.

THE STRONG-MINDED MAN.
At ten o'clock everyone was in bed at the Chateau des Noires-Fontaines, or, at any rate, all had retired to their rooms.
Three or four times in the course of the evening Amelie had approached Roland as if she had something to say to him; but each time the words died upon her lips.

When the family left the salon, she had taken his arm, and, although his room was on the floor above hers, she had accompanied him to his very door.

Roland had kissed her, bade her good-night, and closed his door, declaring himself very tired.
Nevertheless, in spite of this assertion, Roland, once alone, did not proceed to undress.

He went to his collection of arms, selected a pair of magnificent pistols, manufactured at Versailles, and presented to his father by the Convention.