knees trem- 

 bling, her back applied to tbe door, she awaited her fate in agony. Raymon 



M. M. No. 96. 4 O 



