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hold it." Pimental stared. I am rejoiced," continued the Marquis, fiercely, "that I have encountered an accomplice in last night's execrable act; and I now perceive that the insulting missile from that window was mischievously intentional. Your name, sirrah?” Pimental told the Marquis that, for his part, when he was out on a frolic he never gave his name to anybody. Le Colombier again produced the Toledo rapier, to the utter horror of Pimental, who muttered, "How that backgammon board runs in his head!'

Reparation must be made, sirrah," vociferated the Marquis, "and a reparation that can only be sealed by the blood of the impertinent offender. Know that I-I, am the nobleman who was so grossly insulted last night at the opera."

Pimental shook, but tried to appear unconcerned, and said, " Dear me! indeed! - how very odd! Well, I have no doubt whatever that Gaston will buy you a new wig, which will set matters right. Pray how much did that queer peruke cost?"

"Imbecile!" growled the Marquis, it will probably cost you your life. Defend yourself: - apology the most submissive cannot now avail-the affront was too galling."

"I acknowledge it was cutting," cried Pimental, which was answered only by the Marquis making a demonstration with his Toledo rapier, which caused the small provincial hero to effect a more dexterous caper than he had ever seen performed by any of the little scrape-graces. Stay, sir," said Pimental," for God's sake! If nothing else will satisfy you for your confounded peruke, I'll take my coat off-stab that through and through, it is not paid for yet."

"Then receive the chastisement due to a malignant poltroon," replied the incensed Marquis.

Pimental hearing the word "poltroon," became suddenly animated, and instantly drew his sword, but with a sort of unaccustomed trepidation he unsheathed it in such a manner, that he contrived to cut two of his fingers. He threw himself into a posture of defence, and would have most assuredly been pinked by the Toledo rapier, if fortunately at the moment Gaston du Plessis had not arrived at the Café de la Concorde, who exclaimed,

"How now, Pimental-what are you about?"

Oh, Gaston, how lucky it is that you have arrived. It is the old chap whose wig you trimmed last night."

The Marquis advanced to Du Plessis, and said, "Is this your card, Monsieur?" Gaston acknowledged it. "Be pleased to follow me where we may not be interrupted."

Du Plessis assented, and the Marquis led the way through the house into a back garden of the café, and there stopping in a corner walk, which was shaded by some tall shrubs, Gaston inquired the pleasure of Monsieur.

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My task is not a pleasant one, Monsieur du Plessis. I had the honour in early days to be acquainted with your father: he was a soldier and a gentleman-I have fought and bled in the same ranks with him. My friend sleeps in the tomb of his ancestors: could he awake, what would be his just indignation on witnessing an atrocious insult inflicted in so public a place as the pit of the opera on his old and esteemed brother in arms, what would be his horror on discovering that the disgraceful act had been committed by his own son! I do not require an apology-words cannot wipe away the

stain. I would not disturb the audience last night by resenting the affront; but this is the time and place. Be on your defence."

Gaston observed—“ I, in the first place, sir, may take an objection to drawing my sword on a gentleman who states himself to have been the friend of my father."

"No subterfuge, sir," said the Marquis.

"I do not seek it, sir; but, to be plain, I also avow an antipathy to attack one who is probably twice my age."

Le Colombier scornfully laughed, and exclaimed, "Neither my age nor yours shall screen you. Draw, sir."

Gaston drew his sword, and prepared for the onset of the Marquis. Gaston was cool and confident, for he was a first-rate fencer; but Le Colombier proved himself the better man, and, after sturdily but gracefully making several scientific passes, most of which were cleverly parried by Du Plessis, the latter suddenly received the blade of the Toledo rapier in the fleshy part of his arm, which caused him to drop his sword.

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I could have run you through the body, had I chosen," said the Marquis. "As you are at present disabled, I forbear-but we meet again. But mark me, Monsieur Gaston du Plessis, my honour is still seared, my vengeance insatiable. Whenever I encounter you, in public or in private, I shall demand the same satisfaction; so be prepared for the worst. I shall seek your companions at my leisure. In the mean time," (and here he most carefully wiped the blade of the Toledo rapier with his glove,) " I have the honour to bid you, for the present, farewell."

The Marquis de la Tour le Colombier then bowed stiffly, and quitted the garden.

"This is an unlucky adventure," reflected Du Plessis," added to the state of anxious suspense in which I remain with my beautiful Sophia. I must quietly interrogate Le Blond and this thrust in my arm is painful. I thought I was a tolerable swordsman, too; but my ancient antagonist was too well practised for me."

This slight reverie was interrupted by the smash of a pane of glass, a bang of a door, and much altercation. Gaston turned his head, and perceived the Marquis de la Tour le Colombier again at work with his rapier, thrusting it in at the entrance to the kitchen, which opened into the garden, while ever and anon the thrust was parried by an extraordinary weapon of defence. It was a roastingspit, with a half-done fowl trussed on it, and which our friend Pimental had seized in a moment of emergency, in consequence of an attack of the ferocious Marquis on his dear little person. Stab went in the Toledo, and out came the poulet in semi-gravy, —until Pimental, with the assistance of the cook and garçons, all his admirers, contrived to shut and bolt the door; and the Marquis's only advantage was the poulet slipped from off the spit.

CHAPTER III.

WE will now return to the château, where Madame Perpignan and Justine were making preparations for the approaching fête and masked ball. Justine, by the desire of her mistress, read over the list of names of the persons to whom invitations had been sent, consisting of about eighty, and included in this list were Messieurs le

Blond, Pimental, and Le Marquis de la Tour le Colombier." Then there are the vocal and instrumental performers—”

"Ay," said Madame Perpignan, " and I shall astonish them all. I have engaged (but I confide it to you alone, Justine) Monsieur Dominique, the celebrated harlequin, to amuse us; and I have asked him to come from Paris early, as the commencement of a masked ball is always insufferably dull.”

Justine was delighted with this information, as she had often laughed, as she said, until her sides ached, at Dominique's wit and drollery.

"Yes," replied Madame Perpignan, "Dominique is very pleasant on the stage, Justine; but I, who am a constant attendant at the theatre, know that off the stage there is not so melancholy a wretch in existence as your lively harlequin. In short, he is a victim to hypochondria."

At length Tuesday arrived, the natal day of Madame Perpignan. The festive arrangements were all made, and very much to the discomfiture of Perpignan, as they had hung up artificial garlands, illumination-lamps, and Chinese lanterns on his natural trees; so he secretly determined to elude the ribaldry of a masquerade, and retire to bed as early as he could sneak off to avoid it. But he still recollected that it was the birthday of his wife, and he walked into her boudoir to congratulate her, and gallantly to make her a present on the occasion. He had his old gardening coat on, and had a scythe over his shoulder, (with which he had been mowing a grass-plot,) and he looked like Time dressed and shaved. Justine gently reminded her master of his absence of mind in bringing such an instrument as a scythe into a lady's boudoir, and took it from him. My dear wife, permit me to congratulate you on your natal day," and he kissed her hand. "You have, I think, on this happy occasion completed your fifty-f-"

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Forty-fifth, Monsieur Perpignan."

Well," said Perpignan, "I declare I could have sworn that it was fifty-four, instead of forty-five; but, as you avow it, it would be unpolite to contradict. I have, my love, a trifling gift for you, on thus entering your fifty-fourth-”

"Forty-fifth, if you please, Monsieur."

Forty-fifth year," said Perpignan.

"This little gift, the greatest I can offer, the pride of my heart, the fondly-cherished object of my hopes, has been beheld by no mortal eye but mine." "I die with curiosity," replied Madame.

"My dear, I trust that it will be as fully appreciated by you as it has been by me.”

He then went out at the door, leaving his wife in the greatest wonder as to her forthcoming birth-day present. Perpignan reentered, looking very mysterious, and with a large basket covered with a cloth.

"Carefully, and under my own immediate inspection, has this specimen been produced." And here he took an enormous pumpkin out of the basket and presented it to Madame, who exclaimed, Mercy on us! Perpignan, what is that?"

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"The finest pumpkin in the parish."

Pumpkin!" said the lady, in a tone of disappointment.

Yes, my dear; grown under my own eye.'

"And I wish it had remained there,” replied Madame Perpignan, and here she shrieked loudly.

"What is the matter, Madame?" cried Justine, who ran into the boudoir.

"It is full of wasps!-away with it, for Heaven's sake!"

Perpignan was confused, and thought that he had been stirring up the wasps to some purpose. Justine contrived to roll the pumpkin out at the door, when, to the mortification of its grower, it reached the head of the stairs, and bumped down every step, with the wasps buzzing in all directions, madame's pet dog barking at it shrilly, until everybody was deafened.

Upon my word, Monsieur Perpignan," said his spouse, “your gardening mania renders you perfectly absurd."

"My sweet love, did I not, to please you, purchase this villa? You knew I was partial to horticultural pursuits, and you promised to share in my little domestic toils."

"And so I did," replied Madame; "I assisted you in your garden."

"Considerably-very considerably," said Perpignan. "I remember once you threw a snail over the wall."

"Sir, you are only fit to rear cauliflowers."

"All flowers are beautiful, my dear-I cultivated you."

Madame Perpignan, somewhat mollified, thought he was about to compliment her, and uttered, simpering, "My love, you are making some allusion to the modest rose?

"No, my dear," replied Perpignan, piqued; "at that moment I was thinking of a painted lady."

They parted sulkily from each other; and this was rather an ominous commencement of the fête.

Now, we must be made aware in the domain of the Château Perpignan there were two buildings detached from the villa itself. The first was a cottage surrounded with large old trees, and which had formerly been occupied as the original tenement of the little estate ; but, as times altered, the present château was built, and the cottage became a receptacle for fruit and vegetables, and on times of an extraordinary number of visitors it received an occasional spare bed, as the rooms were still airy and cheerful. The other building of which we speak was a dwelling of a still more humble character. It had been erected as a porter's lodge, and consisted of two rooms, which humble apartments were occupied by a servant of the family, an old woman, who had seen her best days and seventy summers. Yet Jaquelette still possessed sufficient powers to officiate as porteress, and she was a particular favourite of Monsieur Perpignan, because she loved and enjoyed the garden. Indeed, more than once she had excited the jealousy of Madame Perpignan, who told her meek and simple helpmate that she thought " that he was much more enamoured of the conversation of old Jaquelette than he ever had been with that of his lawful wife."

Whenever Monsieur Perpignan was in a perplexity, he habitually sought his daughter Sophia, whose calm and sweet manner never failed to glide him again into serenity. And what a happy state of existence between father and child! Perpignan knew that he must have recourse to her to accomplish many of his wishes; while Sophia was hardly conscious that by her quiet arrangement they were always gratified.

THE TOLEDO RAPIER.

the

"this masquerade annoys me very "Sophia," said Perpignan, much. It is not the expense of it; but I lose my night's rest, and I have to get up early to-morrow morning to sow some capers, genuine seed from our correspondent in the Mediterranean. I shall leave you all to your enjoyment. As for sleeping in my own bed, that is quite out of the question; for every room in the château will be thrown open until the party have dispersed; and our bed-room has at this moment the card-tables set out in it."

Papa," replied Sophia, "I could not avoid it. Madame Perpignan"

"I know, my dear; but I tell you what I shall do, Sophia, and you can give the order for it. I will go and pass the night for once and a way, at the empty cottage in the shrubbery."

Sophia turned deadly pale, and hastily said, "Pass the night THERE?—It is impossible!"

Justine, who had a moment previous popped into the room, thought to herself, "What is it that thus seriously discomposes young Madame?"

Sophia stammered out, "Dear sir, the old cottage has not been occupied for a considerable time. You cannot think of sleeping there?

"

Don't notice my "Oh, the moths and mildew will not touch me. absence from the masquerade, and I hope your guests will be delighted with the entertainment; so I will go and water the mignio

nette."

Sophia told Justine that Monsieur Perpignan could not sleep at the empty cottage; but that old Jaquelette, the porteress, might contrive a bed for him in the little lodge at the garden entrance. Justine was to undertake to see this done, and was also to apprise her master of it. Justine was all curiosity about this mystery of the cottage; but she could not penetrate it; and Mademoiselle Sophia had the key of the premises.

Sophia pondered in perplexity, and inwardly ejaculated, “Should - life -a beloved they discover the hidden spot, my fatal secret being, are at stake, and my honour risked!" At this moment, to the infinite joy of Sophia, she saw Auguste le Blond coming up the "Your presence is garden-walk, and she ran out to meet him. welcome indeed, Auguste. How anxiously have I been expecting you all day! She has arrived."

Le Blond cried, "Is it possible?-Thank God!"

Sophia proceeded." She arrived here safely in disguise at daybreak. I have concealed her."

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My wife!-my dear wife !-instantly conduct me to her." "Not for the world at the present moment.

tience until night."

You must have pa

"I have been concerting for some days," said Le Blond, "measures for our escape to Holland, to avoid this dreadful and intolerant persecution.

"Alas! Auguste, our poor Emilie, because she has remained firm in her religious faith, has seen her father imprisoned, the family estates confiscated.-Ah! that terrible edict of Nantz!"

Le Blond said, "My excellent Sophia, though betrothed from an early age by our parents to you, what can you say to my gallantry in becoming the husband of another?"