davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-10-21
FEUILLETON
LA
CAPITAINE ROUGE.
PAR LEOPOLD STAPLEAUX
III
Suite

Mes paroles vous surprennent. je |
lie vols, reprit Lucien; mais, raj
sonnons, je vous prize, cher MAESTRO.
Les chooses graves Sc traitcnt verba
lement beaucoup mieux que par |
correspondence. Cest pourquoi je :
items a ce que vous fassiez, de vive
volx, reloge de votre eleve, au lieu
denumerer, dams une lettre au direc-
teur de la Scala, toutes les esperan-
ces que vous avez justement concues
sur ravenir de Mandica. Je vous
sais tout devoue a votre eleve, mai
tire Palestri: c'est pourquoi je suls
convaincu que les fatigues du voyage
que je vous propose ne vous effraie-
ront pas. Mais, afin que ces fatigues
soient moins grandes, je vous donne
Serge, qui, jeune, actif, aura pour
vous les SONS dun fils, ct partira
ioyeusement des gu il saura que je ne
l'eloigne momentan6ment de sa seur
que pour hater pinstant de la nais-
sance de sa gloire.
Palestri await &coute attentivement
d'Esperant.
-Vous avez raison, ditil, ct je
partirai demaln.
-Je men attendais pas moins de
votre d9vouement a Mandica, reprit
Lucien, ct je vous pre d'etre mon
interprete aupres de Serge, atm de
lui expliquer mon plojet ct lie but
auquel je veux atteindre.
Serge etait une franche ct loyale
nature qui ignorait la mefance ct
possedait encore une credulite sans
bornes.
II await deja complement oublie
les torts de son maftre envers lui.
La poignee de main de d'Esperant
lui await meme fait croire quill await
etc injuste; ct, incapable de soup
conner les coupables projects que
nourrlssait Lucien, il Sc rendit imme.
diatement a son desir, des que maItre
Palestri lie lui cut communiqu6.
Ce dernier s'empressa d'aller ap.
prendre a Lucien que tout. etait
convenu.
oh j'etais bien sur que ce cher
garcon trait au bout du monde pour
sa seur quill aime tant, dit dEspe'
rant, avec un etrange sourire.
Mais Mandica restait encore a
convaincre ct Lucien Sc demandalt s.
ellie consentiralt au depart de Serge
Nous ferons une surprise
Mandica ce soir, maitre Palestri
reprit d'Esperant. d D'ici la, gardez
moi lie secret ct priez Serge de fare
de meme.
Lorsqu'apres diner celui-ci voulu'
s'6loiener, CONNIE il await coutumt
de le faire, Lucien lie retint, ct, sa
dressant maitre Palestri
Cher MAESTRO, dit-il, lie moment
est venu d'apprendre a notre cherf
Mandica ce que nous avons resolu
avcc Serge aujourd'hui.
Nlandica fut bientot mise au cou
rant par maitre Palestri, ct Vis-a-Vl;
des prophecies 81 brillantes de celui
ci, de la joie qu'eprouyait Serge detr'
pour quelque chose dams leur reall
sation ct de Ia tendre solllcitude don
faisait preuve d'Esperant en- cett'
Circumstance, ellie ne fit aucune obJec
t,on ct les remercla chaleureusemen
tous les trois.
lie lendemaln matin, une calecht
mont4e sur paths que tralnaleh
quatrc vigoureux chevauA scrtalt o'
Campo-Mare ct glissait rapidemen'
sur la route de Dragatchani.
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-10-21

louiS u SoSistNto NH' S''N''i Sc'AAA'S ~ |
tes moindres caprices. Va, crois-moi,
c'est bien Ia lexistence qui convient
a une belle creature CONNIE toi La
vie nest qu'un voyage don't la jeu
nesse est Ia partie riante. Je veuX |
dorer la route sous ties pas ct Ia I
border de heurs atin qu'ele ne. soft. /
DUN bout a l'autre, qu'uue fete pour
toi, ma belle enfant
Immobile ct muette, Mandica await
ecoute Lucien avec une terreur pro-
fonde.
p'Esperant s'etait relieve en- par
liant, ct il tenta d'attirer Mandica
contre lui; mais la jeune file Sc
degagea a l'aide dun geste brusque,
ct, gagnant rapidement pextremite
du salon o1 cette scene sc passait,
ellie sly laissa tomber jans un fau-
teuil en- eclatant en- sanglots.
-Diable, Sc dit iucien, des larmes !
Ce sera plus difficile que je ne pen
sails.
Puts, s'approchant doucement de
la ieune file eploree
-Je tai fait de la pelne, dit-il.
Pardonne-moj, Mandica, Dleu NEST
temoin que je suis capable de tous
les Sacrifices pour ton bonheur.
La bohemienne sufoqua,t, mais,
devinant a latitude de Lucien quill
s'appretait 4 tomber q ses genoux,
ellie Sc leva froide ct fiere, ct, dun
ton de supreme dedaln:
| -Vous m'avez insult6e, lui dit
ellie.
/ D'Esperant Sc mordlt les levres ct
garda le silence.
/ II await trop prevu la resistance
que ne manquerait pas de lui oppo-
ser Ia ieune file pour ne pas en- sup
porter impassiblcment toutes les con-
sequences.
ST. je tai offensee, dit-il au bout
de quelques instants, je ten demande
une seconde fois pardon, ct tu aurais
tort de me lie refuser, ce pardon que
j'implore, car qui te prouve que je
n'al pas voulu tenter une supreme
epreuve -?
, -Dites vous vrai demanda Man
dica.
-Tai-je jamais donne lie droit d'
douter de mes paroles
! Et, sur ces mots, il la quitta.
Quelques jours Sc passerent pen
e dant lesquels Lucien tacha, par tou
les moyens, de faire oublier a Ii
l ieune file les paroles outrageante
quill lui await adressees; mais, mean
s moins, Mandica Sc sentalt le ceu
l plein de mefance ct de resentment
r Une contrainte lndefnissable re
e gnait entire ellie ct d'Esperant.
:. La jeune file, malgre ce que lu
await dit lucien, sentalt qu'elle avai
e eveill6 en- lui une de ces folles pas
:. sions qul, CONNIE les torrents, brisen
e dun coup tous les obstacles e
C Lucien, tout en- etant persuade
qu'avec un peu d'hab;lete il triomphe
rait des scrupules de Mandica, S
e disait que, pour amener la reussit
i de ses projects, il ne pouvait compte
e que sur son adresse, car Pamou
S partage ne lui viendrait jamais e.
aide.
S Tn soir il renouvela sa tentative
= mais aussi vainement que la premier
Il tois.
e Monsieur, lui dit Mandica /
e lendemain, je vous jure que 81 YOU
e me manquez une seule fols de respect
e ie pars, je fuis jamais de ce chateau
a dussG:je member mon pain sur L
IA route.
e --Allons, Sc dit d'Esperant, il n
:. me reste plus que la violence. Hlel
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-10-21
No. 10

pllSSelIlenl.
lie d1recteur de Ia Scala recut 4
merveille le vieux ma1tre 4 chanter
Lorsqu'iI rGvela impressario le
but de sa visite, celui-ci, certain que
leloge pompeux que lie vieuX musl-
Glen faisait de Mandica n'avait lien
d'exager6, Sc montra enchante du
choiX que maitrc Palestn await fat
de lui, pour faire connaItre au public
Ia nouvelle etole qui devait brileI
bient6t dun eclat 81 extraordinaire.
lie professeur atfirmait que son
eleve pouvait 6tre, en- SIX mois,
capable de paraitre sur Ia scene.
En- ce cas-, mon well ami, dit l.
directeur de la Scala au MAESTRO.
voici un engagement sur lequel j'ns-
cris le nom de votre eleve. Je fAe
ses debuts a huit mos de date a
partir de ce jour, ct je signe, men
remettant complement vous du
soin d'apprecier la valeur des servi-
ces que Mile Mandica pourra me
rendre ct je laisse en- blanc lie chiffre
de ses appointments, en- vous prlant
de le fxer vous-meme.
La delicatesse de ce procede emut
au dernier point le maitre a chanter
Des larmes de joie brillerent dams
ses yeux, ct il Sc jeta dams les bras
du directeur en- s'ecriant :
Caro- mio /! volci lie plus beau
jour de ma vie
Serge, qui assistait 4 cette CONVEX
sation, n'Aprouva pas une satisfaction
moins grande que celle que ressentait
le vieux maestro.
II quitta, ainsi que ce derpier, le
directeur de la Scala, ct les deux
voyageurs rentrerent a rhotel, Oh
maItre Palestri prit lmmediatement
la plume, afin d'apprendre Mandica,
ainsi QUA LucieD, pheurcuse issue de
sa demarche.
| LIE lendemain matin, maitre Pales-
trl Sc rendit a la poste-restante. on
des la veille, il etait deja allie vaine-
ment, Lucien lui ayant dit que sill
, await a lui ecrlre plus promptement
quill ne le croyait, il adresserait ses
messives a ce bureau.
, lie vieux MAESTRO y trouva une
lettre chargee.
Cette lettre contenait un mandat
payable a vue chez un des premiers
banquiers de Milan, ct etait concue
! en- ces termes:
"Cher monsieur Palestri.
"Je vous envoie ci-joint deux cents
"ducats en- une traite q vue sur Ia
'mellleure banque de Milan, ce
"qu'on affirme II est inutile que
''vous reveniez a Campo-Mare. De
"puis longtemps, Jaime Mandica, qui
''me paye de retour, ct dams trois
y ''mois ellie sera ma femme.
"C'est vous apprendre qu'elle ne
"chantera jamais a Milan, pas plus
"qu'ailleurs.
'Mme. d'Esperant ne peut monter
"sur les planches.
"Quant a Serge, vous comprendrez
"que je devais peloigrer a tout
"jamais.
"Je desire, lorsque je presenteyaI
"ma femme dams les salons de Paris,
"que tout lie monde ignore la mGsaI-
"liance queje vais contractor, non que
"je regrette GU que je rougisse de
"l'acte serieux que j'accomplis, mais,
"redoutant toute allusion a rorigine
ode Mandica, il m'est impossible de
"conserver aupres dele un temoin
'du passe, don't un jour, peut-etre, les
'propos indiscrets pourraient donner
"prise la malignit6.
"Agreez, mon cher monsieur Pales-
"trl, Iexpression de mes sentiments
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Architecture.

The remedy must begin with the fouldar
ton. The problems which long endea-
vored to have put before the students in
architecture while l was director of the
Institute of Technology consisted of the
questions with which was called upon 70
deal myself I would make the problems
given out to students in every school of
architecture, to the extent of one-half the
number submitted, of prosaic type One
would be the layout of an industrial town,
choosing as a possible site q bit of unoccu-
pied land somewhere in the neighborhood
of the city, with a stream running through
it, corresponding to a site by river where
power might be generated, or by landing
place for the fuel from which the power
might be derived.
To one pupil would assign the layout
of the land; to another the water supply
and drainage; to another the construction
of the principal factory, toanother the con-
struction of the lesser workshops; to an
other the grocer's and other shops; to an
other the blocks of dwelling houses; to an
other the separate dwellings; to others the
Catholic and Protestant churches; to an
other the hospital. and to others the school
houses. Here you have the real problems
of American industrial life, scarcely one of
which has yet been taught or solved in the
right way. SO as to combine true art with
utility and safety.-Edward Atkinson.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Incandescent LIGHTS.

People who use incandescentl ightsshould
always keep in mind the fact that there is
danger ever lurking about the brilliant lit
tie illuminators. Tt is an easy matter to
explain without going into the technicali-
ties of electric science. Of course you will
say so or 100 volts will not do much harm,
but don't be too sure of that, and particu.
larly don't imagine that so or 100 volts is
all your little wire will carry.
Sometimes the incandescent gets crossed
with high circuit wire. In that case it is
expected by the electrician that the safety
fuse will blow out and thus cut off the con-
nections, but sometimes this fuse don't
work. could cite many instances in which
it did not, and as a consequence disaster
resulted. No matter how much care is taken
to make the lights safe, there is always
danger in fooiing with lightning. Never
attempt TO turn on the light should the
floor be wet, for ground circuit is dead
ly thing, and don't take hold Of the metal
fixtures with one hand and then use the
other to turn on the light. The precautions
are easily observed.-Boston Transcript.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

Emperor Williams love of the use of
Latin quotations-he is an excellent Latin
scholar, due to the splendid training at the
gymnasium of Cassel-was illustrated
again recently in his telegram to the Berlin
Regatta Wansee society. ''Navigara necesse
est, vivere non necesse,' wrote his majesty
in the course of his congratulatory words.
The saying, it may be remembered, is that
of Ponlpey, and is to be found in chapter SO
of Plutarch's biography.
In order to prevent famine in Rome in
the year 81 B. c., Pompey was empower
ed to import as much grain as possible to
the city. He had 15 assistants. In order
to assure the success of his work he went
in person to Sicily, Sardinia and Africa.
When on the point of returning home, a
terrible storm broke forth, and the sailors
refused to put to sea with the load of grain.
Pompey sprang into one of the ships and
commanded the anchors to be raised, ad-
ding: ut is necessary that we embark; it
is not necessary that we live" This clas-
steal remark is engraved over the entrance
to the famous ''Schaferhaus" in Bremen.
New York Tribune
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
JUSTICE eRAY's CARRIAGE.
The Boston Nfafshal Proved Himself Equal
to the Emergency.

to the Emergency.
Attorney General Olney tells the follow
ing story about Mr.. Justice Gray of the
United States supreme court. Judge Gray
prefers riding to walking and a carriage or
cab to street car. When he first held
court in Boston, he asked the United States
marshal to provide him with carriage to
transport him from his hotel to the court
and back to the hotel after the days session.
Themarshal was commercially prompt and
cheerful in complying with the wishes of
the distinguished jurist. From Boston
Judge Gray went to Providence to hold
court. He asked the United States nlaSsll u
there to provide him with carriage to
carry him back and forth. The marshal
said he could not do so without paying for
the vehicle out of his own pocket.
why, how's that?" exclaimed the as
tonished jurist.
1.-THE department would not allow the
account, and I'll have to pay it" explained
the marshal.
'But the marshal at Boston furnished
me with a. carriage and had no trouble
with his accounts" said Judge Gray.
II don't see how he did it," protested the
Providence marshal. II know if tried it
that item in my accounts would be disal-
lowed"
Every WE'LL" said Judge Gray. "Of
course don't want you to pay for my car
riage," and he paid it himself, and the Incl
dent closed SO far as he was concerned.
Not so with the Providence marshal He
wrote to the Boston marshal and asked
him how he had managed to have his
charge for a carriage for Judge Gray's use
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
He Quoted Satan.

The following incident occurred while
General Butler was practicing law. In the
case the prisonec was charged with murder;
Butler was for the defense, and e. Rock
wood Hoar. at one time attorney general,
was for the people. Butler was urging vo-
ciferously plea of manslaughter and took
the jury to task for taking a mans life
and quoted, as he said, from the Bible:
And the Lord said, Skin for skin; yea, all
that man hath will he give for his life "
When Hoar rose, hereached for the Bible,
turned to the fourth verse, second chapter,
Of the book of Job and read: "And satan
answered the Lord and said, Skin for skin;
yea, all that man hath will he give for
his life." He sat down amid the cheers and
laughter of the whole courtroom.-Wash-
ington Capital.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
THE LITTLE BROWN WREN.
BY CLINTON scoLLARD.

There's little brown wren that mas
built In our tree,
And she's scarcely as pig as big bum
BILE bee;
She has followed house in the heart Of
And made the walls tidy and made the
floor trim
With the down of the crow's-foot, with
tow, and with straw,
Inc cozlest dwelling that ever yol saw.
This little brown wren has the brightest
of eyes,
And a foot of very diminutive size;
her a, TALL Is as trig as the sail OF snip;
Shes demure, though she walks with a
hop and skip;
AND her yoice-But flute were more hit
than pen
To tell the voice of the little brown
One morning Sir Sparrow came saunter-
ing by,
And cast on the wren's house an envious
eye;
With a strut of bravado and toss of his
head,
"Iil put in my claim here. :" the bold fell
low said
So straightway he mounted on impudent
wing
And entered the door without pausing
to ring.
An instant-and swiftly that feathery
knights
All towsled and tumbled, in terror took
flight;
While there by the door on her favorite
perch,
AS neat as a lady lust starting for
church,
With this song on her lips, "He will not
call again,
Unless he is asked" sat the little brown
wren.
-Harper's Young People.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Shocked the Upper.

The embarras DIES richesses of titled ladies
in Lossdon vino keep shops is oyerwhelm-
ing. The latest idea for fashionable female
industry is the afternoon tea shop, which
promises to be very successful, and where
one is served by very pretty young ladies
dressed in white pique dresses and long
French aprons. They are refined in man.
hers and attractive in appearance" They
also have charitable instincts, for when pre-
sented the other day by an elderly patron
ess with a pourboire of threepence the pref
ty young lady dropped the coins one by one
into the poor box, thereby causing quite q
shock to the weak nerves of the donor
Paris Herald
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Barter In Africa.

The wife of missionary to Africa gives
some amusing details of the mercantile
value OF certain articles among the natives,
needles and cloth ranking highest. They
are absolutely current coins. Three needles
Will purchase one chicken, one needle two
eggs Old tin and empty bottles are also
much in request, old cans taking the place
OF drinking cups. A fowl can be had for
two yards of cotton or q small piece OF
cloth. WASHINGTON Pnss
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Roman Tribunes.

Roman tribunes had both a civil and a
military function. Tribunes of the people
were invested with the power of vetoing
the proceedings of the senate and even OF
the courts Military tribunes were officers
elected in place of the consuls. The le-
gionary tribunes were the colonies of the
legion. There were six, and each in turn
commanded the legion. In battle each led
a cohort of 1000 men.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
WIT AND WISDOM.

Irate Customer-see, here, you blame skim!
You said them clothes wouldn't shrink just
lookat EN- Bowery Dealer-Mein frient, de
clos hat not shrink: vim you get back to de
country dey will fit like paint. You vas mot ag-
gostomed to the city air and it hat bloated
you-[Des Moines Argonaut.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

FOR SALE-I have for sale lots of wooden
- machinery, spinning jack, cord pickers,
picker and 80 barrel copper kettle, good condf-
ton, l screw press and other things too numer-
Gus to mention. ] also have a fine business
chanee Tor the right man to begin at once c.
j. FOSTER.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

Daughter pleading for her lover) -"But
father, I'm suresit's not my money he is after
He says he would marry me if I were ever so
poor!'
Stern and Prosaic Parent,-"Yes; he looks
as if he had no better "-[Puck
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Commissioners Notice.

TFyHE undersigned having been appointed by
County of Cumberland, in the State Of Maine,
on the 18th day OF October, A. D., 1898. COM
missioners to receive and decide upon all
claims of creditors against the estate of Henry
Nutter, late of Cape Elizabeth, in said county,
deceased. represented insolvent. hereby give
notice that six months from the date of said
appointment are allowed to said creditors in
that they will be in session at the following
times and places for the purpose of receiving
the same, viz: at the office of Locke & Locke,
aso Middle /! 1 street. IN SAID portland at 10
November and December, A. D., 1898 and
March, A. D., 1894.
CHARLES DUNN, JR. Commits
WILLIAM II. WALDRON, sioners.
Portland, Oct 26, 1893. oct27d1aw3wF
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

Relieves every sort of Bleeding Pain or In
f1ammation-Pofd's Extract. DO not be imposed
gpo7 by scedE limitations.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

i am an old man and have been constant
sufferer with catarrh for the last ten years
L am entirely cured by the use of Elys Cream
Balm. tits strange that so simple remedy
will cure such a stubborn disease.-Henry
Billings, U. S. Pension Atty, Washington, D. G.
i suffered for more than ten years with that
dreadful disease catarrh, and used every
available medicine that was recommended to
me. Icannot thank you enough for the re.
lief which Ely's Cream Balm has afforded me.
Emanuel Meyers. Winfield, L. l., N. Y.
II hate to see Johnny growing up so fast"
said Mrs. Bloobumner. "Childhood is so
sweet" THAT is so,'' replied Bloobumper;
'but that isn't the worst of it, We'll have to
borrow eo boy to go to the circus WITH
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

FOR SALE-Lamp chimneys that do NOT
Il break by heat Macbeth's pearl top. Thew
cost few cents more and are the kind that
his address to us and we will sell them. de-
liyered to you with no extra cost. E. SWAsEY
q CO., Wholesale Agents, Portland, Me. Al
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

Do you want to know what is going on
in the world-Take thePREss-
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

OR SALE-At Deering for $1,000. a 21h
story house of 10 rooms, arranged for two
1aam I lot 50x1Oo, building in good repair.
a very low price. Easy TERMS E. G.. S. RICK
hh s, First National Bank Building, Room /,
DaoouohI. 81
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

WANTED-Every housekeeper to buy some
w of those new California Seedless Raisins
at Whitney's, 291 Congress street Don't
spend your. time. stonihg ralsins when you can
WHITNEY. the Grocer, POI Congress street.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

E,OR sALE-Elegant new musical goods lust
received. Music Boxes. Mandolins. Gut
tars. Violins. Banjos, Harmonicas, New Sheet
MUSIC, Music Books, Superior Violin and Banjo
Strings. Please call. HALVES, Ala Congress
S~ees. Al
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

WANTED-A first class vestmaker; con-
w slant employment at good price to a fine
workman. HASKELL & JONES, Monument
Square 81
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
Baby cried, a
Mother sighed,
Doctor prescribed Castoria!

Nephew. chow are you uncle? De-
lighted to see you! How is dear aunt? And
those beautiful children, too, 10 you know,
I think you have the finest Children
Uncle producing cheekbook. with a sign).
How much is it this time, John?"-[ Truth.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10
ISLAND COTTAGERS.

I IF you wish Clock of any kind for your ISL
IL and home should be pleased to show you
MCKINNEY, ID Free street. near Middle
may23tf
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

MONEY TO LOAN-On farm mortgages as
lXl well as loans on other real estate. Also
on collateral securities at satisfactory. rates;
Farms and all kinds of real estate bought and
sold. /. F. PUTLER, 90 Exchange. S+rset.
1874
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-10

WANTED-A lady well qualified to teach
w piano or organ desires board in or near
Portland in exchange for her services. Refer
ences given and required. Address w. Press
Office. II