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tors only, whereas the others were originators of evil manners and notions; that all seemed topsyturvy; that apparently parents could no longer judge what was best for their children, but that children were to adopt la mode Anglaise, because, forsooth, it happened to please them; that young men went about making love to young ladies, and turning their silly heads, even before the age at which the idea of marriage could take definite shape."

"That is somewhat a cool statement," I said, "considering that before the young lady in question had even known the young man alluded to, the father had broached to her the marriage question."

"So I thought," said Raymond; "but it amused me to let the old gentleman have his say."

"Well, what else did he say?" "He said this: that De Maupert was an old college friend, a country neighbour, and a man of irreproachable conduct; that he had known him more or less intimately all his life; that he had watched his social advancement with fraternal pride, and that, given the world to choose from, he would find no one for whom he entertained so much regard, so real an esteem, and so great a consideration; that under these circumstances he had broached to him the subject of a closer alliance between his house and the Count. That M. de Maupert had at first objected that he was too old for so young a person; but on this being altogether pooh-poohed, he had, like you, been struck with the wonderful beauty of Mademoiselle Diane, and being struck, had struck his bargain with Diane's father."

I was much interested in these details, for it clearly showed that M. de Maupert at least was not the principal culprit in this affair;

and that should matters come to a crisis, the result of which would be painful to him, as I now felt absolutely certain it would prove, both Diane and myself would find an unexpected ally in the father, whom we both had treated with so much confidence, and whose tardy remorse at being the originator of our troubles would soften into a ready instrument for restoring peace.

"Go on," I said to Raymond; "all this is very interesting."

"Of course it is," he answered; "but I was not going to write all this, as you may well imagine. I never waste words on paper, or sentiments either, for the matter of that."

"Do go on," I said impatiently.

"There is not much more to add," he replied. "What took place afterwards is better known to yourself than to any one else; but the idea that you have blabbed about the roses has powerfully moved the old gentleman; and though his indignation is softening a little, yet it was so great that he hurried matters as soon as you were gone, and caused the banns between his daughter and his friend to be published at once."

"Have you seen Diane, and does she think me capable of boasting publicly of her kind thought of myself?"

"Do not put on that tragic air," he said.

"Lovers are perfectly insufferable," added Raymond. "The most intelligent men become absolute fools: either their voice and manner become tragical, or their mirth in its exaggeration steps into the regions of comedy.

"No, Monsieur l'ami," imitating my voice,; "Diane did not think you capable of boasting of her kind thought of you. She never thought of you at all. She had

no doubt that you were a gentle- no power on earth will make her man, and would act as one; but say Yes when she is asked the she was annoyed at her attentions usual question at the marriage to you becoming the object of ceremony." public remark. How do you explain the circumstances?"

"Easily." And I told him about my getting the roses from the porter.

"That explains everything," he said, "and I will let the Marquis know."

"But tell me," I said, "what is the meaning of this anonymous message?' I pulled it out of my pocket and gave it to him to read. "It means, no doubt, what it says," laughed Raymond.

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Why should it be sent to me?" "My dear boy, you are simply impossible. How am I to tell you why an anonymous letter is sent you? If I could tell you the reason of such letter, the name of the writer, and his address in town, I suppose the latter would no longer be an anonymous production. For goodness' sake be more reasonable."

There was no use in asking him any more questions; and it is useless to recall all he said during this walk about Diane and her behaviour in these trying circum

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"When is that ceremony to take place?" I asked.

"I believe," said Raymond, "that it is fixed for to-morrow week I mean the civil marriage— and that the religious ceremony will take place on the following day."

"Has the trousseau been ordered?" I asked, with a painful bone gnawing at my throat and wellnigh strangling me.

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Certainly, and Diane has taken an extraordinary interest in it: so much so, in fact, that her mother declares the girl to have no other idea in her head than to gather together, if not the richest, at least the most beautiful corbeille de mariage ever seen."

It struck me all of a sudden, and the idea thrust the bone back in a most efficacious manner, that she was taking an interest in her trousseau on my account, and I forthwith determined to order my own wedding-coat and presents for my bride.

Raymond added brightness to this thought, by remarking slyly, "One of Diane's peculiarities is that she has absolutely and decidedly refused to have any initials embroidered on her things, and all are to be marked with her name, Diane, only."

"She knows," I exclaimed to Raymond, "that that is the only name I care for."

"Va te promener," said Raymond; "I am sick of you and of Diane, and as I am near home, I will leave you, unless you have settled with Madame de Chantalis to disturb my peaceful evening by more love-talk.'

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He said all this so goodnaturedly that I could not take

offence, but I wished him good- she delivered her commands,-Be bye, thanking him for the valuable information he had communicated

to me.

Four days went by, and owing to some unusual pressure of work, I had seen nobody, nor heard from any one, when towards evening a little note was handed to me. It contained these words:

"Monday next, eleven o'clock, at the Mairie of the VII. Arrondissement. Be there.-D."

To describe my feelings on receiving this is to attempt the impossible. I had believed in a crisis, but in one which would take place before any necessity had arisen to go so far as the Mayor's presence.

I had fancied that at the last moment either Diane's parents would have had pity on their daughter's misery; that the Count would have respected her undisguised loathing to this arranged marriage; that Diane herself would have thrown herself at her father's feet and implored his mercy; or would have begged the Count to spare her young years and relieve her misery; but apparently all these considerations were absurd, indeed they never had been thought of.

"Monday next, eleven o'clock, at the Mayoralty. Be there." Diane herself, in her own handwriting, though she merely initialed the note and did not sign it-Diane, my Diane, invited me to be present at her wedding with my rival.

I read again. There was no mistake. Lest I should forget the exact district of Paris where the girl lived who constituted my life, my hope, my soul, my faith, my creed, my everything, she had marked it down. There it was written-Seventh District, at eleven o'clock-and in letters as clear and as distinct as if they were printed,

there.

I required no more. I would go. She had bidden me: it was henceforth a duty. Perhaps she might want help; no one but myself should give it to her; perhaps she wished me to witness her unwillingness, her powerlessness, her sacrifice to duty. Did I not know it? No; I could not go. May be she wanted me to have the chance of forbidding the banns. I would rise in my chair on the following Sunday, and throw my glove, to be picked up by the Senator Count.

Perhaps she wished me to prove myself her champion on the day of her sacrifice. Yes; I would.

I took a sheet of paper, pinned upon it the little blue favour which I had so long treasured, and wrote these words:

"The blue is as bright as it was when I received it. Please return it if a storm is impending. want to protect my property.'

I

By nine in the morning it was returned with these words:

"Il faut combattre à nous deux maintenant."

I fully understood the message, and returned an answer by post, fully directed to Diane, and written in the boldest characters :—

“MY DARLING,-Rely upon me. I shall be by your side on Monday, and we shall win the day."

She answered it by a messenger, a valet of her own father's, saying

"Wait till I give the signal: do not precipitate things. My signal will surprise so many that it will be unmistakable; but it may strain all the courage I possess, and at that supreine moment I may be unable to do more. I therefore look to your strong arm, your

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As a man prepares by fasting and prayer to deserve a life eternal hereafter, so did I from the moment I received the above note devote myself to solitude and thought, as a preparation to the ceremony of Monday, to which Diane alone had bid me: to which I looked for the signal which would free her and free me, and throw us into one another's arms.

Monday came, and long before the clock had struck ten, arrayed in my best clothes, wearing the blue favour given by Diane during that cotillon which had played such a part in our lives, with a countenance as stolid, as firm, as resolved as was the will within me, which reflected itself in my features, I sought admittance at the Mairie.

At ten, and not before, I was allowed to go into the hall; but it was not before half-past ten that I was permitted to enter the room wherein Mademoiselle de Breteuille's marriage was about to be solemnised in accordance with the requirements of the French civil law.

There was a square table, with pen, ink, and paper. There were two chairs for the engaged couple in front of the table, and two others for the Mayor and his clerk, or adjoint, on the other side.

There were a few other chairs in the body of the room for near relatives and old people; but I cared not for a seat, and took up my position next to the wall on the side which the lady would occupy during the ceremony.

Presently the people came trooping in,and all in gay humour, bandying their remarks at one another,

and, perceiving me, whispering to each other that which I cared not to hear, but which, I felt certain, referred to my sad disappointment and my well-known admiration for la mariée.

The noise increased as the company increased, and now many pressed near me and talked and compassionated with me.

To all remarks I preserved a stolid silence; but edged myself forward, so as to keep well in sight of Diane.

A few moments later the Mayor, wearing his scarf, and his clerk, entered the room, bowed to the audience, and asked whether the marriage ceremony could be proceeded with.

"They are coming!" shouted the people in the audience; and making room for them, there marched forward a procession, in the first two persons of which it was composed I alone took interest.

The Marquis de Breteuille led his daughter to the table. His step was uncertain; hers was perfectly steady. His eyes wandered; hers were fixed. His countenance indicated trouble; hers was as calm and as placid as if nothing in the world was more common than to be led as a lamb to the slaughter.

As they approached the table, they both caught sight of me. Diane bowed to me, and gave me once more that divine smile which had led me captive at her feet, and plunged my whole frame, body and soul, into one long worship of her beauty, goodness, and being. The Marquis frowned, and looked away.

Another man saw me, too, and frowned likewise. M. de Maupert, on taking his seat on the other side of Mademoiselle de Breteuille, had me full in view, and relished not the sight. As if the air had

become suddenly charged with electricity, every one kept looking at the anxious faces of myself, M. de Maupert and the Marquis.

Although rumour had not been very busy respecting us, still sufficient report had spread as to this marriage being hateful to the bride, for the concern which our countenances exhibited not to give it consistency; and a kind of silence, such as precedes a storm, fell upon the noisy and brilliant company.

The unusual sight, too, of a cotillon ribbon at my button-hole at tracted attention, and made people wonder what possessed me to wear such a bauble on such an occasion. It was therefore with breathless attention that the large gathering of the friends of both families listened to the Mayor's statements as to what constituted legal impediments to a marriage, and with almost painful expectation that they awaited the answers which were now to be given to the Mayor's questions.

"Monsieur," asked the Mayora very gentlemanlike man of some fifty years of age, with a long, well-combed beard, a stately gait, and a countenance suited to his official position--"are you the person desirous to be married?"

It seemed so absurd a question, seeing that M. de Maupert was standing before him for the purpose, that I could not refrain a sickly smile that forced itself to my face, and which De Maupert noted almost at the same time that he acquiesced in reply to the official question.

"Then," proceeded the Mayor in a sententious manner, reading from a paper he held in his hands, and having previously adjusted an eyeglass, you, Count Charles Emmanuel de Maupert, do you take this lady--Diane Marie Ghislaine de Breteuille for your wife?"

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"I do," replied the Count, with a bow to Diane.

"And you,"continued the Mayor, still reading in the same unconcerned fashion, "Diane Marie Ghislaine de Breteuille, do you, with the consent of your parents, duly certified and freely givendo you take Count Charles Emmanuel de Maupert for your husband?"

My whole soul went out to the girl, who in that solemn moment had it in her power by one single word from her lips to seal her own fate and mine, and with a terrible sickness of heart that foreboded an equally terrible crisis, I marked her lovely pale face, from which all rays of sunshine had faded, and I was about to utter a yell of despair when from under her veil I noticed a little blue bow, just like the one I wore, sewn beneath the folds of the bodice of her white dress, hid almost from view, but peeping at that moment at me as if to say, What manner of faith have you in me? am I not true to you? am I not here to show you how staunch I can be? wait for the signal and see.

All this was felt, thought of, seen, and appreciated in the space of a second; for in another second a clear voice like that of a silver bell, went forth pure and true into the hall, and taking that assemblage to witness, sounded in my ears like the message of an angel, as the words, "Non, Monsieur le Maire," struck the whole audience dumb with amazement.

Before the astonishment of all present had had time to translate itself into words, the Mayor, continuing his official duties with the slightest possible semblance of surprise visible on his face, asked the noble girl the motives of her refusal.

In the same distinct tones came

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