Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-05-24


permission to change. shall never,
monsieur, forget your goodness"
:" Here's a pretty businessl" exclaimed
the surprised master; 81, that thought
- You rascal, do you mean to say
that you wish to leave me for Billiard %
+" But monsieur HIMSELF
+" Ungratefulw
" Dear master, let us understand each
other. Are you going to dismiss me, or
are you not 2"
"Get about your busiuess!" shouted
Bonneau, for once in real passion. -
Francois retired, fully persuaded that
his master only meant to try him.
Come" thought the clerk of finance
''this is but bad beginning. wanted
to make an enemy of the fellow, and he
only thanks me for my kindness p At
that moment, Victor, the young artist.
entered the room, holding letter in his
hand
All +! monsieur, I beg pardon" said
he, drawing back. Il thought you had
gone out, and | was seeking Francois
"You look agitated, Monsieur Victor.
| hope nothing unpleasant has occurred"
Only, monsieur, that I'm excessively
angry with Monsieur Dugrnet. could
not mount guard this morning, because
my grandmother was taken suddenly i'll,
and had no one to attend her but myself.
There happened to be a riot in the street,
and our captain, Dugrinet, said to me,
in his daughters presence, that / was
afraid 20 show myself, and kept out of
harms way. Now, that's sort of thing
| won't bear from any manl'
"Parbleu" thought Bonneau; ''here
is fine opportunity for me. 1t won't
be difficult to make an enemy of this
young fellow. Really" said he aloud,
II don't know but your captain is in the
right. Every citizen should do his
duty"
Certainly; but there are other duties
as importagt as those of citizen. Ny
grandmother has only me-the state has
many children"
If every one said that, but few would
take arms" remarked Bonneau, dryly
Every one has not so good reason
as I have"
" But every one should act SO as to
avoid suspicion"
Victor's handsome face flushed high.
"What am / to understand by that,
Monsieur Bonneau 2"
" Whatever you choose +"
A." You are impertinent, said the paint
er, "and you must give me satisfaction
As ] don't want my poor grandmother TO
be disturbed, the sooner we fight the
better; so | will just engage second
and wait for you at the Bots de Bou-
logne."
"Why-what!" said Bonneau, who
did not quite relish such sharp practice.
Monsieur Victor-Monsieur Victor %
But the painter was already gone.
Well" thought Bonneau, I won't
hurt him much. I'll just give him a
fesh-wound, which will excite his rancor
against me. Billiard will be satisfied
when | have a young man Of talent for
an enemy"
Feeling very natural reluctance to
explain the cause of the duel to any rea-
sonable friend, Bonneau contented him
self with engaging Francois as second
and desiring him to follow him to the
appointed place The valet thought his
master had taken leave of his senses :
and before going out, ran to tell the story
to the family Of NJ. Dugrinet.
When the clerk and his second arrived
on the field they found Victor and his
friend there already They had brought
swords, and Immediately began to fight.
Bonneau was by far the best swordsman /,
but instead of taking advantage of his
superiority, be sought to disarm his an
tagonist without hurting him. In doing
so, however, he inflicted a wound on the
young mans hand, and the blood flowed
freely.
"What shall 7 do? You arc wound
edp cried the conqueror, more pale than
the conquered.
""Tis nothing" replied Victor, '1ct
us 90 on" But at that moment Mon
sieur and Madame Dugrinct, with their
daughter Agnes, appeared on the field
and the ladies', like two Sabines, rushed
between the combatants
"Stopw shouted NJ Dugrinet; "sheathc
your swords, my friends" Then turn
ing TO Victor, he said, II have done you
injustice, Monsieur Victor; you are
brave fellow; and to make you amends.
I give you full permission to win my
daughters heart; if, indeed" he added,
smiling, you have not done so already"
" All monsieur p said Victor, 'fhis
is the happiest moment of my life. And
you, monsieur" be added, turning to
Bonneau, "must permit me to reckon
you among my best friends. Itis to you
] owe my felicity"
"There's more Of it," muttered the
clerk to himself. II turned away
faithful servant, and he's delighted I
wound a worthy young man with my
sword, and he's enchanted beyond meas
ure. What the deuce shall | do? Bill
lard ought to have given me a recipe for
making enemies"
Meantime the slight wound ON Victor's
hand was bound up by the slender fin
gers Of Agnes, who. however, we are
bound TO declare, took unfair advantage
Of the opportunity to inaict serious in
jury on the patients heart. This done,
the whole party, at Dugrinet's suggestion,
adjourned 10 breakfast at restaurant,
and passed social morning together. --.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon