The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-11-10

ness has its own particular merit"
Then marry Count de Beaugepcy.
Il have thought of that, also; but
this poor Count de Menneval-"
Every good" exclaimed the king,
laughing. Now / see TO what pur-
pose the oranges are destined. Men
neval pleases you; Beaugency would
suit you just as well; and since one
can't have more than one husband
you make them each jump in turn"
Just SO, sire. But observe what
happens.
"Ah, what does happen y
"That, unwilling ard unable to play
unfairly, / take equal pains to catch
the two oranges as they come down
and that l catch them both, each
time"
"Well, are you willing that should
take part in your game ?"
You, sire? Alb, what a joke that
would be !"
Il am very clumsy, marchioness.
To certainty, in less than three min
utes Beaugency and Menneval will be
rolling on the floor"
"Ah !" exclaimed the LADY, "and il
you have any preference for one or the
other?'
"No; we'll do better Look, / take
the oranges YOU mark them careful
ly; or, better still, You stick into one
of them one Of these toilet pins, max
ing up your own mind which of the
two is to represent Beaugency, and
leaving Inc on that point entirely in
the dark. If Beaugency touch the
floor, You shall marry his rival; if it
happens just other otherwise, you
shall resign yourself to become an
embassadress.
"Excellent! Now, sire, let's see
the result
The king took the two oranges and
played shuttle with them above his
head But, at the third pass, the two
rolled down upon the embroidered
carpet, and the marchioness broke
out into a merry fit of laughter.
IL foresaw as much, exclaimed his
majesty what clumsy fellow
ann"
"And we more puzzled than ever
SIRE
80 we are, marchioness; but the
best thing we can do is to slice the
oranges, sugar them well, and season
them with a dash Of rum"
"And Count de Menneval? and
Count dc Beaugency?" said the march
ioness, in piteous accents. How is
the question to be settled?"
Louis XIV. began to cogitate
"Are you quite sure, said he "that
both of them are in love with you?"
Probably So" returned she, with q
little coquettish smile sent back to hei
from the mirror opposite.
"And their love equally strong ?"
81 trust so, sire.
"And don't believe a word Of it. /"
"Ah !" said the marchioness, "but
that is, in truth most terrible sup
position. Besides, sire, they are OIL
their way hither."
Both of them %
Zone after the other: Beaugency
at one o'clock precisely; Menneval al
two. l promised them my decision
tomorrow, on condition that they
would pay me a final visit to-day"
AS the marchioness finished, tht
valet, who had announced the king
came to inform his mistress thai
that Count de Beaugency was in tho
drawing groom, and solicited the fayol
OF admission to pay his respects
Capital said Louis XIV. smiling
as though he were eighteen; "shov
Count de Beaugency in. Marchio
ness you will receive him, and tell hin
the price that you set upon you
hand"
"And what is this price, sire p
"You must give him the choice
either to renounce you, or to consen
to send in to me his resignation o
his appointments, in order that h'
may go and bury himself with his wifi
on his estate of Courlae, III Potion
there to live the life of country no
bleman."
"And then, sire p
, "You will allow him a couple o
hours of reflection, and SO dismis
him"
"And in the end ?"
'The rest is my concern"
. And the king got up. taking his do
S and his gun, and concealed himself be
hind screen, drawing also a curtain