It is considered very fashion able for dear friends to exchange a model of this S'trt instead of pictures. It is quito en regie to have the hand or foot moulded " "Ah !" I answered, amiling in turn. " You people of wealth have many ways of using your money. I presume this is the hand of your husuand?" " Ah, no ! 'ris not tho baron's, but a ca«t of the Marquis I'ardieu's hand, which he presented to his intondel bride, Mado moselle Olga." She lifted ifi from the nail and passed it to mo for examination. In my time I have dribbled in all the ologi^g, and among them hud interested myself in palmistry, there fore, I looked at the mould with consider able care. I became deeply interested as I turned it over. It was remarkable for the develop ment of the palm on tho sido of the little finger, and the exceeding length of the thumb Uesbarolles, tho acknowledged authority on palmistry, states that this enlarged de% r elopmeut indicates the instincts ot an a^&as-un ; the length of tho thumb, in flexible will ; while the line of life encircling the base of the thumb, which wan deep and wide, proclaims a thief, and when joined with the other peculiarities, spoke again of murder. I had examined the hands of a great many ra?calf, and hud moro than ordinary belief in the indications. I handed it back to the noble dame, with tho remark that it was a very peculiar hand. 1 am sure she read something of the distrust I felt for the owner of rrnch a p ihn, for she remarked — " The Marquis is doubtless a charming 1 gentleman, but I must own that neither 1 nor my daughter is so enraptured as the baron. There now," smil'ng again, "you will think me exceedi lgly indiscreet." The remark was strange, and I could not but wonder at the singular speech of the lady and the rapidity of our intimacy. I wanted to know more of this marquis, and found that he frequented a noted gambling house in the Rue de Marat; therefore I made it my business to visit it frequently. 