Middletown transcript., 1901-01-05

end justified my inaction; for the duel,
taking place that evening, resulted in
nothing worse than serious, but not
dangerous, wound which St. Mesmin,
fighting with the same fury as in the
morning, contrived to infict on his op-
ponent.
For some weeks after this l saw little
of the young frebrand, though from time
to time he attended my receptions and
invariably behaved to me with modesty
which proved that he placed some bounds
to his presumption. heard, moreover,
that NJ. de Saintonge, in acknowledg-
ment of the triumph over the St. Ger
mains which he had afforded him, had
taken him up; and that the connection
between the families being publicly
avowed, the two were much together
Judge of my surprise, therefore, when
one day, little before Christmas, NJ de.
Saintonge sought me at the Arsenal, and,
drawing me aside into the garden, broke
into furious TRADE against the young
fellow.
'But," I said, in immense astonish-
ment, "what is this? I thought that he
was young man quite to your mind;
and-'
He is madP' he answered.
"Mad?" I said.
eyes, madr' he repeated, striking the
ground violently with his cane. ''Stark
mad, M. de Rosny. He does not know
himself! What do you think-but it is
inconceivable. He proposes to marry my
daughter! This penniless adventurer
honors Mademoiselle de Saintonge by
proposing for hert'
He has, of course, seen Mademoiselle?"
M de Saintonge nodded
AT your house, doubtless?"
"Of coursep' he replied, with snap
of rage.
Then am afraid it is serious, said
He stared at me, and for an instant
thought that he was going to quarrel with
me. Then he asked me why.
was not sorry to have this opportun-
ity of at once increasing his uneasiness,
and requitting his arrogance. Because"
I said, this young man appears to me to
be very much out of the common.
Hitherto, whatever he has said he would
do, he has done. If you will take my
my advice, you will proceed with eau
| tion."
M. de Saintonge, receiving an answer
SO little to his mind, was almost bursting
with rage. Proceed with cautionp he
cried. "You talk as if the thing could
be entertained, or as if I had cause to
fear the coxcomb! On the contrary, l
intend to teach him lesson. A little con-
fnement will cool his temper. You
must give me letter, my friend, and we
will clap him in the Bastille for month
or two."
Impossible" I said firmly. "Quite
impossible, NJ. lie Marquis
NJ. de Saintonge looked at me, frown-
ing. "How?" he said arrogantly. 'Have
my services earned no better answer than
that 2"
"You forget" replied. ''Let me re-
mind you that less than month ago you
asked me not to interfere with st. Mes
min and at your instance I refused to
accede to NJ. de Clans request that l
would confne him. You were then all
for non-interference, NJ. de Saintonge,
and cannot blow hot and cold besides,
to be plain with you," continued, 'even
if that were not the case, this young fel
low is in manner under my protection !;
which renders it impossible for me to
move against him. If you like, however
I will speak to him.
"Speak to him p' M. de Saintonge cried.
He was breathless with rage. He could
say no more.
Within week NJ. de st. Mesmin's pre-
tension to the hand of Mademoiselle de
Saintonge was first in the attention of all
Paris. The young lady, whose n puta-
ton and the care which had been spent
on her breeding, no less than her gifts of
person and character, deserved better
fate, attained in moment a notoriety
far from enviable; rumor's hundred ton
CUES alleging and probably with truth
for what father can vie with gallant in
maiden's eyes?-that her inclinations
were all on the side of the pretender.
Wherever Mademoiselle's presence was
to be expected, St. Mesmin appeared,
dressed in the extreme of the fashion,
and wearing either favor made of her
colors or glove which he asserted that
she had given him. Throwing himself
in her road on every occasion,
he expressed his passion by the most ex-
travagant looks and gestures; and pro-
tected from the shafts of ridicule alike
by his self-esteem and his prowess, did a
hundred things that rendred her con-
spicuous and must have covered an
other than himself with inextinguish-
able laughter.
In these circumstances NJ. de Saintonge
began to find that the darts which |
glanced off his opponents armour were
making him their butt; and that he, who
had valued himself all his life ON a |
stately dignity and pride almost Spanish,
was rapidly becoming the laughing-stock
of the Court. His rage may be better
imagined than described, and doubtless
1 ,o&f M /
the ordinary contemptuous refusal which |
would have sent another suitor about his
business, was of no avail here; he had no
son, while St. Mesmin's recklessness
rendered the boldest unwilling to engage
him. saintonge found himself, there
fore, at his wits end, and in this emer-
gency bethought him again of lettre de
cachet. But the King proved as obdu-
l. l.