CAPTAIN SATAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11917, 15 December 1900, Page 5

CAPTAIN SATAN.

•ERE ADVENTURES OF CYRANO

DE BERGERAC,

CTi-snslaicil from the French of Louis Gallet.)

CHAPTER- XLVI.-THE FATAL DAY IS

FIXED,

Several days elapsed, during which Count Roland'completely regained his selfconfidence.

There was no news of Cyrano ; for Roland, so as to sustain his part to the very end, had sent to Master Gonin's, and the latter had replied that he knew nothing.

If the Count's messenger had been more astute, he would possibly have noticed the singular tone of the answer: but he paid no "heed to it, and ■ his master felt convinced that his enemy's body was swallowed up for all time in the waters of the Seine.

It was an absolute triumph,

Circumstances had aided the Count immensely, and he was alone, relieved of his enemy' and his accomplices altogether. With" Rinaldo and Ben Joel dead, no one could rise against him, save Xilla, whose testimony he had no further fear of, since he had burnt the final proof of Manuel's innocence.

Henceforward, his only thought was of his marriage. He was anxious to hasten on its celebration, notwithstanding the resistance he anticipated on Gf.berte's part, and repaired to the Hotel de Faventines daily, where he would hold lengthy conversations with the Marquis. After each of these interviews the latter had a talk with his daughter, and the closer the appointed time drew near, the more firmly did Gilberte maintain the resolution which she had frankly expressed to her father.

Interested as he was in the union, the Marquis turned a deaf ear, and continued to encourage the Count. Finally, however, he became anxious, and Madame de Faventine, since Gilberte had won over her mother to her own side, had awakened in her husband's mind certain trains of thought, which, as we shall see, the Count had to combat.

One morning, Roland made his appearance at the Marquis's house, armed with iin irresistible weapon —a rough draft of the marriage contract, its clauses calculated to gratify his future father-in-law's most ambitious desires.

At Roland's request, M. de Faventines examined the document.

" Your generosity is truly royal," he said, p.s he finished his perusal of it.

" Oh well," the Count hastened to say, "if everything seems to be fittingly arranged, it only remains to give this deed its legal form, and, in three days, I can become MHe, Gilbcrtc's husband." "In three days! " reflected the Marquis. " Isn't thnt precipitating matters a little? I do not think my daughter would be sufficiently prepared for the marriage." "Mon Dieu," responded the Count, flippantly, "all young girls are jealous of their liberty like this ; they like to have us long for'them, and a little gentle opposition adds a. fresh charm to the fact of having them. They are fully aware of it, and are not sorry when someone says yes instead of them."

" That is possible ; but Gilberte's condition has afforded me food for thought. She is somewhat thoughtful, and a, trifle over-excitable, and has several times caused her mother soma fear as to the execution of some resolve that she will die."

" That is scarcely flattering to my vanity," said Roland, smiling. " However, have no fear, and give me Mile. Gilberte. I will surround her with such care, respect, and affection, that she will very speedily abandon her dismal plans, and will no longer think of dying—if ever she thought of it." "Gilberte is energetic and resolute." ''Ah! dear Marquis, you are a father, and you tremble in the face of this childish rebellion. A young girl threatens to kill herself because her relatives claim to marry her suitably—in truth, the thing is too puerile for one to stop at it. Pray give me an answer, then, without any misgivings ; I will be responsible for the future." _

The Marquis held out his hand to Ro land.

"I have' faith in you," he exclaimed. " Let it be as you wish." Gilberte, who was informed almost immediately of the decision made by her father, was not able to utter a word in 2-eply. She was weary of this long continued struggle, and did not care to take the trouble to resist; so, retiring to her loom, she suffered Paquette to busy herself about the .preparations for the marriage. To put it plainly, Gilberte no longer lived the life of ordinary mortals, and her mind, strangely overwrought by the imminence of the event, bore her into a higher sphere. She had forgotten Cyrano's consoling words, and the poet's inexplicable absence caused her no inquietude. Her whole spirit was filled with memories of Manuel; it was he whom she saw in the mists of her dreams ; it was for him she prepared resignedly, almost joyously, for the sacrifice of her life.

In this way, the day fixed for the mar riage arrived.