LOUIS DUVAL.

France was then fast advancing to such prosperity and
happiness as had never before been known. All this,
coming as it did from the lips of his father, whom he
had always dearly loved, Louis soon firmly believed;
the more so when he remembered his own former
sufferings, and the death of his grandmother, which
he was taught to believe had been caused by the vices,
and selfishness, and tyranny of the great.
 At length they reached Paris, and, to Louis's sur-
prise, went straight to the street, and the very house
in that street, in which they had formerly lodged. Not
now, however, did they find their home in the miserable
garret; but boldly opening the door which led to the
apartments on the first-floor, Henry Duval informed
his son that those rooms, with all the fine furniture
they contained, were their present lodgings. It was
with mingled feelings of regret and exultation, that
the young republican laid his head that night on the
pillow of the very bed in which, three years before,
he had been placed by the charity of the Countess St.
Clair.


 CHAPTER VI.
 THE HIDING-PLACE.
FOUR years after the flight of Louis Duval, the valley
of St. Clair was sadly changed from the peaceful
appearance which, at that time, it had presented. It
was autumn; but the fields, instead of being lively
with industry, and rich with a plentiful harvest, were
uncultivated, trodden down hard, and nourished only,
here and there, a few weeds. The hedges, once so
trim and thick with foliage, were neglected, and full
of wide gaps; for many a mile they had entirely dis.