thing less than such an attack. In two turns of my hands, I dashed them into a corner of the apartment---at the same moment Francœur opened the other door and leaped down the stairs. I flew directly after him, first drawing the door fast upon me. In the twinkling of an eye we gained the street, and as swift as the bird that cuts the air, we flew in one direct line to Belfort, who had not yet left his bed.

"As he had not seen us for six days, and believed us to be on a party of pleasure with some ladies of fashion, he was extremely surprised to see us arrive just a little after the break of day, state of unusual agitation.

and in a

In a few

words we unfolded to him the whole affair of our duel, and of the danger we had escaped. "I know it all, already," said he..." I have received an account of that "business in all its details, without know

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ing, however, that you were the heroes "of it. The family of the marquis de

"L***, whose son you have killed, is in "an inconceivable fury, and has sworn his death. As to the assas

to revenge his death.

"sin who accompanied him, and who "alone could point out to them the resi"dence of Francœur, you have nothing "to to fear from him. Besides, he will

keep his bed for a long time. He is "one of those infamous characters who "live only by the point of the sword, and "whose death no being would regret. "As no one will come here to look for you, we will get breakfast immediate

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ly, and then consult respecting the "means of enabling you to quit Paris. "without danger.

At this part of his story, Sans-Chagrin, feeling himself fatigued, cut short his story, and wished us a good night.

CHAPTER XIII.

A second love interview-We begin to understand ourselves-An union projected-Adventure of Linval.

SCARCELY had Linval wished us good night, when my imagination, till then captivated by the story of SansChagrin, flew back to the billet of Zelia. I interpreted it, before I fell asleep, a thousand different ways, and after having read it again and again when I rose in the morning, I directed my steps to the garden, filled with the most delicious but anxious expectations. I arrived at Zelia's arbour; but there was nobody to be found. My pride was hurt, and I began to suspect that Zelia, having

guessed at my stratagem, had resolved to disappoint me. This idea soon vanished when I called to mind our first conversation. Every word of it recurred to my memory. I considered and interpreted it even to the most minute detail, and at every step discovered a new motive for hope. Filled with that pure and delicious intoxication which attends a first love, I gazed with transport at the place where Zelia had reclined in meditation. I kissed the branch on which I had seen her lean. I endeavoured to distinguish the marks of her footsteps on the ground, to pay to them the same tribute, and without ever reflecting on the possibility of her surprising me in my extravagant extacies, I abandoned myself wholly to the pleasure of retracing and contemplating all the objects which she had touched or approached. I was in the very act of impressing a burning kiss on a young shrub on which I had seen her lay her beautiful hand, when she suddenly appeared at the entrance of the arbour.

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"What are you doing, Monsieur Laurentini," she cried, "and what is the particular notion that can urge you to "caress thus a shrub which produces nothing? I should not have put that question to you if it had been a rose "bush." No less astonished to see her than surprised at her words, I had not the power to answer her question. She enjoyed my embarrassment, and resumed the discourse by congratulating me on my punctuality, and my readiness to come to the appointment. Then, making me a sign to sit down by her, she began the following dialogue:

แ

"Since it may be possible, Monsieur “Laurentini, that the step which I "have taken in inviting you to this

assignation, may injure me in your

opinion, it is due to myself, and I owe "it to my principles of discretion and "virtue, to offer a justification of my con"duct. Hear then my motives. Piqued "at your refusal to make me your confi