1829.) An Adventure near Granville. 359 
But I care not if you know the truth. The other day I was at Gran- 
ville, when it seems I spoke somewhat too plainly of your blessed 
government, and this was carried to the Préfet by one of his spies I 
suppose. Luckily, he contented himself with reading me a lecture on 
my want of prudence, and took my word for my better discretion 
for the future.” 
As the evening advanced, I began to feel, not alarmed—I should 
wrong myself if I said so—but certainly anxious and restless. I pro- 
tracted my supper as long as possible, to the visible annoyance of Made- 
lon, who was at no time a friend to late hours; and when at length I 
retired to my bed-room, it was with feelings that I should in vain 
attempt to describe. 
My first care was of course to lock and double-lock the door, and see 
to the fastenings of the windows: my promise to the Préfet did not 
prohibit me from this necessary act of self-defence. I next proceeded 
to examine my pistols ; the charge was drawn, and, upon farther inquiry, 
I found my powder-flask had been emptied. The villains, then, were 
already in the house! They had begun their work by disarming me 
previously to the intended attack! For the first time, a suspicion flashed 
across my mind that Madelon, for as honest as she seemed, might be in 
the plot against my life. But what was to be done? I was alone and 
unarmed ; and the murderers, it was plain, were already within the walls, 
so that it was fruitless to think of escaping. The slightest symptoms on 
my part that they were discovered, would only precipitate matters ; 
whereas, by waiting quietly for the tardy aid of the Prefect, I had some 
chance for life. 
Just as I was preparing—not very wisely, all things considered—to 
examine my chamber, I was startled by a low whisper—so low, indeed, 
that no ears but those sharpened by a keen sense of danger could have 
distinguished it. The sound evidently came from under the bed. My 
first impulse, since I was unarmed, was flight ; but a moment’s reflec- 
tion—and moments are as hours in such situations—convinced me, that 
to attempt leaving the room he surest way to rouse my assassins, 
whose scheme it probably was to wait tillI should be asleep. I took my 
_ measures accordingly, and with a calmness that now seems even to 
myself surprising. 
My plan proceeded upon two suppositions—first, that in a short time 
the police would come to my assistance—and, secondly, that while I 
remained awake, the attempt upon my life would not be made. I, there- 
fore, protracted my preparations for rest as long as I well could without 
awaking suspicion ; and when, after having spent full half an hour at 
the toilette, I at last went to bed, I took a book with me, and left the 
lamp burning on the table by my side. To convince my enemies that I 
was watching, I read aloud, though I must frankly confess I hardly 
knew what I was reading. 
On such occasions we count time by minutes, and think and feel more 
in a single pulsation than in a day of common life. Half an hour had 
elapsed, and still there were no symptoms of the police. Oh, how in my 
heart I cursed the dilatory Prefect! It was not to be expected that the 
assassins would wait much longer for my sleeping. 
: I was afraid to leave off reading, lest my silence, even for a moment, 
should bring on the catastrophe ; and yet I would have given any thing 
to be able to listen freely, that I might catch the meaning of the whis- 
