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Show 156 TilE LILY .AND TilE TOTE)!. brought. into play, if possible, in the contest which was to follow·. His welcome to Mal'chnnd declared the opinion which be hi.n.Jsclf entertained of his studies. "I shall bent you, )Jarclmnd." "You mm't-you shan't," was the ready :mswcr; "you're llOt my match, captain." This answer piqued Lnudonnicre. "We shall sec-we shall sec ; not your match! 'Well! we shall sec." 'V c need not waste time upon the preliminaries of the contest. Enough that, about ten o'clock at night, we find the ri\'al players placed at the table ; the opposing pieces arr:aycd in proper ordflr of battle, with Lc :Moync and Clmllus, looking on with faces filled with expectation and curiosity. The face of Alphonse D'Erlac!l might also be perceptible, in a momentary glance over the shoulders of one or other of the parties ; but his movements were capricious, and, passing frequently between his own and the chamber of Laudonnicrc, he only looked at intervals upon the progress of the game. Unhappily, the details of this great match, tho several moves, nnd the finn! position of the remaining piJe:Js, at tho end of tho contest, have not been preserved to us, though it is not improbable that tho painter Lo Mayne, as well as Challus, took notes of it. Enough, that Laudonnil:lre put f01·th all his skill, exercised all his caution, played as slowly and heedfully as possible, and was-but we anticipate. Marchand, on the contrary, seemed never mora indifferent. He scarcely seemed to look nt the board-played promptly, c,·cn rapidly, and wore one of thoso cool, almost contclllJJluous, countennncCB which seemed to say1 I( I know myself and my enemy, aud feel sure that I have no causo of fear." l'hat his opinions were of tills character is be- I TJI£ CONSPIRACY OF L£ GENRt;. 157 yond all question; but, though his countenance expressed as much, J~nudonnierc reassured himself with the reflection that Marchand was well understood to he one of those fortunate persons who know admirably how to disguise their real emotions, however deeply they may be excited or nnxious. Laudonnierc's self-esteem was not. deficient, in the absence of better virtues. lie had his \'Unity at chess, and tllC game was so played, that the issuo continued doLtbtful, except possibly to one of the spectators, nlmost to the lnflt moment. J~enving tho parties at tho board, silent and studious, let us turu to the counsels of the conspirators, whom we mu:;t not suppose to be idle all this time. 1'hcy had assembled-half a dozen of them at least-and were in close conference at tl1c quarters of TAL Roqucltc, at the opposite extremity of the fortress. They were all excited to the highest pitch of expectation. The hour was drawing nigh for tlm attempt, and all eyes were turned upon Lo GcnrC. "It is half pnst cloven," he exclaimed, ((and the thing is to be done. But what is to be done, if those men whom we haJJ doubtful should take courage, and, in the moment of uproar take arms against us? " re have made no preparations for this event. Now, this firing tho train from my lodgings h:i but tho work of a boy. It may be done by nny body. It is more fitting that, with six or eight select men, well armed, I should be in reserve, ready to encounter resistance sl10uld there be any after the explosion." Villemaiu, a. youth of twenty-two, a dark, sinister-looking person, slight and short, promptly volunteered to fire the trnin. Dis offer wa.s at once accepted. ((It is half-past cloven, you say? I will go at once, 11 said Villemain, |