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Show 138 TilE LILY AND TilE TOTEM. "Alphonse, you nrc an enemy of Lc GcnrC." 11 That is certain," replied the youth; "but if I am his enemy, th:lt is uo good reason why I should be the em•my of truth." "True, hut you suspect much of this. You know nothing." "I know all that 1 ha'\'C told you," replied the young man, warmly. "Indeed! llow i'" " That I cannot tell. Enough that I am free to swear upon the Holy Evangel, that all I say is true. Le Gcnr6 is nt the head of a. faction which is conspiring against you." " Can you give me proof of this?" " Y cs1 whenever you dare issue the order for his arrest and that of others. But this you cannot do. Yon must not. They are too strong for you. If Achille 'vcrc here now !1' "Ay! \\rould be were!" They now paused, as if tho end of their walk had been re:1ched. Laudonnierc wheeled about, with the purpose of returning. They had not begun well to rrtrnce their steps before tho figure of a person was seen approaching them. u Speak o~ the devilt'' said Alphonsll 1 "and be thinks himself called ; here comes Le Conn~." "Jndccd !" said Laudonnicro. " See now if 1 am not right.--he comes to solicit the command of thtl Sylph." They were joined by the person of whom they had been speak~ ing. His approach was respectful-his manner civil-his tones subdued. There was certainly a change for the better in his deportment. A slight smile migM have been seen to turn the corner of the lips of young D'Erlach, ns he beard the address of TilE CONSPIRACY OF LT. C£NRE. 139 the new comer. Lo Gcnr6 began by rcqucstin~ a pri\·ate inter, ·icw with his commander. Upon the words, D'Erlach went aside aud was soon out of hearing. lli.i prediction was true. Le Genr6 respectfully, but earnestly, t~olicitcd the command of the vessel about to sail for Frnncc. lie Wru! ch•illy but positively denied. J.audonnierc had not been impressed by the suggestion of his youthful counsellor; or, if he were, he was not prepared to yield o. vessel of the king, with all its men :md munitions, to the control of one who might abuse them to the worst purposes. Tho face of Le GcnrC changed upon this refusal. "You deny me all trust, Monsieur," he said. "You refused me tho command when my claim was at least equal to that of Ottigny. You denied me that which you gnve to D'Erlaeh, and now-l\'[onsicU1'1 do you hold me incompetent to this command?" "Nay," said Laudonniere, "but I better prefer your services hero-I cannot so well dispense with them." A bitter smile crossed the lips of the applicant. cc I cannot complain of a refusal founded upon so g1·acious a. complimcut. But, enough, Monsieur, you refuse me! ~lay I ask, who will be honored with this command ?" "Lenoir !11 "1 thought so-another favorite! Well !-Monsieur, I wish you a gooci even in;." "You have refus~..J him, I see," said Alphonse, returning as the other disappeared. "Yes, I could do no less. The very suggestion that he might convert the vessel to piratical purposes, was enough to make mo resolve ngainst him." And, still discUSI!iug thnt nnd other kindred subjects, Laudon- |