charge," replied Asmodeus. "Some of my brethren, indeed, make no scruple of breaking their word; but I—not to mention the service you are going to do me, which I can never sufficiently repay-am a slave to mine; and I swear, by all that renders our oaths inviolable, that I will not deceive you. Depend upon my assurances. I promise you, withal, that you shall revenge yourself on Doña Thomasa, that perfidious lady who hid four ruffians to surprise and force you to marry her-a circumstance that should please you."

The young student, charmed above all with this last promise, to hasten its accomplishment immediately took the vial, and, without concerning himself what might be the event of it, threw it hard against the ground. It broke into a thousand pieces, and overflowed the floor with a blackish liquor, which by little and little evaporated, and converted itself into a thick smoke; which, dissipating all at once, the amazed student beheld the figure of a man in a cloak, about two feet and a half high, resting on two crutches. This diminutive lame monster had goat's legs, a long visage, sharp chin, a yellow and black complexion, and a very flat nose; his eyes, which seemed very little, resembled two lighted coals; his mouth was extremely wide, above which were two wretched red whiskers, edged with a pair of unparalleled lips.

This charming Cupid's head was wrapped up in a sort of turban of red crape, set off with a plume of cocks' and peacocks' feathers. About his neck he wore a yellow linen collar, on which were drawn several models of necklaces and earrings. He was dressed in a short white satin coat, and girt about with a girdle of virgin-parchment, marked with talismanical characters. On this coat were painted several pairs of women's stays, very advantageously fitted for the

discovery of their breasts, scarfs, party-colored aprons, newfashioned head-dresses of various sorts, each more extravagant than the other.

But all these were nothing compared with his cloak, the ground of which was also of white satin. On it, with Indian ink, were drawn an infinite number of figures, with so much freedom, and such masterly strokes, that it was natural enough to think the devil had a hand in it. On one side appeared a Spanish lady, covered with her veil, teasing a stranger as they were walking; and on the other a French one, practising new airs in her glass, in order to try them at a young patched and painted abbot, who appeared at her chamber door. Here a number of Italian cavaliers were singing and playing on the guitar under their mistresses' balconies; and there a company of Germans, all in confusion and unbuttoned, more intoxicated with wine and begrimed with snuff than any conceited French fops, surrounding a table overflowed with the disgusting remains of their debauch. In one place was a great Mohammedan lord coming out of the bath, surrounded by all the women of his seraglio, officiously crowding to tender him their service; in another, an English gentleman very gallantly presenting a pipe and a pot of beer to his mistress.

There gamesters were also wonderfully well represented; some of them animated by a sprightly joy, heaping up pieces of gold and silver in their hats; and others, broken and reduced to play upon honor, casting up their sacrilegious eyes to heaven, and gnawing their cards with despair. To conclude, there were as many curious things to be seen on it as on the admirable buckler of the son of Peleus, which exhausted all Vulcan's art; with this difference betwixt the performance of the two cripples: that the figures on the buck

Iler had no relation to the exploits of Achilles, but, on the contrary, those on the cloak were so many lively images of whatever was done in the world by the suggestion of Asmodeus.-" The Devil on Crutches."

J. F. Regnard

The Cowardly Marquis

The MARQUIS, VALÈRE, HECTOR, and Three LACKEYS.

Hec. Ah, here is the marquis, that tender hero.

Val. He who sighs?

Hec. Yes, after our countess.

Mar. (behind the scenes). Let my chair wait two hundred paces from here. And you three keep at a distance too. I am incognito.

(Exeunt LACKEYS.)

Hec. (to VALÈRE). What will he try to do?

Mar. Are you not the gentleman named Valère?

Val. Yes, sir, that has always been my name.

Mar. I am most profoundly charmed. Will you permit the valet to withdraw?

Val. (to HECTOR). Go.

Hec. Sir

Val. Go. Must I repeat it?

Mar. Do you know who I am?

Val. I have not that honor.

(Exit HECTOR.)

Mar. (aside). Courage, Marquis! You are strong. He is afraid. (Aloud.) I am nevertheless well known in the city, and am familiar, you must know, with dukes, archdukes, princes, marquises, and great lords-everybody, in a word, most fashionable at court. There I am dangerous to every beauty, master of every feast, singer and soul of every assembly. I am perfect in everything. My courage is

known. I never fight without killing my opponent. I have come out of a hundred quarrels. My ancestors are famous. You have before you a gentleman.

Val. Your appearance bears witness to that.

Mar. It seems now that I almost unawares have touched with the flame of my love a certain lady. The affair is commonplace enough, but the beauty has become enamored of me, as you can readily believe. Only, some one claims to have a right to her, and to try to oppose obstacles to my love is like trying to stem a mountain torrent.

Val. I hardly believe that any one would be so bold. Mar. I am told, nevertheless, that you yourself are doing it.

Val. I?

Mar. That without respect for either my station or quality, you nourish in your heart a wish to defeat mine. Val. That is an absolute untruth. I know well enough that fate has put a distance between us.

Mar. (aside). He trembles. (Aloud.)

Do you know

that I have something here to make you feel very small? Val. So I perceive.

Mar. You think that with your caustic humor you can treat me as if I were the ace of spades.

Val. I, sir?

Mar. (aside). He is afraid of me. (Aloud.) You are plunging into it, you twopenny upstart!

(VALÈRE knocks off the MARQUIS's hat.)

Mar. (aside). He has courage after all. (Aloud.) I re

strain my anger. But

Val. (putting his hand to his sword). Since you wish it, I will give you satisfaction.

Mar. Good! Good! That makes me laugh!