LOUIS DUVAL.

 Hush! the time is not come yet. Wait a little
 longer. I know where he is going, and what will
 come of it."
 The afternoon of that April day was far advanced,
 and yet the crowd of discontented sufferers was not
 diminished. Few had retired to their wretched homes
 to dine, for at those homes there were but empty cup-
 boards. Indeed, it was better to remain where they
 were, for in the midst of the groups most clamorous
 for food, strangers had suddenly appeared, distributing
 small but welcome rations of bread among the hungry
 people. Who these strangers were, or whence they
 came, no one seemed to know. They were coarsely
 dressed, and fierce in their aspect, but to the starving
 multitude they seemed like messengers of mercy.
 It was, then, late in the afternoon that Henry
Duval once more appeared in the crowd. His face was
flushed with rage; his hands were clenched as in des-
peration; his whole look was changed: yet still he
would have passed silently and unheeded, had not his
former acquaintance once more approached him.
 Ah, Henry, you have been long gone, and you do
not seem to have been spending your time very agree-
ably. Eh ?"
 "Leave me alone, Jerome," said Henry, fiercely,
" what would you have of a desperate man ? "
 "I would have nothing," replied Jerome, softly,
" but I would give him much."
 Ah, you cannot give what I need, can you ? can
you ?" exclaimed Henry, passionately.
 What need you, Henry ? "
 Bread, bread; for my mother, for my boy-
bread! "
 Be patient, Henry; yes, I can, I promise, before
night you shall have bread," said Jerome, "and more