and who does the château belong to?” 

 “The Marquis de Villeroi was its owner,” replied La Voisin, emphatically. 

 “Ah!” said St. Aubert, with a deep sigh, “are we then so near Le-Blanc!” He appeared much agitated. 

 “It used to be the Marquis’s favourite residence,” resumed La Voisin, “but he took a dislike to the place, and has not been there for many years. We have heard lately that he is dead, and that it is fallen into other hands.” St. Aubert, who had sat in deep musing, was roused by the last words. “Dead!” he exclaimed, “Good God! when did he die?” 

 “He is reported to have died about five weeks since,” replied La Voisin. “Did you know the Marquis, sir?” 

 “This is very extraordinary!” said St. Aubert without attending to the question. “Why is it so, my dear sir?” said Emily, in a voice of timid curiosity. He made no reply, but sunk again into a reverie; and in a few moments, when he seemed to have recovered himself, asked who had succeeded to the estates. “I have forgot his title, monsieur,” said La Voisin; “but my lord resides at Paris chiefly; I hear no talk of his coming hither.” 

 “The château is shut up then, still?” 

 “Why, little better, sir; the old housekeeper, and her husband the steward, have the care of it, but they live generally in a cottage hard by.” 

 “The château is spacious, I suppose,” said Emily, “and must be desolate for the residence of only two persons.” 

 “Desolate enough, mademoiselle,” replied La Voisin, “I would not pass one night in the château, for the value of the whole domain.” 

 “What is that?” said St. Aubert, roused again from thoughtfulness. As his host repeated his last sentence, a groan escaped from St. Aubert, and then, as if anxious to prevent it from being noticed, he hastily asked La Voisin how long he had lived in this neighbourhood. “Almost from my childhood, sir,” replied his host. 

 “You remember the late marchioness, then?” said St. Aubert in an altered voice. 

 “Ah, monsieur!—that I do well. There are many besides me who remember her.” 

 “Yes—” said St. Aubert, “and I am one of those.” 

 “Alas, sir! you remember, then, a most beautiful 

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