26 MEMOIES OF RACHEL.
well-known novel of the " Heart of Mid-Lothian," it possess-
ed all the interest of a new story. The poor girl who, alone,
unprotected, sustained only by her affection, travels from a dis-
tant province up to court to implore mercy for a sister or a
father, as the case may be, must necessarily prove interesting.
The plot is very simple. General Fresnault is sent to pacify
"La VendeV' The general, though Mnd-hearted, and desir-
ous of sparing the Yende'ens, is devoted heart and soul to the
First Consul, and is a strict disciplinarian. On one occasion
an order is dispatched from the court for the arrest and deliv-
ery to a court-martial of a certain Vende'en peasant of the
name of Thibault. The order is brought by a young and ele-
gant captain, an aid-de-camp of General Bonaparte, a cousin
of Josephine's, a sort of pet at the Malmaison. When Victor
delivers his fatal missive there is in the room a young girl, into
whose heart the tidings strike despair, for Thibault is her
father. The paroxysm of grief of the fair Genevieve moves
the gay. young officer to disregard even a peremptory duty;
come what will, she shall have time to implore mercy for her
father. To afford her this time he has but one .resource—he
throws the order in the fire.

From the Vende'enne's cottage, where the first act passes,
the second carries us into the gardens of the Malmaison, where
we find the lovely and gentle mistress also a prey to anxiety
for the safety of him" she loves. George Cadoudal has been
again busy, and a plan had very recently been laid, and well-
nigh carried into execution, for the seizure and sending cap-
tive into England of the First Consul. The discovery of this
plot has exasperated its proposed victim. The time is ill cho-
sen for the petition of Victor's protegee. He himself has just
arrived, and obtained an audience of Josephine. His cousin,
reproaches him for his imprudence. " Good heavens 1 he has
destroyed one of Bonaparte's dispatches; he has saved one of
€r«orge Cadondal's friends. You have deserved death, young
mftfrrmTfa You will certainly be shot. Fly! Victor, fly!"

Alas J the .advice of the compassionate Josephine conies too
' late, for the imprudent capjfcn is then and there arrested.
'] -In the mean while, little^enevieve arrives at the chateau.
Sbe has walked a long way^she is wearv and foot-sore, nnrl.