The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-06-14

pearance, on the best possible terms, and they
might have remained so had it not been for an
unfortunate COntretenlpS connected with most
harmless article of dress-a hat, to wit. 1t
came to pass in this wise: The House was sit
ting and Mr.. Barbacan was detained there
somewhat late. In fact, by the time he ar
rived that evening at the Bayleaf it was nearly
l:30 O'Clock, and the worthy man, feeling tired
out with his long spell of legislation, fell fast
asleepin au arm chair. Most men would have
gone home, but Barbacan had great aversion
to going to bed, and he knew that if any of
the gambling set came in they would wake him
up. Presently Capt. Chambers arrived and
proceeded, without hesitation, to disturb Mr..
Barbacan's slumbers
"Come and play game or two of piquet,"
he suggested, when the M. p. was sufficiently
awake to understand what was said to him,
"there will be some baccarat presently"
Anybody coming ?n said Barbacan, rubbing
his s.g eyes. 4 e 49,, ,,
two of the French division-Pontorson and
Frourier and Grimaud.''
1t may be stated that distinguished for
elgDers," such as attaches of the various en-
basses, and so forth, were admitted to the
Bayleaf pro tenn. as honorary members
"Don't like that Grimaud,' remarked Mr.
Barbacan, as he shuffied his pack.
."No more do IL said Chambers vicously
81 should like to see him drop thou. or two
at baccarat. He said he could not be here
some woman, suppose. He's always brag-
ging about his conquests.''
Mr.. Barbacan was not an obserVant man. so
he paid no attention to his companions We
hemence. Perhaps if he had known the cause
of it he might have been more interested, The
truth was that Grimaud had scraped an ac-
quaintance with Lady Julia, and had been
following it up of late with an ardor which by
no means pleased the gallant captain, who,
unlike the lady's lawful partner, was furiously
Dha
mention of Grimauds name recalled un-
pleasant thoughts. Capt. Chambers had
been to the theatre with Lady Julia that very
eyening-not alone, of course They had
supped, select party of four, at the Bona
parte Club; he had been allowed to see her
home, but had been dismissed ten minutes
after.
"Why was she in such desperate hurry ?''
he reflected. ''Said she was tired out Never
knew woman less inclined to be tired in nv
life. She was bored; deuce take it, she must
have been bored Perhaps she expected
somebody else Great Scott perhaps it was
that Internal Grimaud % and Capt Chambers
swore audibly.
''suppose i'm rublconed g'' he said to his
opponent, trying to remember what he was
doing
"Of course you are," said Mr.. Barbacan; ssif
you won't count what you've got in your
hand what do you expect? l make you
81; you ought to be Iii, but you forgot
your fourteen knayes, and let me count three
aces"
''oh, can't play piquet tonight '' said
Chambers, impatiently. "Feel more like bac-
carat All thank goodness, here are some
punters."
band of cheerful night-birds entered the
room, and the real business of the evening, or
rather OF the morning, began. Grfmaud was
among them, and every time that Chambers
caught his eye, he thought that the French
man was laughing at him; there was a tri-
umphant expression even in the waxed ends
OF his moustache. brother attache made
some passing reference to 'bonnes fortunes"
and Grimaud smirked and simpeIed as only