when the Marquis de la Tour le Colombier stepped up, said,

and

"Monsieur le Blond, I have taken the liberty to follow you to this sequestered part of the garden. I have been seeking you for some days. You are the third person from whom satisfaction is due to me for an insulting aggression at the opera. I informed you that I should seek the opportunity. Will you do me the favour to measure swords with me? The moon will lend us a serene light," and out again came the Toledo rapier.

Le Blond replied, "Sir, I am much perplexed at this moment; I will attend your summons at any hour in the morning."

"Permit me to observe," pertinaciously continued the Marquis, "that in an affair of this nature there is no time like the time present!"

Hold, sir!" exclaimed Le Blond, "I neither fear you, nor any man, but I must appeal to your gallantry. Within a few minutes of this time-there is a lady in the case -I have an appointment of a most peculiar nature."

"Mere subterfuge," said Le Colombier. "You have taken a hint from the code of honour of your chivalrous friend, Monsieur Pimental. Have the goodness to defend yourself."

Here Gaston du Plessis rushed forward, and uttered,

"Some reparation is due to me. Le Blond you are a villain and a hypocrite. I know the Marquis to be a sure swordsman. Before you commence with him you must first give me satisfaction." Le Blond calmly answered, "My friend, are you mad?' "Your friend!" sarcastically said Du Plessis. "Yes; I owe much to your perfidious friendship. Thus have you rewarded my candour and integrity. Come on, sir! Monsieur le Marquis, this affair is mine."

Le Colombier replied gravely, "Excuse my interruption; but on a point of punctilio I am a most determined personage. I shall have the honour of first fighting Monsieur Le Blond. You may do with him as you like afterwards. And, if your arm is well enough, why, we can conclude our own little affair after that."

"But I claim precedence," said Du Plessis. "Gentlemen, gentlemen!" remonstrated Le Blond, “ deranged?"

"Come on!" cried the Marquis.

are you

both

All the weapons were now drawn and they were each taking a position of offence and defence, when the music of the perambulating dance sounded near to them. There was a momentary pause. A light streamed across the path, and old Jaquelette sauntered towards the belligerents with a lantern, escorting Monsieur Perpignan, in a flowered chintz night-gown to the lodge; a sudden turn brought them into collision with the fighting trio, and Jaquelette exclaimed, "Mercy preserve us, swords! Have pity on a tender woman!" The music approached. The Marquis said in a low tone, "The dancers are coming this way: take both of ye my mortal defiance."

Old Jaquelette trembling, replied, "Why, what have we done to offend you?

The combatants hastily dispersed. Perpignan was half asleep, and rather bewildered, and sighed,

VOL. VI.

2 T

"This comes of masquerading; I am thankful I have escaped their mummery; and dear me, how nice the honeysuckles smell! -to bed, to bed. I have planned to dig a ditch to-morrow, twentyfive yards long, and a yard deep."

They then entered the little lodge, to pass a quiet night.

The dancing-procession went gaily along an adjoining gravelpath, headed by Madame Perpignan and Dominique. And now the faithful and attentive Jaquelette had introduced her good master to the interior of her neat little lodge, which, as we have before intimated, consisted of two rooms, the inner of which contained a neat bed with curtains. The old woman had put a bouquet of flowers on the little table, and said,

"La! monsieur, it does my heart good to see you so nice and sleepy. There is my-I mean your bed, Monsieur."

66

What, my poor old friend, am I to turn you out of your nest for the night, then? Impossible."

“Oh, never mind me, Monsieur; I have the settee in the next room, and a warm rug."

"But I insist!" said Perpignan.

"I am too old, Monsieur, to be insisted on," answered Jaquelette. "You will find everything comme il faut. Can I assist you to unrobe?" "No, Jaquelette, where is your delicacy? Put the light down, and good-night."

Jaquelette looked affectionately at Perpignan, and observed,

I hope, Monsieur, I shall not disturb you in the night with my cough. I almost shake the old lodge down with it."

"What a loose cough," thought Perpignan. "There, good night, Jaquelette."

The old woman went out, but almost immediately tapped at the door-" Dear heart, dear heart!”

"Well, what now?" said Perpignan.

"I forgot your nightcap; it is here. I have kept it in my pocket to air it, all the evening. Dear me, my snuff-box is emptied into it." Then it struck Perpignan that he should be sneezing all night in one room, while she was coughing in the other." She is gone. Now I shall be quiet. No; here she is again."

"Excuse me, sir," said Jaquelette; "but I forgot to set the rattrap."

"What! have you rats here? A pleasant bed-chamber I have selected, truly." Here the old porteress set the trap, and mumbled, "I brought a bit of cheese with me it is all right: if you should hear the trap snap off in the night only call me, and I will come and fetch the rat away."

"There, shut the door," yawned Perpignan.

"Beg your pardon," said Jaquelette, re-opening. "What time would you be pleased to be called in the morning?

"I'll wake myself," replied Perpignan. "I won't go to sleep all night. Go to bed, do, Jaquelette."

The porteress closed her master's door, and only took off part of her clothing, anxiously looking at the settee, thinking what a disagreeable night's rest she would have. Whilst she was unlacing, she heard Monsieur Perpignan sneeze several times very loudly.

"The snuff in his night-cap. He will keep me awake all night." And here she was attacked by one of her long coughs, more habi

tual than constitutional; for old Jaquelette, being much alone, generally thought that a cough was very good company.

Perpignan, as he speedily undressed himself and got into bed, (to save time he had said his prayers in the dairy, over the raspberries and cream,) was much disconcerted by the state of the irritability of the membranes of the fauces, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi, of the aged Jaquelette, and he muttered," She coughs like an old horse!" However, he made up his mind for the worst, and tranquilly exclaimed, "How delightful is the calm silence of night, after a day of healthful labour!"

Jaquelette had extended her crazy old form on the settee, and wrapped herself up, when the sounds of music became very audible, and again were rapidly approaching; chattering, laughter, enjoyment, were all close in the neighbourhood. Suddenly a loud single knock was given at the door.

"Can that be a rat?" thought Jaquelette. Another loud double knock was inflicted. "No, bless me it is a rat-tat at the door." Now a whispering commenced outside, accompanied with sundry sly laughs, and presently a panel of the old portal was smashed in. Jaquelette jumped up in alarm, and escaped as she was—that is to say, in the costume of an ancient Venus unadorned by the Graces, to Monsieur Perpignan's room, to ask his advice; but, before she could make that salutary inquiry, Monsieur Dominique's mischievous hand had removed the slight bolt, the door was opened, and in danced the numerous masquerading couples, until the little apartment was crowded.

"On, Madame," said Dominique. "You are the most spirited partner I ever had the honour to lead out," and they bounced into the next room, about ten pair of these mad promenaders.

Old Jaquelette, being in an unfit state to receive company, and not so much fearing her old and kind master as an exposure of her unpicturesque dishabille, rushed behind the curtain of Perpignan's bed, certainly to his surprise and alarm.

On went the dancers, circling the little room; and Dominique, going round, pulled aside the drapery of the bed, and discovered Monsieur Perpignan to the uninvited spectator, sitting up, looking horror-struck, in his night-cap, and Jaquelette standing beside him, with her face averted, and a large sewn patch on her under habiliment, which proved that she had not taken the trouble to visit a Parisian linen-draper, to match the colour of the original jupon! At this interesting tableau · -as the writers of melodramas express it-we leave our readers until the next chapter.

CHAPTER VII.

MADAME PERPIGNAN affected to be extremely shocked at this public exposé of the infidelity of her husband, and a liaison with such an object as old Jaquelette; she stepped most indignantly out of the lodge, amidst the suppressed laughter of the company. As for Perpignan, he could not get out of bed in the presence of so many ladies; at length the room was cleared; but, when the guests were again in the garden, all offering opinions on the ludicrous scene they had just quitted, a violent and sudden shower of rain put an end to the Polish promenade dance. The characters were dispersed in all directions for shelter; feathers and artificial flowers were in

stantly saturated; several gallant Pierrots and Scaramouches scampered to the château for cloaks and umbrellas for the sylphs, huntresses, and goddesses. Here stood a dripping Diana; there two half-drowned shepherdesses. Monsieur Dominique flew to the hall of the château, wherein stood a sedan-chair, in which he intended to place Madame Perpignan, and bring her dry to the house.

Sophia and Justine were at this moment at the door of the empty cottage. Sophia gave Justine a key, and told her to unlock the door. "The empty cottage, Mademoiselle, at this time of night?"

"Do as you are bid. When I am in, lock the door, put the key in your pocket. Keep watch. If Monsieur le Blond comes, admit him into the cottage, but no other living creature. As you value my future regard, be faithful."

Sophia then entered. Justine locked the door; her curiosity excited to the highest pitch, and she muttered," I should vastly like to know what all this means?"

Du Plessis had watched the footsteps of Sophia, and now came gently up to Justine, and said,

66

'My good girl, if you have any mercy, relieve my suspense. Here is gold for you."

Justine replied, "It is of no use taking your money, sir, for I cannot answer the question."

"Nay, then," vehemently uttered Gaston, "I force the bribe on you; and now dare to conceal the truth from me."

Here he seized her hand, into which he put a purse. She struggled, and unconsciously dropped the key of the cottage. She then cried, "For shame, Monsieur du Plessis, this is outrageous! I must run for assistance." She fled, and Gaston swore he would not quit her until she divulged the secret.

Justine thought this the only mode by which she could draw Du Plessis from the cottage door.

Pimental's plump Bacchante was washed away from him by the heavy rain, and he incipiently felt that his own harlequin pantaloons were being converted into a pair of slops. He was seeking shelter, and arrived at the door of the empty cottage, where he thought he could stand up at the porch until the storm had a little abated. Here he accidentally put his foot on the key which had been dropped by Justine. He picked it up.

"What a lucky dog I am!" said he. "Perhaps the key of this cottage. What a soaking shower!" He tried the lock; it turned; and at the same moment the Marquis de la Tour le Colombier came up, with the intention of sheltering his person from the torrent which was falling, when Pimental in an instant perceiving his vindictive foe, slammed the door in the face of the Marquis.

"That incorrigible villain!" exclaimed Le Colombier, and tried with all his strength to force the door, which, however, would not give way to his exertions. He then thought he would hastily stride towards the château. In his road there he was unlucky enough to have his temper again put to the test, for he saw the harlequin fixing a pole into a sedan-chair, and he exclaimed, "There is the villain Pimental!" forth came again the Toledo rapier, he fenced at Dominique fiercely, and it required all the activity of the flexible Dominique to parry off the Marquis's attack with the pole of the sedan-chair, Le Colombier at length received one powerful thrust

in his tambour waistcoat with the pole, which caused him to reel, and Madame Perpignan, putting her head out of the window of the sedan, inquired the cause of the fracas. The Marquis, bowing, sheathed his rapier, but kept his hand on his waistcoat, under which was a pain, which Le Colombier's politesse could not conceal. Dominique seized his opportunity, and, beckoning to a brother Mime, they gallantly placed themselves, like the globe, between the poles, and carried Madame Perpignan to the château. The Marquis was now more incensed than ever. Again disgraced, and by such a being as Pimental! Wandering gloomily down the walk again, he saw Le Blond: so, as he was in the humour, and had actually been stirred up with a long pole, he determined to vent his fury on him. He therefore followed Le Blond, who stopped at the door of the empty cottage.

Sophia was waiting with the utmost anxiety for the arrival of Le Blond: she had also been so employed all the evening that she had not encountered the Marquis de la Tour le Colombier, who had promised to use his influence with Père la Chaise to procure the pardon of the fair heretic, Emilie. Hearing a footstep in the next room, she thought it must be either Justine or Le Blond. Her anxiety was very natural-for, by the cruel law then in existence it was death to harbour a Protestant, a discovery would bring destruction not only to her poor prisoner, but utter ruin to them all. She therefore peeped in at the door of the ante-chamber, and was much alarmed by seeing Pimental there, who was grumbling aloud, "A pleasant night's enjoyment! wet through, and in danger of being run through."

Pimental had already re-opened the cottage door, to see if the coast was clear; but, overhearing a female voice within (Sophia's), he came back into the ante-chamber, and left the outside portal leading to the garden open. "That infernal old Noli me tangere ! " thought Pimental, "my life is really not safe for two minutes together." He had scarcely uttered this when he clearly distinguished Le Blond's voice in the entry, who said,

"Monsieur le Marquis, let us arrange this unpleasant affair in the morning."

The answer to this was, "Monsieur le Blond, you have behaved nobly and consistently, but, as for your contemptible Pimental, I will annihilate him." And then their footsteps were approaching the ante-chamber. Pimental first tried a door in the centre (at which Sophia had appeared); it was locked. He tapped at it, hoping for admittance and escape. He articulated,

"I am hunted like a young innocent rabbit, by an aged, bloodthirsty ferret. Is there no place of concealment?" and poor little Pimental's only resource, in his apprehension, was to step into a wide fire-place, which he had scarcely effected, when Le Blond and the Marquis entered the ante-chamber together.

Le Blond remarked, "Your presence at this critical moment is most painful."

Le Colombier replied, "The gross insults I have received since I have been in these premises demand exemplary satisfaction. That vulgar ruffian, Pimental, has contrived to assault me at every opportunity. Not once-that might be a joke; not twice that might have been forgiven at a masked-ball; not thrice- But, after I saved his life, for I might have killed him,-he thrust a chair-pole