The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23
For the National Era.
LIE N ARD WRkY.
A ROMANCE OF MODERN HISTORY.

Ii NARD WRAY.
A ROMANCE OF MODERN HISTORY.
By Ia. author Of The Chronicles Of the Bast. tn. En-
tassy' The inie Log" ." Philip Of Lntetia," &c
CHAP. xxI-concluded.
On the way, Zach informs Martin of the sue
cess which crowned his plan the preceding day,
| and how that, having watched Leonard aud
| Mildred safely eut, he had at last left the spy,
very considerably fnddled, to continue his oc-
cupation of watching the hotel.
"Since then," he adds, l amt cotched sight
| on 'em.'
| In turn, Martin informs Zach of the scene
| of the preceding evening, and of his determi-
| nation not to copy the deeds.
Il could not do it," he observes II tried,
| but it was oil of no use. So | put them up,
and placed them, carefully tied up, in my
pocket
| "And you've got em now, eh, quite safe?"
asks Zach, with an air of Indifference.
| "Oh, yes" replies Martin, "'they are quite
safe"
| "Mind you keep 'em so,'' is Zach's rejoin-
der. "But what do you intend to do with
| emp"
| "Return them to norrow, of course" replies
Martin, "and tell Pellgrini / couldn't copy
them in the time"
| Zach observes that he thinks he had better
| lose them, somehow; but Martin does not coin
eide with him in this view. Their conversation,
however, is abruptly brought to a close, by their
| arrival at the door of the restaurant, where, ac
cording to the days programme, they are to
breakfast.
| Zach is not at all overpowered by the spen-
dor of that saloon on the second floor, notwith-
standing its glded columns, brilliant chande
| liers dazzling decorations, and the majestic
demeanor of the lady who is sitting in state at
| the counter at the entrance, whence she dis
penses desserts to the walters, and smiles to her
| customers at the same time. Not so Lisette,
| who, having never been in splendidly APP
pointed place before, cannot repress cxcla
nation of establishment. Paul galantly selects
| a table near the window, whence she can look
into the beautiful gardens below, where the
frolcsome children are trundling hoops be-
tween rows of pebbles, and playing at other
heaithful games, attended by their bonnes in
| clean white aprons and smart caps. A close
observer might notice that his attentions to the
young girl do not produce a pleasant impress
sion on Zach, and that he watches their every
movement and their very looks, with peculiar
| keenness. They, however, are not aware of the
| fact, and Martin is too intent upon the material
| enjoyment of the moment to take note of any
| thing save the contents Of the bill of fare.
The variety of dishes is so great, that it be-
| comes serious question what to choose Zach
| is singularly unfortunate in selecting Just what
is not to be had, and excites the secret con-
| tempt of the waiter by even asking for things
| that are not in season. The party arc very
much embarrassed, and at length they call the
waiter to their council. He is grave man, in
unimpeachable linen, and averywhite neckcloth,
artisticalty tied. His face is closely shaven,
and his hair neatly arranged, and brilliant with
pomatum. He has melancholy cast of coun-
| tenance, and might be taken for clergyman
in disguise, he is of so solemn manner. He
| is very happy to be consulted, and after emu
merating-rather more volubly than one would
expect from ponderous persOnage-the
| various dishes that are ready, recommends
| stewed kidneys for two, and sleeps trotters la
| roulette for two also. He does it 80 decidedly
that the party feel they have no appeal, and re-
| sign themselves with becoming meekness to the
| kidneys and trotters They turn out to be ex-
cellent and by an ingenious division of about
three mouthfuls and a half to each person, the
two first courses perform their duty admirably.
Zach cannot help remarking however, to Mar
tin, that the sheep to which the trotters once
belonged pust have had more bones i'll their
feet than ordinary sheep, and guesses they
a special breed. OF course, Martin translates
this sly bit of satire, which makes them all
| laugh, and the grave waiter to observe that
| Monsieur is pleasant" Paul thinks great
| credit is due to the cook, for the ingenious
manner in which he has made up for lack of
meat by abundance of sauce and Martin adds,
| that it is fortunate circumstance they are en-
titled to bread =" at discretion"
As Louis-that is the name of the waiter
has catered so well for them up to this point,
| they feel that they cannot do better than aban-
don themselves to him entirely. Under sense
of the responsibility cast upon him, he present
ly serves sole au gratt,, cOt-au-rcnt, and a
| flet aur champigaons, each of which is pro-
nounced excellent, and relished accordingly,
notwithstanding cynical insinuation, on the
| part of Zach, quietly to Martin, respecting the
fillet, of which the chances of its being equine
or bovine are in his estimation equal. After
| these come cheese, fruit, and biscuits, for des-
| sert and Louis has done with table number ten,
until he shall be called to receive the equiva-
lent in money for the entertainment, one franc
| twenty five centimes EACH making in all five
| francs Martin thinks it is decidedly not dear.
Paul will not believe that the like is to be had
in any other city in the world for the money.
| Zach, who is busy with tooth-pick, has no
opinion to offer; or, if he have, he keeps it to
| himself He, however. resolutely opposes not
paving his share, and indeed wishes to pay for
all. But Martin says it is his treat to-day, and
he will have his own way for once, and enjoy
| himself with his friends at his own expense.
| There is no gainsaying him, and so at last
compromise is effected, by Martin and Pauls
acceptance of his offer to pay for coffee at the
| Cafe de la RotOnde. Louis promptly obeys the
summons to table number ten, and receives the
five franc piece, and the gratuity of an extra
half franc, with the solemnity of manner which
distinguishes him. The ceremony of payment
being thus satisfactorily accomplished, the par
ty retire in high spirits to enjoy their coffee;
after which, they go to the gallery and museum
of the Louvre.
The amount of knowledge, historical and gen.
eral, which Martin rummages up for the occa-
sion, is perfectly marvellous. Paul, too, dis
plays no uncomfortable share of information,
but he imparts it in asides to Lisette. They are
all kept up to the proper degree of excitement
by the quaint remarks of Grit, which are every
now and then thrown in, like crackers, fzzing
and banging when they are least expected; and
their mirth is none the less hearty, when, in his
laudablc attempts to convey his odd notions in
the language most familiar to them, he breaks
down of a sudden, and is obliged to call in Mar
| tin to his aid. He is not in the least vexed be-
cause they laugh at him on the contrary, he
| thinks they have perfect right to enjoy his
blunders, and indeed he seems vastly to enjoy
them himself, for he laughs as heartily as any
| of them.