Then I will stand beside the one, or die beside the other. The determination of our plan in all its details is not in my hands; but you must help me in so much of it as this. The treasure I have amassed is not to be expended for her escape that is otherwise provided for. This treasure is to form her resource afterwards, to be carefully concealed, so that none shall know of its existence save the Queen and myself. When she needs it I will come for it, if I am alive; if not, you

you to guard the treasure here? There is no other resource.'

'Do not fear, I shall have no difficulty. And now, where is this treasure?'

'Not yet disembarked. I did not know how I might speed in coming hither. Nay more, I did not know whether you, my brother, were still alive, or whether they would bring me to a grave side, and tell me you were resting beneath. I must return to the harbour and bring hither the mail which contains the jewels and the

'Yes, you-for you will undertake the trust, I know-you will receive the token from the Queen, by which you will know that she needs the jewels, and the gold, and that its bearer is a trusty servant of her Grace. You will never tell the secret, or relinquish the treasure, on any other guarantee. François, I have come over the seas to ask this of you, the first recognition of our brotherhood for many years, perchance the last.'

Brother Cyprian sighed. He had no hope in this enterprise, and his heart was heavy with presentiment.

'I will accept the trust,' he said, but not alone; that our rule would not suffer me to do. I must have the Prior's permission to receive the treasure, and he must be aware of its disposition. You have nothing to fear from him; he is a good man, and full of sympathy for all who are oppressed and suffering, though he may not know much of the great affairs of nations. You may have noted his kindly manner and gentle voice, while he spoke with you.'

'I did. There can be no risk in putting trust in him, I think; but what if he will not permit

now, 'tis a long ride and a rough one, and it will be dark before I reach the shore. The Prior told me I should find refreshment for my horse and my guide and myself here; they have been fed, doubtless, and I will but break bread and drink a cup of wine before I go.'

'So be it. While you are taking this refreshment I will see the Prior, and disclose your errand, in so far as I am bound to tell it. But, first, what is the Queen's token ?'

Louis de Valmont unclasped his short riding cloak at the throat, and put his hand into the breast of his pourpoint.

There is but one such jewel in existence,' he said, 'and you must have seen it, for you were present at the marriage of the Queen of Scots with the Dauphin.'

Brother Cyprian gave a silent sign of assent. The bridegroom and the bride each wore a satin shoulder knot, with a jewel in the middle. Each jewel was a balasruby, blood red and heart-shaped, whereon lay a pearl to signify a tear. The cunning workmanship is well nigh as priceless as the gems, no more than these two having ever been made. The Queen Dauphiness prized the ruby heart, they said, more than

any jewel in her possession, more highly than even the famous black pearls, like grapes of Muscadel, which have been sold to the English Queen for a third of their price, whereat Madame Catherine is incensed, deeming, when opportunity to rob her daughter-inlaw arose, that she should have had the preference. But there was a fate over the jewel;-indeed they say none ever possess a ruby of size, but there is a violent death at the end of their days. The Queen Dauphiness lost it, she never could tell when or how, nor was more ever known than that she wore it at the jousting in which King Henry received his death wound. Much search was made for it in vain, and people said it had fulfilled its evil reputation and was accursed. It was never heard of more, and when King Francis' illness commenced, he had a fear of the fellow jewel, and would have it taken from the collar in which it was set, and laid by. Then the Queen, who was always daring, and even though she did not quite disbelieve them, mocked at such superstitious fables, begged the ruby heart at his hands, and he, being near his end then, and not caring to contest anything with her, gave her the gem. When she deigned to cause it to be signified to me that she relied on me for help in her evil fortune, the Queen sent me that token; it could not be mistaken or counterfeited, it could come from none but her. There is no other like it in the world.'

While Louis spoke, the hidden hand had loosened from his neck a short chain of strong, finelywrought steel links, to which was suspended a small purse of the same fabric, containing an object about the size of a walnut, rolled up tightly in a piece of fine leather. As he ceased speaking,

VOL. XXV.-NO. CXLIX.

he placed the chain in his brother's hand. Brother Cyprian took it in silence, and would have opened the purse, Louis looking at him with a half smile.

'I cannot find the spring,' he said.

No, the trick is cunning, and you must learn it, for if the token comes to you it will come as it is. The third link to the right slides, so- and the purse falls flatly open.' Then Louis unrolled the leather covering, and Brother Cyprian saw the famous gem. It was a quaint and beautiful object, and the monk looked at it intently, but in utter silence. It was a fair balas-ruby, clear and smooth, and red like rich crimson blood from a severed artery; heartshaped, and, laid on it, with a wellfeigned carelessness, was one softly white pearl.

'You will know that token, brother, when it reaches you.' 'I shall know it,' said the monk.

An hour later, Louis de Valmont had left Kilferran, and was winding his way over the stony and difficult track which led to the shore, accompanied by his wild-looking guide.

Solemnly rose the voices of the monks of Kilferran, as they chanted their evening office, when the sun had gone down behind the rugged hills, and the ocean waters were tossing grey and murky under the dull sky. None could have discerned in Brother Cyprian's face, or in any tone of his voice, that the day just departed had differed from any other day of his even, uneventful life. Composed and devotional his keen brown face looked out from under his cowl, solemnly melodious his voice rose with the voices of his brethren. When the others left the chapel, he lingered still, kneeling in his stall, and after some time 2 F

had elapsed, and the stillness and solitude around were complete, he arose and approached a small recess on the left of the altar, where the dim light of an antique lamp glimmered.

Upon the rudely-coloured wall of this recess hung several reliquaries, some of precious, others of base metals, and of various forms; for Kilferran was a noted shrine for the resort of suppliants in temporal and spiritual distress, and many was the ex voto placed there in testimony to the granting of petitions from dwellers near, and pilgrims from afar.

Brother Cyprian took down

from the wall one of the least conspicuous of these objects, which had the ordinary form of a heart, and was of no richer material than wrought iron, and holding it so as to catch the feeble light from the lamp, he opened it, and looked fixedly upon its interior. It contained a fair balas-ruby, clear and smooth, and red like crimson blood from a severed artery, heart-shaped, and, laid on it, with a well-feigned carelessness, was one softly white pearl.

He replaced the reliquary, and moved quietly away, murmuring, 'First me, and now him. God forgive you, Marie!'