, 1864-04-23

mention that the parties met at the ap-
pointed time and place, the only noticeable
event in the preliminaries being the Young
mans difficulty in procuring a second from
among the spectators, most Of whom were
fearful of incurring the displeasure of the
Lieutenant, who had a well-khowh knack
OF lighting his opponents seconds on the
first available Occasion-that the struggle
was longer than usual; and, finally, that
the young man received the rapier of
Achille de Beaumont right through the
centre Of his heart, and expired with a
groan Of bafficd vengeance. and his clay
was borne to the common dead house, for
he had no friends.
1t was the evening of that bloody day at
the cafe. The customary crowd was there,
and a few more besides, for the fame of the
duelist had received an accretion since
morning. And the Maitre dArmes him
self was there; SO was his pimp-friend.
should say-both in excellent spirits the
former, especially, for it may be told that
for the first time in his life Monsieur le
Lieutenant had felt apprehensions previous
to meeting the strange young man, Henri
Duyal. There had been something so su-
prelnely deadly in his calm demcanor-
something SO eager, yet passionless, in bis
oestOwal Of the insult---sOmething so un-
ahectedly joyful in his aspect when made
aware that his object, the duel, the mortal
meeting, was to be onsummate1-that even
the brave bully, even while flaming under
the monstrous insult he had been subjected
to, was touched with doubt that was akin
To fear.
What then must be the exuberant, the
exultant character Of the Maitre d d'Armes'
emotions upon the present Occasioni He
is not talkatiye man his words may be
few; but his glowing countenaHce, his de-
meanor nervous, enjoyable, self.eelebrating
are they not eloquent? Do they not say
to the whole cafe: "Toyez, Mcssieurs
regardez moi! last night you saw II in
suited, abused, outraged; tonight yo see
me here, beauIing, buoyant, supreme. Last
night you saw me stained, tonight you see
me cleansed. What changes Little day
brings forth what a perfect cleanser is a
steady hand what burnisher of dimmed
honor is the bright, the swift, the glorious
rapier! Aud tile insul;er, the ayenger, the
fierce young mamie is not here tonight
how is this! Heydey! the bcardless young
man from Lyons, do not see him here to,
night-where can he be Z" &C., &c.
Indeed, the elevation of the victor per-
mits him to be generous. He admires the
dead mans courage; he acknowledges that
his fencing was excellent bis attitude ire
proachable.
"My dear Maurice" (speaking to his
friend in particular, and to the cafe in re-
ality) "my dear Maurice, he punished me
with the fervor Of Condo. And his de-
fcnce-was it not inpregnable ?-cOuld
anything penetrate iig-Parbleau. it was
a cutrass, wall !"
"Ah. then," said Maurice, but my
friend Achilles coup de grace :"
Achillo smiled, his soul was tickled but
suddenly the smile was changed to an ex-
preston of intense horror, the bloom Of
his cheek was blighted to the color of a
corpse; the lustre seemed to have left his
eyes. which were wide and dilated; he had
partially arisen from his chair, and now up
peared frozen in-the attitude--a painful,
unnatural one. H
Seeing the aspect Of his friend, Maurice
followed the stony glare Of those frightened
eyes, aud then remained motionless, him
self scarcely less ccnfounded. 'Hf
The freguenters Of the cafe, standing mp
and sitting down, were equally impressed.
The clinking Of the glasses at the bar came
to q sudden cessation. All were silent and
liielcss. Had quick enchantment chilled
the gay cafe? All eyes were turned in
one direction. All faces bore likeness TO
each other, so fearful was the breathless
anxiety of each.
One young dapdy had been in the act Of
lighting a cigar, and the lighted paper
burnt up against his arrested hand, and
went out without his moving, or evincing
any sensation Of pain.
"Parbleau. the beardless young man !"
gaspcd the Maitre dArmes.
Brave, though bully, he was the first to
recover Seizing decanter, he brimmed
a tumbler with brandy and drank it down
like water.
Sure enough, there, 70 all appearance,
stood the young man who had given him.
self the name Of Henri Duval, and who
had been putto death on the morning Of
that day BY the Maitre d'Armes, looking
as he had looked the night before, with the
exception that he now wore long cloak
and was without hat.
'.Is it possible my presence-that of a
perfect stranger--can have created this ex-
traordinary sensation? Excuse me, gen.
tlemen, | am in search Of duelist named
Achille dc BeaumOnt--do l behold him in
this gentleman"
" You do" said the Maitre d'Armcs-
" May have the liberty to inquire if Mon
sieur bears the name of Duval!" afa
That is my name, Monsieur"
"Aud may also take the liberty to in
quire if Monsieur is ;he-the brother Of q
certain Henri Duval Z"
"No, Monsieur; not a brother, but
near relation
Achille breathed more freely, and the
cafe breathed more freely. But without
another word the young man stepped up to
the table, tilled a glass and emptied it in
the face Of the Lieutenant.
The latter drew napkin over his face in
patient, mechanical way, and there was
something ike dignity in his demeanor
n