Part 144 (1/2)

”But how can Lord de Winter, my protector, my father,” asked Felton, ”possibly be mixed up with all this?”

”Listen, Felton,” resumed Milady, ”for by the side of base and conteenerous natures I had an affianced husband, a man whom I loved, and who loved me--a heart like yours, Felton, a man like you I went to him and told him all; he knew me, that man did, and did not doubt an instant He was a noblehairded on his sword, wrapped hiham Palace

”Yes, yes,” said Felton; ”I understand hoould act But with such men it is not the sword that should be eland the day before, sent as ambassador to Spain, to de Charles I, as then only Prince of Wales My affianced husband returned

”'Hear one, and for the eance; but let us be united, as ere to have been, and then leave it to Lord de Winter to maintain his own honor and that of his wife'”

”Lord de Winter!” cried Felton

”Yes,” said Milady, ”Lord de Winter; and now you can understand it all, can you not? Buckingham remained nearly a year absent A week before his return Lord de Winter died, leaving me his sole heir Whence came the blow? God who knows all, knoithout doubt; but as for me, I accuse nobody”

”Oh, what an abyss; what an abyss!” cried Felton

”Lord de Winter died without revealing anything to his brother The terrible secret was to be concealed till it burst, like a clap of thunder, over the head of the guilty Your protector had seen with pain this irl I was sensible that I could look for no support from a man disappointed in his hopes of an inheritance I went to France, with a determination to remain there for the rest of land

Co closed by the war, I was in want of everything I was then obliged to coo, I landed at Portsham heard by some means, no doubt, of my return He spoke of ainst me, and told him that his sister-in-laas a prostitute, a branded woer here to defend me Lord de Winter believed all that was told him with so much the more ease that it was his interest to believe it He caused me to be arrested, had uard You know the rest The day after tomorrow he banishes me, he transportsthe infamous Oh, the train is well laid; the plot is clever My honor will not survive it! You see, then, Felton, I can do nothing but die Felton, give th was exhausted, Milady sank, weak and languishi+ng, into the arer, and voluptuous sensations hitherto unknown, received her with transport, pressed her against his heart, all trebosom

”No, no,” said he ”No, you shall live honored and pure; you shall live to triumph over your enemies”

Milady put hi him nearer with her look; but Felton, in his turn, e her like a divinity

”Oh, death, death!” said she, lowering her voice and her eyelids, ”oh, death, rather than shame! Felton, my brother, my friend, I conjure you!”

”No,” cried Felton, ”no; you shall live and you shall be avenged”

”Felton, I bring misfortune to all who surround me! Felton, abandon me!

Felton, let ether!” cried he, pressing his lips to those of the prisoner

Several strokes resounded on the door; this time Milady really pushed him away from her

”Hark,” said she, ”we have been overheard! So! All is over! We are lost!”

”No,” said Felton; it is only the sentinel warning uard”

”Then run to the door, and open it yourself”

Felton obeyed; this woht, his whole soul

He found hi a watch-patrol

”Well, what is thelieutenant