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HART--CHESNUT STREBT. I I I I I < " 1^36, L.H.-. 1^0^6455,127 Fy \ •gay and liev( amu furn and T ofcl the I of n FRASCATI'S; OR SCENES IN PARIS. CHAPTER I. - ** What is life to a man unless he travels ?— Paris thi^ gayest, the pol test, the most dissipated, the most fascSatiit and the most delightful city in the uniierse^iT ve ar^ to be'- heve the accounts of travellers and natives offer 111 h« iHrnish me with abundant matter both for orivate soeculatTftn of H«r!t . /* ""^^^ soliloquy, pronounced over my bottle tt morn!i J^r^ '' was the fruit of a letter I had r^eTveS n If Ze ^fr r '°n»P.'?^ ^°^^"*^*^ fr»«"d andcountrymaS Of mine, Sir Brien O'Flaherty, of OTlaherty HaU, in the A 2 "^0^445^ ^ FRASCATl's; OB countv Of Connaught. Afflicted with the mania of conti- nental travelling, which like an epidemic, had seIzS every individual whose purse was long enough to bear h'm to tK^ th«lf '. 1 '^' channel the worthy blronet had y^lded J^ ^e sohcitations of a maiden sister, now somewhat past the grand climactenc, and resolved on a journey to the French capital. Cheered by the anticipatioli of pleasure, amuse- E JtiXJ;:^^''?' T^^'^ '^' «^"^^"« ima.inaUon of Miss O ^laherty profusely and eagerly displayed, her brother had borne the separation from hil Plates and icrTs tolera' bly well, until their arrival in London. Here, howevetws natural impatience was called into life and activity by the M.rO'FUhpTr!i *^ highly expensive hotel. It 4ich Tf? % ^!r^ ^'^^ pronounced it to be indispensable to their dignity that they should take up their temporary abode j-by he importun ties of a host of young and need^ K men, (who beset his apartments and borrowed his money?) SL*' P^?'*"^ ^^l^iions of his sister with one and all of these— and. more than all. by the assiduous attentions of the whole to a lovely and amiable girl, his niece, by whom he mir'^^Pn-'^- K^"i"!?^ ^""^^»' therefor^, wrtSe utmost expedition, he had continued his route to Dover, muttering, grumbling, cursing, and half-repenting his deter' ZTSV''^'''''fj'l^^ approached nearer to the point of embarkation, and fully resolved to return as he gazed on the water which was soon to divide him for the first time from those who spoke the same tongue, drank the same wines, paid the same taxes, and voted at the same elections. In hv M-« n?^', r^^'"' l^^' ^"^ reproaches were employed by Miss OTlaherty, who commanded her niece to join in •upphcauon with her. Too timid to disobey the injunction ot her despotic aunt, loo affectionate to thwart the inclina- Pmfi * f .."^"Y?* ^^^ ^^'^'^' ^^ ^^^ ^»"^ ""cle, the trembling t-naily faltered forth an appeal, which had more effect on the testy Baronet than all the solicitations and reproaches of his BWter. Folding her somewhat rudely to his bosom, he ex- eiaimed, m answer to her timidly preferred entreaty that --» And how, pray ?" U» English" S,:t''pr,^i "J "" »•»»* to esuib- "mnsement^nS Z:^JL^r^l: .^^'^ » "»'«'. both of s rRASCATIS; OR gaged for the purpose, and Abbott and Smithson among the rest. Considering our unrivalled dramatic excellence, there- fore, it cannot be difficult to divine what will be the result. The French, sir, let me assure you, are deficient in that gra- vity of emphasis and significance qf gesture which are so re- quisite for the development of tragic rage and tragic pathos, in which ^e so eminently excel. There is a lightness of manner, an absence of character about them, that precludes success in the sublimer departments of the drama, while at the same time they laok that continuity of feeling necessary to maintain intense sensation for any length of time.*' ** I fear,*' said I, secretly amused at this professional burst of self gratulation, (for it was evident from the tone, manner, and appearance of my companion, that he was a member of the histrionic profession,) *' I fear that the incapabilities you discover in French actors, may extend equally to French audiences, and should this want of * continuity of feeling ne- cessary to maintain intense sensation,' be national, your tra- gic efforts will be thrown completely away ; and your lauda- ble desire to improve the French stage, remain both unap- plauded and unrewarded." ** Not at all^ my dear sir; unrewarded they may be, but unapplauded, never ! That is quite impossible ; for though the French may be incapable of thoroughly ^cc/tW our ex- cellence, still they must appreciate and admire it. However, be that as it may, whenever we may choose to descend to genteel comedy, and become elegantly playful, support the character of the complete gentleman with easy and becoming freedom, keep up the proper dignity of the country, you know, and all that sort of thing ; when, moreover, to these advantages we add that of a fine person, and a decent leg in particular, (not that I am by any means vain of mine, or rest my claims to distinction solely on my physical merits,) and possess a variety of happy combinations in our favour, I maintain that it iH almost an impossibility to fail in command- ing applause." **And pray, sir," I demanded, with much apparent aeri' THE ENGLISH IN FARM. ouaness and anxiety of manner, " are all your performers of an equally select descripiloii ? This is a point I should con- ceive of vital importance to your success, for if you would seek to impress the French nation with " " Nay, nay," he implied, smiling complacently, and glancing his eye along his leg for an instant, " be under no apprehension of a failure. That you are actuated I v a lauda- ble and patriotic anxiety, I can easily believe, and certainly It cannot be denied that much national reputation is at stake. However, there is nothing, my dear sir, to fear. We are unquestionably a very select portion of the profession. 1 here are going— let me see—in the first place there is your humble servant— I am going; then there is Abbott and Miss Smithson, as I told you before ; and in short, several others ot considerable theatrical renown. But even two or three, or I may say one good actor, is quite enough for our pur* pose* " Quite enough," I replied ; " stars are never noticed when comets take the field." "One great actor," resumed my companion, bowing mo» ceatly io the compliment which he very properly assumed to himself, " will make the most indifferent company pass current with the public ; for so delighted are the audience with his appearance, so dazzled by the blaze and vigour of ms ta ent, that they never stoop to inquire into the merits of nis lellows. Nay, they are scarcely aware of their presence ; lor when the actor quits the scene, he leaves them so fully impressed with the beauty of his performance, that the seve. ral points he has made, and the new, and hitherto undisco, jered readings he has developed, afford them deep and suffi. f^ii' ff ^'''.'^^^''/°" ^''^ admiration, until he appear, a^m. This, sir, is the true beauty of a star; or, as y^ more properly and flatteringly express it, a comet." 1 smiled, and shook my head. |ny"ap?nio^^»™*" ^* pursued, " not to subscribe altogether to "Wost certainly not," I replied, « Now, for 'mUmc9. 10 FRASCATI*8; OR IP tfie Moor of Venice, three great performers are indispen- aable to produce a great effect. Were I to see your perform- ance, or that of some other equally transcendant genius, marred, in the character of Othello, by an indifferent Desde- mona, or some long-faced mouthing fellow of an lago, it would drive me mad. Why sir, I would as soon listen to the most souKstirring composition of Eandel, played by the most exquisite performer on the most exquisite cremona, ac- companied by a barrel organ and a Scotch bagpipe." This difference of opinion was evidently any thing but displeasing to my companion of the buskin. " I clearly per- ceive,'' he said, " that you are a gentleman of much taste and discrimination ; the observation you have just made, is evidence of the fact ; but my remark, you must understand, applies only to audiences in general ; for it is undeniable that managers expect too much from us. They seem to think that a single actor of our class (of course you have seen me on the boards) ought to compensate for the deficiencies of the rest. Yet this, however, I will admit, that great allowance must be made for managers, seeing how scarce we are. To concentrate three or four first rate performers in a single company, is no easy tafk, you may be assured. Exceed- ingly difficult, sir, indeed. Moreover, our remuneration is far from being adequate to the services we are called on al- most exclusively to perform. The priest, for instance, ob- tains twenty pounds for his appeal to the benevolence of his congregation, for some charitable institution. The lawyer and the physician are rewarded liberally. The beggarly author of a tragedy or a comedy has his share of a benefit, whereas an actor of merit and talent, who amuses an entire theatre for several consecutive hours, seldom receives more than fifty pounds a night." " What a shame !" exclaimed an elderly gentleman who sat next him, " what a reflection on our taste ! What a sa- tire on the age, that so promising an actor should not be al- lowed more than (thy pounds a night !" The exclamation was accompanied by a smile of bitter irony that nettled the THE ENGLISH IN PARIS. 11 ives more . sonof Thespis not a litUe, nor could he refrain from betray- • mg It in his reply. "^ "Irish, I presume," he remarked, with an awkward af- fectation of contempt; "yet that circumstance i« not much, after all, to your discredit. There are some very clever fellows among you— jovial, joyous, merry souls, who love lun and the bottle, and are not altogether wanting in dra- matic discernment. Indeed^ I was surprised at the discrimi- nation of the Irish, for my first appearance in Dublin was nailed with deafening applause." » " ''J*' ^^ no proof," answered the ironical gentleman, of the dramatic discernment of the Irish— it was one ra- ther of their charity, for generally they are considerate enough to allow most where most wanting. Perhaps 7*v "'^'^V' *"^ cheered you for your good intentionsf" I our chanty and good nature are proverbial," anffrily and contemptuously retorted the other; "potatoes and po- teen are occasionaUy at the service of the stranger; but you make a parade of generosity with what you know will not be accepted." "I presume," rejoined the ironical gentleman, " you in- vou^o^Vff^^'\^^''^^f ^^*- *^' country-but were you inclined to rise beyond a sarcasm at its poverty, you F^&-^^^ ^^'^^ *¥ *® '"^^ ^^^ '""^h resemble the ZZt '" f ""^'^ ""^ ; continuity of feeling necessary to m«ntam mtense sensation,' since the slightest encomium on your transcendant talent has never yet, I apprehend es^ WUiem. Donot, however, im4ine th^T^^f them as my countrymen-such they are not— and so far ymni^ebeen wi^ng in determini^ the plLe^,^^ m,ini^^^TS^'" ^^"^'^^^ *« ^ctor, tummg to me with I Zl-n f ^^^u"^ dexteniy, and affecting not to h!ve paidTny vis *° *^.'«">^'k of the ironical gentleman,!" I Si! variably make it a point to travel outsidl, for I am a war^ ' ^ ®"*"«««*»c admirer of rural scenery." * And yet, this morning," I replied, wrapping my cloak a FRASCATl's; or' ttiore closely around me, for it was rainy and cold, " must be somewhat unfavourable to your taste. For my part, I would gladly have secured an inside seat had it been possi- ble, but they were all taken.^' This was a better screen for his economy, and he oro- fited by the hint. ' ^ "You are right," he observed, " they were all engaged, or I too should have had an inside place. I invariably make it a point when travelling to secure an inside seat merely with a view of providing against casualties in weather. J his morning is certainly much more severe than I had anticipated ; however, do not be uneasy on my account. I will just take the liberty of throwing the end of your cloak over my legs in order to keep the rain off.— Pray give yourself no trouble about me." While accommodating himself in this manner, he looked in another direction, and having finally settled himself at my expense, appeared to be wholly unconcerned at the drenching to which I was exposed. An important personage got up at Canterbury. This in- dividual was profusely ringed, smelt like a civet cat, was laden with enormous seals, and sported a magnificent snuff- box. Nor was it long before we were severally greeted with a pinch out of the splendid bijou. This, of course, afforded the owner an opportunity of descanting on its in- estimable valuCj and satisfying us that it was the gift of a person of quality, his most intimate friend. The proprietor of the snuff-box was an Irish dancing master, who, having contrived to Frenchify a most beauti- ful indigenous Munster name, had disclahned poor Erin altogether, and transferred the honour of having given birth to him to the land of dance. I had had some little profes- sional acquaintance with Mr. Boughy, now Monsieur Bougie, and at our meeting here he favoured me with a boTr that would have done honour to the court of Louis the Fourteenth. " Do you intend visiting my country?" he inquired. THE E.4i;LlSH IN PARIS. 13 " I do," was my reply. " It is certainly the garden of the world," he pursued, with as much warmth and eagerness as if he had actually been a native. — " I am all impatience to reach it. Ah I how powerfully implanted in us is that longing to revisit the land of our forefathers and the scenes of our birth ! Yet, to indulge these feelings is not the sole object of my return! No, to these I unite high professional motives. I have I been absolutely bored out of my life to visit Paris by Lady Caper, my Lord Twirl, and numerous other persons of dis- [ tmction, my most intimate friends. They are enraptured ^ with the baUets, delighted with the quadrilles just come jout; and, satisfied that no one but myself could import these dances in all their original beauty, they insisted on I my going over.*' ! " Nor did they flatter you," I remarked, " for I, who [have some pretensions to taste in that most delightful of all laccomphshments, am perfectly of the same opinion." " Your taste," exclaimed Bougie eagerly, " is universally admitted, and I myself have heard you expatiate on the im- portant science of dancing more judiciously and profoundly than any other man I ever met with— «o much so indeed, pat I thought you had been brought up to the profession." ' "Grace, I remarked, bowing in return to his comoli- lent, "IS your chief aim." ^ "Precisely so, and wherever I find a pliancy of limb I pdeavour to engraft on it an imposing carriage. To be i graceful dancer, bless me ! what an attainment ! The Capability, sir, must be in a great degree inherent ; not that I can be denied that a great deal depends on the master Rrace, grace is every tiling. What an idea the ancient Ipets had of this attribute ! In their descriptions of female livmity they never fail to mention it. Then your countrv- lan, Moore, has J graceful smoke,'* Might step,' and heaven ypt.' Milton too says, if you re^Uect, « grace ras m all her steps.' *l ^ * " 1 knew by the smoke that w fracefonr njrled •» VOL. I. — ^B & , - w FRASCATIS; OR •* What a learned dancing mrter we have picked up/* remarked the ironical gentleman, half addressing himself to the actor. The actor .very graciously smiled an assent, for he v«ras not sorry to be on good terms with one whose sarcasm was go biting. " Very learned indeed," he replied, simpering and chuckling, ** a perfect rara avis — rhe seems to have cul- tivated his head as well as his heels." " Pray sir," continued the ironical gentleman, addressing Monsieur Bougie^ *' may I be permitted to ask your opinion on a subject of considerable dispute among the members of your profession ? Your decision will at once set the ques- tion at rest with me. What is your idea of the Tabula Cebetis, generally printed with the works of Epictetus? Do you consider it a standard work on the science of dancing ?" The abruptness of this interrogatory seemed to occasion Monsieur Bougie vo little embarrassment. He certainly had no recollection of any such author as Cebes, yet, as he oould not well acknowledge his ignorance of a work writ^ ten, as he was given to understand, on the art he professed, he was about to reply in its favour, when the other pur" sued, — " You, of course, sir, are fully aware that the Chevalier Cebes was master of ceremonies to the balls given at the court of Louis the Fourteenth. The world never witnessed his equal. in a minuet de la cour. His chief excellence, in- deed, consisted in his grave style of dancing. Dignified grace was his forte — in that he was inimitable ; and it was at the earnest solicitation of Madame Theophrastus, the king's favourite, that he wrote the work I now mention." ** i am perfectly aware of all you have stated," returned Bougie, with a smile of ineffable confidence. ** The Che-^ valier Cebes stood unrivalled in the sentimental dance.. I have read his work a dozen times, and approve of it highly.'* '* French, are you not ?" inqtiired the old gentleman. "Oh, certainly,— Parisian." THS ENGLISH IN PARIS. 16 »• So I had imagined; indeed, I was induced to name the Chevalier Cebes, in consequence of the very striking resem- blance you bear to a portrait I have lately seen of that cele- brated individual. It is the legitimate French ctyle of coun- tenance. Perhaps you are a descendant of his ?" *♦ Why, I cannot exactly say so," replied Bougie, hesi- tatingly, and with the air of one by no means willing to dis- claim so honourable an affinity. It was evident that he wished us to suppose that such a relationship actually existed, for he dexterously, as he imagined, turned the conversation by abruptly inquiring of the coachman if we were not vet in Dover. ^ I had been not a little amused at the gravity with which the ironical gentleman had entertained us all at Bougie's ex- pense. Equally vain and ignorant, the descendant of Cebes had "taken it all for gospel," and seemed peculiarly grate- ful at the compliment paid to his French style of countenance. After a pause of a minute, he turned to me as genuine an Irish physiognomy as Irishman ever exhibited, and observed^ " Did you perceive how soon that gentleman discovered me to be French ? I believe I could never pass for a Bri- tish subject ;■— these Gallic looks of mine are always certain to betray me." He was interrupted by the coach drawinir up m front of the York hotel. ^ " A very excellent hotel, this," remarked the ironical iren- tleman to the actor. " It has been honoured with the pre- sence of several crowned heads.—by the Emperors of Rus- sia and Austria, and by the King of Prussia. You, doubt- less, will add another great name to the catalogue of its patrons." e «» **«» The actor appeared to think from these expensive symn, tomsof the establishment, that it would not altogether suit his principles of travelling. ^ ^ "An excellent house, truly ; he rejoined. " I have often ! stopped at rt. The wines are capital. I never tasted better Champagne or Burgundy in my life. I should have been delighted to try them again, but most unfortunately I am en|ja|red to meet a friend ^t a dis^aijt hotel," 16 FRASCATIS; OR "Very unfortunately, indeed!" exclaimed the ironical gentleman, *'for this is the only house fit for a man who receives fifty pounds a-night for his performance." ** Waiter !" cried Bougie, from the box-seat, to an obse- quious looking servant, who appeared in the door-way pre- paring to receive his visitors, " Waiter, I say, why the devil do you not answer a gentleman ?" '* Here, here, sir ; I beg your pardon, sir, I did not hear, sir. ** What fashionable arrivals have you here ?" pursued Bougie, throwing himself into an attitude of importance. "Have you the Marchioness of Riverford, — Lady Clan- richards, — General Knocker, — Sir Christopher Rosemary, or any other friends of mine ?'* " No sir, not here." " Not here, did you say ? Now, that is very i^trange, for they all promised to meet me here. Has his grace the Duke of Trefoil arrived, or the Marquess of Sly, or Lady " Here he went through nearly the whole of the Irish peer- age, repeating titles as flippantly, and with as much affecta- tion of intimacy, as a Methodist would pretend to have with the cardinal virtues. " Are none of my friends here then ?" he concluded. " Not that I know of, sir.," " What is the name of this hotel of yours ?" " The York, sir." " The York did you say ? Oh, this is not the place. They mentioned another hotel. I shall not stop here waiter." Bougie now alighted^ and, after a whispering parley between the actor and himself, they moved off together. THE ENGLISH IN PARIS. 17 CHAPTER II. " So here you are at length !" exclaimed an elderly gen- Ueman, rising to receive me as I entered the coffee room of the York. «' This, indeed, is kind of you, Morris." It wis Sir Brien OTlaherty. "My dear friend!" I exclaimed, returning his cordial pressure of the hand, "I am overjoyed to see you. It is 'long, mdeed, since we have met, but this moment repays rae for years of absence, and a long interruption of our per- sonal mtercourse." ** I am perfectly aware of it Morris, and can only assure ^ you, that to see you once more, amply repays me for all the annoyances I have experienced throughout this cursed jour- iney, winch has been undertaken altogether against my inclina- Ition. Jiut, Harriet,— you know my sister Harriet,— calls it ttravemng for pleasure. I, however, have another name for lit. 1 he old lady insisted on visiting France because every . « «n "^A uf ' ,^u '"§ *^^ ^™^ *^^"g 5 and I, of course, like la silly old blockhead, must needs enter into her schemes, and come as her protector, as if any one would be simple enough 1 iT M ^"** ^^'' ^^' ^^^*» ^*»at regret did I leave my aid family mansion in Connaught ! I have had an attjick of Ihe spleen ever since, and should certainly have returned \^^fi i T" 5^* ^i"^*^ "'*«°«^ to °»y prayer, this is 111 f^ *'^«eYnendship, Morris," he concluded, pressing my hand once more with a force that nearly drew ah excla^ b2 18 FRASCATrs; OR *«. mation oif pain from me, " You have made up your mind then to accompany us to Paris V* ♦* Certainly," I observed. ** But how is all your family ?" A cloud passed over the brow of the baronet. ** Ah, Mor- ris, I have much to tell you. You have now been for many years residing in England, and sad changes have taken place at O'Flaherty Hall since you were last there. Lady O'Fla- herty is dead, and poor William also— this, however, you must have heard, — breathed his last at Waterloo. Alas !" he pursued, evidently much affected, *< his death weighs heavily at my heart. Our last meeting was one on which I do not like to dwell, for it terminated in a rupture. His generous and uncalculating disposition had involved him in continual difficulties. These I had often relieved, but, where most my assistance was required, I withheld it. I rejected his last appeal to my generosity, closed my hand on his, necessities, and, in the warmth of my irritation at his folly, embittered my refusal with cruel observations on his conduct. We parted, 1 lament to say, not as brothers should have parted. Poor, noble, warm-hearted fellow, I never beheld him more ! AH, Morris, he would not have treated me thus. What would I not give at this moment to have the opportunity of lending him half my fortune ! ' I would cheerfully purchase the privilege with the other half. His wife, a being whom Nature had formed in one of her most benignant moods, died shortly afterwards at Brussels. Thank God, however, their child is with me, and O'Flaherty Hall and all that I possess shall be hers« if there is anything that caA afford me pleasure bow, it is that, having no family dancing master, in »♦ Killing no Murder." ! While Miss OTlaherty was yet loudly expressing herj displeasure, and angrily protesting against the lidiciiioivi at- tire of her brother, the mate ok the Medusa mn^".*. yj ap- pearance, announcing that not a moment wab io he lost in! getting on board, as the packet was to sail immediately. \ Cursing this unnatural haste, as he termed it, the baronet^ aban(' >ned his unfinished meal, and set off in a kind of half- run to , ^--^ the niiay, leaving me to escort the ladies. As the rof- i,v ajst .tiready have perceived, Sir Brien O'Fla- tHK t:N0Ll8H IN PARIS. n orty, though a kind, honourable, -ood mai., waa some- hing of an oddity, and his eccentricmes of character were sver leading him into positions of embarras?'nent and ridi- lule. The observations of his sister had put him inU) the orst of all possible humours, and this, added to the abrupt ummons from his breakfast, and one or two other teinpo- ary annoviin es. had completely destroyed his self com- )08urf Whci ^ve reached the packet we found him in a tate of high excitement. In descending from the quay lo \A» vessel a step of the ladder had broken under him, and V jw appeared hterally stuck in the middle of it, and in- apable either of advancing or of returning. The awk* "ardness of his position, and the violence of temper he lanifested m finding himself thus entrapped, together with IS inability to extricate himself from durance vile, pro- uced a burst of laughter from the assembled crowds, both 1 tlie packet and on the quay. The consciousness of being le subject of all this merriment only increased his passion, yd he rated the ladder-man soundly for having given him I unsafe ladder, with a view to his destrucUon. It was vam that the man urged the ladder waa perfectly sound, id that the enormous weight of the gentleman had alone .ccasioned the accident. Sir Brien persisted in his as^ ertion and when the poor fellow seized him by the arm. ith the view of disengaging him from his unsafe position, voUev of abuse sucpeeded, in the midst of which, how- ler, the irafcible baronet was at length safely deposited on Zt't''^ >he Medusa. But here L ill humour was nJl Z!l? ■♦""?*'' ^S' ^^^ ladder-man in the next instant ;)proacheu, to demand the customary contribution. «mW«M™S^''*^^™™®".^®^ ^ ^* ^"t«" ^ho» like m^ rT^ltt^ ?w ' """ t^^ improvement and amusement L?*fr r .V*** eomethmg mvariably be left to the ima- S« T^V**^^''i '".^'^^'dance, therefore, with that • woS!\h?" ^'^^^ ^^^IV ^ '1^« ««d*' to fancy the war words that now ensued between Sir Brien and the ladder- iaii» 34 tRASCATI*8i OR \^ Notwithstanding the impatience of the mate in harrying us all unbreakfasted on board, the packet did not unmoor for an hour and a half after our embarkation ; an arrange- ment not at all calculated to appease Sir Brien's humour, after the very slight repast he had been permitted to swal- low. As if the devil had intended to be merry at his ex- pense, he had contrived that one of his accredited repre- sentatives should be present, in the shape of an Irish attor- ney. The very sight of this individual was enough to ihrow Sir Brien Into a fever ; for by his counsel he once had the folly to get involved in a chancery suit, which he lost of course, while an enormous bill of costs was furnished by tlie adviser, which he was compelled to pay. *' Gentlemen and ladies," exclaimed the baronet, before the vessel had well got under weigh, "we have every as- surance of safety here, I mean the assurance of not being drowned, for we are protected from any such accident by the presence of an attorney who Was born to be hanged." The attorney "ery prudently took no notice of the ob- servation, which could lead any one to imagine that he was the person alluded to ; and as all had prepared themselves for a laugh against somebody. Sir Brien had the misfortune to be saddled with the ridicule intended'for another. In this the attorney now cordially joined, laughing more heartily and pointedly than all the rest. Poor Emily was overcome with shame at the notice thus drawn on us by her uncle, while Miss O'Flaherty lectured him on his ridiculous behaviour. *• What do you talk about, you old fool ?" he exclaimed, loud enough to be heard throughout the whole packet. " Have I not a right," replied he, " to be vexed ? Have you not inveigled me from O'Flaherty Hall on a wild goose chase to France ? It is only now that I perceive what you have been aiming at. You intend, I suppose, to make a great lady of yourself by marrying some hungry half-starved French count ; but do not think of making a cat's paw of me for your love-schemee any longer. Not a step farther TUE ENGLISH IN PARIS. 25 ironet, before than Boulogne will I go ; and the moment I get there, back again will I carry you, body and bones, to Connaught." During this burst of passion, sa amusing to those around I endeavoured to cheer the drooping spirits of Emily, but it was in vain : slie hung down her head in shame, and I saw the large tears chasing each other down her cheek. The only individual, unconnected with our party who joined not m the laugh produced by this singular collision of Sir Brien with his sister, was a handsome and prepossessing younir man, who, leaning against the side of the vessel, stood im- mediately facing the seat occupied by Emily. He gazed at her with a look of deep yet respectful interest, and compas- sion and concern for her painful situation seemed to leave him insensible to every other emotion save that of re^n-et. I could have clasped him to my bosom for that look ; for I thought it shewed the most benevolent nature- thus to sym- pathize with a perfect stranger, and at a moment when sur^ rounded by every inducement to gaiety and laughter. A far more valuable reward than any approbation of mine awaited him. In a few minutes Emily looked up • she caught his eyes rivetted on her with a tenderness of expres- sion that made her tremble : her own, still dimmed with tears replied with a look of gratitude and thankfulness. He started, turned pale and red alternately, withdrew his gaze as if fearful to offend, changed his position, and leaning his head on his hand, kept his eyes fixed on the receding waves. Arrived at Boulogne, Sir Brien was the first to land, and once more was his testy humour doomed to be excited this day. Scarcely had he put his foot on terra firma, when he tound himself beset by a tormenting posse of hotel-aaents each endeavouring to secure him to himself, and vociferously bawling forth the superior accommodation to be found at his employer s. , Hemmed in on every side, shoved, shouted at, and worried, even to treading on his corns, the baronet was at first completely taken by surprise, but at length ffoaded into rage, he c eared a space around him with his stick, then like a stag at bay, turned on each of his tormentors, who 26 frascati'b; or forming a circle around him ^ kept bellowing in his ears thd names and qualities of their respective hotels, and flinging th^ir cards at him for selection. Happily for some of the heads of these fellows, which the teased and almost maddened baronet was preparing to assail with a stick of size propor- tioned to liL tall and muscular frame, an old friend of his, long resident in the place, now approached, and hurrying to his deliverance, succeeded i^ freeing him from this merce- nary gang. To this succeeded the examination of passports. Miss O'Flaherty handed hers to a very handsome young man, with a pair of black and sparkling eyes, which had evidently procured him this preference. He read it attentively— re- peated aloud " aged thirty," surveyed her person with an oflicial look, as if in doubt of her being the lady therein de- scribed, and then, folding up the paper, returned it with a low bow, accompanied by the most malicious leer in the world. Indeed this odious passport was a source of no little uneasiness to Miss O 'Flaherty, for the gentleman who usual- ly takes traveUing likenesses, at No. 50, Portland Place, had drawn hers so correctly, that had she been aware of the necessity of sitting for her picture to so unflattering an artist, and that this daub was to be exhibited at every fortifled town through which she passed, she never would have visited France at all. THE ENOI,ISH IN PARIS. 27 CHAPTER IV. We took up our abode at the Hotel du Nord. There, in the society of his old friend and recent deliverer, Sir Brien xotsot all the annoyances of his journey. Politics, Ireland, and Catholic emancipation entirely occupied their attention, and furnished them with abundant matter for conversation after dinner. Still sore from the annoyance she had experi- enced at the passport office. Miss O'Flaherty was too dis- spirited to think of venturing forth, so that Emily and my- self were left to enjoy our evening walk. In our progress up the Grande Rue towards the ranf^arts of the town, I had the satisfaction of beholding many faces, both English and Irish, from which I had long been estranged. Unfelicitous revolutions in the constitutions of some and in the purses of others, had rendered change of climate and laws in a great degree indispensable, and I must confess, in both instances, that the change had been for the better. It was a source of no little gratification to me to be enabled once more to shake hands with the companions of my younger days — men whom I had not seen for many years,- and whom I could never again expect to meet in our beloved sovereign's dominions. While making the tour of the ramparts we encountered the interesting stranger who had so completely won my good opinion by his conduct towards Emily in the packet. She now, I perceived, trembled with her emotion. He looked ts FRASCATl's; OR loXghoiiW h.? ?' "«•«=«""« «» apprehension lest his young ge„aen,a5 *"""« °™' '" *e ppck , ^ 'h^"""' *"' I mi^h?"' r"" "" ,'' 'o ^''"•"'"O hi' person, in ^rder that 1 might reply more decidedly to her rpm»rl, k . • .• ™««'y «oJ«dulge her with llrlook'''"' '" "'''"^ position ..H.^'il'" 'f'f «* '■^P"^''' ""hoot altering my Cee^rsee""" ''"""'^ ""^ °' '^^ «"-' ^""2 ■"» I I felt my arm gently pressed by the white hand of mv ~5tTent"h"'1"2 "^"P'^-^^J «pli7wUh"VvLuy'^ VJ" ye '> ;« « he— I am sura it is he, and, indeed I now'ii. ooUmhavmgseen him before at the Opera I wonder X he 18," she pursued, forgetting herself ent relvTn ?he ■!« . sudL!i'lr.!?^™'''''"'"'*™'' """■*'' *'' '«»' 'emark when dCtTdvrZr'TT "r ^'-g"" " ""'h, even of S^ T'l.^'" '*", ''''*^''- ■^' *at moment the younir .t^nger looked round, and the confusion of Emily was^Z? I affected neither to have heard what she said nor to have nolaced the high suffusion of her features, but, fixingmy eyes am cipated victories over England, continued to speak of it rwi':nt!'* ""' "'"='^"' '*""' •» — f-» her I m^luT^'^'- ' "J" 'P"'*" •" •^'-n-'he shall know him !" I mentally exclaimed, as we now pursued our course along tmZrT "^^ '•"^' """" •■'» •" *« ■>«« turn, and I Will make it a point to accost him." This resolution of mine might'not have been particularlv corrector prudent, neither co.!d I feel ahogether^uSt SCENES IN PARIS. 29 making Emily acquainted with a man of whom I knew noth- ing, and for whom it was obvious she entertained a secret re- gard, that in all probability would ripen into a warmer feel- ing; yet there was sometliing so engaging in his appearance, so prepossessing in his manner — in short, nature and educa- tion appeared to have done so much for him, that it was al- most impossible to resist the desire of becoming known to one who carried a letter of recommendation in every line of I his countenance. We still pursued our walk, but at the point where we were most likely to meet, had he continued on the ramparts, the stranger did not appear. It was easy to discover what was passing in the mind of my companion from the wistful and anxious expression of her eyes as we drew nearer to the place. "I believe," said 1 with an air of disappointment, "that the stranger is gone— I am sory for it, for I wished to ex- amine his features." *' Have you not then remarked them ?" eagerly rejoined ■ Emily, in a tone of undissembled snrprise. *' Oh !'- she [pursued, "you never beheld such— "she paused, blushed, i and turned away her head. , Once more I charitably turned my eyes in search of some object in the distance. The sea was before me in magnifi- cent perspective. " What a noble prospect ?" I exclaimed, [pretending to be wholly absorbed in admiration of the view. I might as well have said, " what a barren, dreary expanse yon watery plain presents, leaving no impression on the mmd save that of its vastness." One observation would have answered the same purpose as the other, and EmilyJwould have said "yes" to either. However, as I had set out with an exclamation of rapture, I went on in the same strain of eulogy, until I had succeeded in making Emily believe that 11 had forgotten the handsome stranger altogetlier. On reaching the steps leading from the ramparts to the Itown. Emily inquired in a hesitating tone, whether a change in our walk would not be desirable. It was evident that c 2 30 frascati's ; OR she imagined the stranger was gone, and I could not of course object to her request. This, dear reader, was an important moment, not only to me but to yourself, for then it was that I first formed my de- sign of authorship. What a delightful subject for a novel, methought, will my tour from London to Paris afford ! At any other moment I should have rejected the plan as utterly impracticable, but now here was every probability of a love «tory, which, if interwoven with my own observations along the road, would certainly form a highly interesting book. The temptation was too powerful to be resisted, and the more I reflected on the subject the more I was pleased with the idea. As we entered into the heart of the town I stepped into a stationer's shop and provided myself with the materials ne- cessary for itinerant authorship. What a glow of delight ran through my blood as Monsieur Lafont handed me over paper and pens enough to write the history of the world. " How well it will look," I murmured audibly to myself, with a title page to the following effect, — " A Journey to Paris. By Rambleton Morris, Esquire, of Ronayne Castle, Connaught !" Emily pulled my arm. ** What were you remarking about a tour, do you intend to write one, Mr. Morris ?" she asked, looking at the same time with an arch expression full in my face. *' Oh no, child, not I," I hastily exclaimed, (for my ob- ject was to surprise my friends by its publication,) " 'tis no- thing at all, nothing at all, my dear." Since leaving Mon- sieur Lafont's shop I had continued in a deep reverie, think- ing of my book and its probable reception ; Emily's obser- vation, however, recalled me to my senses. She had whisked me about in every direction and without my being at all conscious whither I was going. We were now, I found, on the Calais road and moving towards the monu- ment, near which I met an elderly gentleman who appeared to recognize me ; I also fancied that I knew him, and my doubts were soon at an end, when on taking a closer survey SCENES IN PARIS. 31 of his person and features, I discovered my old friend Cap- tain Geraghty. Doctor Johnson somewhere remarks, that the first thing discussed when two Englishmen meet is the weather, and I have observed that the first thing mentioned at the first meet- ing of two Irishmen on a foreign shore, is the cheapness or dearness of drink. So at least it was on the present occa- sion, for Geraghty had scarcely asked me how I was, when he commenced a long encomium on the eau-de-vie of the neighbourhood, which he said was remarkably reasonable in price. " I tell you what, Morris," he pursued, " if you remain any time m Boulogne, I will recommend you to a capital house just outside the barrier ; I go there frequently to re- I fresh myself, but chiefly on account of the company to be met there, which is very select. In fact I am only returninff Wrom the place now, and well provided as you perceive.'^ [So saying, he produced a good sized pocket-pistol, as he Itermed it, adding, " It is always well to have a supply of ^iis kind near one, and outside the barriers,you get it for half )rice. But let me, my dear Morris, 'warn you against the ^rench wines, they are not wholesome, but all too crude, acid, weak, and cold." " Of this I have already had sufficient experience to con- hnce me, I returned ; " they are also without the power of frousmgone." r ^* wi " Precisely so," replied Geraghty. « A man enjoys no atisfaction whatever in drinking them, for he rises nearly Is sober after them as when he sat down. Geraghty, it was evident, had a tolerably correct notion what IS generally esteemed " good liquor;" that is to say, If a beverage so potent, that while it leaves you without tho lower of finding your way home, it also affords you a very bir chance of being robbed or run over in the street. Dur- pproached the Haute ViUe, where Emily was recognized Y an old friend, who, lounging on Uwbalcony of her house^ 32 FRASCATI^j; OR and enjoying the delightful cool air of the evening, was also amusing herself with quizzing every one who passed. No- thing could exceed the protestations of joy with which Mrs. Archer greeted my fair companion ; and she seemed particu- larly anxious to know whether Sir Brien intended to remain for any length of time at Boulogne. She almost over- whelmed the blushing girl with compliments and caresses, and declared she was the most wretched woman in the world, because her son, Captain Archer, was absent. Of this I have no doubt, for I firmly believe it would have suited the interest of both mother and son to admiration, had there been the slightest probability of Emily becoming the wife of the latter. t*' The best of friends must part." Leaving the inconso- lable Mrs. Archer to her regrets and her quizzing glass, we sauntered into the Grande Rue. A'few sun-burnt Italians had struck up their music in the street. Several flambeaux lighted the space immediately round them, and threw a glare on the assembled listeners. The men played a soft melancholy native air, which acquired additional sweetness from the accompaniment of a female voice. We stopped to listen. Emily soon appeared to be rivetted to the spot ; and I could perceive a delicious pensiveness stealing over her soul, while she folded her arms more closely round mine, and leaned heavily on me for support. I was not long in discovering the cause of this unusual expression of her feel- ings. Immediately opposite to us, and with his figure thrown into strong relief by one of the lights, stood the handsome stranger. His head was bowed down, and the music ap- peared to have had a dejecting influence over his spiiits. He at length looked up, but perceiving that my gaze was intently fixed on him, his embarrassment increased, and he made a sudden and successful effort to gain the rear of the crowd. On our return to the hotel, we found Sir Brien in unusual- ly high spirits. " Why," he exclaimed as soon as he saw Qte, *' why did you run away from us, Morris, this evening! SCENES IN PAWS. 33 JThe colonel is as cheerful as ever. He is but this moment Ipfone; and I have done nothing but regret your absence dur- jing the whole evening. Capital wine, my dear fellow, and 111 you have no objection we will have just one bottle more ibefore we go to bed, if it is only to drink his health." »* With all my heart," I replied. " I know no man whose health I would sooner drink, for he was my friend twice ^rhen I fought for him at an election." " Right," exclaimed Sir Brien ; " he was the only man 7ho had the courage to make himself ridiculous in parlia- lent ; I mean, to encounter fearlessly the sneers and laugh- er of the silly and heartless, in bringing about a desirable leasure : and in spite of the devil we will put either his Ion or himself up at the next election." * Emily had retired to her room, and Sir' Brien, His sister, la 1, ^gan a consultation on our journey to the metropo- ». "You may rest assured," observed Miss OTIaherty support of some arguments which she had advanced in i^our of immediate departure, "that this is no place for )ur niece. I can see as far as most people," she puraued, jniticantly, " and it is easy enough to divine what will ippen if we remain much longer at Boulogne. I have al- ^dy heard it buzzed about that a great heiress has arrived "Shew me the man," exclaimed Sir Brien, furiously, mo will dare to name -matrimony before my niece ! Imt out the iellow who shall even think of marrying her !" HnH r"'' '^"'J^^' ^"^^y *«« ?««d fo^ «"y one breath- I, and the very idea of a man daring to think of her as a i^npTr l"! ^i" ^'^ ^'^^' H« determined to quit Bou- ne without delay ;--the mode of conveyance was the Kp Iv A t^^^'^.^- Sir Brien had left his old family nZf M A'^u" ^«»"«"^t' and not all the argu- nts of Miss O'Flaherty could induce him to provide hirp- with another on quitting London. The stage he de- hi^Jo T^ P°^ ^"°"^*^ ^«' ^i"»' ^»d in the stage |r journey had been performed to Dover. I now pS- 84 FRASCATl's; OR posed the diligence, for I wished to travel in a public ve- hicle, as I anticipated plentiful subjects for my book in the variety of character I was likely to meet virith. My sug- gestion was immediately adopted both by the baronet and his sister, and the following day was fixed for our departure in the ♦ hirondelle,' CHAPTER V. The next mornig, while I lay awake in bed, planning the conduct of my novel with all the anxiety of an author, the waiter entered with a note from my friend Ableton Hazard. I broke the seal impatiently. It contained an invitation to breakfast, in which I was particularly requestet' Pot to fail, as the writer was anxious to speak to me on a subject of much importance. Presuming, immediately, that my very dear friend was desirous of repaying me a large sum of money which I had lent him some years previously,-! rose, dressed, and hurried forth to his lodgings. *' How fortunate," 1 exclaimed, rubbing my hands with delight, as I pursued my course through the street, " how very fortunate that I thought of coming to Boulogne ! The money will be more than sufficient to defray the expenses of my journey." Hazard was up when I arrived, and seemed more de- 1 lighted at my appearance, I thought, than debtors usually are in the presence of their creditors. He shook me cor- dially, by the hand, and declared I was looking ten years younger than when he had seen me last. I in my turn, as in duty bound, returned the compUment, and in fact I might have done so in safety, for he certainly was looking 8CENE8 m PARW. 8S exceedingly well for a man who had got rid of .o much proMrty, and loat so many nights' rest at play During breakfast he disclosed the important communi- cation alluded to m his note. " I want ySu, my de" Moi- heiress!'" • "" '»'"''''»'»'' •<> ««« 6'Ffahe"y, the " What ! to the baronet's jister ?" I exclaimed. mone^ kt'Z 'n'o'tr '""^ ' ""^'' ' *"" "'« "- ^' *« "Not at all, the young lady is the heiress." ^ " J '«"" ^° ' "'''' yo" »<» introduce me,— vou mav be assured. Morris " after a pause, during which^^r^ ceived every mark of surprise and astonishment in mv countenance, " that my intentions are honouraWe!" ^ astonUhL'r '" ■ ' ""^"'"''' '''^ - - o^-- g-ter " Marriage of course," he rejoined. , j»;:ef rr pten tiste"^'^. ^:z^zrz "So I have still J but, conscienUously, I cannot live with I Mrs. Hazard any longer. We were not Sly i^^^^^^^^^ the cereraony having been performed by a pS bT^alr nf a priest before I was of age, and you ZoJJy^e^^Uol ris, that I am of the established church. Indeed I nev/r per uadeTe Xf "'^ ^''"^ '^^ «^-« eira^LpX woman." ™' ^ P'^^'*' '" '^^'-^ ^ ^^ °ot like the " WeU, but before you tliink of marrying Miss 0'Pl« hery, a divorce from your present wifeTu^st, I con^^^e be an mdispensable preliminary." conceive, "Not at all necessary," he coolly retumprl *«t ;. easily prove the invalid! y of thrm^rrTa "e ll T i n =gt Sr;„t?l^r- ^'0-"^^^^ 30 fRASCATl'if OR I "Pardon me," I rejoined. "I am sorry to diflfer from you, but I conceive it to be a very reasonable objection." " This is d d disobliging on your part," returned Hazard, as I took up my hat to leave him. " I see clearly what you are at, Morris. You have a design on Miss O'Flaherty yourself; but hang me if vou shall have her.' I had not been five minutes returned to my hotel, when Captain Geraghty was announced. " Good morning, Morris," he said ; " I have waited on you about a little affair, at your friend Hazard's request." "What affair?" I exclaimed, starting back with sur- prise • Oh, is that all you know about it ? Why, by J s, I came on the errand the more willingly, because I under- stood from Hazard that you would be disappointed if you did not hear from him." " On what errand? What do you mean, Geraghty ?" " Why, he is only just waiting below for you on the sands." „ " But for what purpose ? Explain yourself more fully, I demanded. ** Why, my dear fellow, how dull of comprehension you are. What should a gentleman be waiting for another on the sands for ? Surely not to build churches. Hazard is merely anxious that you should meet him in the usual way. I advise you to make haste, however, for I think we are likely to have a little rain, that would be bringing some delay, and since the thing is to be done, the sooner it is over the belter, you know ; for these cursed police, who are always mak- ing themselves unnecessarily busy here, may chance to get wind of the thing and spoil your sport altogether." " But I have had no dispute with Hazard ; why there fore, should I fight him?" " Neither did he tell me of any serious difference," re- joined Geraghty, "he merely hinted at something about | Miss OTlaherty, and supposing you to be quite as willing as himself, he requested me to carry the message, which. •CEN£8 In PARIS. at out of mere friendihip to you both I have done as you per^ ceive." " A pretty affair I hav o got into now !" said I to myself. "And with what ridicule shall I not be covered if it is whispered at every tea-table at Boulogne that I fought a due! about Miss Harriet O'Flaherty? Nay, I shall be equally laughed at if Emily is mentioned as the cause of our meeting. An old fellow like me, with a head as white as snow, entering the lists in order to dispute the hand of a girl of eighteen ! Moreover, if such a report goes forth, I shall, in all proba^ bility, have to fight the baronet himself. A pretty dilemma truly, this !" At this moment Sir Brien made his apearance ; I explain- ed the nature of the message I had just received, and re- quested him to accompany me to the sands. He said some- thing about accommodation and settling the matter quietly, not a word of which^ however, I would listen to, for 1 felt my valour increasing as I warmed. Geraghty highly approved of my determination. " Yes," he remarked to Sir Brien, "Morris is quite right. Making up the matter might do very well at home, but it is ttot at all the thing on a foreign shore. It would be scandalous here for two British subjects to have a difference, and not settle it in the open air, as becomes men of honour. Look to the preservation of our country's credit, Sir Brien, look to that.^' ' " Very true, very true indeed, captain," returned the baro- net ; " we should always consider the reputation of our coun- try. In the name of goodness, therefore, let them fight.** I arrived on the sands as cool and collected as I am at this moment; and I grasped my pistol with as much steadiness of hand as I now grasp the pen with which I describe my adventure. This command of nerve, however, is simply the fruit of habit, for I have been accustomed to fighting from niy very childhood. Seven paces were now measured, to which I most decidely objected, for I had always been in the habit of killing my man at five. My objection, however, VOL. I. — D 3d FRASCATI'S ; OR was overruled ; and Sir Brien placed me at seven paces, as agreed on between Geraghty and himself. At this moment I felt great unwillingness to fire; for I thought of the desti- tute condition into which the family of Hazzard would be thrown by his death, and nay resolution almost failed. The signal was however given, and we exchanged shots, strange to say, without effect ; though I verily believe I 'must have hit him, for I never miss my man. " Good !" exclaimed Geraghty ; perceiving that we both stood unharmed in our several places ; ** this is quite enough to establish the honour of the country/' Quite enuogh," repeated the baronet, taking the pistol from my hand ; " and now we may return once more quietly to our homes." I begged leave to differ from him, and refused to quit the ground without at least one more exchange of shots. My opposition however was vain ; and it annoyed me beyond measure to see Sir Brien marching quietly off with the pistol, at the moment when I was just getting into the humour of the thing. I was moreover vexed, that so many people should have assembled round us, without being gratified for their trouble in coming. In the hope of shew- ing them some amusement, I followed Sir Brien for the pur- pose of recovering the pistol, but I found it impossible to overtake him. I therefore made a virtue of necessity, and reconciled my disappointment. SCBNRS IN PARIS. 39 CHAPTER VI. The first person I met on entering the hotel was Eiiiily. '—Kind girl! she appeared much concerned for my fety. " Oh, my dear sir !" she exclaimed, grasping my hand, " I was frightened to death when I heard where you were gone ; and my poor aunt is so affected at the idea that she should have been the origin of all this danger. Come with me," she pursued, pulling me gently forward, "and satisfy her that you are safe." ' "Dear, dear Mr. jMorris," cried Miss OTlaherty as I e» tered, "how overjoyed I am to perceive that you have re- ceived no injury ! How could you be so rash ? But since you really are unhurt, I cannot avoid smiling at Uie fact of your havmg gone out to fight a duel about me." Emily could not suppress a smile, while several friends ot the baronet who were present indulged in a titter, which nothing but her excessive vanity prevented Miss O'Flahertv from descovering to be at her expense. As for me, it wm no source of merriment at aU to be taken for her fighting "About you. Miss O'Flaherty! fight about you ?" I re- turned eagerly, and gladly seizing the opportunity of check- mg the report m the presence of strangers,—" No, my dear mdam, our quarrel had a very different origin, I assur^you; cnmin/""'"?'.^^'^ l'^"^^ ^" «° ungallant'as to refus/ U fomm^ any lady's champion. However, in the present in- 40 fRASCATtS; OR itance, the thing is quite innjossible ; you could not have had the slightest connection with this dispute, since the gen- tleman with whom I fought is a married man." This was a grievous disappointment to Miss OTlaherty, and a death blow to her vanity ; while, on the other haud» on many accounts it proved a favourable occurrence to me, as she never afterwards bored me with her tendor advances. My affair with Hazzard had delayed our departure from Boulogne for another day, thereby affording me the un- speakable satisfaction of seeing my name served up the fol- lowing morning at breakfast, with all the same pequante of news-paper lampoon : — "We are sorry that it becomes our paintful duty to bur- then our pages with the recital of a scene such as at this moment obtrudes itself on our notice. A meeting took place yesterday on the sands, the well-known arena for settling the honourable disputes of the belligerent geniuses of this town. As usual, the parties exchanged shots without ef- fect, ^nd then quitted the ground, being (as one in particular of the party pretends) deprived of the means of continuing the contest by the sudden flight of an eccentric old baronet with the pistols immediately after the first fire. The friend of one of the principals, whose name it would be a hazard to mention, bears the respectable travelling appellation of Captain, and is notorious for his libera 1 patronage of a cer- tain establishment without the barriers ! The other principal is a hoary Hibernian, with a brogue weH suited to his man- ners and appearance. " The origin of the dispute has not, as yet, been well as- certained. Love, we hear it whispered, has, however, had somethmg to do with it,— and the sister of the baronet, a lady not particularly remarkable either for beauty or extreme youth, but possessed of a good fortune in her own right, is mentioned as the prize contended for. Play, by some, is asserted to have been the sole origin of the rencontre, and to this opmion we ourselves subscribe the more willingly, as one of principals is a married man, and much addicted to the SCENES IN FARM. 41 recreation his name implies. The hoary Hibernian, we un- derstand from undoubted authority, is an experienced caster, now on his way to pay an annual visit to the rouge et noir ta- b^ of Pans We highly disapprove of such scandalous pro. ceedings, and shall ever make it a point unshrinkingly to hold up to pubhc reprobation those unblushing offendU against morality and the well being of society. We regret thlTwe have not sufficient space tc give expression to our justindiff- nation, being at present pressed for the insertion of advertist ments and much highly interesting matter. Befor we close this paragraph, however, we would humbly suggest, byway of advice, that all such ridiculous, mischievous, akd mzy spT^ k' ^"f^"«^^^^\t« the decorum which should be ob- Wp .vf/ff '""'" '^'^'^' ^^^ ™"«h better remain at home, vye extend the same admonition to all hoary gamesters, and If. notwithstanding these hints, they still perfe^ereln hTer determination to push, their broken fortunes on a French shore, let them at least have the decency to hWe their aS and infamy in the purlieus of the Palais Royal." ^ 1 leave the reader to say whether this was not pushing scra'^t '"' H^f 'f '^ '''I *^^^ '"^^ niisfortun'e to ge^t ^ra were^v?ll ''""''i.'"' ^' ^^" 'eadily understL wnat were my feelings on this occation. ^ reading thiSjlThr''"'" ' ™""r^ ^^^" '^^^ ^ni^hed reaamg thisjdelectable morceau, " that at least is {aUp fnr i'we?; ITJ^V ^ " '"y •'^"O 'hat Idld noUofe ' bZ fn m^ ife?/! "'* ""'• ^ "'"" ^^^ » ™«^« ^Inoir table France bef'"u"'":r"y "''^ /"' ""« ^^o never was ta 'thorilv'-H^^ h '■?" ^''^l''""'^ from 'undoubted au- i ihrx hr^heTo^LT^' '"" "'' «"""'« op'-- <•» [here* Sri™ ■"''?^ "T?"' fy^^^'^Y'^ affair we have pRead h " I ^^r. A ^'"''^.'"^l' as he entered the room. " "*"* y°" "»'' ""e paragraph ? he inquired. « What aa 42 FRASCAT) S QR infamous nttack on us all ! Hazard is gone in search of the editor, and has desired me to express his exceeding regret for what occurred yesterday. He says, as an atonement for his conduct, that if you wish to call that slanderous villain out, he will yield you the prccadency, and you shall have the first shot at him." " By no means," I replied, ** I am in no particular hurry ; ,— let him have the first fire if he will. Even after you, Captain Geraghty, 1 shall be quite in time." " Did you ever hear of such an audacious scoundrel ?" rejoined the captain. *' Did you remark what he says of me and the establishment without the barriers ? And thea to put a note of admiration, as if there was any thing admi- , rable in it at all," " Who is the author of this scandal ?" vociferated Sir Brieo» throwing the paper on the ground, and stamping vio- lently on it. *' Do you know, Geraghty ? If so, point him out to me this instant, and I shall be revenged. Here am I and my family held up to public ridicule and contempt ! D n the villain, I must, I will punish him for this !" The rage of the baronet was now worked up to the high- est possible pitch ; but I had too much trouble and annoy- ance of my own to spare an atom of consolation for my friend. Indeed, my feelings on this occasion fuiiy satisfied jpae, that to administer comfort or relief to the bosom of ano- ther, your own must be free from sorrow or vexation, other- wise you will pluy the part of comforter as poorly as I did with Sir Brien, In such a case, a good plan would be to hire some one to sympathize in the affliction, whatever it may be, much in the same way that we pay old women in Ireland for howling over the dead. Had this rascally editor spared me, I should have bled for Sir Brien, preached him a long lecture on bearance and forbearance, advised him to jreat with contempt whatever any fellow of the sort might uzy about him, and, in short, rendered him every consolation in my ))ower ; bnt, unfortunately, I was as much cut up, though not quite so violently as himself^ ajad was in ao mood to open my lips. 8CEN£S IN PARIS. 48 siferated Sir Miss O'Flaherty now entered, and removing the nearly- crushed paper from the floor, chanced to throw her glance on that part of the paragraph which related more immedi- ately to herself. After enjoying for a few moments the dainty repast so liberally furnished by the Boulogne editor, she commenced tossing her head and muttering something about the great misfortune^of travelling with people who, by their misconduct, contrive to draw down public ridicule on their innocent companions. She moreover hinted her regret at not having a friend possessed of spirit enough to redresg the wrongs of an insulted female. Observing that I sat facing her, twirling my thumbs round each other, and apparently quite calm and composed, my supposed apathy gave her great offence and uneasiness ; and with a toss of the head, more disdainful than any she had yet exhibited, she remarked : "You have now, Mr. Morris, an excellent opportunity of gratifying the uncommon eagerness you evinced yesterday for fighting." ^ ^ "Have you read the whole of that article ?" I inquirsd. " Part of it," was her answer. "When you have read the whole," I returned, "you will admit that I have had quite enough of fighting— at least 80 I thmk myself; and were I to live for ever, neither man, woman, nor child, should induce me ^ver to fight another duel at Boulogne." ^ lu " ^?J®u" ^^^ ^^' ^*'"*® breakfast, Mr. Morris ?" asked Miss U I'laherty, somewhat sarcastically, perceivinff that I had not ye| made an attempt to touch any thing. " Not any, I Oiank you. I do not find my appetite good Ais morning. You seem to be doing nothing yourself, how- ever. That coffee looks very clear ; I recommend you to ny It. Allow me also to send you a wing of this chicken eL wTth ^^"'n. ^^ • . ^^"' ' ^^""«* «*y *hat you seem to rfi.^w * ^"^ *PP®'*\® yourself, yet all manner of deUca^ cies that can provoke the appetite ax« before you." 44 FRASCATIS OR ♦' Delicacies, indeed," repeated Miss O'Flaherty, with a movement of impatience ; " I think some of them mighthave been dispensed with." " I perfectly agree with you ; we have been rather libe- rally helped this morning." " Yes, Mr. Morris, you at least seem to have got more than you well know haw to dispose of." I confess it, Miss O'Flaherty, I confess it freely, yet the surfeit, I apprehend, is pretty general." Hazard now entered, ushering in a gentleman, whom he introduced to us as the editor of the . " Gentle- men," said the latter, bowing at every third word, " I am sorry, very sorry indeed, to learn from my most worthy friend, Mr. Hazard, a gentleman of whose acquaintance any man must be proud : I say, gentlemen, I am exceedingly sorry to learn that any thing should have crept into a publi- cation, with which I have the honour to be connected, that could in the slightest degree wound the feelings of the highly respectable individuals whom I have now the honour tb address. The fact is, gentlemen, I was out of town, and knew nothing of the article in question, until I had the plea- sure of being waited upon by my much esteemed friend here, Mr. Hazard, who, to my great surprise, and most sin- cerely do I add, to ray regret, put the paper into my hand. It was the first intimation I had of it, and you may judge my indignation when I discovered that my friends Captain Geraghty and Mr. Hazard were so unbecomingly alluded to. Gentlemen, command my services, and whatever re- paration you may deem most fit shall be made. I will find out the author of this shameful slander and have him dis- missed from the establishment." " Very well," cried the baronet ; " but do not forget, Mr. Editor, to contradict the damnable libel in your next publica- tion." ** Most certainly," returned the obsequious framer of pa- ragraphs. " Surely you cannot imagine, my dear sir, that I should be guilty of so culpable an omission, or suffer such SCENES IN PARIS. 41 an article to remain abroad without contradiction ? Not I, in- deed, sir. It would be the height of injustice, especially in a publication so widely circulated as ours, and bearing so high a reputation for candour, spirit, and impartiality ; for no journal, even of the English metropolitan press, ranks higher in that respect. No, sir, waving every consideraiion of honour and character, conscience alone would not allow, me to pass unrefuted a paragraph, wherein a gentleman of your importance and respectability is so scandalously belied, and indeed even had you not spoken to me on the subject I should have contradicted it myself." We were all of course perfectly satisfied with this expla- nation on the part of the editor, and I was happy to see a gentleman of his place in society exculpate himself, so much to his own credit and to the general satisfaction of the party aggrieved. Geraghty promised to pay attention to the ful- filment of the editors's engagement, and here the affair te^ fninated, 46 > FRASCATIS ; OR 'a . CHAPTER VII. ' i At length we are out of that unlucky Boulogne, and most unfavourably am I seated for one about to entertain the world with his tour into France. Stuck up in the interieur of the diligence, with my back to the horses, my view of the country is all the wrong way, and for aught I know, my observations along the road may partake of a similar contor- tion. One advantage, however, I decidedly have over the many thousand tourists who have preceded me from Bou- logne to Paris, since their sketches were in all probability made from the straight forward view which they embraced, whereas mine per contra have a better claim to originality. Emily and her aunt occupied the coupee with Sir Brien. My companions within, were the dancing-master Bougie, and the ironical gentleman with whom I had travelled to Dover, and a swaddling preacher, whose wife sat at my side, presenting a singular contrast in her care-worn features and meagre frame to the fleshy proportions of her husband. " What a charming country is France !'* observed the preacher, as we passed the outskirts of Boulogne, " and what a pity it is that so rich a soil should be overrun with the weeds of Popery ! Look," he continued (for it was Sun- day) ** how they profane the sabbath in every direction ;— jsee there ! all at work ! how awfully depraved !" Bougie began to wax a little warm at hearing his covin- 1 CfiNES IN PARIS. 4t trymen and native land thus coupled with dispraise. He, however, did not give immediate expression to his feelings, and the ironical gentleman very quietly observed, " How is it then, sir, that you, who entertain so natural and praiseworthy a horror of these profane sabbath-breakers, can do such violence to your feelings as to travel on Sun- day ?" " Nothing," puritanically rejoined the other, »* but the ardent hope of gaining a soul to heaven could have induced me to do so. An old lady, now residing in Paris, is in a very precarious state of health ; she has had the misfortune to become acquainted with one of those insinuating, pocket- drammg abbes, who is not only endeavouring to shake her faith in the true religion, but to wheedle her into a consent to entrust her vast wealth to his pious management for the benefit of the poor. A great deal indeed the poor would get of it m that case ! But I shall take care of their inte- rests, if she will but listen to my humble voice. She once had grace, and was a liberal supporter of the true belief; and lor this reason only, and out of mere charity and anxiety tor her salvation, am I now hurrying to Paris." "A truly pious and excellent disciple of religion," pur- si^d the ironical genUeman, " to come so far on so kind an ottice, and that without any expectation or desire of remu- neration." " We never suffer ourselves to be swayed by consider- ations of lucre," returned the missionary: « we are but la- bourers in the vineyard of heaven, and thence alone do we seek our reward." fj J,* ^^^\^^^^. ^^^' doubtless, exposed herself to the fa. I hSven " J°"'*^^5^» ^'***"^ * ^i^« zeal in the interests of " Truly, friend, she has its welfare at heart ; but I make nrLS Tr ^ ^^'^^^ "^"^ "^y wife-.»tis a wholesome practice and keeps a man from sin. But see ihere,"' he fovT. ! ' P?'"^i"^ ^ ^ ^"""'^ ^y ^^^ "^oad-side where some ijoyous rustic dancers ^r^irp -^mnf^mtf «h«mRAtvo^ a [^ „oj 48 VRASCATl 6 ; Oil that abominable ? Behold what unholy caperings th086 thoughtless people are practising on the sabbath. I would excommunicate every one of these strolling dancing mas- ters, who teach unto youth these blood-heating exercises, causing their passions to be excited even unto the sinning against heaven. We have, I am sorry to say, too many of them in our own country ; and morals must ever degenerate until dancing and dancing-masters are banished from so- ciety." " Sir, sir," vociferated Bougie, who had with difficulty restrained himself until now, — " allow me to tell you, sir, that 1 think d — d little, sir, of you or your opinion in re* gard to my profession. 'Tis enough, sir, to drive a man mad to hear a canting mass of brutality like you, condemn an accomplishment of which you have not genius sufficient to judge, and which you have neither figure, grace, nor gentility to enable you to attain. Now, sir, once for all, I tell you that if I hear another word derogatory to my cour.*' try (for you see I am French,) or if you attempt to cast any reflection on the noble science, in which we stand unrivallea, I will chastise you — yes, horsewhip you, sir ; for you are too much beneath my notice to merit that I should meet you as a gentleman." " Why, you contemptible merry Andrew," retorted the swaddler furiously, for Bougie's last remark made him en- tirely forget the gravity of his calling, ** were I even mad enough to forget the dignity of my character and fight a duel, do you think it would be with a dancing master ?" This was a reply to which Bougie could not immediately find an appropriate rejoinder, but though his flippancy fail- ed him, his courage did not, and a tremendous blow on the nose of the missionary announced the opening of hostilities. The preacher; recovering from his first surprise, returned the compliment, and a furious scuffle ensued. The coach Etoppedv and with much trouble the combatants were sepa- rated by the postillion and conducteur. The ironical gentle- man and myself, not feeling ourselves called on to interfere) SCENES IN PARIS. 40 had jnmped out at the commencement of the pugilistio contest* When we resumed our places peace had been restored, as far as the hands of the belligerents were concerned. Their tongues, however, still continued to perform their duty. Jjougie's face was unmarked, but his hair was sadly dishevelled, and bore good proof of the adtivity with which the preacher's help-mate had used her hands in support of her spouse, who, having lost much blood, and exhibiting two eyes fearfully blockened, appeared to have come on second best in the skirmish. " I suppose," said he, it is useless to expect redress from the laws of this country; a man of my calling may look in vain for justice here, particularly when his complaint is made against a Papist." ♦♦ I am no Papist," returned Boufrie warmly, as if the imputation of Popery detracted fronj his chnracter. "J\o, sir, I move in the hig; est circles in England, and among them Popery is considered neither a polite nor a respectable religion for a gentleman." *'I never imagined," replied the preacher sneeringly, " that his Britannic majesty's subjects were very particular about the religion of the dancing masters they employ." " No wonder," retorted his adversary, " thai you should be ignorant of the opinions of a class of society into which you can never hope to obtain admittance." " Neither could you," angrilly exclaimed the swaddler, " except in the lowest of all occupations." The conducteur put a stop to this very delightful dialogue by opening the door of the vehicle, and entreating, as a favor, tl.at we would walk up the steep hill of Mo'ntreuil. Sir Brien had already alighted, and was anorillv addressing the beggars by whom he was beset. Finding''them insen- sible to his mutterings and cursings, he occasionally directed an attack through the coupee window against his sister, to whose rage for travelling and seeing foreign sights he attri- buted all his perplexities. Neither did his annoyances ter- TOL. I. E 60 FRASCATIS; OR minate here. He had locked up his passport in his trunks and Montreutl being a fortified town, it was of course ne^ cessary to produce it. Miss O'Flaherty declared, and pour cause, that she could not find hers, and much confusion and idtercation took place in consequence. '* D n France," exclaimed Sir Brien, turning to me in a fit of impatience. •♦ What the devil induced me to visit it at all ? Why, a gentleman travelling through this in- fernal country, is, like a puncheon of whiskey in Ireland, every moment in danger of being s«ized unless he has a permit pasted on his back. I hate the French," he pursued bitterly, as he attempted to rout a regiment of beggars by whom he wns surrounded, " they are so like the Irish, al- ways prefacing their petition with a sigh. It seems a fine language for begging, and since I have been in their coun- try I have scarcely heard a fellow open his lips without ut- tering a * donnez moi.* " •0£N£8 IN PAElf. HI CHAPTER VIII. We stopped at Abbeville to dine. It was the first sample Sir Brien hA of a French dinner, and one that was not very likely to make him enamoured of foreign cookery. " I find my appetite uncommonly keen," he said, as we entered the salle d manger. A bowl of salad was before the seat into which he threw himself, on his right hand was some bouilli done to rags, and in a saucer at his left a piece of roast beef wholly un- encumbered with fat. " Hang France," he muttered, ♦hen looking discontent- edly at his sister,— " I have onl) ^ ou to thank for all this." Bougie was busily employed on a stew, yet, though he seemed anxious that we should believe him to b enraptur- ed with the bonne chere of liis countrymen, it was evident, from the delicacy with w lich he handled it, that he would have had no objection to any other dish in its place. " 'Tis delicious," he exclaimed, pushing it from before him — " I advise any one to try it." Meanwhile his reverence kept walking up and down the room, throwing a hawk-like glance at the viands, and appa- rently in doubt whetlier he should partake of them or not. The entrance of a roasted turkey determined him at length to join us. " I should like to know," he observed, sitting down be- side ills wife, " what they charge for dinner here." , 52 FRASCATIS; OR ** Very moderate indeed," said the ironical gentleman. *' Allow me to send you some soup. Perhaps the lady near you will tstke some?" ** Oh no," criied the preacher hastily, " she never eats on the roacf. Moreover, she is U4iwell, and I know it will be bad for her. However, I will trouble you. It' you please." While engaged with his soup a la Julienne, the svvaddler kept an anxious eye on the turkey, which, owing to the bountiful and somewhat rapid distribution of the ironical gentleman, was already fast disappearing. "Pray, sir, have the kindness to keep some of it for me," he at length rem-arked. " I am afraid you are too late," replied the other, putting the last piece upon his own plate. The preacher seemed highly incenf'se falling to my lot. Happy lot it was ! and with the same sort of satisfaction that one feels at taking up a lottery blank, I gave her my arm, and followed in the rear. The breakfast-room was full of company, and every eye was turned in admiration on Emily as we entered. Her excessive timidity and ir.o^esty shrank beneath a notice which she was far from being desirous of provoking, and the deep glow of her cheek betrayed her embarrassment. Finally, however, her eye lingered on an object that seemed to give relief to her feelings, even while the suffusion pro- duced by her emotion became deeper ; this was the hand- some stranger whom we had met at Boulogne. He, too, evinced the same admiration ; but even while impassioned it was respectful, and, as if in pity to her embarrassment, be suffered himself only to indulge in stolen glances. iCENEi IN PARIS. 06 "There is something in all this," thought I ;— but I was not permitted for the moment to think long on the subject, for my speculations were suddenly and rudelv interrupted by the violence of the old Scotch doctor, or • companion of the pi ecedmg evening, who now rushed into the room hold- ing an extended paper in his hand. Here is the bill which the rr .cally proprietors ol this hotel have sent m to me ! What plunderers ! What robbers ' I'll not pay them, for it is impossible that I could have had so much m one day. What a charge ' v. ity francs for yes- terday's brandy ! How the deucr . ould have taken so «^fi'"/7' '"^ twenty hours? iir,w m ' turning to the waiter, *• do you make this out?" The waiter, to the surprise and an. .cement of the party, began to explain « You had twenty carafons, at a franc Sfh't Jr"" "J *^® '"°»'"i"&v^y yourself; six nfter breakfast r Lr^- n7 rP",*"'" .T^" ^^^y^^ '®^«ts wha hae ;' five vou .„d 1°^!*'" '^'^ T'^ '^'y^'^ S^^'^^^^n who ;isited you , and after dinner~-let me think-I do nut know how many you had. Oh, yes ! after dinner' ' " False !" interrupted the doctor ; "all downright imposi- Sy in^rdl;?" "" '^""^ ^^ '^y «° '-^- ^ -" for -Pay it-pay it, doctor," exclaimed Nimbleton; "pay it wtenlV,'":^ ^% ^'^ 'I y^ ^^"^ ^^^^^^^ you'rsel?/you " but^r'^r'^l '^^^'f ^l ^°'*°'' ^'"''y'^'S out of the room ; but I shall quesuon the mistress of the hotel on the subieM of this charge, 'fhere must be some mistake in it!" ^"^ asfcrf^pT'^J" '^' ^^'''*''" ^^^"""^^ ^ho occupied a seat near the handsome stranger. He had availed himself thV^I Jt '"^J^" ^'''^''''^ ^y *^« '^^'^ di^iogue between ob8erve?bv"i^Tl'2 "P^" ^ conversation with her „n Observed by me, which he was now pursuing in a low but » 2 66 FRASCATIS; OR animated tone. I felt both vexed and pleased at this cir- cumstance; vexed that he should venture to address her without having been introduced, — pleased that Emily should have experienced the gratification of conversing with one who was evidently not indifferent to her. The former un- amiable feeling did not however continue long ; for it was impossible to observe without satisfaction the delicate em- pressement with which he anticipated all her wants, and be- stowed attentions which had in them much more then the mere impulse of gallantry. Moreover, when I remarked the amiable confusion which accompanied Emily's manner v/henever she threw her timid glance on his, and thanked him for his civilities, I could not but wish from my soul that they were better acquainted, and I resolved to promote their intimacy by every means in my power. Another unamiable occurrence drew off the attention of the company from them entirely, and afforded them an op- portunity of conversing more unrestrainedly together. A large comely looking woman seated at the breakfast table had, much to the annoyance of the baronet, who loved talking as much as any body in the world, engrossed almost all the conversation. She was now delivering a long prosing mo- nologue, of which self seem>ed to be the burden. "I was much fairer," said she, resuming a chapter of her memoirs with which she had been entertaining us ; " much fairer, indeed, before I went to India. Every body used to extol the delicate freshness of my colour; but climatehas greatly altered my complexion." " 'Tis still bewitchingly fair," observed the major, glanc- ing ironically at the baronet, who seemed sorely annoyed by the silence imposed on him by this talkative lady. " Oh no, not at all," she replied ; " nothing to what it was before I went to India: why " Here she was interrupted by Sir Brien, whose politeness •eldom prevented him from being severe when thwarted in his inclimation, with " Yes, you have a good skin,^ madam, a good skin enoiigh for a woman of your years." This compliment of the baronet, delivered in his own dry SCENES IN PARIS. 67 I and emphatic manner, somewhat discomposed Mrs. M'Lofty She however received it with a forced smile, and after a little exercise of her fan, observed, "You, sir, I presume, are from Ireland, the land of gallantry ; are you not '" Being answered in the affirmative, "Now, sir," she pur- sued, " what age would you take me to be?" " About my own age, madam, and a full year older than my sister Harriet there," pointing to her. Sir Brien was anxious that no particle of this ann^ yinff allusion should be lost on his sister, who had already opened an interesting flirtation with a French count. She looked reproachfully at him, and the other lady exclaimed, in appeal to the company, — *^*^ " Gracious Heaven ! do you hear what that e itleman says ? As old as he ! Why, sir, my mother is still livinff. and has not yet reached your years. Do you know you look frightfully old ?" ^ Miss O'Flaherty drew herself haughtily up, and Sir Brien rudely replied, « Your [mother then, madam, must have brought you into the world before she was born herself" Finding the baronet's observations somewhat too uncourte- ous yet not wishing to discontinue the conversation without doing away with the effect of his last repartee, she adopted a subject less hkely she thought to provoke his sarcasms. 1 have a great many relations in Ireland," she observed • "my paternal undo was member for . He married the sister of Lord Mortgageall, and as his lordship is a bachelor my cousin IS of course heir apparent to all his estates. Mv great grandfather was Bishop of . He married Lady Kitty Dash wood. They had three sons, and I am grand- daughter of the eldest. He was accounted the most com- plete gentleman, and the handsomest man of his dav and those who recollect him compliment me on the resemblance between us. Perhaps you knew him sir ?" "I know your grandfather, madam?" exclaimed Sir Brien, all his bile overflowing at the loquacity of the lady wJJ •'' ^?" ^^^S^ ^^' ^^^ °^ '"^^ o^ Goathum, or the r^Lr^i-L T??_^f°"^' ' ^''^""'y ^'^ ^^' -hen 4 w««j uQt uriug ill ireiaau a ceniUFy back T" 68 FRASCATrs; OR " I did not mean to say you were," replied Mrs. M'Lofty, with an hysterical laugh f *♦ but being from Ire- land, I thought you might have known or heard of him. The truth is, I am a countrywoman of yours myself.'* " I was fully aware of that, before you told me so," said Sir Brien. *' Impossible !" exclaimed Mrs. M'Lofty, " for I left Ire- land when quite a child, and I am sure I have none of that disagreeable brogue which sounds so hideously in the mouths of your fair countrywomen." " Pardon me, madam, I did not pretend that you resem- bled any of my fair countrywomen, but when I heard you speak of your family and genealogy, I could not well be mistaken in the land of your birth." Mrs. M' Lofty now evinced her high displeasure by an indignant glailce at the baronet, and muttering two or three final observations about rudeness, impertinence, and low- bred familiarity, remained silent. The major took an early opportunity to whisper in Sir Brien's ear how much he admired his powers of repartee ; and while he finished an eulogy he had commenced on th** witty and cutting replies that had been made to the lady, 1 turned to observe what was passing between Emily and the stranger. They appeared to be entirely abstracted from what was going on around them. From the attentive earnestness with which Emily listened to his discourse, and the expression of pity which her features exhibited, it was evident that her companion w is repeating some tale of tra- gic or pathetic interest. Nor was I wrong ; for curiosity inducing me to approach nearer to them, I found he was describing to her the apartment in the Conciergerie occu- pied by the hapless and beautiful Marie Antoinette, imme- diately previous to her execution. He had spent much time in Paris, and had made himself acquainted with every little circumstance connected with the imprisonment and death of that ill-fated queen ; and he now dwelt on her suf- ferings in language of such power as to excite the deep sympathy of Emily, whose eyes were moist with tears during his recital. SCENES IN PARIS. eo Under a pretence of speaking to Miss O'Flaherty, I re- moved to a cljair that was vacant between herself and the stranger. The easy address and polished manners of the latter soon placed us on a footing of friendly intercourse, and I found in the course of conversation, that he had visited the chief cities in Europe. The information he had acquired during a term of travel was great, and he now im- parted It with so much affability and absence of travelled importance, that I felt anxious for a more intimate acquaint- ance. He received my advances with extreme cordiality and pleasure ; but this I rather attributed to an anxiety to be on terms of intimacy with one who wa« evidently a friend of Emdy, than to any merit he might have discovered in me. Sir Brien and the major now sallied forth into the gar- den through a door communicating with the breakfast room. Ihey were m earnest conversation, and from the profound attention and satisfaction with which the baronet listened to the remarks of his companion, it was evident that the > '> ject of discourse was his own praises. The ironical ; . gentleman who travelled with us from London had taken up his abode m the same hotel. I observed during break- fast, that though he never once opened his lips, not a look or action of the youthful pair escaped his attention. 70 FRASCATl's; OR CHAPTER XII. Emily, the stranger, and I now retired also into the gar- den, leaving Miss O'Flaherty engaged in close tete-a-tete with her companion the count. Previously to our leaving the breakfast room, the stranger, who gave his name as Henry Man vers, had entered into a somewhat detailed de- scription of his travels in Spain, to which Emily listened with the utmost earnestness and delight; and as he now Mwnt through some Moorish tradition, or described a time- worn castle rising in solemn grandeur over the banks of a dark and sweeping river, winding onwards to hide its deep waves in he impervious gloom of a gigantic forest, her head was inclined towards him, as if she feared to lose a feature of the touching picture. Moreover, when he dwelt on the romance, chivalry, enthusiasm, and gallantry of the ancient possessors of that castle, her young bosom seemed to throb with emotions which an attentive observer would at once have construed into regret that those good old times were now no more. The major and Sir Brien joining us in the midst of one of these interesting narrations, the stranger instantly discon- tinued his tale, and walked silently and abstractedly at my side. Emily sighed, and with difficulty replied to some very flattering compliment which was addressed to her by the major. In a few minutes a dashing looking fellow approached us, and with all the air and ease of a man of the world, re- SCENES IM PARIS. ri queated that the b ronet and myself would do him the fa- vour to speak to hsm a few moments apart. We retired a few paces, leaving the rest of the party to pursue their walk! when the intruder, who proved to be no less a pe«oni?e than a valet de place, after having cast a significant rianfe at the major, as if he would have said "Belare of that fel- "', r"": m"^""' ''?'«<• ""y »"« '» «hew us the town. "I am, said he, without waiUngfor a reply, " the cle- verest guide m Paris. I mean, for pointing out and ex- plaining to strangers the several wonders and sic^hts of this great city It matiers not of what country they are for I speak all languages. Y„u will no doubt find many gent e- men of my profession who can direct your attention u, such objects as are worthy of notice, but who are unable to give a classical and scientific descripUon of them like myself I can acquaint you with the respective merits and excellencies of every painting and statue in the Louvre of Luxerabou g I can explain the properties of whatever is to be seen in t?e S t" ^f • '^fi- "''T ' '"«> ^^'^y opportunity ?orpei! fecung myself m the study of botany, having lived for three years as valet de chambre to the chief lecturer I knw every book and manuscript in the BibIioth4q„e d„ RoT roughly acquainted with the different orders of architec ure m our palaces, churches, and other public buiS B^ sides, I have some influence with government, and can nm- cure admission to the Mint and other nt^To&lTlC^ no one of my profession can do except myself. ParS let me caution you," taking out a splendid gofd s„uff.hox and heh,ing himself to a pinch, "is a ver| dangerous pla^. and no gentleman ought ever to be out at night, save und« ticuC^?""" °f => P«r".'"'« "y'^'f' for sSmgrnin pt Ucular run great risk of being assassinated. Any tim" therefore, when you wish to sleep out of your Hotel T™.' "fy/ommunicate your desire Jme; 1 am always to^be It^^: '""■''''' ["•'Se. Perhaps you may ta wish S ^d f™ '".^..'"'f '' = ,**y "^^ ™^y ""rions places mueea, and almost the first d aces of nnWi» «.,»... ,. !_i,:-i. n fRASCATl's; Oft I am in the habit of conducting English gentlemen ; not, I wish it to be understood, that 1 c/er take young persons tc them, — oh no ; my morality, nij honour would not permit me. I would not do so for the v/orld ; but gentlemen of age and sense, like you, I always feel honoured iii accompar?y- ing. Should you, however, feti inclined to amutie your- selves at the game, 1 will conduct you to 120 in the Palais Royal, frequented by all the English who woa'd not have it supposed that they indulge in this iiitle recreation." Sir Brmi thanked the modest valet ^or the jirofTs ir of Ijis services, and desired him to be in attendance in the course of an hour. The ' professional" took off his hat, bowed gracefully, and reli? ./.!« I eould not at first avoid thinking how very learned the who]« of the French nation must be, when even acommmr,::,^.^ if hnlel could boast of such uni- versal acquirt^meiit; I'd when I recollected that it was a character given by a Fienchman of himself, and that no man of any other country in the world could rival him in ar. an- nouncement, be it of vendibles, or be it of personal attain- ments, my surprise and admiration immediately ceased. « What has that fellow been saying to you ?" inquired the major, of Sir Brien, as we again joined the party. " He is an impudent obtrusive blackguard, and I advise you to have nothing to do with him. , He will put you to all man- ner of expense, and show you little worth looking at after all. Have nothing to do with the scoundrel, Sir Brien ; and I promise to devote some days to the pleasure of showing you the several sights myself. I am, you must know, of a very acuve and inquiring turn of mind, and possessed of a great fondness for research. Moreover, no one is so well acquainted with I'aris ;— so much so, indeed, that a cele- brated London publisher has tempted me with a large offer to write my adventures : but I cannot think of accepting it. The name of author is not reputable now-a-days, and espe- cially for a military man. It is too much after the - ' 'ijar taste of that old Roman Cincinnatus. Moreover, .in^ug person** of family and f*. tune, an author is coi5«'iuured a mere drudge,— a sort of Iliorary mountebank at uv ;k .ch per I SCENES IN FARM. 78 sheet; and you know, my dear sir, vr« must conform to the opinions of the circle in which we move. Byron cer- t'iinly gave respectability to the name ; but other lords (Nor- ninnby excepted) will not write, and authorship is affain iiBt sinking into disrepute.*' I was delighted to hear of the offer made by the pub- lisher, being well satisfied that my work must far exceed anythmg that a mere major in the army could write; but at the opinion he expressed in regard to the respectability of authorship I was sorely annoyed. I however attributed it to his very limited information on these subjects, and an impudent and affected display of arrogance and pretension. The major completely succeeded in supplantmg the vtdet de place during the day. Manvers at my request consented U) be of the party, but Emily was conrp'eiied to decline ac- companying us, as her aunt had declared she could not think of venturing out so early, and desired her to remain with her until the carriage arrived, when she proposed that they should drive out together. It was evident that this arrangement was far from being agreeable either to Enrilv or to Manvers. ^ ** I regret,*' said the former, colouring, and in a low tone, " that my aunt will not be of the party, for from your de- scnptions of travel, I had anticipate *. much pleasure and amusement in hearing you explain the several beauties and curiosities of Paris." " Your regret," returned the young man eagerly, while his dark eyeshot forth a glance of delight, "flatters me greatly; for though I am sorry beyond measure that you should be disappointed in the wish you have formed, still I cannot but feel grati5ed to learn from that disappointment, that I have been happy enough to impart pleasure to one whom all must feel desirous to please." These were the only hints of mutual esteem which had hitherto escaped the lips of either; and, although each be- lieved that they were heard only by the other, they fell dis- tinctly on my prying ear, and I would not have lost them on any account. 74 FRASCATI8} OR At length we set forth on our excursion, leaving Emilr and her aunt behind. The latter had displayed some skill in manoeuvring in this affair, for the earliness of the hour and the absence of a vehicle were not her real motives for remaining at home. She wished to get Sir Brien out of the way in order that she might, under we sanction of Emily's presence, invite her new admirer, the count, to take an air- ing with her. But, after all, who could blame her for it ? It certainly was high time that she should think of establish- ing herself for life, and the count, although past the quarari' tmne and by no means an Adonis, was nevertheless an eli- ble husband for a lady of her years. He was an exceedingly well-mannered man, — next heir to a large estate in one of the best grape departments in France, of high descent, a soldier, wore mustachios and the red ribband, and was a member of the legion of honour and the order of St. Louis. He was, moreover, esteemed the most persevering roulette player in Paris, had concocted a most infallible system for winning at rouge et noir, and only wanted Miss O'Fla- herty*s fortune to put it forthwith in practice. 80BNK8 IK PARIS. t5 CHAPTER XIII. As we passed through the Rue St. Honor6 we saw a cplendid-looking carriage, a perfect model of workmanship, and remarkable for its lightness and beauty. The Uveries ot the servants too, were gorgeous in the extreme. "Do you know, major,** inquired the baronet, "to whom that carriage belongs ?" „"'/°-—^' l^^ongs to your talking friend, the widow M liOtty, on whom you were so severe this morning.'* I' She must be very rich!" pursued Sir Brien, musingly. " Very rich mdeed. Her husband, who died lately in India, amassed a princely fortune in that country, and has left the whole of it to her. * " Why the devil, then, do you not propose for her ?— why not marry her, major, eh ?" " Why," returned Nimbleton, with an air of nonchalance, I might marry her if I wished, for she was always very partial to me ; but I never would encourage her advances. 1 do not hke the woman in fact, and then again her famUy IS plebeian. That you Know would never do, as my re- lations and friends, who are people of the first consequence, would not visit her." ^ * Manvers, who was leaning on my arm, could not refrain trom aughing in the major's face during the delivery of this speecli. The latter s^^med annoyed, but took no notice of m Wtefruption, I could not well ask an explanation at rRAiCATl's; OB the moment, but presumed that my young friend had some knowledge of Nimbleton, thnt <\h\ not quite accord with the motifes he had just assir od ibr not marrying the rich widow. We now turned into the Palais Royal. The beautiful ioup d^oeil of this magic place was lost on the baronet, Mrhose first exclamation vas, " Are not the gaming-houses here, major? I wish above all things to scr -hoj u" " I believe they are somewhere about here," returned Nimbleton, " but I am ignorant of the precise place, for I never was in one ;n my life. I would not trust myself in them, for larger states than mine have been swallowed up here. However, if you wish it, I will inquire. Do you," he pursued, t-rning to Manvers, " know anything of these houses V* " A little,'' replied the other, with a satirical smile, " and I shall feel happy in conducting Sir Brien and Mr. Morris to one of them. You, I presonte will wat our return, for 1 never could forgive myself were I to prove the means of introducing so self-distrusting a character as Major Nimble- ton, to a place where his very large estates might be endan- gered." " Nay, nay, do not be alarmed on my account," <"oolly returned the major ; " there is no danger of my being se- duced into play. — I shall go with jou.*' Manvers now introduced us into a dirty >assage commu- nicating with a jeweller's ; ' op, id leai g at tl farther extremity to a flight of wretched, comfortless stairs. These we ascended, and in a few minntes found ourselves in the splendid apartments designatdd by the T^imber 1^4, of which we had heard so much. In the first room beyond the antechamber was a roulette table, the vAxne) of which was lying stationary for want of playe Having previously ascertained the n e playing fro « by-stander. Sir Brien placed a Naj r n one of t^ numberp. He was fortunate. He. Mfpii, and thirty-six times the amount of the stake he Haid risked was paid to him. •CENE9 IN PARK. n "Do you see th.s Morris?" he exclaimed exultinriy, «nd counung the gold he had received with as much dS as If they had been as many thousands, " I perceive. Sat if a man plays cautiously, he must unavoidably make his for- ">«'"» very httle time at this game." n,iJr hi.T" ''''fi'="'«y I prevailed on him not to compro- raise his advantage at the roulette at least for the oresent and we lounged into the next apartment, wh chw» a rS etrnir room. This, if one might judge from the numSr vl4nt'Z7.h; 7 hi ""' 'r ""'* «=""'• Not a chai" wa S JT '/'''«• and many of the players stood in ^n„ .1 f t"' *?" ''""P ^^''"^ *ose who were seated Amont the atter, I recognized m- itde friend of the black nightcap whose noisy calculation, /lad so cruelly disturbed my sh.mbers th.t morning. He was anxiously engaged in S hi M^\ "■> «hich were drawn several lat-^C! T^l, ii. P^i"' ^ =""' ^' '" ^""•'a'e fed and black co- loure between the spaces; but he was not playing,_for Sie best «ason in the world. I suppose,_beLL t haS no syilemXeVr'''* ""^'"' "'"""''''g him. "how does the siah^"'' , 'T'^*''" ™J<'*?«''J *e lilUe man with a deep betiful^l r ''*»f'»-day. But is not this a oeanti ul g.me . ,e pursued, shewing him the card that he had pricked, "ou. see how it has%nswered. Had I have '"roi en^h«r'^^ '"n"""™ "'^''^ ^"^ *is run I should b::^e;^''"ry ts^/ toS-a^T "nfevVife' ti^r •■ en4 rady b? U ^1". '.kfi..." ' "^^ ^^^^ .vn„ . °°' ""^ '' i;P y*'-" ."•"<^e«'-' <• «he little man. " I 4» ^ 78 riuuBCATis; oa Looking acrow the table, I beheld, deeply engaged in the game, an oM man frightfully afflicted with the palsy. There was something dignified in his appearance, something that would have claimed and commanded respect in any other situation ; but when I thought ^f the vile passion which in- stigated him thus to expose and torture a frame nearly bowed to the earth with years and disease, my feelings were undisguised contempt and unqualified disgust. His tongue now protruded beyond his lips, bis body shook with the alternate influer e of joy and disappointment, jind his trembling hand but lil performed the service of depositing or taking up his stakes. " Pray, sir, can you inform me who that gentleman is ?'* I inquired of a shabby-genteel looking Englishman, who stood near me. " What, sir, do you not know who he is ? You must, indeed, be a stranger here. That is one of the most con- -jtant players at rouge et noir in all Paris. Every day for the last five years, Sundays not even excepted, has he been in the habit of attending the several gaming-houses. He was once a man of very large property ; but, like some others, has contrived to get through a great many thousands. Play is his great passion ; and I expect one of these days to see him drop down dead from the effects of his palsy, with a pricking-pin in one hand and a stake in the other. His name is M. " "What!'* I exclaimed, "is that really M -t I have often heard him spoken of as a man of large fortune." " True, sir, true ; but his passion for rouge has nearly ruined him. By the bye, I do not see you- play, perhaps you are not aujait ? I shall be very happy to give you my advice. 1 am considered a very excellent rouge et noir player indeed, and if you please we will bank a few Napo- leons." " I thank you," I said, " but I do not purpose to play this morning." " Do, my dear sir, permit me to try even one Napoleon for you," pursued my new acquaintance. " You will really ■CBNSS IN PARIf. 79 confer a very great favour on me ; and as I am usuallv lucky, we shall. I dare aay, have somethinff to divide be- tween U8." ** From the appearance of the speaker, I should have thought he had very few Napoleons to bank; however, as I had reason to believe that I should in reality confer not only a favour but a benefit on him. in the event of my Napoleon proving lucky. I acquiesced in his proposal. CuTioua however, to know, whether he had a Napoleon at all. I obi served, as I took one from my own purse, " Here is mv stake ; give me yours; I will play the first coup, and il ui^ successful, you shall try the other." "By all means, nothing can be more fair,'» resumed mv In^HfL""! ^T *^*^"»^«"'^"^^. however, I could trace a slight shade of disappointment. He continued to f .mble a minute or two in his pockets; then exclaimed, with well affected concern, — " Dear me, what a d— d stupid fellow I am. I have ab- so lutely come without my pursue. How very unfon^ate r . "Very unfortunate indeed," I coolly returned, consign- ing the gold to my waistcoat pocket. ^ "Stop, stop," eagerly rejoined the other; and with an* involuntary raising of his hand, ..s if he would have arres" tnlllTT'- ''J'i^' ^'^P^^^on will be sufficien I If MnL /"n''"^"'^'.""^ ^« «h^" win some money, my card:" "^^" ^"^ ^'" '^' ^^" ^'^^"^^ ^«-"^«rr«^- HeTe Ts " Never mind your card," I replied. *' Here is the Na- ad?s nfoa/^^^^^^^^^ '"^^^^ *« a Qisiant part ol the table, assigning as a motive thnf h* was always more lucky there than any wheTeels; hn in realuy anxious to avoi'd being overload in his play ? p e tended not to observe him, yei, though my head ' pardy averted, I could distinctly observe fu hfs motions He placed the Napoleon on the red, and having w^ the Ss%rL'' *'f rr ^^^^^^^ -to^T-k^of h irowsers. He then put ten francs of the other on the black, 80 fra3cat;'s; or and lost, when coming back to me with the remaining sil- ver, he threw it on the colour next to me, and again lost. " Well, who would have thought it !" he exclaimed. " I was certain that I should have been in luck to-day ; but no matter, we shall do better some other time, I owe you ten francs, sir." " Suppose you let me try my luck with the Napoleon you won at your first stake," I observed, looking him full in the face ; ** perhaps I may be more fortunate." " The Napoleon I won at my first stake, sir ?" confus- edly repeated the banking man. "Really you must be raistaken." *' Not at all," I resume'^ : still regarding him with the same fixed and scrutinizi-g look. "If you try, you will find it there," (pointing to the right hand pocket of his trowsers.) " Your memory must have played you false ; but you may rely upon it the Napoleon is there." With a dogged air, in which shame and vexation were struggling with an affectation of surprise, he at length pro- duced the gold. " Well, how very singular, that I should have won and pocketed that stake, without recollecting the circumstance afterwards ! How very extraordinary! is it not?" " Not at all," I replied ; " people who are much in the habit of play, are often subject to these little treacheries of memory." " True, true ; your observation is very just," rejoined my friend, who construed my sarcasm into a justification of his recent conduct. " These things do often happen ; and, in fact, in the heat and agitation of play, one cannot be sup- posed to know what one does. Well, shall I try it again ?" " No, certainly : it is now my turn." With a look of disappointment and much evident reluc- tance, he handed me the gold. " There seems to be a run upon the red," he observed ; " you had better follow it up" My object, however, was not to win, but to lose, and for two reasons. In the first instance, I felt that if I lost, I 3hould not in all probability be troubled j;gain with the ser- BCfiNES IN Paris. %i vices of my new acquaintance, who v,as not likely to be ffuihy of stirring earth and heaven to return me my ten francs. inl!»,^^T ' ' ^^' nialiGiou8 enough to anticipate pleasure from the disappointment he would feel in losing, after hav- LLn'l, 1 ^»fV^"''^^' '^ ^^^terously outwitted me ; and, ^though 1 had reason to think the poor devil had not a franc to procure a dinner with, I was resolved to punish him for the dishonesty he had practised. ^ 1 took an opportunity, when every one around the table had made up their minds from the course of the cards, that the run on the red was quite established, to put my sovereign "My God, sir! how could you do such a thing?" im- pa .enUy *xcfamed my fellow sufferer. " Who efer saw such play ? Who ever was half so silly as to oppose him- sdf .p a run on the colour ? But it is^not too\te!" he pursued, seeing that I took no notice of his observations, "the colour .3 established beyond a doubt. You wT Uy another Napoleon, will you not »" ' "No sir, I shall play no more," I coolly replied. DoL«l Fn'> :~"°" 'r^ ' ^'"'" '"""«'^d 'he disap. po nted Englishman, as he stalked away, biting his nails wilh pa sion, " what a confounded idiot not to have kept what I I ad won." In the next minute, I saw him lean- 2 on the ma,ble slab of the mantel-pi^ce at one exte- rn y of the room. His back was lurnrd to me, but h" f a tures reflected from the large mirror that stood before . hm , bore such strong impress of disappointment and carl that I could not but help feeling commiseration for hC tiall «r°' 'Ti" ™y ^"'"'^'' f'""' «-•'<>«■ I I'ad been Z taly separated dunng my affair of partnership, I percefv- wa ds M """ °^u"""' "^ ""' P'^y"'^ 'o be dire£ L without .wf'- "'"' ™^' "'^'''"S '''SO ««u« and winning wunout mtermission. Tempted bv the success of hil young („end Sir Brieu had followed up his ; ay =^d was equally lucky, though on a smallcrScale. "^Fortu^e i however, was not long in manifesting her canricln"""" Idea 82 FRASCATl's ; OR and in the course of a very few minutes, Manvers had scarcely a sou left out of the large heaps that so recent- ly lay before him. The baronet was fortunate enough to escape this reverse, for finding that his hands could scarcely contain the gold he had won, he very prudently ceased at the moment when Manvers's luck began to turn. I now approached, and congratulating him on his success, prevail- ed on him to retire with his winnings. As I left the room, I cast a parting glance at my friend. He was still leaning with his head on his hand, and appa- rently much dejected. I could not resist the impulse of the moment, but taking a Napoleon from my purse, lounged to- wards the fire-place, and placed it in his hand. " We have both been unfortunate to-day," I observed, in a subdued tone. " Perhaps, however, if you play with cauSion, you may manage to recover our trifling losses with this." ^ . . , There was a mingled expression of joy, surprise, and gratitude, on the countenance of the stranger, as he grasped the extended gold ; and the gloom which had so recently obscured his brow passed away. Then, in the next instant, as if ashamed of the eagerness he had betrayed, he dropped his eyes, coloured, and thanked me for what he was pleased to term my loan. A moment afterwards he was betting at the table. SCENES IN PARIS. 88 CHAPTER XIV. the open aVenaTW'kL^^^^^^^^ lT~'Xl lew men should have made fortunes by it, for see what T have gamed m less than ten minutes." ^ ^* ' 1 shook my head. " It is true," I replied " that vo.i our y^, mend . .i.^!^lX"Zj-,%:,t fore w^ Irf/ B„.,i '^ y ^, '=»"*'il"«'y fof that. Besides, be- w a system by which one is sure to win. That vmin., Hrdirnn^'^ '"'.'• ^'^^r^'P^y'^ ^^UhoutKent! «„ 1 J ?°' go systematically to work as I did. ' T^de i. noload.' Morris," conclude-d SirBrien, cCh „g AeLd liiv*l^° "ooount of Ableton Hazard's system, my incredu- "ty was some«rhat shaken, and I felt dispo "/to S^ f««™.f "T"",** '™* "fhis observations "TwJ innSX^T' 1,°"™'.'. ""'"8'"' ""^y "»' P^ve so very unprofitable after all ; and if I can only perau^de Sir Briln 84 FRASCATl's; OR to let me into the secret, there can he no just reason why I should not make a fortune by it also. In a few minutes we were joined by Nimbleton and Man- vers. " Ha'/C you won ?" inquired the baronet of the major. " Oh no ! I never yet have played, and I am sute I never shall. Had I your nerve and prudence, however, I think I should be tempted, for, upon my honour, I never in my life met with so cool and clever a player. You really quite surprised me. You certainly must have the bump of acquisitiveness, which, in the hurry of my examination, I had overlooked." Sir Brien seemed highly delighted at all this, and the major continued to eulogize his play, attributing his suc- cess entirely to judgment and a superior conception of the game, until his companion had not an ear left for any thing but his own praises. In this mood, the phrenologist had no difficulty in drawing him apart from us. Left to ourselves, 1 began to condole with Man vers on his losses ; but he treated them with a levity that surpris- ed me, declaring tuat his mind was at that moment oc- cupied with a very different subject. " Have you been long acquainted with that gentleman ? he asked, pointing to the major. "I never saw him before last night, when he was kmd enough to introduce himself to Sir Brien and myself, in the coffee-room of the ho*el." " Do you know any th-ng of his uncle ?" "Nothing whatever,'- I replied. " Well ;" proceeded Manvers ; ** that man is certainly not to be surpassed in ^f ..ntery. I thought I should have - died with laughing, wixn he disclosed his motives to the baronet for not marrying the widow M'Lofty. But his as- iertion, in my presence, that he had never been in a gam- ing house, certainly exceeded all my ideas of superlative assurance." i *« a "Why ; have you ever seen him in them before, then i « Ask me, rather, whether 1 h&ve ever seen him out of #iem." I iSCENfiS IN PARIS. 8ft " Has he a system ?" I inquired. '^ "A capital one for swindling," rejoined Manvers ; "and did he but confine himself to his natural calling, I should not so much blame him. But, as you mention systems. I must relate a circumstance that occurred here last summer I was stopping at Meurice's, where I first met this genUe- man. He forced his acquaintance on me much in the man- ner that he appears to have done with the baronet and your- self, and pestered me day after day to join him in a system he had discovered for winning at rou^e et noir. His im portunities at length became so teasing, that one morniiiff I foolishly gave him upwards of four thousand francs, with which he assured me he could break the bank : in any case I was to be a sharer hi the profits. " That evening he sent a waiter, to request that I would see him in his room. I immediately went, and found him sitting near the fire, with all the distracted air of one driven to the verge of despair. There was a case of pistols Ivinir open on the table. As I entered, he started from his chairl and, alter pacing the room like a madman for a few minutes, at length approached and grasped my hand, exclaimin<^, in an accent of desolation,—' Will you forgive me ? I caS- not die m peace unless you do. I am a ruined man ; the very apprehension of having made you so too, drives me distracted. I have lost all the money you entrusted to me this mormng,^ and upwards of a thousand pounds of my own. These are my only refuge from misery, (pointing to the pistols,) and with these I have resolved to end my life, fell me only that I have not ruined you : say too that you forgive me a.:d I shall die happy.* "Atanyt 7r moment, I should certainly have treated as rhodomontade, the highly wrought scene that was acting betore me ; and at once have seen the absurdity of a man of the world affecting to bflu /. hat I could possibly have been ruined by the loss ol km thousand francs, while he himself, a much poorar in u/ijual, had lost six times the amount. The major certainly overacted his part in this af- lair, but I was too much taken by iurprise to reason coolly VOL. I. " H 86 FRASCATIS; OR on the isubjcct ; and, in fact, his acting was in every sense mo like the ebuliitiim of genuine feeling, that I absolutely -became alarmed for him ; and assuring him that the loss of the money was of no consequence whatever, sought to tranquillize his mind, a)>d to dissuade him from the execu- tion of his mad resolve. "*Ah !' he exclaimed, in an agonized tone, *you are too, too good. But it is now too late. I am an utterly ruined man, and die I must, unless I can contrive to 'borrow two thousand francs for a few days.' ** Even this did not open my eyes, I happened to have n few notes in my pocket-book, and instantly put the amount he required into his hands. Nothing could exceed his professions of gratitude. He called me the preserver of his life, the guardian of his reputation, and in short, so overpowered me with his acknowledgments, that I was glad to leave the room. " 'J'iie next morning the major was not to be found. On inquiry, it appeared that he had quitted the hotel altogether having in his hurry, forgotten to settle his account with Monsieur Meurice. As for my six thousand francs, they were gone for ever, and I had the additional mortification to discover soon afterwards, that not a single sou of the amount had been lost by him. " Since that period 1 have seen nothing of him till this morning. You witnessed his conduct towards me, and may thejrefore, after the circumstance I have related, form some idea of his consummate impudence. As we descended the stairs of the gaming house just now, he had the effrontery to beg that I would not expose him either to you or to the baronet ; * for,' he pursued, ' they are most intimate friends <)f my uncle in Ireland, who requested them to undertake the arrangement of my affairs, which are at present in a very embarassed state. I hope, however, in a few days to be enabled not only to repay what you lent me, but to mlkke you a handsome present for your unparalleled kind- ness towards me.' I felt half tempted," concluded Man- v«i«, '* to knock him down for his insc^ent offer ; but on I fiCBNES IN PARIS. 89^ feUow!""* ^ '*'''"«*" '' ^'"""^ *^ ^""« "^^^i»& to do with the Even after Manvers had finished his account of the major I continued for some moments silent from surprise , Su?': dignalion at the idea that such a character should haiedl,^ semTth' ^"^^^^''^^"r society, and further to have rep^ sen ed the baronet and myself as agents for the arrangement of his affairs, soon restored to me the power of speech Af ter venting forth my indignation and anger at hirprestimp ion, m no very measured terms, I expressed my deterS" iStrt ^''Z'^^' ^^ ^«!^ld "«ver again presume to take the hberty to address any of our party. - Manvers, however prevented me. « Defer it yet for a. time, he observed. - You are now quite on your (rua^ and consequently incur no risk of being duped by his^a^I fices. It will be curious to observe hi! style of maiceuJi" ing ; for such a proficient is he in the science of swiS hat you can scarcely well avoid witnessing some mS' stroke of his worthy of record." 'uaswr This last hint remindec r..- r,f the plan I had formed at Boulogne of writing my adve.i res in Paris, andima^tnint mcorrectly, I now admit) that such a chara;ter as nS of hira for the present even though my f.v^th^r knowlefc of him should be purchased at the price o. ^ kw nounlff my own and Sir Brien's ipone^. ^ "^ ^^ i| 88 FRABCATIS; OR CHAPTER XV. On our return to the hotel we beheld Miss O' Flaherty *» new admirer, the Comte de Chevjlle, handing her from the carriage, having just returned from a drive in the Champs Elys6es. The count bowed familiarly to Sir Brien, whose only notice of this attention was a sullen and angry jerk of the head, that was meant to mark his disapprobation of the liberty. " Where is Emily V he roughly demanded of his sister, seeing that his niece was not of the party. " She remained at home. I sent her to her room to pre- pare herself for a drive, but she took so much time to dress that I could not think of waiting for hef." The fact was. Miss O'Flaherty had seized the first open- ing after her brotlwr's departure from the hotel to hurry off with the assiduous Frenchman, being well satisfied that she was more likely to engross his attention in a t^te-a-tete, than if her lovely niece had been one of the party. The bare idea of Emily having been left alone in the hotel, and that merely to gratify the ridiculous humour of her aunt, aroused all the angry feelings of the baronet, and Miss O'Flaherty would at that moment have experienced the full effects of his resentment, had not his anxiety to sympathize with Emily in her ♦ cruel disappointment,' as he fondly termed it, impelled him in search of her. She saw him from the window of her chamber as he crossed the court- yard, and bounding down stairs with all the alacrity and af- M • ^ifi »OENE» IN PARK. m feeiion of her years, flenr to meet him. The dispoaition of Emily wa, too aweet, hernatur- 'oo generous. TKo kind to admit of her having, even for r.,e moment, enlert^r„ed, Sh^;^?/^"'""'""'"' *' ""' '"'«''• """due of he? "urn! She did not now even appear as one who had met wi'h . mortification, or had been deprived of a pleasure : or if ahe had been sensible of any annoyance, the chagrin it hid o^ caaioned her was now entirely sunk in the pleasure she d^ Pved from the presence of her uncle. It'^waa Swavg , source of profound delight to me to observed waTm Lid oten^'^'T ""•I"" ""' =""'?'"« Prl evinced to^ari™ ^ old frrend, whose testiness of humour was seldom Droof mmst her gentleness of manner. Whenever th"y^Z after a separation even of a few hours, she would hZX him^eize his hand, and, with all the fondness of one duly appreciating the solicm.de of aneariy and generous guanSaA inquire if there was any thing she could do for h'r thih V!S''/f""5 .?' •■?"• ^* '«»»« half a «lozen times, that he had fatigued himself with his morning's excureton ramb e. This question was asked not out of curiosity bat a desire to know if he had really been entertained I. how- of hisSf ""^'i: T"^'' '» *" baronet the selfish coiI^t 1. »" ^J^^' ??''' '"T ''**'*" ""«'«'" 5- [• '''"''' "onsWerale girl. Emily," returned aunt are of no avail. She is a nasty, selfish old / e.pe^^dry'':;;:^^!"'''"'^'^''"'^-''^ "Old, old, did I say old?" rejoined the baronet, some- H 3 •■ il 00 FRASCATI^S; OR what taken by surprise* ar^l relinquishing the graceful fori" of his niece. " Yes, you said old, and in allusion to me," angrily pur- sued Miss O'Flaherty ; then, with a toss of her head,—'* an old maid you meant, I suppose, but I can promise you, Sii Brien, that 1 shall not continue an old maid much longei,'' and she moved angrily away. Manvers and I had remained at a distance attentively watching this little scene, and, of course, with very different impressions towards the several actors in it. \s for me, I could not compare the generous anxiety evincud by Emily to turn the current of her uncle's displeasure, with the cold- ness and selfishness of the being she sought to justify, with- out feeling additional disgust for Miss O'Flaherty, who had not scrupled to sacrifice the amusement of her niece to her own ridiculous vanity, and that for speculation ; nor did I dismiss my reflections on the subject without a fervent hope that, as a punishment for her heartlessness, she really might have de Cheville for her husband. At the foot of the irairs we parted with Manvers, who, with the major, hafl invited by Sir Brien to dinner, and Emily, her ur ^: , yd I ascended to the drawing-room. Here another family > ne awaited me. " How unfortunate i'' exclaimed Miss O'Flaherty, who had preceded us, " how very unfortunate it is, that a pre- vious engagement deprives us of the pleasure of the count's company to dinner !." "And pray who gave you permission to ask him?" peevishly inquired Sir Bri^n, who still felt exceedingly sore on the subject of Emily's disappointment. " I was not aware that I required any permission," re- turned his sister, in nearly the same tone. " It certainly is not a matter on which I should deem it at all necessary to consult you." " So it appears," rejoined Sir Brien. " If you had con- sulted me, however, you would have been disappointed, for I certainly should not have invited him." Miss O'Flaherty replied, that she supposed she was no •CE^ ES IN PARIS. I longer to consi Vr her h other's a, irtmenta as her owr id pretending to inf< r th he wanteJ to get rid of her, ihu- thanked hoi tars that she could keep an establishment of her own, and the ugh t it hifh time to see about it. Sir Brien attempted to h .ow that she had entirely misun- derstood his meaning; but Miss OTlaherly, finding the in- terpretation .she had given to his words higiih favourable to her matriino..ia .gociation with the count', and b ,ng de- sirous to give the affair some appearance of necr='' ler- filsted in maintain. ng her unkind construction. even attributed her brother's conduct to certain conte . ; ma- trimonial speculations of his own, and warml) eighinir against such u itural treatment towards a sistei i foreign lant hinted at the commiseration she must excite, if driven by .eh inhuman b' haviour into the hateful condition of ni irriage. " Gently, gently ss O'Flaherty," calmly observed the h-ronet, making a sen icircular movement at the same time With his outstretched hand. "Do not think," he pursued significantly, " even with all your skill at manceuvring, to outwit me. I see very clearly now what your object is my dear ; but if you must have a husband, choose our friend Morris there. In that case your property will bp taken carciof, instead of being wasted by a needy foreigner; and as you cannot, of course, expect any family, it will become our dear little Emily's in time. I felt exceedingly vexed, that Sir Brien should have ever imagined such a thing as a marriage between his sister and myself, for I flattered myself, that one of he blood of the Morrises, even at my years, might aspire . a muc h younffer woman than Miss O'Flaherty. Yet, wiiix all my annoyance 1 could not avoid smiling and chuckling, to think how greatly deceived he would be in supposing that i should have no family in the event of an union with his sister. Thus directly appealed to, the lady surveyed me from head to foot, as if to discover whether there was any thinff to encourage her in her reply, but I immediately, and unol^ served by the baronet, put on a look so blapji and so forbid- ..,^^- :v'-«^ ,."^.. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I ItilM lis 12.5 ■■■I 1^ U^ 12.2 la 1.8 L25 lllliu IIIIII.6 V] vl ^^ 7: ^% ^> v rf» ,V^ .V V /A '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 riU8CATi*er ; oil i'i 1 ding, that in the ebune of a minute or two she was awed into a most decided negative. »• What ! marry Mr. Morris— a man old enough to be my father !" she exclaimed, with well affected astonishment, accompanied by a forced hysterical laugh. " Not for all the world would I marry him ! Dear me, who ever heard of such a thing ?— Well, that is too good, upon my word! Surely you were jesting. Sir Brien." What an attack was this on me — on me Rambleton Mor- ris, who had refused the overtures of at least fifty different ladies of the highest rank, fortune, and beauty in Ireland ! I could hare quartrelled with Sir Brien for having exposed me to so great a mortification, and, I believe, my spleen against his sister must have broken forth in spite of all my ef- forts to prevent it, had not Manvers and the major now en- tered the Toony During dinner, however, I recovered my self-pdssession, consoling myself with the philosophical reflection, that any opinion of Miss OTlaherty could not impeach the charac- ter I bore of being an universal favourite with the sex. She, on the contrary, appeared dissatisfied, and affected a resent- ful carriage towards her brother. In this sullen reserve she the m^re studiously persevered, as she fanci^ that any abatement of her indignation at his alleged injustice, would afford him an opportunity for expostulating with her on the subject of her intimacy with de Cheville, a topic which, of all others, she was anxious to avoid. At any other moment the baronet would have felt acutely, ttdd openly attacked the conduct of his sister, but his thoughts were now diverted into a different channel, for he not only , experienced consolation but delight in the subtle flattery of Nimbleton. The major, it must be admitted, had uncom- mon tact and dexterity in administering the unction of praise, not, however, that much nicety was required with his pre- sent companion, for he generally contrived so to embody the dose in the shape of questions, that replies were indis- pensaWe, by which means Sir Brien had the two-fold satis- 80BNB8 IN PARIS. &3 faction of being enabled to descant on his own merittf, and to see Nimbleton in ecstacy at all he said. Miss OTlaherty might have continued musing the whole evening on her anticipated union with the count, or (what w not at all improbable) on the frustration of every latent hope in regard to myself, had I not charitably resolved to re- lieve her embarrassment by entering into conversation with her. She, however, seemed to consider this courtesy on my part as intrusive, and, in fact, I had another motive for this sudden condescension, and that was to divert her atten- tion from Manvers and Emily, who were so occupied with each other as apparently to Jorget that there was any one present besides themselves. The major also was evidently uncomfortable at the rapid and obvious advancement of Manvers in the esteem and fa- vour of his companion, and more than once sought to join in their me-A'tdie, Sir Brien, however, prized his conversa- tion too highly to admit of its being shared with another, and the major was compelled t» desist. Foiled in the attempt to ingratiate himself with Emily, he resolved, if possible, to interrupt the happiness of his rival, and with this view, availing himself of a remark made by her, tliat she had not yet seen the garden of the Tuileries, he proposcsd a walk for the evening. To this all readily assented, and Nimbleton now manoBuvred deeply in order to secure the arm of the young lady. This project was, however, defeated by a counter-mangeuvre on my part ; for suggesting to Sir Brien that he might possibly have something to communicate to his friend, and that therefore it would be as well to take the lead, the baronet immediately profited by my hint. It was in vain that the major protested against this ungallant pro- ceeding, and insisted on escorting the ladies. The baronet had recollected some egotistical anecdote, which he was anxious to impart to his dear friend, and passing his arm through his, hurried him off in advance. 94 nU8CATI*0; OB CHAPTER XVI. What stranger has not been struck with admirationt at the fine view which presents itself to his eye, as he issues from the Rue de la Paix into the Place Venddme ? What generous eftiotions, what enthusiastic feelings, have not been €xcited by the appearance of the nohle column which reans its proud head in the centre of that spacious octagon, record- ing in highly wrought relief, (he victories of one of the greateist warriors of the earth, and commemorative of the; glories of one of the first countries in the world ! And then again, how few have failed to observe, with admiration, the splendid buildings and colonades of the Rue Castiglione, terminated in perspective by the richly gilded railings of the Royal Gardens, over which the dense green foliage hangs in luxuriant freshness ; all tending to complete a picture of the most diversified kind, in which the master-touches of art, science, ^lory and nature, are equally distinguishable. Neither is the amalgamation confined simply to inanimate objects. In the living masses which hourly throng the gardens beyond, the utmost contrast of condition and cha- racter is observable. On one side we behold some re- nowned marshal or general coming in immediate contact with a perfumed coeffeur ox maitre de danse^ the lesser star apprehending no eclipse from the greater, but strutting by him with an air of the most perfect indifference j and, in the true spirit of French nelf-complacency, imagining every eye to be turned in admiration on himself. And whiat sub-^ ■CNX nr l>Aua. 95 ^r^""^^ ^'^ "°* *« appearance of many of these d f?l.?""'^^ *""""•"' »'■ *« •>»"«" they hwe hi™ iwl ""! ^"y quarter of the globe; men who ^rL S if ">'»«"'K"i»hew returned to the breaiifast room, and approaching the cc Oiiel, observed, in a decided and emphatic tone,—" the chief object of this vi- sit I shall explain elsewhere ; but as you have insulted my whole party, I, for one, have a right to express my opinion of you, which is, that your conduct has been any other than that of a gentleman. Now, sir, a word with you in private." ^ The colonel affected great anger on hearing me thus bold- ly avow my opinion of him. " Name your place, air," he exclaimed, in a loud blustering tone, "name your place, and I lyiU meet you in five minutes." I 2 102 tiuuscATi*s ; OR 1 of course considered this as a downright challenge to myself, and as I never refuse an invitation of the kind when it ii offered, I determined at once to meet the colonel. An instant's reflection, however, satisfied me, that in so doing I subjected myself to a charge of selfishness and injustice ; for Sir Brien's vengeance had, decidedly, a prior claim to mine, and entrusted as I had been with the honour of my friend, it was utterly out of the question that I could accept the challenge until he had obtained entire satisfaction for the more immediate insult offered to him. Indeed, accord- ing to the rules laid down in that inimitable work, *• Ha- milton's Royal Code of Honour," general usage was against my meeting Killheiress ; for, however annoying to my own feelings it was to yield priority in such a case to another, as a man of honour, entertaining correct notions of the eti- quette of duelling, I could not do otherwise than suffer my friend, as the first offended, to take the lead. Still, as in addition to my own inclination for the thing, nothing would have given- me greater pleasure than to stand between the baronet and danger, 1 employed all my eloquence to induce his compliance with my wishes. Like a true Irishman, however, he rejected all my arguments, and even seemed inclined to take offence at my even naming it, so that I was of necessity compelled to abandon to him the post of ho- nour, which he claimed as his right. The reader will easily understand my disappointment on this occasion. The colonel was the favoured suitor of the widow, who, on hearing what passed between us, used all her exertions to prevent a meeting. Perhaps she dis- covered something pleasing in me, so at least I had reason to believe, and what led me into the supposition that she was even more anxious about my safety than that of Kill- heiress, was the fact of her appearing perfectly assured and radier encouraging her admirer to fight than not, when she discovered that Sir Brien wa3 to be his antagonist. It ispos- sible however, that a desire to see the baronet punished for the ridicule and laughter he had succeeded in raising against her the preceding morning, iright have had aome influence SCENEf IN PARIS. 103 over her conduct, still my exemption from danger seemed also to have some weight with he/ ; and this I am the more inchned to believe, because I am aware that this concern for -le IS by no means unusual with the sex, although, to be candid, I could never positively tell why, since in their presence my natural modesty, and abhorrence of self-cora- mendation usually prevailed so far as to*make me conceal such of my qualities as are more immediately entitled to admiration and esteem. Killheiress now appeared somewhat more composed, and assumed a tolerable air of courage when he found that Sir Brien was to be his opponent. Nor is this at all sur- prising, for the colonel had been listening to certain flatter- mg details of my conduct in the affair at Boulogne, which rather led him to rejoice in the present arrangement Every thing having been finally settled, Manvers, the baro- net and myself, repaired to a sequestered spot in the Hois de Boulogne, whither we were immediately followed by Colonel Killheiress and his friend. Shots were exchanged without effect, when the latter proposed an accommodaUon, but this I peremptorily objected to, since, being entrusted' with the honour of Sir Brien, I could not consider myself as having conscienciously discharged the duties of a frif,ul without insisting on the fullest, reparation for the insult which he had received. The baronet behaved like a lion; in short he reminded me of myself, for when I handed him the second pistol he bade me lose no time in preparing that which had just been discharged; precisely my own request ma similar encounter at a Gal way election. At the se« '^•na discharge Killheiress received his adversary's ball in the thigh ; only a flesh wound to be sure, but even as such i was sorry for it, since it prevented me from meeting the wu- "*y*®^^» ^ ^^^ *»®®» determined on our setting out. WhOe lamenting my disappointment to the baronet on our return, Manvers reminded me that at the moment when 1 insisted that something effectual should take place between toe combatants before they left the ground, the friend of ikiUheiresa had declared that I merely wished the colonel 104 FRASCATIS; OR to be disabled, in order that the meeting agreed upon be- tween ourselves might le avoided. This observation, soli- citous as I then was about Sir Brien's safety and honour, had escaped my attention ; but when Manvers now repeated it, I was so incensed that I insisted on returning instantly, and proving to the utterer of the foul calumny that I was not to be trifled with. Sir Brien strongly opposed my resolution. He was anx- ious, he declared, that the past should be utterly buried in oblivion, whereas, on the contrary, if I persisted in involv- ing myself in a quarrel with the colonel's friend, it would only have a tendency to attract additional notice to a cir- cumstance he wished should be forgotten. He even made me promise to take no further steps in the matter, and entreated me, in the name of the long friendship which had subsisted between us, to dismiss these incautious expresions from my mind altogether, adding, that my reputation as a man of courage stood too high to be effected by any insinuations to the contrary. Of this I was sufficiently aware myself; but though I consented to suppress mv feelings, and refrain from demanding immediate satisfaction for the base insinua- tion, regard for O'Flaherty was my only inducement for doing so. On our return to the hotel we found that the affair on which we had been out was the theme of general conversa- tion, and had even reached the ears of Emily and her aunt, both of whom had been thrown into the greatest consterna- tion and alarm ; feelings that were not a little increased by the statement made by some of the party, that the aim of Killheiress was well known to be unerring, nor were their fears appeased for some moments after the baronet's appear- ance. Emily, in particular, seemed much agitated, and throwing her delicate arms around the neck of I»r uncle, she now gave a loose to the wild expression of her feelings, alternately reproaching him for his rashness, and congratu- lating him on his escape from injury. Every individual present was more or less touched by the natural and affec- tionate exclamations which she uttered, and Manvers, in SCENES IN PARIS. 105 particular, who stood apart watching the scene with deep earnestness of manner, seemed highly affected. Another annoyance now awaited me. Presuming too much on my forbearance, and ignorant of my motives for not courtmg a hostile meeting, tlie colonel's friend thought K!?^fL ^Ir ''i"*^ ^'' ^\'^?^"' ^ ^ ^««""g «f cowardice in Z'J^^i^^'^'K^-'^l^^ ^" the hotel, that nothing but a hlttfi. ^^''}SJ>hhged to keep my engagement with Kill- tllTfU -"^"^^^ T *^ **PP^«^ ^" accommadation be- tween the principals after the first exchange of shots. JNoUimg, certainly can be more painful and degrading to he feelings of a brave man, than to know that his courage WpSn TTT' ""H"' "^* ^"^>^ ^^«°* ' iiderations of fnendsh p, but trom an honorable adherence to his woid, t.tJnn !fh- *"* ''' ^"^^^^ ^^^" "°^^' the infamous impu' a\!T*r. ^ l"^^^ precisely my case ; for the pledge I had Si • . ''f/?"«t/o»«pletely tied me downf until finaUy goaded into a thirst for vengearice, and finding it impossible for a man of my high spirit to hear himself thus traduced with mpumty, I immediately resolved to go in search of my friend, and tell him that unless he absolved me Lm my engagement, I must inevitably forfeit all my hard-earned claims to the title of a man of honour, and an^rishman In this intention I was kindly anticipated ; for learninir hlt'Tu u ^""^"'^' ^"^"'^^^ i" b^ t^*« ^"^iend of Km? heiress, the baronet was at length sensible of the delicacy ot my position, and hastening to absolve me from my en- E'f' T' T ^' *\^ ^"t^^»^« «f ™y apartment, at the t21 J ? ^ ""'! ^^°"* *^ ^^^^« it in search of him. This conduct was what was to have been expected from him, for as a man of strict honour himself, he knew per^ fectlyw|| my feelings were on the occasion; buth^even carriedW kindness further, for he now offe;ed to beihe bearer ^any communication from me to my insulter. No- neTs^Ttf w^rl™ and satisfaction at the readi- mvJl a\ f^ ^"^". ^^™^ ^*^^^^^d i" furtherance of hIZZ ' ^""^ ' t^^ ^'*'*"^"^ ^°^ *h« considerate assurance ne now gave me that every opportunity should be afforded 106 TRASCATI'S ; OR for maintaining my well known character for co«!ff : ,^? Sred that he would instantly go »n quest of the mdm dual and demand an immediate meetrag ; but as I did not fwnk O^e affair was of a natore to require so much prompti- ^^rr^ r/rfrt «i£i fast the following morning, I «»f '"^'''"'i'^^'^XS whom I had P™PO-dto c.Uo»t ha^acta^ly^^^ oil 1» Fl^_ rence the evenmg before ! In a siaie oi mg , citement, I rushe'd into the coffee "°™J» *!,™!XP^^ that he naa aeciarc , ^ a hostUe communication waited the whole of the flay lor «» ""» " , remain any life did I lose all command over my feelmgs , »oj JV*"; with my character. m ■CINE8 IN PARIS. 107 CHAPTER XVIII. During the day I accompanied Manvere and Emily, to see the several sights about town ; but even these, varied and curious as they were, had little tendency to dissipate my chagrm, nor was it, indeed, until nearly a week afterwards that 1 began to recover my wonted serenity of mind. This was m a great measure effected in consequence of my at- tention bemg engrossed by Ableton Hazard's system for mnmng&t rouge etnoir, which I now began to put in prac- tice at Frascatis, devoting aU my time Tand energy to the pursuit. I soon, however, discovered it to be less effica- cious than the baronet had given me to understand, and in- aeea than I had first imagined ; for although we both had m the onset acquired a good deal of notoriety for our soirited backing of the system, we finally not only lost what we had previously won, but were compelled to draw largely on our own hitherto untouched capitals. My addicUon to this ruinous amusement was now becoming confirmed, and 1 perceived my purse growing lighter each day, unUl I had reached that point of deliberation when most players usuaUy resolve to give the thing up altogether, as soon as they shiU have won back what they have already lost,— a l2J'u!T^'l^T ^"^>'' ^°"^^ ^' ^« P»' i° Practice with enect; but alas! the attempt of each succeeding day only eavei you further removed from the object you are anxious 10 attaiu ! » .^ At ev«ry visit to Frascatis I now determined to olav a 108 FRASCATl's; OR Steadier game ; but loss, deep loss, was iav.nably the result of all my plans and combinations. I moreover consumed the opinions of men who had been ruined at play, and who for twenty years had attentively remarked the AuctuaUonsof the game, pricking and preserving the cards of calculao^^ during the whole%f that period. With the most implicit faith I listened to their report, that money was to be gained at it, and that nothing more was requisite for this, than capi- tal, prudence, temper, and waiting until the g^^^hould es- tablish itself in some decided manner. I ^ven^ferredwim those, whom long experience and assiduity had enabled to invent infallible systems ; but who, in the course of their stu- dies, and the liberal expenditure necessary to the acqui ement of their science, had necessarily left themselves without a shilling to bring it into practice. From none of these sages, however, could I learu the se- cret of winning, not that 1 am ^^"g««f «"?' ft not them- them of concealing it, but because they \^'^ ''''^\^'^^ selves ; so at least, I have reason to believe, if any proot can be adduced from the fact, that whenever they could succeed in raising money to play, they invariably lost it. 1 now be TariTcauLis! in%rop'ortion to the decre-e of m^^^ funds, and even when all 1 possessed was go-^^, such w^^^ the i^terestl began to take in the gam«, that withouplay^^^^^ a single coup, I contented myself with sittmg at the table pricking a card for hours together. ^„«„af„i ^ The baronet, who had latterly been equally "tisvi^3««^^^^^^ with myself, was not to be disheartened by these repeated leLrbut Earnestly persisting that Ableton Hazzard's sys- tem was a sound one, always spoke with confidence of r gaining the sums he had lost. As for me, having by this ^acquired considerable knowledge of the fences of the .game, I determined to sit down and make out a «ystf m oi my own. This was a great source of amusement to me, whUe awaiting the arrival of a remittance from my banker in London, and I began to think that the conduct of the little mant the black silk night-cap was not so veiy exti^ordmaiy .,A«, oil T piorftover. had another occupation, tor 1 now iCENES IN PARIS* 109 devoted all the time I could well spare from this soul-absorb- ing pursuit, to the completion of my * Tour.' This, how- ever, was a matter of secondary consideration with me, and should It be found to contain faults (which, by the by, I can scarcely think possible) they must be attributed to my hav- ing had two important works in hand at the same moment. Utten, even when most interested in n^y book, the fascinat- ing rouge et noir would obtrude itself on my imagination, and If any improvement in my system suggested itself, I in- stantly laid aside the manuscript, and recommenced those calculations, which I firmly believed would, in the end prove the means of obtaining exhaustless wealth. ' At length my remittance arrived, and within twenty-four hours after Its receipt the proprietors at Frascatis had pocke- ted It all, leaving me no other consolation than that arisinir trom the conviction that my system was good for nothing. It IS astonishing how philosophical a man often becomes alter having lost all his money at play, and how freely he censures others for a folly, through the indulgence of which he has been ruined himself. I now scarcely could keep mv temper with my friends, when, rendered destitute by their •repeated losses at Frascatis, they came to borrow money from me. Many of these spoke very slightingly of me in consequence, and great ingraUtude such conduct evinced, since I was always exceedingly liberal with my advice The fact was, however, that I had no money to lend them al- though I was too much a man of the world to admit any thinir half so injurious to my reputation, as that I was poor. Moreover, I chose rather to appear ungenerous, than to let them perceive that I was suffering from embarrassments pro- duced by an infatuation which I now so rigidly censured in The interval between the loss of my first remittance, and tne amval of the second, I now devoted exclusively to mv work. Even during this short period I made rapid proffress m It, as you may perceive, reader; and looking over the manuscript was quite delighted and surprised at what I had produced. Indeed, I could not help thinking it highly scan- no rilA8CATI*S; OR dalous in me to have wasted so much valuable time at play, when by my writings I might have been of so great service to mankind. I have always been a great philantropist, and this feehng now induced me lo make somethmg very like a vow never more to play at rouge et noir, but to turn author, and devote myself entirely to the improvement of my fellow men. , . ^j .,, My second remittance was not long m arriving. &uu true to the principle I had now adopted, I did not indulge in play to any extent, simply visiting Frascatis occasionally during the evening, and only then because I was impelled by habit rather than inclination. Each day I became more assiduous in my writing, and in fact the very numerous friends who did me the honour to dine with me, encour- aged me in the pursuit ; for as I generally, distrusting my own judgment, read my composition aloud, in order to de- rive the benefit, of their opinions, they appeared so com- pletely struck with the beauty of what I had written, that they advised me by all means to persevere. Some of these 1 knew to be men of great learning, and well skilled m criticism,^ and all under infinitely too great obligations to me to leave even the shad6w of a pretext for doubting their sincerity. Indeed, it was rather fortunate that my literary labours met with such approbation, for I w^ not only thereby instigated to the acquirement of a moderate share of commendation, but preserved from absolute rum in the gaming houses. . /. i r *u n Even the baronet was now painfully satisfied ol the lal- lacy of Ableton Hazard's famous system, and m a fit ot anger, produced by the conviction that there was nothing whatever to be gained at play, took a solemn oath never to risk another franc at rouge et noir. This, however, was no sooner, made than repented of; for now that he had et- fectually deprived himself of the power of dissipating his ennui at the gaming table, he was utterly at a loss for occu- pation. And, indeed, it must be confessed that the act ol binding himself by an oath was, at the best, absurd, ana had he seen the thing in its proper light he never would SCENES IN PARIi. Ill have done so, for to seal a resolution in this manner is highly unbecoming the dignity of a man of rank and charaLr. A gentleman should shew more philosophy and confidence in his own firmne^ss than to have recourse to such a measure h/vf r^ "J"^ *V' '■^'°^^^'- ^«' '"y P«^t' I never could til 7 f'lty of any thing half so weak, and highly dis- approved of the baronet's rashness at the time. CHAPTER XIX. ..M^T'^"'^ "!' ^""^ recovered from his wound, and enabled to pursue his love affair with Mrs. M'Lofty. The CS"'' "^ *"" ^PP«'''«''i"g marriage soon belme the topic of conversauon among their acquaintance, and many m envious eye was turned on the colonel by the mer ThS Tf l7™^ ^"""'"»" ^J^ f^Pre'ented, passed for a womaS of a large property, and a prize well worthy the exertions of the most determined fortune-hunter. Many of my friends expressed great surprise at the utter indifference I manifested I did no take the trouble to lay myself out for conquest prelende^'J'T' ^" "^^/''"'■■'''te with KiUheiress; who SDoke tn ^ Pos^f sed of great landed property and L'tai&rd': P'^"""* °^*^ Iady,Vhis^.e. One morning after breakfast, I remained in the ,aUe i SfThi r^*''^- P'P"''' *"^ "^^ much amused with feeing the colonel poinUng out on a map the situation of mJS^ T"^- ^P'^^' fro™ his shewing, spread over a of Tat'rW M '"^^ '/T "^<" "^ """""y ^""S 'he banks 91 that nver, Mrs. M'Lolty seemed to believe imolicilv all X. - -J- 112 'pRAflCATl's ; OR that he .aid on the subject, much more '^f^fl'^f^^ He promised to wtde on her neatly the whole of the Wore mentioned county, proceeding, "hen he had done .0, W describe a beautiful mansion romanucally situated on its •^Cfact in particular had gained o" 'he 7idow;\'',tad lity. Before the colonel went out «;^* S'' Bneo^he naa 'XorLn °f thelrish property -■! /'f.'—rtvT ^d ,- Cavan left to herself. A great deal of °*er property w^«d'» posed of in this instrument, ani., in &«»• «n«'^J'^ ^J^y,!. ihire in the British empire out of which estates were not wiii ^away The attorney himself was not, of course, forgotten. KiuSess moreover, promised, that in the event of h s sur- S maTy^he w'iSow, he would instantly pl»«e '" »> ' moiirtv their united fortunes would amount to. Srna'^^rsradrct'm^rth^^^^^^^ w"2tiL. On hearing *is statement Aew^wpro^ Kti^^'^KiS^t^roVreSrl '^^^^^^^^ ITS foSneTws Wends, and bSasting to his crediwrs 'Jir^tr: wealth which he^w^a^^^^^^^^ . A™°"?*l!T!U='ed°l llSnumsomeUme {.XreTanrilSi'he one morning invited to breakfast at the iCENES IN PARK. 118 hotel, m order that he might be fully satisfied of the ex- cellent footing on which matters stood between the widow and himself. ^Jhis introduction, however, proved to be most unfortunate to his interest, for the gentleman took it mto his head to become deeply enamoured of the lady him- u 1 J?® t^^ought it lamentable, pitiable, that such a woman should be thrown away on Killheiress, and instantly de- termined on supplanting his friend. So well did he miiage that he obtained a private interview that very day, in the course of which he drew so unfavourable a portrait of the character of Killheiress as to effect a decided revolution in the feelings of the startled widow. "Independently of the feapulse of conscience 'and pro- priety, pursued the gentleman, after having covered the co- lonel with all the abuse and opprobrium which could sug, gest themselves, " I could not, as a man of gallantry, see a lady of your extreme beauty and accomplishments thus ex- posed to the snares of a swindling adventurer, without ap* prising her of her danger. I am sure, madam, that you will pardon the liberty I have taken, and though you may not avail yourself of my caution, you will, at least, do me the justice to attribute my conduct to the most disinterested oi teehngs, when I tell you, the colonel is my debtor to a very considerable amount, and that, consequently, in open* mg your eyes to the danger of a connection with him, I lose all hope and prospect of being ever repaid. My in- terest myour happiness, however, is more powerful than any interest of my own ; and it is this feeling which induces me to repeat that Killheiress is one of the greatest scoundrels in the world. I say nothing of his extreme ingratitude to one, whose purse was always at his command, but, if I have been correctly informed, he is a married man, and has, even at tois moment, two wives living in England." . When somewhat recovered from the agitation which the intelligence of this consciencious gentleman had occasioned ner, Mrs. M*Lofty expressed all the unbounded gratitude Me naturally entertained for his disinterested behaviour. A>iay, she even went further, for ua hA wna a tall A. k2 « ■ ^« d h I tv WW '■^^ 114 FRASCATl's; OR handsome fellow, she saw no reason why he should not be preferred to his friend the colonel, especially as he declared he had no wife to dispute her claims at a||y future period, and was otherwise wholly free from any other engagement. Just at this juncture, and while the widow was consider- ing what plan she should adopt for dismissing Killheiress, that individual suddenly entered the room, when his ct-rfe- vant friend sprang from his seat, and giving vent to his in- dignation, exclaimed: — " What, sir I have you had the impertinence even to think of this lady as your wife 1 What possible preten- sions can you have to a woman of such rank, such merit, and such fortune ? Fow, 8ir,-.fo«, an adventurer of s wind- ling notoriety, an unprincipled villain, who have made even me the dupe of your artifices,--2/0M to pretend to so much perfection I What insolence, indeed." Killheiress was literally confounded by this apostrophe, nor did the other give him time to recover from his surprise, but seizing him violenUy by the collar, thrust him out of the room before he had time to reply. ^ r ,i. Nothing could exceed the alarm and astonishment o! tne widow during this short and unexpected scene. When, however, she recovered her self-possession, she attributed the conduct of her newacquaintance whoUy to the indigna- tion he felt at the idea of her becoming the wife of so inla- mous a character. This was sufficient to induce a pre- ference for one, who not only knew how to appreciate her worth, but was anxious for her reputation ; and from this period M. Tredennick enjoyed even a greater share of fa- vour than had been bestowed on the colonel. Distracted by rage, jealousy, and disappointment, the latter vowed the most savage revenge against his perfidious rival, and repeat- edly defied him to meet him. « , , '^i. . Tredennick, thus called upon, was eompelledat length to go out, and he successfully combated the widow's manifold Sbjections to his fighting, by declaring that were he alone interested he would not stoop so low as to afiord the colonel the satisfaction of a gcnUeman, but as he had once been ad- eCENKI IN PARIS. 115 milled lo her friendship, in order that the public might not suppose such an honour had not been enjoyed by any other than a gentleman, he would waive every other consicleration and accept the challenge. Though singularly gifted himself, Killheiress could not compete with his friend in stratagem or address. They met in the Bois de Boulogne, when, just as the parlies had seized their pistols, two huiaaiers suddenly appeared from behind a clump of trees, and secured the person of the colo- nel. He was arrested at the suit of a restaurateur in the Palais Royal, whom Tredennick had urged to this step by the promise of paying his demand if not discharged by the other. This was a stroke of address worthy of himself, since, to have arrested Killheiress for his own debt would have ruined him in the estimation of the widow for ever, whereas, by getting another to do so, he saved his reputa- tion without risk to his person; and, moreover, by consign- mg his rival to St. Pelagic, was left to pursue his designs against the lady unmolested. 116 flU^ATl'f ; OR CHAPTER XX. If Tredennick rejoiced at the incident whirh exempted him from the mischances of a duel, the widow M'Lofty was no less delighted. The delicate anxiety he had manifested ibout her reputation, and his readiness to maintain it even at thi lazard of his life, were powerful claims on her esteem, and she of course felt herself bound to prove her gratitude in ever_; possible way. There was something, moreover, in the manner and appearance of her new suitor that gave a semblance of sincerity to all he did ; and even I, one of the most penetrating observers of the human heart, was often at a loss whether to consider him as a finished actor or a true character. If, therefore, one of my deep knowledge and long experience in the world, was compelled to hesitate in his opinion, how little surprising is it that the widow M'Lofty should have bet • the dupe of his specious manners and pre- possessing appearance. There is nothing that gives a tourist so much importance in the eyes of the public, as a familiarity with the great names of the country he describes. The critics instantly pronounce him a man of fashionable intercourse, and one who has the enM^i to the first circles of society. The most approved mode of oquiring this importance, is to introduce an anecdote which . ". '^^.iTthor heard at the Duchess of Some- body's rout, or to ? ;1. j^ow^ complimentary conversation which took place ben w - ii lanself sni some duke or prince of the blood-royal. Pre ably, witli a view to impress the reader w at I difll« celebrate the com[ until the jects, sel tion to h Now this egre part I CO man of r have rec( self in h why an acquaint! friendly many of sent for t if they m ing on th and man smile an for me. "Whi "Are you not J people ii your mo of great i byacoui in Pario, hotels, for I mac pursuits, life, toge tice of a^ tion I ob have bee •CBNES IN PARIS. 117 reader with a becoming sense of his consequence, he hints at I dift'erance of opinion which arose at th< ♦able ol novae celebrated minister, when, from the limited knowledge of the company, no satisfactory conclusion could be arr ved at, until the host, aware of his extensive knowledge on all sub- jects, settled the affair at once by referring the point in ques- tion to him. Now I, Rpmbleton Morris, do seriously maintain that this egregious vanit/ is unpardonable in any tourist; for my part I could never ? Po^""' ^'>''='''' """"" "* *' "Tot p" My ™~'''"g Wm, I mentioned several „eatlriL whose dicuon I fancied resembled my own, and fS how he thought they would have been received had thev existed at the present period. „ "You may depend upon it no one would read them, he renlied "The public teste has of late been regaled with ^Tdkicacies in literature, that the coarse food you men- ffni^wS only excite disgust. You see I am quite candid wiSi you rd advTse youS a friend to lay asiue that com- ''^Ifafhorve^'i^thighanopinion of my own judgment tobemichTnfluenced by the poet's advice ; and though h»d n^read one fourth of what I had written, as he did not S me to ~ the lecture, I thanked him for his a ^n- ?"on! and bundled my manuscript into a drawer of the .ecrt taire. # •*#»'•' Sc; sieur quesf Was a intiniE Riueh terest But that a sole ol was ai tp disc bride. strandj casting "Y« ful it ii a gentl to the ignorai cessarj eyes ol ness of and as and in vol. ST 9 -> Hi'^fc' ^BNIfl IN PARIS. <^: M CHAPTER XXL ScAa€ELy.had thc>tt (Jlritfed'my apartment, wHfen Mon- , sieur ip Comte le Bapp was aniiouftced. He came to re- quest my good offfces with the baronet, whose consent he was anxious t0 obtain to an union with his sis^r. As the mtmaate friend of the family, he said, he thought I could-do much for hira, an^ he therefore hoped \ Would *use my in- terest to forward his wishes omthe Subject, ^b;* But although Le Rapp seemed anxious to make it^appear that a desire to secure my inflifence over ray friend was the sole object of his visit, it was quite clear to me that there was another and a more powerful inducement, and that was to discover, if po^sitde, the precise fortune of his intended bride. He wa» too wary a mariner to run the risk of beine stranded for want of proper sounding in his course, or from casting his anchor in a doubtful harbour. "You must be well aware, sir," he observed, how pain- ful It is to the pride, how derogatory to the high feiioM of a gentleman, to unite himself with a family who are^^^^ed to the connexion. This opposition generally sprinftrlom ignorance of the merit of the individual, and renders it ne- cessary that some kind and mutual friend should open th« eyes of the prejudiced party to the futility and unreasonable- ness of their objections. Thus, precisely, am I situated, and as I wish to satisfy the baronet that 1 am, both in rank and in fortune, a highly eligible match for his sister. I have VOL. I.— L |22 1 rii^CATX*8; 0% taken the liberty-'to request that you will apprise him of. the fact." " With the utmost pleasure," I replied, as soon as I could recover fro» the surprise produced by this unexpected ad- dress. "I shall feel most happy in coramunicatmg my opinion of j^u to the baronet, and saying wh^t a very eh 'ou will honour me with youf commands." Stop a moment," I exclaimed,^s he now hurried HhL7 T''"'^' " ^"^ y^" ^^ W^ ""til I have Ob- ta ned the baronet's consent? You know it must be so pain- m to the pride, and so derogatory to the high feelinffs of a gentleman to unite himsilf with a famikgwho afe opposed to the connection." , "«• "° "^^^ nn"J^*'/''^' ^? ^^^ ""'^^t'" he rejeined h%yj^««but; tl n"^-^"';'^''''^^''"' ^'' consent my be di&t to ob^ hT, «;cr^' ' ' '^^f "°* ^^^'® ""*i* *^is momant, that his sister was entirely independent of him. However I am sure you will mentioh my disinterfestednesa to him. In- good Sng." ' ""''''''''^ ^•"^' ^"^ ' wish^u a very ' tinl^t'V^^ T""^ ^"^F^^ ^"^""^ ^^^ "^o"^' a«d I could dis- hTs bLn "^ii^^'J? ^^ P?''^^ ''^''^S the corridor rubbing thon«nn T :.A^'^ wi^rapturous exul|ation, - FifteeH anTu ^^"'^' l^r o^ight, and wholly independent of ^her brother ! ^,n Bleu, what a fortunate thing !" kniLlT- VL ^•^^"^^"^e," I muttered betwden my teeth. f1&l''?i^ *^*' ^^^ assur^cfe with a vengeance. I how ' of^fe (Tpi.? "V anxiety to "keep up the respectability mnni <^ f^laherty family I had been induced to disclose sb Zii ,*^?^^T' ,^s this was an evil which could iot be S • \ •^'°^?'^ ^"^ ^^'^ "^ ^^"^^ »« Ummg the pledge DHse f/f K ^''^" *^^ '^","^* ^cc^rdingfy I hastened to ap- prise the baronet, not-only of my opinioh of that iSdividual, •JUt of the misfortune thar threatened his house. in the confussion of my thouffhts \xA fe -B^7 ^.raaa* v«%'T,? "I 134 FRASOATl's ; OR •■« ■» the ceremony of knocking, and entered the room without anv intimation of my arrival. Emily was there alone. Slie sat with her back towards the door, and was gazmg m- tently on a miniature that lay on the writing table before her. Cbriosity indueed me to approach her unperceived, and one glance was sufficient tq satisfy my do»bts. No one could have mistaken the original- of that portrait, 'a he flowing hair that curled loosely over the high unpbuded forehead ; tlie rich glow o« manly .Beauty < the benignant expression of Ihe well turned kp ; .the bright beaming of the full dark eye* all proved it te be MaAvers. , , ^ , . , .u Suddenly the ti^id* girl, bashed, trembled, kissed the miniatuW, and hastily *dfip*osked it in her bosom, as if ap- prised by s-ijS* SCENES KI PARtt.;^ *" '•i J 25 Vanced. > trnwil/mff to give her further pain, or to impow deeper restraint on-her by my presence, I no^^ pleaded in 'vr^nTT. ^"^\^'"^»t' ^"d hurried from the apartment. V; t rom that day she never received the attenrions of Manvera • v^ in my presence without a blush. Alas ! dear ffirl » that a^'^*<* ^' sentiment so repletd^ with delight to a youthful ^d innc^^ cent^breast should have been embittered by any in^scretrO^^^ »*■ •, . -. ... ^W '/> ** *^ CHAPTER XXII. ' if y^^ FRASCAJ|I^S ; OR • .' I . Start liswof : those which rolttheir eternal courqpijfrom CUm- Serland Gate-to Hyde Park Corner, and from-. H^rde Park - Corner to Cumberland Gate, fr shoulde for wha tention written most ex which I of by s< as a stuj say, the yet suffc This( vour us satire on if read I would ui delay to things w cause the to the th] poon anc forsooth, 80 far em decency, mentis a SCENES IN FARM. 127 case he would furnish the company with a topic infinitelv more interesting. To induce people to give up poli tics is no easy thing at any time, and particularly difficult it is if the discussion has been warm ; for then the vanity of all is ex- cited, and each is anxious to make one final remark, in order to convince his antagonist of his error. The successful orator, however, succeeded in changing the subject of con- yersation, by making himself so exgeedingly ridiculous, that It vyas quite impossible to find any other occupation than that of laughing at him. " Gentlemen," he began, "I am sure you must be aU warm admirers of original poetry." A few replied in the affirmative; some shrugged their shoulders ; one or two coughed affijctedly ; and all listened for what was to follow. "Well," he pursued, perceiving that he had fixed the at- tention of his auditory, ♦« I have here a specimen of poetrv written by a very particular friend of mine, a young man of most exalted genius, and allow me to premise that the lines which r am now about to read to you, have been approved ot by some of our first judges of the sublime art of poetrv as a stupendous effort of human intellect ; yet, strange to say, the modesty of the author is such, that he has never yet suffered them to appear in print." This exordium finished, the gentleman proceeded to fa- vour us with the poetry in question. It was a wicked stupid satire on the reigning family of France ; a production which. It read by a Frenchman in such a place of public resort, would unquestionably have procured him a transfer without delay to the Conciergerie. Englishmen, however, do thesa thmgs with impunity in France, and seem to think that, be- cause they have been instrumental in restoring the Bourbons to the throne of their forefathers, they have a right to lam- poon and insult them as much as they please. And yet forsooth, if one individual, more audocious than his fellows' 80 far entangle himself in his treason, and outrage commoii decency, as to fall under the lash of the law, Uie irovem- aent is at once accused of tyranny and injustice, suid tho 128 FRASCATl's; OR whole race of Bourbons vilified as bigots and held up a* monsters of ingratitude. Perfectly on good terms with himself, the orator now went on, uttering treason after treason against the king, and with as much deliberation and consciousness of security, as if he stood in the heart of London. I thought he never would have finished, for at every casual interruption he unconsciously recommenced his poem from the v( ry first page. Indeed, he seemed to bestow so much pains, and lay so much emphasis on the recital, that I half suspect- ed it to be his own. , . , r •. -.» i i "Well, gentlemen, what do you think of it? he ask- ed, as he finally closed the manuscript. " Is not this a beautiful specimen of original poetry?" ,,,.,,, All expressed themselves highly gratified and delighted; and each pointed out some striking beauty in the poem. " M'Cue' a dozen of champagne immediately. Uentle- men you must drink my health. I am flattered, overjoy- ed, overpowered by your approval. Know that I myseU am the author." The poet, however, as is usually the case with all poets, was not without his rival. A formidable one now start- ed up in the person of an elderly character, who, jealous of the eulogy which had been passed on the production just read, boldly declared that he entertained the most con- temptible opinion of its merit. "Gentlemen," he exclaimed, throwing himself into a theatrical position, " it is only a few days since I com- posed a poem on the very same subject, which was ac- knowledged by all who heard it, to be the finest thing of the kind in our language. 'Tis only a trifle of four or five hundred lines, and I think I can repeat it from first to last. The verses you have just heard are in the octo-syllabic measure, whereas mine have the advantage of being in the heroic. If you will permit me, I will recite them. Furious with anger and disappointment, the first poet contradicted, in the rudest manner, the assertion that had ju9t been made, in regard to the metre of his verse. An SCENES IN PARIS. 129 equally angry retort followed ; until at length the discus- sion became so warm, that M'Cue was appealed to, to restore order. It was in vain, however, that he endea- voured to pacify them, entreating them not to compromise the respectability of his house. The blood of the poets was at_ the boiling point, and both parties were ripe for hostilities, when an unlucky declaration, made by the old gentleman, that the other knew nothing of the laws of versification whatever, was the signal for the discharge of a claret bottle at his head. Other raissilej, of an equally fragile .^lature, followed from the opposite side; and the uproar snd confusion now became such, that M'Cue was compelled to call in a patrole of the national guard who happened to be passing at the moment. By these the com- batants were speedily secured, and conveyed to the corps de garde f the one with no other injury than the fracture of the third finger of the left hand, the other with a deep cut over the right eye. In the midst of the meI6e, and while the guard were approaching, Man vers and I con- trived to get safe out of the coflee-room, aud into th« »treet. 130 FRASCATI^S ; OK CHAPTER XXIII. All Paris were at tliis period going to witness the per- formance of a piece called ^' Trent e nn, ou la Vie dun Joueur," just brought out at the Porte St. Martin. J he author had evidently in view the very praiseworthy inten- tion of eradicating the spirit of gaming, root and branch, from the breasts of his fellow Parisians, but it must be un- necessary to add, that he entirely failed in producing the el- fect desired ; nay, so little was the influence on the public mind apprehended by the several proprietors of the gaming houses, that they ridiculed the idea beyond measure, when- ever allusion was made to the subject; and on one occasion, at Frasca^i's, when 1 very innocently demanded of a cheJW he did no fear an immediate roup^e et noir bankruptcy, the man clapped his hands on his knees and burst into an im- moderate fit of laughter in my face. a * Curiosity induced me, in common with the crowd, to witness this celebrated performance, and I and Manvers ac- cordingly went to see it. Never were the fatal effects of play more painfully illustrated, than in the whole conduct of this piece, which was well calculated to produce a deep impression, not only on those embued with the passion ol 'gaming themselves, but on the wretched sharers of their de- stiny ; on those who, at the still dull hour of midnight, were but too often left to the solitude of their chambers, and the Misery arising from their position. Yet, notwithstanding all the horrors of the piece, I sUll perceived it to be deficient \s •OEMS IN PARIS. 131 .. IPt , h'!!?''" '"'•'' »''»f wea^A S tellnt where those advantages are but sparingly distn- tld I was this sense of propriety that now induced me tdlLnse with my bottle of Madeira, and m common with Ao^Cund to indulge in a five ,om glass of brandy- i> for which Mr. Poole's house is very celebrated. 5?hfc;.mpany at at a long table, and with the excepUon of .„„ „?Zee individuals who, like myself, appeared to have I L»^ there bv curiosity, consisted chiefly of philoso- 't'°/r„roolUrcians! who were in the habit of devonng ?hrevrninls ^'Xe^mendment of religion and the improve- !„. „f sStIs and of tourists and writers for the press, who S open not;-bd to see ng chap- per in his thepoeti- now un- e for the , was the and with sed. The »f one dis- evidently ing on be- heir dete^ As a sum- t proposed oth parties objected, urging the unfitness of the hour and place, and ex- pressing their disinclination to run the risk of being dragged before the French tribunals. In England, nothing could have given them greater pleasure than to have the affair de- cided at once ; but here the thing was quite out of the ques- tion, until every necessary precaution should be taken to guard against interruption.* As there was no amusement of this sort to be expected, at least for the evening, the whole party, now joined in commanding silence, while many of them eyed their empty glasses in eager anticipation of the result of the laureat's instalment. " This, sir," said one of the silenced captains who sat next me, " is no place for a gentleman. 'Tis a low pitiful house, and I shall take care not to be seen in it again." This unlucky speech was overheard by Mr. Poole, who happened at the moment to be standing behind him, when, enraged at finding his establishment thus underrated, ho now attacked the captain vi(»lently for his presumption. Some friends of the latter stood up in his defence, others rose on the side of Poole, and in a few minutes the row became ge- neral ; while I, too happy too get away from this Pandemo- nium, took up my hat and fled with the utmost precipitation. Before going to bed I read the following singular lines, which I had picked up at a tobacconist's during the day. Perhaps some of my readers may comprehend them ; for my part I confess I do not. "Kangaroo's History of Persia, wherein the Characters of the Royal Family are minutely portrayed, and politically, religiously, and physically considered." '♦ * The Royal family of Persia is the most devout in the world. The Royal family is good •' ♦ for what, sir ?' cried a Persian, starting violently to his feet, »good for what, sir ?" I knew not what to think of this person's conduct, and feeling annoyed at a stranger addressing me after such a manner, asked what the devil he meant by the interruption. He appeared startled by the fierceness of my carriage, and evidently fearing to provoke me further, said, * Pardon me, •ir, 1 in^apt np ofirence->no offence whatever.' « I meant I i 13ft FRASCATl's; CR nothing also.' ' Then there is no difference of opinion be- tween us,' he resumed. * Not the slightest,' I replied, shaking him cordially by the hand. *» Here Kangaroo goes on to prove, that the Kmg ot Per- sia is the wisest of all princes, the most zealous supporter of religion, and the first huntsman in the world ; that his priest- hood are the most pious, the most spotless, and the most disinterened among men, carefully avoiding politics, and at- tending solely to the guidance of their royal master s con- science : that his ministers, at once the poorest and the most upright, are raised to the dignity they enjoy simply through their merit and their talent, and. that they bear the burden of office no longer than ihe suffrages of the people pronounce them to be faithful and efficient servants of their country. «Kc restraint is here laid on the expression of public opinion, but all are desired by an amiable sovereign to give utterRUce to iheir sentiments, as the only means by which a prince can arrive at a knowledge of the reasonable^ discon- tents? of his subjects, in order to redress them. Loyalty, love of the ministry and of the priesthood, are reigning cha- ractc-istics among the Persians ; and as neither priests nor ' ministers are elevated without merit, content, peace, and happiness pervade that favoured land. ••••••• -Kangaroo may be depended on. He knows what s what ; and, in' consequence of his great abilities and exces- sive disinterestedness, his favour with the peop e and his well-known indifference to wealth,.has been deputed by his «>yal master to teach the nation forbearance, and reconcile them to happiness, and hunger," flICENES IN PARIS. 137 CHAPTER XXIV. The next morning at breakfast I found myself unexpectedly- seated near Mr. Domingo Rhymer, the stupid poet to whom I had read part of my tour. He seemed highly delighted with something that had occurred to him, and after fidgctting about for some minutes in his seat, at length observed to me with the vacant grin of folly and self-conceit : — "It appears to me you have an uncommon fondness for entertaining every body with that tour of yours ; but though you have read it to hundreds, I will venture to say your tal^t never was half so highly complimented as mine has been this morning. Look at these," he pursued, holding up two letters ; " they are from two of the firstliterary men in Paris, and are quite sufficient to establish mj most ambitious claims to the distinction of a poet.** Disgusted with the vanity and impertinence of the man, my first impression was to decline reading the letters ; but an instant's reflection satisfied me that he would at once at- tribute my conduct to jealousy, and in all probability make my refusal the subject of remark. I therefore took them from him and read as follows : — LETTER L i( SIR, " Were it indispensable that I should address you by an aji^latioa suitable to your genius as a poet,IXear the taak «r O Ids FRASCATl's ; OR ^'■ would prove one of great difficulty, aware as I am of the in- adequacy of our language to supply an epithet corresponding with my extreme admiration of your abilities. I am little used to flatter, and confess my insufficiency to render justice to such transcendant merit ; however, 1 am sure you will give me credit for every due appreciation of your extraordi- nary powers. I am aware also that with all these advanta- ges your modesty is extreme, and this is the reason why I have deferred replying to the inclosed letter of my friend, who had the happiness of hearing you read your poem last night at the Cafe de Foi, until I had submitted it to you, and learned your pleasure. As the letter was intended solely for my perusal, (the writer not once dreaming that I should adopt the present step,) you will clearly perceive what his real opinion of your abilities is. May I beg the favour of an immediate answer ? - " Your most devoted admirer, "T. P. L. R. NIMBLETON.'' '• Galignani's, Rue Vivienne, 18. LETTER II. " MY DEAR NIMBLETON, "I can think of nothing but the extraordinary talent of the gentleman to whom I had the pleasure of being intro- duced last evening. So completely have his charming num- bers absorbed every faculty of my mind, so deeply have they fixed themselves in my memory, that 1 cannot refrain from repeating them to every onb I meet Bob Spicer is in Paris, and on the point of being married to an heiress pos- sessed of twenty thousand a-year. This, however, by the way is no great catch to him, who will inherit so largely at his father's death. Bob, you know, wrote the prize poem at Oxford, and is considered a first-rate poet. Happening to ^repeat some of those exquisite verses to him which we heard Isust night, he declared without hesitation that they were the finest in the language, and insisted on my introduc- SCENES IN PARIS, 139 ing him to the author. If. therefore, you can prevail on Mr Rhyraer to meet us to-night at any place he may ap- pomt, you will not only confer an obligation on Bob, but " E. S. C. WATSON." It was with difficulty I could refrain fromJaughing aloud as I returned these two exquisite productions to the infatuat- Ni^u^T^'' ^* "^^ '^^ ^'■'* ^'""^ ' ^^^ heard my friend Nimbleton spoken of as one of the first literary characters m Fans and I had no doubt that he had due and weiffhty •"^a^sons for the assumption of this new title. " Well,'' said the poet with a sneer, perceiving that I mamtamed an obstmate silence, which he no doubt attributed to envy ot his superior acquirements, " have you anythinff Ike these to produce ? If so, you may find them serviiablf in a preface, for the admiration of a great man, thouah it be directed but to the cut of a turned coat, prevents any' an- noying scrutiny of the cloth." ^ *♦ What mean you ?" I demanded. " Only that yours is a worn-out style, turned without even an imitation of fashion." wunoui Jl ta^^'f "S^K '^'"^ ' f omewhat pettishly, taking the let- ters out of his hand and passing them to Manversr anJrb CpT ^^^™',^^/^§^hed heartily, and was about to apprise Mr. Rhymer, of the true character of his admirer I thoulht' ih'^ ^'"^ ^y ^ ^'-^"^^^^"^ ^^^"««- The facTwL I thought he poet too great an idiot to be reclaimed by admonition, or, indeed, to be worth the trodble. I was completely disgusied with the stupid vanity of the "G^::ZtT *''* '/"' all appeute'for my bUfast Uive my best respects to the major," said I risinir from the table as I spoke, "and say, that as hi traveZf dvpm^/^ .^^P''^'^"^® h^'®' ^» o«^er that he may give me his opinion m regard to your head." ^ "I can give it to you myself," eagerly rejoined the poet. 140 FHASeATl's; OR " I have had Major Nimbleton's opinion ^ready in respect to my head.' , , ^ • r t " By no means, do not take the trouble to repeat it, for 1 am quite satisfied as to its contents. Perhaps Sir Brien OTkiherty would have no objection to see your friend and admirer ohce more however, as when he left tbjs hotel h« had not time to caU at his banker's ;--you understand me T and I left the room. ^., , , . Whether praised or abused I always like to know what is said of me in my absence. I was not long m being made acquainted with what Rhymer thought proper to state after my departure, for on my return to the breakfast room, after having cooled myself by a mm in the garden, 1 was receiv- ed will a general and united laugli. It was some minutes before I couM obtain a clue to this singular conduct, and my astonishment was not a litUe heightened by imding that my old friend, the baronet, was the first to join in the ndicule excited at my expense. At length, I was informed that the poet had taxed me with writing a most^tupid tour, wherein iVcandalized all my acquaintance and praised "o^nebut myself. He mentioned no names, however, so that 1 had the satisfaction to know that I had read no part of it to him that bore any allusion to Nimbleton, which could prevent his paying the certain penalty of his acquamtance. 1 bore this violent attack with a firmness and temper worthy of one who has resolved to sacrifice private feeling to public good, for I well know, that the world affects to despise every man who aims at any thing like distincUon above his feUows, and that as all men are, more or less, anxious at the present day for literary fame, every writer who launches his bark on that dangerous sea, must endure ' the sneers of malignity until his merit is finally and publicly ^EmUy ^8 the only one who had die courage to defend me. Never, until now, had I seen her soft blue eye beam with indignation,-never, until now, l»^^I^'?«J«*S'Jt nerous spirit to surmount the excessive and shrinking Umi* |ty in. which it was usually veiled. ({ 80EN£g IN PARIS. 141 *♦ Impossible !" she exclaimed with energy, — " Mr. Mor- ris cannot have belied his friends ; and as for his tour being a stupid one, I am sure he has too much good sense to write any thing stupid. I will never believe it." The effort was momentary. In the next instant she blushed the deepest crimson, trembled violently, and hung down her head ; but awed by the very silence her language had imposed, she again became pale as death, and rising from her seat rushed into the garden, followed by Manvers, the ironical gentleman, and myself. Poor girl, she appeared as if ashamed of what she had said, and now, that the strong excitement of her feelings was passed, felt shocked at her own boldness and presumption; nor was it until after we had repeatedly assured her, that we considered her to have acted solely from the impulse of kind and generous feeling, and not from forwardness, that she became at all tranquilliz- ed. This little circumstance was, however, of moment to the development of her^ character, while it raised her in her own esteem, for she now discovered that she had resources within herself which it only required courage to call into action. This was her first step towards confidence in her- self, and henceforward she gradually emerged from her in- nate self-distrust. ! 142 FIUSCATl's; OR CHAPTER XXV., A HORRIBLE murder had been committed m the neigh- bourhood of Paris a short time previous to our arrival, and the execution of the criminal, we were one morning inform- ed by the valet de place, was to take place on that day. Francois Ulback was deeply enamoured of Aimee Millot, ■a young sheplierdess of Ivry, remarkable for her beauty. Certain circumstances occurred in the, course of their inti- macy which provoked the jealousy of the lover, who, goad- ed by the stings of injured passion, sought the young girl in the fields and reproached her with infidelity. It was m vain that she denied, in the most solemn manner, the cruel accusation of the infatuated Ulback. His belief in her false- hood was too deeply rooted to be shaken by any protesta- tions to the contrary. Neither her tears nor her supplications caused him to swerve one instant from his purpose; and «ven while the unhappy Aim6e knelt at his feet in the atti- tude of entreaty, and as the warm asseverations of inno- cence fell from her blanched lips, the inhuman ruffian plung- ed a dagger into her heart. i. u • Such was the account given us by Manvers, who being in Paris at the period of the murder, had collected every particular connected with it. Emily heard it now for the first time, and as she listened to the harrowing recital, trembled and turned pale as death, until, unable to com- mand her emotion, she burst into tears and fled to her apartment. fcsmcs iw PARIS. 143 lie J?«^^Snn .1"^*"?*^ ^? ^" «^"«^J *« ^i^"eS8 a pub- Ih!d W S* t^ °»«»«»«holy interest produced by the tele I had just heard overcame my scruples, and I propowd f K^V 1 y/ . ^/*® guillotme was already erected on a high platform in the centre of the Place de Grfive tha^ it' W t^wt^r?' blood during the Fre^^ch ReVl'! w^ni * u ^ ^^ ^^^^'"^* °^ ^^^'■o'' and disgust did I con- template the arena around us ; imagination, assisted bvUie teeVon^ r , '' .^«,f ^^- -' -called alT tt Duicnery ot that fatal period ! Not a stone was there whioh had not been washed by the blood of some Jict m not an iron hung suspended from the surroundin/lamp „'osw that had not been used in the destruetion of^h man We As IS usual m all ca«es of the kind in Paris, avaitcrowd ^d assembled to witness the execution of the criS rnhnn'"'!"''!''*'* been strongly excited in favou of the unhappy Aini6e, and public cSriosity was, of course not xrwtroft°''''r™f y/"' ^--'ff ^-"" ^^^^^^^^ confusedlv L J T'*" '"'^"^ ^" ^^"^'V- ^U rushed conlusedly and eager y towards the immediate theatre of death, M order to obtain a more distinct view of the murier- out d^ffi T r"!"'*"''' '='•*'"«''' «»'' " was nor>^th. out difficulty that the gendarmerie were enabled to preserve unencumbered, a space around the fatal platform, wEn ^e execat.one«. five or six in number, were now 1^*?^. of raising and depressing the axe of the guillotine "ilordp, ve«-»^''su':ct^'^?^^^^^^^^^^ It was a day iU suited to such a scene. Not a cloud w». to be seen in the heavens, and from its loftly ficW of a.ure die aui„„„al sun, free fmm sultry glare, beamed for ha soft It t!r^'"«f Tif™";' which attuned th; soufto tenderness V^»„T/i *?*•'''>"."''*" ">" •'«"'*'''«'s light andbou- yant, and fiad, pleasure m existence, when the Lklessne.. U4 ^RASCATI^S; OR of desperation is no more, and the mind most acknowledges the furce of those natural tien and aflections which bind us to our mother earth. On such a day I would not choose to part with life. On such a day I would not wish to see my fellow men surround the place of my execution, and in in- difference, if not in gayety of heart, witness the blow which cut me off from that beautiful sky and that genial sun for ever, while they lived on, unconscious in the next hour that such a being as myself had ever claimed affinity with them. The town clock, with awful pauses between each stroke, now slowly tolled four, when the chief huissicr arrived, and t )ok up a position it a window overlooking the guillotine, whence he could see that the sentence of the law was duly carried into effect. Soon afterwards amid an immense con- course of tluj lower orders of the people, an open cart, strongly guarded, and containing the criminal, the priest, and the executioner, was seen slowly advancing along the Quai Pelletier. I could have wished this vehicle to have been covert d, for it seemed inhuman to expose one who should have been left in his last moments to communion with his God, to the idle gaze of the multitude, whose yells and hisses rent the air on every hand, and could not fail to distract him from meditation and prayer. At length he approached the spot where he was doomed to expiate his crime. His head was unco\ ered ; his cheel^s colourless ; his eyes fixed, and his lips closely compressed together. A heavy stupor had settled on his ')row, and he scarcely seemed to breathe ; in s^ irt, his whole app araner was that of one who has already ceased to exist. But when the cart suddenly drew up at the foot of the scaffold, a sense of consciousness appeared to return ; the colour rushed for a moment to his cheeks, and he glanced alternately from the crowd to the guillotine, with a look of desperate resolution. It was the last effort of human pride and human courage. Again a death-like paleness overspread his features ; the sight of that crowd and of that hideous guillotine had unmanned him. His head sank on his breast, and ill animation ap- peared to have deserted him. The executioi -rs rather car* «C«NE§ IN PARIS. 145 until the chin of the crimi,«l TL, J^„ f"'' ^"^^ »'*'#' loline, when, quick as i„ f ,r,i *! ^"""^ of the gSS a» app.lling cS^nd h tad of "Se ;/T" "^i*^' ^ vewl prepared [or ila reception "" """"* '"«» « racier, anj attach, with n.eTanch„?v .* !^^\ '"^ '""»' «1»- consonant with our ZrriZSJ"'"'''' <« "''"'•ver i« thi8feelinffih«il,„l,,.T.? '""»« "7 insensible to hi"merr TK \ ' ?«"»,«««> far from Wnr applause oi hi per Larce^^nTth:' ""f "^ ',S"'«>4 earned it well. '"™ance, and the actor had certainly Whin spite of iyser^s'mo'oT' •""'"' *'""""' "«' *» G«adSrt;:V;:;7ptiL't;^^.tVhr^'' -r ''^ -k*' he has in his hand ?" '^^ ' " """ " "obacco-pip* _'' No," I replied, " a small flute." Ae teL'/'r.f,' /„ ■ -;S»i;'g to smolce," r,.„™ed freshn-en. after'the .tlLTu^\X::^l'"> -"o - *.atr o^m";S:tatt''itnf f °*-"' - -h "ait for the fa^ EmiiJ of ^'"^ ''"°"" '^'-^ h" "ouW «>r«im! and M^nver, K^ n"""^^' "^ "Wged to wail remained ?or her " „ Lt I TV ^"^"1"^"'^ a, natnrj ' «»d finding it loo earit i„ 1 ■ ' 'f ''*.'' »' "X ''atch, i» one of l,e rmT„7hl" S" '"»"«■ '•««'1™»•". you have no«raS». \P-?"'°' ""''■ the assistance WafLr!" '^"'''"' ""• May God reward you for it •tierrrle^uf m V 1 ?•' "f "'""•'^ "•« "^ *« tables' and reCd tLoldtTVf't'"^, ""* e"»'°« been sealed here mant min, ? f *'"' ''"y^'- ' ""ad not ed. and placed TherseLTa. tf ^H^" • "'' «;f/"'^"«'" »«*'■ "I hiv» iJ, .. ™^?'.''"»°JO'ninsttabe. one of he™ ^" u TT'T^ ? ^^'^ ''"'•owing scene," said »pokethe Tentlemtn 'Jhn "k'k^ T"' '^''"^e 'appearance be- every mark of Z.-pU ^^ !"' '''""'' ='"'' """"'enance bore wbile I was IherP P "" '"'"'""' °' *^ S'""i''g house, ^ith a phren Id f„„i "■■ r*"" "?« ^^ S^^^d «t the table the heaps of Jnld 1 V '' 'f?""* '" <'«'"»"• ""h his eye, iengthX4 m„" 7"-e lyng before the dealers. At • pocket drew Lfh? ^ ^f^"', ''« P»' ""'^ hand into hi. "ediy onThI clofh T .^"P"'™"!' ='"'• ""^'^ "'«'" hur- lost/ But how shnil II '"'.,'''™'«' to have expected, he 'My wife- 2 Si p".''" "■,* "^""y •"■ his feelings? thatmX'thrvervn. / ''rl' f™-" his breast, in tofe. naoe the very people of the house themselves start]* 149 VRASCAT1*S; OR and look up. He said no more. His knees tottered under him. He staggered from the table to the wall. Madness soon lent him strength, and he broke wildly from the room, without any one making an effort to prevent him. I shiid- der for the result." Early on the following morning I visited the Morgue. A body lay extended on thgJl|tform. As I had anticipa- ted, it was that of the uitfPlwate officer. A female stood weeping at the side of the corpse. It was his unhappy wife, who had come to claim his remains. He had drowned him- Mlf in the Seine. CHAPTER XXVI. The seasons are not more variable than our dispositions. To-day the gloom of winter is seated upon our brow ; to- morrow dawns on us in all the brightness of a summer sun; and the spirits play as lightly and freely as if they had never known what it was to droop. I fully expected that I should have been a sad moping, melancholy being for at least a week ; and in truth, the events of the preceding day were sufficient to have rendered me so, yet at breakfast I had re- gained all mv wonted elasticity of mind, and even conde- scended to amuse myself witli Domingo Rhymer. This, however, by the by,'was a weakness, ift which I should not ..have indulged, had I not leen anxious to convince him that I was superior to anything like petty resentment for his wanton attack on my literary talent. " Well, Mr. Rhymer," i began, " how is your triendthe major? I hope you enjoyed yourself last night." ♦♦ Never was so happy in my life," returned the "Barba- dian poet " Bob Spicer is, without exception, the plci-santr SCENES IN PARIS. 149 hlTatura lf» ,t.Vl .™^''''''''?J'''''''" '^ •*« Partnership, a. Hp ^;« vf ! ^-'^' ^^'^ '""J"'* »« ^^«»t to return here to-dav ana tne marquis , a. ,.-en consulting him on some weiahtv affairs of state, connected with his mission. He apS very much fatigued last night, and no wonder i for heaSdW. fngl'tav" n' '?" '"°"'«'' togetherf»*s!^t "' t ing the day. Do not mention this, however. I entrent von as It was communicated to me in ionfidenee. and?Dr^ma' tare disclosure might affect the interests of our co«""y rhe major fears, however, that the marquis wiUbreak down even as it is, notwithstanding all the paL he Ken wS The inclination I felt to laugh at the absurd credulity of ^nuTs'biir ^Th'' ""' ' T'",""' ''='™ -P-«Sve minutes longer. This was what I most wished to avoid ««ce any manifestation of mirth might have op^^ed hi, eye. was bvCr. ' ""'^'f""^ of ">« 'W diplomatist. 'and U arhrreThat^r.ns^srrrhr * «o?r.tS™;re:i?othirfrnr"^^' ^"" '"-^ -^ ="'«»- him bv^ ih-TT^"' r?' •'" ^PP™*'''' ">« '«'«"'«' and seize mm by the hand, exclaiming with vivacity. " How «an I N 2 166 IRASCATI^S; OB^ sufficiently requite you for your kindness, how repay yo« for having risked your valuable life for me in a duel, and ahewn such a friendly regard for ray character in my ab- sence ?" Then, without waiting for a reply, he put on one of his most hostile looks, and, turning to a waiter, mquired if Colonel Killheiress was in the hotel. " I only just this iurtant heard of the affair," he resumed, when the man had replied in the negative, "and have hastened here for the ex- press purpose of chastising the villain." ^ • Tredenniek, who was present, now sought to pacify the major, whose fury seemed to have increased, on being told that the colonel- was at that moment in St. Pelagic, and co»f ■equently incspablB of rendering him the satisfaction of a gentleman. ^ , • ' n "Although Lhave not the pleasure of benl^ personally known to Major Nimbleton," pursued the former, (here Ma- jor Nimbleton bowed low,) " still I have heard so much of his high connections, and his own strict character for probity mnd honour, that I confess I am only surprised he should suffer any insinuations uttered by such a fellow as Killheiress, to have the slightest effect on him." The major hemmed, coughed, bowed, smiled, and ac- knowledged the justness of Tredennick's remark, and seat- ing tumself, in the next instant, at the side of the baronet, resumed in a low tone his wonted strain of adulation. Domingo Rhymer, who was evidently fidgetting himself to death for an opportunity to address the ' great diplomatist,* now ventured to inquire if their friend the marquis was off. ♦» Ah 1 my dear fellow, is that you ? How delighted I am to see you here ! Yes, I have at last contrived to get rid of him, having |iut him into his carriage about an hour ago." ** And have you any hopes of him ?" inquired the poet, half playfully, half mysteriously, and turning and wkikingto pie at the same moment. M I cannot say that I have," returned Nimbleton, with the utmost gravity of voice and manner. *' I only wish that he may have good sense enough to follow the directions I have given hinit for if it is only for the credit of our family, I am ■CCMtS IN PABM. iSI naturally anxious thai he should acquit himself of the trust reposed in h,m ,„ ,he entire satisfaction of «o»er„m»f Note word of this however," he proceeded inaTw™" ne and laying his fore-finger impressively on his hpT " o„^' act of mdiscretion raight compromise every thing "' Then turning once more to Sir Brien.-"I am so ma^ny waysTn your debt, my dear friend, that I really know not howfever 1" Th ='".'"'<""""* '""'n f" "11 your kindness? AUow me, at leas , to repay yon the amount of what you were so U was" t™t ''" °*^' '^y- "^""'"S - "h^ -™ i't It was a very great convenience to me at the Ume ax if vnJ recollect, had not an opportunity of goingto mTCkerv" . I was literally thunderstruck at Ihl languaJof th/ma^ jor,-much more so when I saw him actuall/hand ove?^^ Sir Brien^he money he had borrowed from him I Inld have believed any thing in nature but this, ye ?o it^l had the evidence of my own eyes to satisfy me of hi fee. and I could no longer doubt. Indesd, I ImdXady be^n to change my opinion in regard t».Nimbleton a tofi^thT- Zs^:^ ''' ~d hiL^ht:: -^-^.^^st As for the baronet, he was really dehVhted as hp .=iJ . the major's return, for his presence had in s'me me ' ' hf come necessary to him. With all his good TaShe wA" a weak, vain man, and easily won by flatterv »nH !f. ."°' Nimblelon, whohad atactfordisLerin '^7ak"^^^^^^^^^^ perceived this, and was too much of a " mln^u v«? "'if Z of a " diplomat^.," „ot to avail himself acco^inX ThT moreover, wai^a day when the baronet requSomlS^; to comfort him ; and though misfortunes are ^ W ^T 7 152 FRASCATIS; 9R I ■*. icountship had done him in condescending to become his brother-in-law, a notification which was, however, received ■with an exclamation of " Hell and the devil !" pronounced in tones of a more energetic character than he had been known to indulge in for some time. In the first paroxysm of his rage he flew to my apartment, to acquaint me with the evil that had befallen the ancient race of the O'Flaherty's. I happened to be out, but the major, fortunately for him, was at home, and to him he immediately repaired, and un- burdened himself of all his griefs. Nimbleton talked of philosophy, and quoted Xenophon and Socrates, and some half dozen others of the ancients. How like a j)hilosopher he must have looked in his braided, fur-collared frock, his neck enveloped m a huge black military stock, and his sharp little features peering from beneath a pair of bushy whiskers that would have done honour to a pard. "Call on your philosophy, my friend," heurged, "there is no use in fretting for an evil that cannot now be remedied, • iand certainly a man lif your profound knowledge of the world cannot be ignorant; that ♦ such things will sometimes occur even in the best regulated families.* Moreover, will it not be a greater proof of wisdom not to appear annoyed where the expression of your displeasure can be of no avail ? Your brother-in-law — " " He is no brother-in-law of mine," vehemently inter- rupted the baronet, — " do not call him a brother-in-law of mine." Adroitly seizing his present mood, and perceiving that this was not the moment for tendering the consolations of philo- sophy, Nimbleton now joined Sir Brien in cordial abuse of the count, a service which was far more acceptable to the in- dignant and mortified baronet than all the advice and conso- lation in the world ; and when they had finally settled it be- tween them, that Le Rapp was a very great rascal, the in- dignation of the old gentleman was considerably appeased, and he was once more prepared to enjoy the delightful society of his friend. A striking change now took place in the conduct of Man^ SCENES IN PARIS. 153 srprifet^h?B''lhP '\^''^ ""easiness, and was filled with surprise at his altered manner towards hpr Tho k., I- in consequence was erel S "' '"'' ''" '""'"heclne,, d-W/e now became S« f ' "PPearance at the table himself lTanSthith/^''"'''J',''-'' "''"" •*« '''<' '^ow observation of veyon^e liquid tT' of shunning the into the cansp of Z. ■ ■ . willingly have inqn red enterLLd a VoVf„: Tn"S t?h'™ ■'" *"" ["' -''""• ' mvaiiesiion.Sn .k ^ interest, but he always shrunk from Kred to Zh ,hf J'"!: ""1 °" °"^ """"^'i"''. »h«n I ishE.tVuTinto'tr''*" "■•• •"'• """"' '» -"y -•»-- Hiritsrat'piT/T^oiLvTd .rr'^ r^^^ '» ^^p"""- nomeans JpK. • J '° ""^ ''««" •'ea'-y. but by up *e who e nf h '"'■'"'" "' '" ""'"^ ""^v had swallowed bar?rttS'R(,vmera''nd ;hff ^ ''i' ^""'^'y ''«'— '"» preserve the rnm?,f^' r """"gb Emily could with difficulty LalbV r^laeed ftW "^l^"".^ '"'^ard. him, he now ble, and abSp^v ^ 7?u '" *"' '*"" ^' *e breakfast ta- by hisa«enul,"nf "'' ** '"'°' ^'" «"'«<• "11 appetite . Per1ec'urgaTcri''"fk^H h'"'^ "" ''"'" """ "f *-« to be veryVarcastta whl. k'7"u '" \ '""" *»' «">' meant "I'wat' bLiZ ';^"'"^'" he returned, with a fomed laugh, it. ^Pice?saw1^ ,'""'"^'' *" '"'" ''^ hundred poundsbl believe'^e^rr hin/r .' "P' 'T"""' 'y''^"'' ™<" I- '^bo ever^ thing that ,t is said to n,e, naturally believed 154 FRASCATl's; OR him, and risked the sum I have just mentioned at it." " But look at this man," he proceeded, resting his hand on the poet's shoulder, who happened to sit near him, " this is the most complete philosopher 1 know. He too has lost consid- erably by Bob's system, and yet takes it with the most per- fect sang froid imaginable. Have you not lost, Rhy- mer ?" *' Oh, a trifle, a mere trifle ; something paltry ; don't mention it.'' ** Ah ! see his philosophy again," pursued Nimbleton ; ** I know that he has lost nearly four hundreii, and yet he does not seem in the least annoyed at it. I did not take the thing quite so coolly ; for when Bob came to announce to me that all the money was gone, I felt half inclined to break his head for his pains. Yet Watson was much more violent than I, and when I mentioned the result of our sys- tem to him, I thought he would have become absolutely wild. It was very fortunate for Spicer, that he did not communicate the intelligence, for I know not what might have been the consequence. But, as I before observed, few people are endowed with the philosophy of my friend here. For my own part, I was not to be trifled with ; but told Spicer, without any ceremony, that the instant he mar- ried the heiress to whom he is on the point of being united, I should insist on his returning both my friend Rhymer's money and my own ; adding that a post-obit on his father -would do well enough for Watson. Bob, who is a queer, goodnatured sort of fellow, (as you know, Rhymer,) laughed heartily at the idea of the post-obit. He has lost a large sum within the last few nights, and unless his father dies in the interim, we shall certainly be at his wedding in the course of a week, for I have strono^ly advised him to, marry." This was quite enough, I thought, to induce the jealous poet to profit even further by Mr. Spicer's ingenious sys- tem, and I confess it was not without a secret pleasure, that I now saw him in a fair way to suflTer deeply for not having listened to what I had written of my tour. Having succeeded in detaching Nimbleton from Emily for SCENES IN PARIS. 156 to . « whL ^^^^^"^^^ "»<^st interests us, is certain to occur ler hid n. T "? '*°"'- "^^^ ^S^tation evinced by Man- pray?" ^ '^' *''*' 'i''«»<'s do you mean, which ofT, trMotTeurZgL""^ "^' '"' '"'"'-'' %,. 156 l^RAfiCATl's; OR "1 am the gentleman," exclaimed my companion, with his usual vivaeiiy, " have you any thing of importance to communicate ?'» " Yes, sir; my mistress Lady H , requests that yoa will not fail to call to-morrow, as the young ladies aye to practice that new step you taught them the other day ?" I felt vexed and annoyed beyond measure ; still I would not suffer Bougie to perceive it, for I am seldom seriously angry with a fool, and above all things avoid giving him to understand that I am apprised of his weakness, since by so doing, I not only bring down upon myself the lasting ven- geance of folly, but make a frail human being unhappy, without rendering him more wise. "Where do you hang out?" pursued the dancing-mas- ter, when the footman had departed. " I must drop a card lor you to-morrow." * *♦ Where is your own residence ?" I demanded, evad- ing his question. "Ah! let me sec;" returned Bougie. ** Curse it, it is •o Anglified a name, that it is quite impossible for me even to recollect the street. No matter, give me your address, that will be sufficient." He now attempted a conversation with a hawker of walk- ing sticks ; although the only words of |^ench he seemed to use were oui and non, ** Dou speak the language ?" h© said. " Not a word," I replied ; concealing an accomplishment I possess in an eminent degree, in order to give him confi- dence to proceed. ".'Tis a very difficult language for foreigners," he re- sumed ; and then, what with his ouis, his nonSf his shrugs, and other pantomimic tricks, he at length succeeded in im- pressing me with a very high opinion of his own knowledge of the tongue. " Why you must be a perfect French linguist," I re- marked, as we now proceeded on our way, " you seem to epeak it with so much fluency ?" " Why yes, tolerably so ; but where is the merit ? It is my na speak Fort ing Bo gentlen and thu On I( ing dow "We is a very Connaug ter all ! choice, a "Bei air of the ingly neti ton so m myself. " I con ris," he 1 much wa you shoul ways desi sympathy for it,'» an From th add to my Morris, ha which caus VOL. i»— SCENES IN PARIS. 157 my native language, you know, and I ought naturaliv in speak It better than English.*' • * naturally to Fortune now kindly threw a friend in my way; when tell mg Bougie that I had something particular to Jv^f^ gentleman opposite, I hastily wished Wm a good Lr^i'^/ and thus contrived to get rid of him. morning, CHAPTER XXVII. On leaving Bougie, I joined Sir Brien, who was walk. 1A8 FRA8CATI*8; OR by the police. " Mj dearest and most intimate friends were overjoyed when they met me walking fearlessly through the street, as they all declared they were apprehensive I had been the oflender. Of those who professed regard for me, some gave out that he was my brother ; others made him my first c usin ; while all disinterested speakers maintained stoutly that he was only a distant relation. In fact, so ha- rassed was I by the kind inquiries of my friends, each de- tailing to the porter the motive of his visit, that I felt half in- clined to publish my genealogy, and prove at once to the world that not even the shadow of dishonour had ever at- Uiched to one of my name. Nimbleton, I must confess, evinced a great deal of kind- ness towar.ls me during my troubles, and always defended me in my absence, though on such occasions he arrogated to himself an intimacy with the Morrisses, of which 1 did not altogether approve. It is, however, but natural to us, af- ter all, that we should endeavour to raise ourselves in the estimation of others by claiming acquaintance with people of high rank and fortune ; and this reflection induced me, in some degree, to overlook the liberty. Yet there was one thing for which I could not pardon him, and that was for ne- glecting to bring about an explanation between the baronet and myself; for I strongly suspected that the continuance of our misunderstanding was principally to be attributed to him. It really was a source of great annoyance to me to be com- pelled to forego an interchange of kind offices with one whom 1 had known so long, and with whom I had enjoyed uninterrupted friendship from my very childhood. It natu- rally gave me great pain, and I felt it the more keenly, in consequence of my conviction, that in old age friendship should never be broken on slight grounds, because even though it be afterwards renewed, the fire of youth is want- ing to restore it in all its original warmth. £mily was not long in remarking this singular change of manner between her uncle and myself, and one day she came up to me in the garden, with tears in her eyes, to inquire th» reason. trust h cannot concer ble, yc she pn " that J him no unkind It w; the bar with Ei anxiety Manvei "Th eagerly; "He "He jectedly "He I am SOI "And so genth this sing "No, "Oh( and with off, in or When He shool "lam so much high estee feel solid that he a paused. "What '♦ Wh;jr, «CSNE« IN PARIS. 1S9 cannot be Jo™n Z S.v f y"' "'• **»■■"'• You concerted hfr^m if h„Z "" """/.""e* '"" """y >!«• ble. you .hrid make everv=.r''"^''''^K .''''"•' "'""^"'i''- .he proceeded, S Zl "'"""'"'=«'''' i'- I fear too," him now. I w sK,, w^^t ft'- '^ V* «"''''"" «"«' »« unkind to him/' '^ ^°"''' ""'' '"'» '' "y ""cle has been .heVrr„eTa^d''myre!f''':L*bur'''"" -r"""""? ""-- with Emily ; 1,0 "ever I r - <* " "''"'.'• """'i'l""'*"" anxietyof love I towLr I ' " f " =•" '»'"'» f" 'he «-f - 'J Srie'nds ir;'" ' '"" ^- -'« -" j^uw.uijr on ner bosom. .■;^i"itf :,*r1* "^F~ - 'his singular chan^ f^ ^^ y"" "«" <""'"« 'he cause oi: "oh%7Mr»iorr"l'rshlr^ '' " P"'"' •» fi"d i' out." and with a .othw warm n^ *" "r" ?"=*" "''"«-"' '" Vou." off, in order reJcareNiET . ' ^^"^' '*'« ^"'""^ When the ma or 1'ame ,m r ' "'" ""^ approuehinsr. He shoot his hia^d my™:rl's//'"'''^ '^ '"'» "^M-™"- - rTife^i^e^'W KT/at f- 1""- '' - high esteem I entertain L.h ? ^'^herty as he was. The feel solicitous for the welft ' ' ^'?''^\">»kes me naturally "'a' he cannott too^a eW rf 1? "7%^"/ ' "«"»' ^'•v paused. "*'"' of her j fof I fear," and he Whj.. my dear f„e„d," he replied, " J am a man of the 160 FRASCATl's; OR world, and I regret to say that I kftow too much of that young Manvers to consider him a proper companiion for Miss O'Flaherty. I could say much on this subject, and indeed I know not whether I am not bound in honour and in friendship to Sir Brien, to declare what I know ; but the fact is, I am so tender of man's fair reputation. You recol- lect that fine passage in Shakspeare ?" " Yes, major," I replied, ** and he pffks it, if I mistake not, into the mouth of a very great rascal — ' purserobbing,' I think, is part of it." " True," pursued Nimbleton ; *' but as I was saying, no man, my dear friend, can be more tender of another's repu- tation than myself." " Nor less of your own, major ; but excuse me, I fear I am interrupting you." " No matter, my dear friend. All that I wish to impress on your mind is, that I would on no account speak in depre- ciation of another, unless I was perfectly prepared to prove what I stated. Mr. Manvers, I fear — but do not press me further — still I must, as a friend, advise you to beware of him." ** Major Nimbleton," I replied, haughtily, " you talk of your delicacy and disinclination to wound another's reputa- tion, and yet you have taken the basest, and most treacher- ous course that slander ever adopted, — insinuation. Now, state facts, sir, oi I shall tencefoith consider you the most infamous of slanderers." " Gently, gently, my dear friend,** returned Nimbleton, with the most imperturbable nonchala-ce, " this young man, it is evident, has imposed on you. You know not human nature as well as I do." " What !" said I, angrily, " do you question my Know- ledge of human nature ? Know, sir, that it is my favourite study." " Pardon me," he returned, " the error lies entirely in my inability to express myself with precision. I simply meant to say that you have more of philanthropy, and less of suspicion in your nature than I have, Put in respect tQ tCKSEt iN Putts. I6i « young man of most ,31^^ " "'*'*• '^^ certainly is ceived the bes.educatl'^T.h?""!.'"!""*"'' ^"^ ''«'«" tooay, hishea tandprine "l^ar^H-' ll"!"".'' ="» »"">■ sin is fully aware of hi, m?.„^ T f^'"?"/ W. My cou- reply to my relation »,M '''"'»'' ' eooW for him, ana in ooTfll'"5-ttTS ' "t^*-^^'^^^ deem very culpabte • but T rp»r' "^'"^ ^ ^'«'»' '<"' ^'i" I told my^^onsf^ tha't I wJuTd sLXT "^""^l '^y'"^' "^ "• send him out of Paris • Z h. "PP 7 him with money, and finding the high r^ad to S,eVXv:% ' "'^ ■=''^"f "' much longer. Indeed his Pnn§„.^' "® "">""""«» ''ere quite sufficient t^have ^1 ?L "^ '"^ f M*"'*'"'''. 'vas posed to do him anTlrv kJ^'^' ^'^.^ '"'"" "' ^»'«^- &ir, he has been enSTn ,»™^ "dependently of this af- pable nature. He"?S>ver ^'f ?^T^ »" ^O"""/ <="1- themostfashionaWehoSTs whl°K** ''^''" "f '''•«qn«nti„g by some one or other of Ih!^^! ■"» ^Pe^'os "e defrayed 'oirh, and '«"' "'«^P«- fi«tinstance.thatheffiiseo^J'':„^f'';,,'?,'ho'n i" the wmningat roueeet niZ „™*^<' »n mfallible system lor pockets it wUhouTriskin^.Thni- """/'"S *' '"i" ^flfe"'. "■ey will risk DO more i?.hL'""'"f' »"^ ".hen he finds tha with him at one ofTese hous« f' 'T*^ *«» '« <«ne W.byahostof sW« hTth f*'^*?"^ <>«»««• »t then, with the excenUo„Tf w^,Kw\*"^ '^•°^'«- This, stitutes his sole mZ^ "fl^pt. '^"'"'^''"'» hi"'- con- Now, sir, you have hi, Vh."". "02"'°"""' ™" ' snouid be glad 162 FRASCATI 8 ; OR to know what man can say that any part of my statement iff untrue. I am sorry for him, very sprry indeed, but I must positively speak to Sir Brien on the subject i for you know, my dear friend, it would be a dreadful calamity should he by any chance succeed in gaining the affections of that innocent Emily. Indeed it would be dreadfully shockingf and should such an event take place, how could we forgive ourselves for having withheld a knowledge of his true character from the baronet ? Such remissness would be shameful. Friend- -ship and charity forbid it. Sir Brien must be apprised of it. I wish, my dear sir, you would undertake the task, for by my soul, even though I would sacrifice every thing in the world to my friendship for O'Flaherty, still it is offensive to my feelings to report any thing infamous of another. Do, my dear fellow, oblige me so far. I know you will do it much better than myself." I however begged to decline interfering in any way, and the major at length so far overcame his delicacy and tender feelings, as to determine, that si ice he was compelled to do so, he would not shrink from the performance of even so painful a duty. ^ "I pity that poor young creature," he pursued, dexterously turning the conversation on Emily. " I pity her extremely, since she has lost the protection of her aunt. Her situa- tion is beset with danger, and Sir Brien, I fear, is far too goodnatured, and too unsiispectirg for a charge of such re- sponsibility. Now you, my dear sir, a friend of the family, and one so conversant with the ways of the world j you, on my honour, I think ought to do something for the young girl. You certainly must know of some eligible person, Is there no one ihat you would recommend ?*' ♦* No indeed, major, I know of no one worthy of Miss OTlaherty, unless it should be yourself." " Oh, do not mention it. You know I am not a marry- ing man ; besides, I could never think of marrying a wo- man possessed of property — too sordid, in the extreme. \ ha^ve, also, a great dead oC foolish family pride ^bout me. «CENES IN PARIS. 163 into the world b^Tome Zh-. K^ ^^'^^ been brought, rest ? But then E OT^fc '"''? ^^'"»P* ^^«» ^^e the first fa^ille^s fn^h^ '^K^^^ ^ ^/^ne of kinswoman.'* ^^uicover, sne is my own fore Rhymer sTs us T„H r ^?"'!:.<=<>"'«. 1" «» be off be- . CHAPTER XXVIII. I REAUT had no desire to read mv maniia/>rin> .„ m- "iuj-n curiosity, that at last, rather to set rid of h;«» ♦», l'l!"y f".' vie?'. I took out the JVLreJ'J'Z hid I ^ri"""" "'^ »"' adventures at BouloZ Wh™ r had finished my task, he commenced a «J^f\J.Tj 164 PItASCATI*S; OR marks, and drew a comparison between Rhymer and my- self, on the score of talent and capability, such as it would ill become one of my excessive modesty to repeat, or even to allude to, further than as it affords a proof of his own literary discernment. " Rhymer," he observed, " although possessed of strong natural endowments, is not capable of appreciating your work, and for two reasons. In the first instance, he is jea- lous, excessively jealous, — that is his bane. In the second, he has not sufficient depth of mind to feel all the hidden beauties of your style. He is clever enough, I admit, at those lighter subjects which are suited to lyric poetry ;— this seems to be his forte ; but you — you, my dear friend, are possessed of that towering genius which can dive into the secret caverns of the heart, trace the rise and cause of the passions, and describe them, moreover, with almost in- credible felicity of language. Your pathos falls like dew on the willow leaf, and your humour embodies itself at once into life, lending the powerful impress of nature to your characters;, and producing emotions in the reader, which it is the exclusive privilege of talent like yours to awaken. — But I will ref ain from further comment, since I am well persuaded you must entertain too correct an estimate of your own powers, not to believe that any commendation of mine, however warm, and springing from conviction, must fall far short of your merits. I confess," he added, with a sigh, " I had some idea of writing a Tour of this kind my- self, but after what you have just read to me, I shall aban- don the thought altogether in despair." Common politeness had induced me to listen thus far to the encomiums of the major; but unwilling as I felt to inter- rupt him, my modesty could endure it no longer, and I en- treated him to change the subject of conversation. He did as desired. ** At what hour does Lafitte's bank close for the day V* he asked. " I rather think at four," I replied. ♦• It surely can't be that yet," he pursued. ** Will you have the kindness to look at your watch ?" SCENES IN PabIS. 165 "gZv^JJ 'i"'"'\'?: "^ late!" he exclaimed. deSuUvthe .; J 1? '"'"''' 5"^" ""'"S'" " ' Well, how havHone on r.»H " ""^m «™"a° '•»»'•. and you might dreamfrnf ,? 't?''"'g """' morning, without my oSce bank .oil. '? l' ''?"'•• ' «»•' I am too late for the Swr™ mv \"i*'' I' *' °"'y '^"""^ inconvenient to-morrow '^t!.^ ^ J* "* J"^"^ * '^^ Napoleons until «^n, Sat ^ill h " "'fl-''^''"'' r^"=^ y- P>«ase ; ah, say fif- thr^e is a lu^L V k"""'' •<"! ' """«'' hundred francsf and wm hP Vuvl ^ """T' y°" ""X"^- That tour of yours toows b,f, ? '"• '" '^""^ '"''"■"«» of ''"""e, andTho A fil '^?u •■ °^ """""S ™y friends." pretarLt'!.;;' T '"'PT"''« ^ "'efi'se. and I accordingly down that i, th. /^ ? *'"P * moment, I shall nolo it *e pen nea/l yoTh^^'CJ'''''^^''^^" "»' - ^"^ "ave yourself." ^ "*"*' '"^''^ a memorandum of it Phanged my oDhifon n?t ™' '^"""'- '» ^act I had been closS CXr L l" ™" """-" '"^ '""* "^ ""^ •ake the S • C h ^.","1'' ""' ''"« ™ff«fed him to one who, as Vman o^Ter" '.''' '" "i"^'^ >" «° *»'™« -sihiy Wise tZll/LTy T^u^.r^'""'' ""''" ''' - »"ed, a^7e„;,h Z *"*•" P""""" *e major, as we is- *e best ho"fse afdT?,.?^ apartments. "I always select .economy's sake Phf ^7- ** ^f"«" d'""«''' fo' »heer • , my s sake. Cheap dmner? I have invariably found ■> ta 166 frascati*h; or to prove the most e3Epen«ive in the end ; for you pay for what you cannot possibly eat, and meet with society that is any thing but respectable ; raen who are ready to bor- row your money from you at, every moment. I have been sadly fleeced in this manner ; but, unfortunately, i havt? such a weak heart, that I cannot resist the application of a felloMr creature in distress. Now, however, J. avoid »!! but the dearest houses, where they never iiurade themselves. — Which do you prefer, Very's or Laitaiie's ? I renom :^end the latter ; (or the wines are rather better. The Laiitt ;^ an i Champagne aro the fivpnt in the world, and I am au ^j, when you have tasted iricm, you will agree vj^ith me entirely. Come along, let us go io Lsst lire's." Presuming thatNiinbl^kn< v ished me to accompany him as his guest, 1 of coim^e f.s.-'.nied, and we set out for his iu- vourite restaurant. We had the most expensive dinner they could give us j and not a bottle of the choice wines would the major suffer to be opened until Monsieur Laitair^^: ji^aade his appearmce in person. *'Laitaire," he observed, expressively, " I have brought you a gentleman, who has it in his power to be of great flervics to your establishment, so be very particular in the wines yon give us, for he is one of the best judges in the world. 1 have recommended your house to him as the best in Paris, therefore, do not fail to make my word good." Monsieur Laitaire expressed himself delighted with the honour I had done him, and in the course of the evening jdrew a very fair proportion of choice corks. At length, in due course, the bill was produced, not exactly what I should have chosen to h?.ve paid for myself; but as I considered that I was Nimble tOk^'s guest, this was of very little conse- quence to me. However, I perceived that the gargon kept looking at me, as If he expected I should settle it. I, in turn, looked at the major ; but the major had his eyes so steadily fixed on the lustre, the beautiful workmanship »■ which he was extolling in the most extravagant manner, t' u. at length, in order not to apv^. .ir shabby in the estimat''* of ^he waite*^^, I was compelled . acknowledge the amc'vr^t. SCENES IN PARIS* i6i su^^dL^way flLlhe^obr;^/!!?"^'"^ companion, turning eel, .ith an aiJ^half^o trpte falfoVor"'^'^^""V^"^"^'- k^ pitying the bill ? ^ ' °^ offence, what I meant house-Laifaire will o klV^rh ?V^® P^°P^« °^ ^^e ^ould rather borrow mnl m" '!^''^^ *** '"^'^^ ^^ this. I to puy for our dinner Howev7 wT T '^^" «"^«^ ^^^ vnatterin this way; you murni' ^ "^l," ^^"^P^omise the other time, and I wilUven HuiTK'"^ '"^ ^'""^ ^^^^ '"^ ^o'ne wiih you. Yes ves to? !' *^^ P'^'^"^ ^'" ^ remain other money about him thai^pr".''"?'"?^ ''« hal no had .0 recently borrowed Lenl™ ^"?*^"'' '"'•''"•' "»«« he once a man begin,, he seldom if ' " ''i'* ''""'»?• "ho" must be unnecLary to add Si?"*? ■ *''"* '" ^toP- »' Whether it wasTwi^„ J a ' P^"" """ '"'*• •tapidily of Ihrperrrmfnce ftn"'"'' ' u"'" ''"y »' *« 'hat I neverlis Jed to an on;ri^hhl"°''r '"" """'''" " "• return home about midnLh? '*'* pleasure. On our take some refreshment ai^^'LT TJl""'/'^ '"*" ""« "^"o ^ agreeable lounge enCwhrir, >, '\' f """"«^- '^''i' « an litUe astonished to find fL.h/ ''.^''helor; but I was not a I me. there, werl those wt had tn'^K^ ""' ^."«'*"""''" joyment of the nuptial coWract jJ ^" 'V^^ ^"^ «»■ duced to give a kev Z ,h^ ' P^'^' Pos»'Wy, be in- fo so, the^Ust wSfVcite no m^ '"'"'''''*.'• ™<1 ^hould^ first families of the kinX ""''"" """^ "'' "^ «po»i paytetit '"J^fhte ^'^^^ "'■-■-<'*'' entered, when a ve"; b^auS I ' ''""'"^'' ''^^n '""g dressed herself to Nimblcton sTv""T """"^ "P =""< "* uinimoicton. Several expressions of en- 168 f RASCATI^S ; on dearment passed between them in the French tongue, s-vhich seemed to have bo powerful an effect on my friend, that, calling me on one side, he requested as a particular favour, I would letjiim have whatever Napoleons I might chance to have about me, as he could not possibly think of bemg so imprudent as to change the five hundred franc billet. Another would have selfishly pleaded a fear of not havmg enough to defray the expenses of the night, but this was an excuse unworthy of me, and aware, moreover, of the temptation by which I was surrounded, I rather dreaded the idea of having any money about me ; I therefore delivered all I had into his keeping, and saw no more of him lor the evening. There are men, and Nimbleton was certainly the first among these, who, however much the heart, the reason, and the judgement may condemn the weakness, impercep- tibly work on our credulity, and obtain all that they desire. On my return at a late hour to the hotel, the day's expenses obtruded themselves on my memory, and 1 could not but wonder at the admirable tact the major had displayed. Had any one told me in the morning, that ere midmght I should have read a part of my tour to Nimbleton, lent him twenty pounds, paid for his dinner, taken him to the Opera and the Idalie, and summed up by handing him over all the money I had left in my possession, I should certainly have said, that that man was mad, and knew but little of the firmness and decision of character of Rambleton Moms. On my way down to breakfast the next morning I over- took Nimbleton on the staircase, and inquired how he found himself after his night's raking? . u * v. ti, " Spirits good, ray dear friend, pockets empty, but health in abundance. I hope, by the way, you have kept an ac- count of what I had yesterday, for I have not ; I hate figures, and would much rather overpay a trifling sum than distract myself with dry accounts. Pray let me know m the course of the day how much it is, that I may go to my banker's, for most assuredly if it escapes my memory I shall be com- pelled to draw on you again, which will be very disagree- able, for I do not like borrowing, even from a particular fCKUSa IN PARIS, 160 ir»ight? I fear you m^K'' '"f '™* "'""'' "™S'« home "S"'- • A lear yon missed yoftr wav ak HIta rn»<.vr w 1 inciy yet De induced to change my m nd notwiih^^tnnHJn- We had nowr reached the Balk d mnn^er^ where the n.»«l widow, who had only relumed the day befor* from a,-™.™ try excursion, were now in hieh snirits m Tfo^ h "' to crown .heir happiness, andrrbSL'par^Ve rneT" Z T^T^ ™ *"'?*'*■' "' "" *'* morning/ WhHrn buM arril^ .r;,''" "I human felicity? A^^^tlemanrwho hid J^^,,}!^V"''i'"3 *™"'"S' '»»'' » »•»' »t fl'i table te^ preset. beZhp "* ''"^ ??y ''"''>' °'" •>'» acqnaintan^ Sennick 5^ commenced h,s breakfest. soon ^cognized J^2 '^ zi t z':::;^ro?tTnrm?rrtr 7 •r,.M " I ? •J'^'"' * ''°^™ ''™e' •» 'he course of a minute rredenmck did no^ however, lose his presence of S n,»l i. ^7^' "y ^'*'"' '" he replied with a L"-". t?T ^7" •'"'•ied them all off nearly about tt•«m^ 170 FRASCATI 8 ; OR time. You knew Mrs. Tredeiinick well, she certainly was a most excellent woman, and i cnn npver sufficiently mourn her loss ; but when did you i )W extiemely well you are looking.'* " Good Heaven !" exclai^aea the stranger, without no- ticing the concluding sent: nee, " what a fatality J a wife and six cnildren — a healthy and flourishing family all carried oflf within four months ! Alas ! my dear friend, how dreadful must be your affliction !" And thus hr \^.ii ji. sympa- thizing with Tredcnnick, and asking particulars in regard to the complaint, until the latter at length became so confused, that even the widow seemed to feel all her hopes of marriage were Eiout to be annihilated. The rest of the party were very differently affiected, a! id the baronet's eye unfortunately fmcountering that of the lady, at the moment when he was on the point of bursting into an immoderate fit of laughter, completed her apprehension and her despair. Even the ironical gentleman, who was seldom amused with any thing, could not suppress his mirth en thiis occasion, and titterings and whisperings succeeded each other rapidly throughout the room. For my part, I did not at all enjoy the scene ; for, alas ! in spite of myself, I could not help thinking of yesterday's expenses, and I now distinctly per- ceived that there was a gieat deal too much clevernr s in Paris. Nimbleton also, I remarked, looked exceedingly serious, and seemed to entertain more sympathy m Treden- nick's embarrassment than J could have giv him credit for. The widow now retired u her apartmtiat, and ^'reden- nick and the stranger continued in low but vehement con- versation at the bottom of the ii- 'e. It war evident, 'from thejnanner of the former, that he was taxing the stranger with having been guilty of some indiscretion, of which the other now evidently repented ; and, oc'casiciially, I could observe that the major glanced towards bvp ith a look of anxiety and annoyance. Manvers now entered the room, tn an m. ant Emily' ^aze wa lirected towards the door, but the momentary sa- tisfaction that beamed in her coutitenance speedily passed iCENES IN PARn. 171 awav, an J her head fell on her breast. The deeoent «n been t»to,,k.,MPJf "«.**' •"» cn'tomary p ace had CHAPTER XXIX. mir, Pf ""/"'S »":ene had been a source of much amuae. room his good humour deserted him. an expression of^aan! prntmeii. passed over his features and Tappeared 3 ' ana mc iron d gentleman were the only Dersonah*. Ka"iS d'a/d""" 'Reformer to leave the room.- rirl prZled rlh '"'" " '■! *"' T"""' «''e tremblinj L rEf! ^j J •"•' ■ " "" ••" ""«'«• evidently repenteS mem mf-. ; /„H '" " l™'.' .g''"!'' «°ne. " Retir^for*^. mcK IV iJ?? u' 5*^ ; .'"" J"'" y°" presently." ' wh.^% D " ^™1if '•*'■ '» *« •'"Of -""l presenUy returned when SirB en, addressing himself t„ ^anvers, sdd " Yon wm excuse me, sir, if I request thn ou ^U for thffo. are consKl u yourself an utter strange ot oTly to me. bu . ssL H'T' W'll not say. neither d. I conceive f ne- ' »9ary lo explain the motive of my onuuct Of ,i« .lowever, vou mav h, a^ ^A ,, """uci. ur ns, nn. K ^ : T " ^"i "'"' my determ ''on 'laa not been cnt. .d into wii .out sufficlm cause." the ve^'''.nT.-''''V!""? """""'"' of^'hono that llie very i..,p,.(ation of .t often inv t; ,m Wuh the appea^ 172 VRA8CAT1 • ; OR ance of guilt. Manvert was too deeply affected to reply immediately. He turned pale as death, trembled exces" lively, and seemed utterly confounded. At length with a violent effort at self-command, he started to his feet, ex<- claiming, ** Suspicion, or capr! , or slander, sir, may in- duce you thus to wound my feelings, but no one act of mine can justify your insinuations against my character. You are at liberty to reject my society if such be your pleasure, but not on the score of dishonour. And breathes there a man,*' he pursued, f neninghis eye on Nimbleton with an expression that seemed to make the latter feel very uncom- fortable, *' breathes there a man who dare cast the slightest shadow of a stigma on me ? If so, let him but avow it to my face ; 'tis all I ask." > " This is not the point, sir," returned the baronet, per- ceiving that the m^jor was by no means prepared to accept the challenge. , **It is sufficient that I desire we may for the future consider ourselves as strangers to each other, neither do I wish to enter into any altercation on the sub- ject." Manvers rose, seized his hat, and with evident agitation of manner, though without uttering a word, instantly quitted the room. **By Heavens, he is not a dishonourable character!" ex- claimed the ironical . gentleman, whose countenance during this short scene had proved him no indifferent spectator ; ** he is not a dishonourable character, let his other faults and imperfections be what they may." ** Ask Major Nimbleton," drily observed Sir Brien. ** I will. Pray, sir, have you any charge of dishonour to advance agaipst that young man ?" ** I am sorry to say I have, my dear sir," replied Nimble- ton, somewhat disconcerted by the scrutinizing glance of his interrogator. *'■ He once swindled me out of some thou- sands of francs, under the pretence of having discovered an infallible system for winning at rouge et noir, I, who knew nothing of gaming whatever, was easily induced to advance him the money: when instead of risking it at tb^ ■OliNEfl IN PARIS. 179 table, he pocketed the whole ium and suddenly disappeared. Wo man is more tenacious of another's reputaUon than my- self ; but my great respect for Sir Brien has induced me to pomt out the risk he must incur in continuing so dangerous anacquamtance." * «»8oruu> "And vet," observed the ironical gentleman, musinirlv, * he ought not to have wanted money. By the by, sir," he pursued, starting suddenly, after a minute examination 0! the major s features, -now that I behold you nearer, I cannot say that I discover so much simplicity about you. 1 rather think it would require a much deeper character than J suspect Mr. Manvers to be, to cajole you so easily out of your money. I have not had an opportunity of examininir your features attentively until this moment, and were it not tor the prodigious quantity of beard with which your face IS covered, I think I could trace a very great resemblance to a gentleman I had once the misfortune to meet with at Brighton. Prav, may I ask if you have ever been there ? and If so, whether you recollect having seen me before?" tlr^ur^ "®* ^''^'" ^'nphatically declared the major. Then I must be wrong,, of course ; but you must ex- cnse me if I say, that so striking is your resemblance to ray Brighton acquaintance, that if you should ever again be taken for him, and by some less temperate person than myself, the result may prove rather disagreeable to a man of your nice leelinp and strict sen^e of honour. However, as you are not the same individual, and have been so very genorous and copfiding in thisaflair, I will make inquiry into it; and as I happen to know something of Mr. Manvers's family, 1 think I can contrive to get you back your money. Per- mit me, however, to recommend you more caution in fu- ture, for I assure you, that if you should happen to fall in with my Brighton friend, who is so extremely like yourself, you may be as great a sufferer by his r.-quaintance as 1 have besn.** "I thank you, sir, for your good advice," returned the major, not without some degree of confusion, " and when you have succeeded in getting back the money of which I p2 '4 174 FRASCATl S ; OR have been swindled, I shall, then think your counsel worth adopting." "Quite right, major," said the baronet, "it will then be time enough;" and taking the arm of the phrenologist, he hurried him out of the room. This sharp-shooting at Nimbleton gave me no slight un- easiness, for during the time it lasted I could not help think- ing of the sum he had borrowed from me. Being left alone with the ironical gentleman, I now sought to learn some- thing of the Brighton transaction to which he had alluded, and commenced the conversation by hinting at tlie charge made against Manvers. "Let that subject rest," Y replied; "although I am fully satisfied that Mr. Manvers has been sadly traduced and belied to the baronet by that whiskered fellow who has just left the room with him, he is still very much to be blamed. Vast sums of money have been squandered by him in folly and extravagance ; and having at length dried up the source from which they proceeded, he is now de- servedly suffering the penalty." Finding that the old gentleman was unwilling to pursue this subject further, I now introduced my friend, the major, on the tapis, declaring at the same time that I suspected him of being a very great scoundrel. " That can be of no consequence to us," he observed, with a smile of deep sarcasm, "for we have too much good sense and knowledge of the wor'd to think of lending him money." 1 made some silly reply, and he continued in the same dry manner. " I have too high an opinion of the discern- inent of one who professes to have so much experience of the world to suppose you guilty of the weakness of lending money to such a character as Nimbleton, yet I am inclined to fear that some friend of yours may not have been equally prudent, and naturally for his sake you wish to be satisfied, in regard to the major's solvency. Am I not right ?" " Certainly, quite right. A most particular friend of mine has lent h'm a sum of money ; and fc his sake I am SCENES IN t»ARIS* 179^ " So I had apprehended," pursued the ironical ffentle- inan, with the same deep sarcastic expression. ' D^d the major say Oiat he vvould.return it at a particular hour on he following day ? Did he take great pains to impress this aEtf P"r^ onyourfriend^ Did he iorlolll allude to the sum borrowed as a mere bagatelle; and if m re money was produced than he originally asked for, dS he seem to doubt whether his first dem'and was sufficiemr Me did, I replied. " Enough ;" said the old man, " You will do well in to case, to .ell your friend that it may be advisable! t't o build too much on the repayment of the loan, at the precise nK-ment ijameu by the major. If, however you can pre! vail on the gentleman to dispossess himself of those en- ormous whiskers for a little time, I may be enabled to SDeak more decidedly on the subject. At prisent I can ol dL- cover a partial resemblance in him to an unbearded swin^^ by jhom I was once unfortunate enough to be dupTmy: " Surely," said I, somewhat alarmed at this intelligence you do not mean to say that Nimbleton can havf any untair motive in wearing those v^hiskers ?" ' "Oh, by no means. I insinuate nothing of the kind Besides, 'tis the fasliion now to cherish the growth of Sie beard. Sometimes, however, it serves to' disraise one's Z pearance. Hermits do the same. They betake themselves to beards and religion, in preference to^^ a halter But in regard to the major, I am delighted to find that L has no" succeeded in getting into debt with you, althouo-h he h^ with your friend. Indeed, I was aware that you °<»uUI Tt be such a simpleton as to lend a shilling to a marwhose ^ue character any blockhead may divine. StiUI feelver^ much indeed for your friend." ^ I did not much relish the increasing irony of the nM gentleman ; who now seemed inclined, /thou^^t, „ Lgh at me J and I was more annoyed at this unbecoming levhy) ne FRASCATIS; OR because there was no one else who could remove my un- easiness in regard to Nimbleton, I also thought it a great liberty in this old Cynic, of whose family or pretensions I knew nothing whatever, to address himself to a man of my rank and standing in society in so disrespectful a strain. Leaving the room, therefore, in a pet, I hastened to digest my annoyance in my own apartment, and on the staircase encountered the subject of our conversation. *' What a very insolent old fellow that is whom you have just left!" he remarked. " Excessively insolent, indeed," I replied. •* He affects to laugh at all the world, and at myself among the rest." " At you !" exclaimed Nimbleton. " Impossible ! What assurance ! if it really is the case. I tell you what it is, my dear frien^', I strongly suspect that old man to be in league with Munvers. I am not easily deceived in this sort of people, and I advise you strongly to be on your guard against him. And so he had the effrontery to laugh at you ? Who could have imagined it ! It is evident that he has not heard any part of your work, or he would at once have perceived that you are not a person to be trifled with. By the by, as we are on that subject, I may as well take the present op- portunity to observe, that in my opinion, you speak in much too modest terms of yourself throughout the book. This is truly surprising, considering how much you figure in every scene ; and, on my honour, I must say that you are ridiculously diffident of your own praises. You do not render justice to yourself. But you must excuse me, for here comes Rhymer, who is eternally boring me for ad- vice on some one subject or another. Alas ! what a plague is a reputation for judgment and candour to its possessor ! Adieu, my dear friend, I am sorry to leave you." I now repaired to my own room, but had not been five minutes seated, when I heard a gentle tap at the door, which in the next instant, in answer to my summons, was opened by Emily, who, apparently much agitated, said she wished to speak to me in her uncle's apartments. I immediately rose and followed her. The baronet was 8C£N£S IN PARIS. m out, 80 that our t^te-iMte was not likeljr to be disturbed, and 1 took a seat near her on the sofa. with vn!! 7^w?^* J'^'t'" ' ^"^"^'^^' " ^^^t i« ^^^ "^^We*- uXu, {^\^} ^^^ happened, to render you thus uneasy ?" Oh ! Mr. Morns," she exclaimed, » I am very unhappy nideed, for my uncle seems deeply offended with me, and yet 1 am quite ignorant of my crime. Never did he evince so much unkmdness towards me, and " Here her tears prevented her further utterance, w.ih !!*'" ^^e ,^rong, Emily. Your uncle is not offended with you, and I am sure you quite misunderstood him this morning, when he unintentionally made you participate iii a harshness that was intended solely for another." ^^ And who could that other be ?" she eagerly demanded, wny, my love, your uncle seems to have chanffed his opinion in regard to Mr. Manvers. Circumstances have transpired that tend to throw a shade over his character, or at least to place it in a doubtful point of view, and acqudrnc'eT'""'^ "' ^""^" approves of him as an uKnf "" ^ had apprehended," she returned, sighing bitterly ; of Mr^M^nv^rs.'^""^' ^^" '^ "°^ "^^"^^^ "^ ''' ~ . Perhaps it was bad policy on my part, to encourage her n her partiality by expressing an opinion different from thai f dlrnoT^ ' '"' ' '""^' "^^ "''^^^^ --^"^ «^^-S J'Ah!" she resumed, with more animation, " who that has^once beheld those noble features could think other- hJ'S^^'" ' '"^^^r^'Pted, taking her hand and gazing on nto Vn\ r ^^P''^'^" '^''' ^"' ^"^^"^^'^'^ ^« soothe her tou . vi rr* " ^ '"u^^^y ^""^' *° ^'^'^ t'^^ ^"bject to you, yet 1 know much. f,ltT V. "° '"'^^y; ''"' '^'^'"S a small ring thai proieci- fo li »L h'"'"" "rJ"^"^' "f ^''' '''"^' ^vdJenly drew it "orth, and discovered ihe portrait of Manvers , She blushed 1 178 FRASCATI*s; OR exceedingly, hung down her head, and was silent, until pained by her confusion, I sought to reassure her. "Emily, my love," I said, "do not agitate yourself. Your secret has long been in my possession, and I have re- spected it. Whatever may be the opinion of your uncle, I still feel assured that you can have no reason to blush for the object of your choice. Such a face as that," I concluded, looi^ing at the faithfully executed portrait, " can- not be other than what it app6ars." The trembling, yet gratified girl, grasped my hand fer- vently, and raised her eyes to mine, with a look that spoke volumes. " ^ay you so, Mr. Morris ? Oh ! I was sure that you had too much generosity and goodness of heart to think ill of him." "He cannot be unworthy of you," I pursued. "My penetration of character is not lo be deceived, and your uncle shall yet be reconciled to him. But come, my love, this confinement is not at all likely to improve your spi- rits, or to conii^iue the roses on your cheek. Put on your hat and shawl, and Jet us venture into the Tuileries." Somewhat reassured by my words, Emily now atempt- ed to rally ; and having equipped herself for a mom'.ng walk, sallied forth with me from the hotel. CHAPl ER XXX. In the garden we were accosted by that eternally teazing fellow Bougie. "What, in Paris »tiU, my dear friend !" he exclaimed ^ instant he* saw me, — "why, I understood you were off." ^ ^ . SCENES IN PARla. 1»9 .ir r "/aSftd.'''''*-' -0 -'-' do you ™e™. an»S asTjd „:' thaZj:' ''"' ^' n}"'^ ^"O^aint. run away ; and! T^ion. ^° ""% ">e Morris who had BouS'brt :„TapptsS a1 Z' /"t"' *'«"'-' arewronff; and that T h.l . ^ ^"^^ acquaintance ^"Va;¥{4^'''^ -^-^^^^^^^ '"" '""• a number of persons Vv™,? '"' ^"^'^ "■'"«• indeed fidence, that thev Tad 2" v "i"'"^""' "^W me in con- shiUing at FrSi's H^^™ ''"PO'^^^'eJ of your last port is^f^se Indeed feT, •>™ ^^'^ '," ''"^ ""e re- sake as for your^." •''-"* *' "' *' ""'='' (<"^ "y own youtkeratet.sCsther,'^'''' P""""« '"'^'-' »» " T or« / wusiness, either m one wav or in annthpr ?'» given rtruTpet forth^Kod^'r;' «°"^'" ^^ ertthemselves to sertfa"'' Hn""°"'' V""*" "'"y «' wherein I have inSted myself iTndii"'' If " y" were writinff your tour an? »V i • """«'«'"<«' 'hat you quence in the eves of Ih/? K^ I wished t, give it conse^ to make up youf^ie bv '^"'''' ' 7 *'• ""'' ""^M" y- on MonUeur'^pLdespui Z tf ""^ ^"""f «P"o»«. I waited af«>r some Ii«" S'ulty^revaludZ^^^^ to your dedicat;.i» t'le w„rt ./ i- "nl"" '" ""^mt made was tl-^' F t 1,1 ^.J"*"- '^'^^ ""'y Proviso opectioran.^ I'ih, *?. m-u" ^^ ^-bmitted to his n" what altoratLs he mlhtiti fif" r!f 5*^'*« '^ ■""k' hin. that I had read ,hfw„T,'"^ t^'"^''""- ^ *»" h-ghly That to be ure Ti .o:-'.xactI vt/Fr^"'' °' '' must be aware it <,n™,.„ , exactly the fact, yet, you Thereis„o.?me heSfet^brf ^'V ''"'"'dly'^feelfng" dication immediatdv »^H t i '' .'^»">"'enee your dt -ntion my nalfrj;.ar.hrfa^:Vri2»„^?!!-' :.^ \'-.-,'.'-i .,-r-?^?;^^' 180 FRASCATI^S ; Ott But I have not time to stop. I am very bqji^ composing a horn-pipe step for the Giraffe, to the air 6t^^%a Belle Ga- bridle, Bonjour^ mon ami.'''* Never did I feel so indignant in my life, as during this last address of Bougie, and had he remained a minute longer, 1 verily do believe, notwithstanding the presence of Emily, that 1 should have knocked him down. Never had 1 heard such an insulting offer of patronage, never had my pride been so deeply wounded, and I experienced all that feeling of mortification which a man of genius must entertain at the idea of being offered humiliating protection by one wnom he would blush to acknowledge even as a common ac- quaintance. And added to this annoyance, was that arising from a sense of being insulted by a superiority assumed in the presumption of my poverty. It was in vain that I sought to conceal my irritation. Emily, who had not been a little amused at the offer of pa- tronage made by the dancing-master, attempted to laugh me out of my vexation, but without success, and we soon after- wards left the garden. On our return to the hotel I met Sir Brien. He seemed pleased with my attention to his niece, and now, for the first time since our recent misunderstanding, came up and spoke to me. "Morris, my dear friend!" he exclaimed, taking my hand, " I regret that any difference should have arisen be- tween us. I admit, however, that you had every reason to feel annoyed at the conduct of Harriet, and had 1 for a mo- ment reflected on the disappointment you must have expe- rienced, at having been superseded in her affections by ano- ther, I should not have betrayed so much petulance myself. I can only asuure you, that I did every thing in my power to forward your suit with her, and if she has been silly enough to prefer another to you, it has been no fault of mine." The baroiiet's apology was little better than Bougie's offer of patronage : however, as I knew it to be made in the true spirit of kindness, I contrived to conceal my vexation, SCEKEIS in PARlSi im titough i could not resist the temptation of assuring him, that he had pever been more deceived in his life, than when he imagined :bat his sister's marriage had occasioned me the slightest uneasiness. In a few minutes we were joined in the drawing-room by Nimbleton, who entered in great apparent hurry, and was exclaiming violently against the infamy of the French go- vernment in tolerating the public gaming tables* " I have this instant," he said, " met with a young friend, the son of an old colonel of mine, who has been robbed of his last sou, and I am anxious to send the unfortunate fellow " out of Paris. He has applied to me for assistance, and I cannot do less than send him home, if it only be out of con- sideration for his father. However, this sort of work will never do, I shall absolutely be made a bankrupt if I continue here much longer, for every Englishman who thinks proper to ruin himself at play, seeiti* to make a point of tinding his way to me. It is true, I have made a thousand resolutions not to assist them any more, yet, how is it possible to resist the appeal of a countrym? » in distress ? I am sure I never can have the inhumanity to a v ,< , therefore, my only chance of avoiding ruin is to leave Pans without delay. Really this is the last person for whom I shall do any thino-of the kind; and yet I do not well know how 1 sha!-. manags eved his bu- siness, for I have just closed my account .ij^;?fitte'r, and am waiting for a fresh remittance. Can you o^lig** me. Sir Brien, with forty pounds for this foolish feik>w,°and I will give you an order for that amount on Cox and Greenwood, my agents in London ? Here is pen, ink, and paper, and I will execute the draft. A very excellent fellow Cox is, I assure you, and extremely hospitable. He has often en- treated me to spend a week with him at Hillington, but I never could find time to ava'l myself of the invitation. I am positive he will be happy to see you as a friend of mine." Nimbleton now commenced writing the order, which he finished in despite of the assurance given him by the baro- net, that it was quite unnecessary, as he would be happy to accommodate him without. VOL. I.-— a 183 fRASCATl's J on "But I must insist, my dear sir, on your taking it ToW Burely would not have me guilty of the kdelSa^^^^^^^^^ mff even such a trifle without giving you a proper acknow- ledgment for it ? By the by/^e llceedeT^'onto^^^^ ?„7Ld^'f '^^iT"**'"' ^5"^ ' ^^'' ™«d« it fifty pound! mstead of forty; however, if it is the same thing to you, I will not take the trouble of making out another. Yes, let it be fifty, and I will endeavour to send the fellow home like a genUeman. A pretty predicament he would have been placed m, had I not chanced to be in Pjiris at this moment «» «vl * T^^'l '^''^'''^u ^^^ F*y P°""^«' ^»d in return handed over to the baronet the order on his agents. « And now »» he pursued, " I must be off in quest of this silly youth. By ntolV t" y«" P'^esfnt *he draft for payment endeavour to see Cox himself, and ask him if he knows a queer feUow of the name of Nimbleton. I promise you he wiU laueh nnrt'tf"^ ""' '"f J; ^?"u*° ^f ^" *'"" "«t" y«« have be. come better acquainted with each other." "That is really a fine, candid, agreeable man." observed the baronet as Nimbleton left the room. o^erved ** I hope at least he is honest," I rejoined musingly. "My dear Morris you astonish me !" exclaimed Sir Brien "How can you so express yourself in regard to a man of Major Nimbleton's rank ?" " Simply because he owes me money ; and it is but natu- ral you know that a creditor should desire his debtor may prove honest. Moreover, my dear baronet, I am by no means induced to believe all he has said of Manvers " "Nonsense," interrupted Sir Brien. " Manvers is un- questionably a dangerous young man, and his frank appear- ance only serves as a cloak to a vicious and unprincipled mmd. Do not suffer yourself, my dear fnend, to be im- posed on, and take the judgment of one who has had more expenence m the world than yourself. Manvers is, I fear, a bad character, and I am not at all sorry that I have discon' tmued his acquaintance." " Be it so," I replied ; "yet a further trial of his charac- ter as well as that of Nimbleton can alone determine who of SCENES IN PARIS. 183 IB possesses the greatest share of discrimination and know- ledge of the world. If I am wr. .;, I shall only be six or seven hundred francs richer than I expect; that is the sole difference his honesty or dishonesty can make with me." *' There can be no trial whatever wanting in the business," replied the baronet, "for positive I am that I cannot be deceived, although to confess the truth I wish that such miprht be the case. There was something about Manvers that 1 liked exceedingly, and although perfectly satisfied that all 1 had heard of him was true, it was not without a pang that I expressed myself as I did. It pained me to see a youth of his handsome figure and prepossessing counte- nance so utteriy lost to every sense of what is honourable and just, as Nimbleton has declared him to be. It is a mat- ter of indifference to me, or rather I never feel anv thinff like compassion, when I see villainy coupled with deformity ; but to behold a young man like Manvers with a soul so de- based, does, I confess, shock me exceedingly." With this admission of Sir Brien I was secretly pleased ; for satisfied within my own mind that the character of Man- vers had been traduced, I foresaw no great difficulty in re- moving the prejudice which he yet entertained, whenever an opportunity should offer for proving the innocence of the calumniated young man. On leaving the baronet, I again encountered Nimbleton on the staircase. « Well my dear fellow, I am happy to say I have arranged that business, and every thing is settled lor the departure of my young friend." " Why, major," I replied, " I should scarcely have sup- posed that you could have had time yet to leave the hotel, much less to have taken the steps necessary to secure his departure. Your despatch is really wonderful." " True," returned Nimbleton, "but when 1 espouse the mterest of a friend, I enter into it heart and soul. I hate your ukewarm sort of people, who only confer obligations by halves, and have ever been remarkable myself for a con- trary conduct. But, apropos, I felt rather uneasy just now W seeing Sir Bnen and you conversing so seriously together, 5 '*'»J m 184 FRASCATl^S; OR I hope it was not in relation to what we were talking abou»» yesterday, because, to confess the truth, liowever much 2 may hlce Emily, I am not exactly a marrying man. Yet do not say so to Sir Brian, for I have not quite made up my mind on the subject. By the by, I should like much .a hear what you have written of yonr tour since you last Wad it to me. Tiiere is a charm about your compositions that absolutely fascinates me, and 1 must positively beg that you will not be idle. The dewcacy of your sati'^e is really wonderful, and you should lost no opportunity lor increas- ing it. There is Rhymer for instance, one of the finest characters in the world for your pen. He has foibles and absurdities without number, and if you do not make the most of them, it must be from sheer idleness, and not from want of ability." Here the major much to my astonishment, now abruptly left me, without pressing further the perusal of my manu- script. This I confess so annoyed me that I was on the point of following to ask hir ''/-r my money, when he suddenly turned back and reque that I vi^ould lend him five Na- poleons, adding, that hw i» mid return the whole amount of his debt to me on the following morning. So confounded was 1 by the impudence of his demand, that without being perfectly conscious of what I was domg, and by an almost, mechanical impulse I drew forth my purse and handed him the money. Nor was it until he had safely deposited it in his waistcoat pocket, that 1 had presence of mind sufficient to observe, — " But how can you possibly return it to me to-morrow ? I thought you stated to Sir Brien just now that you had closed your account for the present at Lafitte's?'* " Well what a stupid fellow to be sure !" returned the ma- jor with well affected surprise. "How could I have been so thouglitless as to promise anything of the kind, when, as you justly observe, I cannot touch a shilling at Lafitte's until my remittance arrives. However, we will arrange the matter in this way : — I will, if you like, give you an order on Greenwood aujd Cpx, jjnd ^s the suwi is nn WBevsU JS.'=- •OBlfI'9 XN PARIS. I one, we can easily nrnke it up bj your giving me the a. lance of some two or tli <^ Louis and a few odd francs. "I beg yt will not name it," I replied eagerly ; ** your word 18 qi.ite sufl "i nt for ne, since I think I may depend U3 safely upon that as upon /our order." The fact was 1 had recovered from my surprise, and now bitterl> repented having given him the five Lr lis. A.s for his order on Gretawood, I did not think it worth a fraw, id I wa« resolv'Hl at least not to be swindled c"t ,r n.. other franc. " Well," muttered the major, " extraordinary c that you should refuse an order on my old friend, He would not feel ' 'ttered if he knew it. Howevt., f' have made ou the offer, and should any accident occur'to me in 81 ultimo, you can only blame yourself." And so sav- ing he finally left m< ^ Let the money f said I, making up my mind to the osp "However I will venture a few Napoleons this morn- mg at Frascati s, and if I am so fortunate as to win the amount of what I have lent him, I shall be perfectly satis- CHAPTEIl XXXL Almost the first person I met, on entering Frascati*s, was the Count Le Rapp. I confess I was somewhat surprised, for considering the recent date of his marriage, it appeared to me that his visits to the gaming table might yet have been postponed a little longer, A large quantity of notes and gold was lying before him on the table, and from his very spirited backing of the colour, I thought there was some probability of Madame La Comtesse yet returning home to q2 'iu €> V^. - .^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I 1.25 1.4 22 1.6 <% ^l w /A . 'W G / Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. M580 (716) 872-4503 4. ^ fV V \\ <^>^^ ^% >A'' ^ Vi :<> '^^ 186 TIU8CATI*S; oil Jnact ^e houseTteeper for her brother. In the cotitae of a few minutes I lost all the money with which I had purposed to regain the amount of my loan to Nimbleton, and vexed and imtated beyond measure, I threw myself doggedly on a sofa, at one extremity of the room. Soon afterwards Le Kapp left his seat, and perceiving me, for the first time since my entrance, came up with an cir of great cordiality and frankness to salute me. ^ «* How is it, my dear sir, that you n^ver call ?»* he de- manded. " I am sure the countess will be delighted to see you, and for my part, I can only assure you, that nothine could afford me greater pleasure." » w^^f,^^ \ ™°''® ^'sposed to be peevish and ill-natured. Why my dear count, *' I am sure I have only to visit Frascati s every day, to have the pleasure of meeting yon, and as for the countess, I dare say it will not be v^iy W before we meet again in Connaught I presume Oie ai? h wiU r^ °°' *^* ^^^^ ''®' ''^^ ^°"^- ^"^ y°" ^^ « I fear not," said the count. « She is extremery deU- cate, mdeed, and talks of returning to Ireland for some tune. Nothing would have delighted me so much as to nave been enabled to accompany her; but unfortunately, you know I am attached to the Russian embassy, and must leave Pans for St. Petersburg, very shortly. I wished her much to go with me ; but she dreads the climate, and in- deed, from what I know of it myself, I do not like to press toe question. Her intention, therefore, is I believe, to re- turn to Ireland with her brother. Her native air may be of service to her. Do you not think so ?" r.11 Y/^^ S'*"^' ™^ ^^^^ '^**"^*» I ^®el myself quite incom- petent to offer an opinion, as I am not precisely acquainted r[ vnn / *?l'"P^^*"'-n f^^^^e''* ** «»ust be Very distressing Sh^t?. compelled to separate yourself from a womaS wnom the most disinterested attachment alone induced you to mamr. And by the by, I must take the present opportunity ofdoing away with an error, into which I unintentionaUy led ^»o, on the morning when you were pleased to consult me ntse of t purpost^ id ve\td gedly Oil vards Le me since ality and * he de* ed to see I nothing -natared. 7 to visit iingf you, ^ry long i the air ou think lefy deli- ror some ih as to tunately, ind must shed her and in- to press e, to re- lay be of 5 incom- quainted itressing woman id you to ortunity nallyled isult me ftou«M«» pound* IB Ser ow^tigl.t.. It^ra *S. n ^r. that h*Vthw need „S ^ft heT^shiZf uilei was Bfteen «mdred prttfnds, wHich I iiWirecr^L, tW »iii.L f • -' ,P!"""»g «o *e table. " U was a sad in~ 'ft./^'^'™ "^y"" /^'' «'>e™.''t can Be of no imDOrt. wiinoat a sntlhn^. Adieu, chant, I fear rmust Imv» J^, my rtgards to-madanife, and accent mv-tin^.., „ • i r '"'.iW'W'^r i».r«y «« rS"^ '""•''"'• ""'''^'' '^' slfonglrd^^ctkn-'lSl^f "PP"'"'™''« »■"• despair «, l^ A _ "'P'J"*? *"" fhe human countenance, as on thai M latinff m voir «» .i,« "! '*■''• ' "" J"s» coneratu- »h» KJdenlv .fr't?' ofo^^^mg unnoticed by^im, iiidl2.„ • • 5^ . "•*" g'ai'ce across the Boulevanl »A "cog,«z.„g, without difficulty, „y Jf "7'^;^; 188 VRABojffVa; Oft. form, was in an instant at my 45ide. His mii\d «ud imagi- nation seemed so full of sojne absorbing- subject, that he even neglected the common forms of salutation, and liearly pulling off his pocket in his anxiety td gjst at something, at length produced a greasy newspaper, which bore the im- press of at le^st twenty different thumbs. ' > ** Look here," said he, eagerly unfolding it, said pointing to a particular part ; " I always said he was an audacious hypocrite. I knew he was a villain. What effrontery to be sure, to enter thus burglariously into a lady's chamber, and " " What mean you ?" I asked, takingthe paper-out of his hand. ♦« And S^rhat -hypocrite, what villain do yoo allude " Read yourself !" exclaimed Bougie, nearly frantic With joy. " Read, read, and judge ifj wa»-ijot right. ' 1 hope the savage will be guillotined. Bo you- not think the, at- tempt to murder may be easily proved ? At ledfe\, they can- notdo less than send him to the galldys. JimJ^c^, they may make out a charge of high treason if they plioose ; for the king, when he heard it, absolutely fainted, and the Duehess D'Angouleme was borne to her apartment in strong c^vvul- sions." •'* ' ^, • During this rhapsody of the dancing- mJlster, a numbei^tf persons had collected around us, and hearing the ii?m^js of the king and the Duchess l^'AngouJfime coupled with the guillotine, which were the only woids ihat were at all intel- ligible to them, looked at us, I thought, as if they believed wte were concocting treason. The sight of this crowd at- tracted the attention of several of the gendarmerie^ then on duty at the bureau of the Minister of the Interior on the Boulevard, and they now advanced to see what was the matter. Meanwhile, I read from the paper Bougie had given me the following account, under the head of (( RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. *^* A most alarming case of this kind is now before the police, and as it has e:ccited much interest and inquiry, w« ,4^,v> this eifebrated^m^m^M^ ^^.„. ^S ?hiaubS2rd'7 f"!"*^^^^^^^ VaB««fe« minister* ThisfiotnVidtiaf wa6,ia the act of piintinff to her iirtPrr?^: S?Z:"?T''" «"»•«'<' between the mhus-iZ? .he rivd religions, in the course of which. werom-M in ....« .L 11 meU;oSThf.'il '"'•• '^'1"'* <"""^"'" "f 'he enthusialtie meuodist, hat it required the united efforts of the whole of «d tZ "t'- '"f '**!"' of 'he ^«rf«mene. J secure ShrL?rr„s*;edr- ^--^'^ ^^p^"*-'^ Sted a. h. T^ "" '-S?.',' •'««' "f «hich was deepl^ for „hi I L .""e'hgence. With that humanity and piety .1™.^ ^l",""",'"^'''''''' he has ordered a Juarf toS futa™ f« *' *""*'; '" '^" •" P«"ee' 'he lady from anr fclun. ««o,«,oa on the part of these methodist /ormowto^ ;oo FSAtCATl's; OR fiCXlfll Of PAftli. U It, we aak, in the nmetemith century, under the toveni- inent of the charter, m the very teeth of the wisest and most tolCTant of princes, in the land of the nobje Henri Quatie ;— IS It, m short, in France, the school of tolerance, gaUantry, and philosophy, that this has occurred ? " The article ran pn in a simUar strain; but the impatience .. ^P was such, that he did not give me time to finish it. Ihat IS the fellow," he excraimed, taking the paper irom me, and thpistingf it once more into the bottom of his pocket, « who^traveUed with us in the diUgence from Boa- logne. He will find things very diflerent though, in my country. We are all philosophers here, and will not sufier any ot your canting nonsense among us. Liberty, sir, liberty IS our pride. I U see if I cannot make interest with Mon- sieur Pasdeseul to have him guUlotined. Apropos, do not forget your dedication. Bon jour,** So saying. Bougie moved nimbly off, to avoid the ^endar- mene, who, having informed themselves of the particulars, were approaching somewhat nearer to his person than he thought altogether desirable, while I, fortunately seemg our ambassador passing at the moment in his carriage alonff the Boulevard, went up and paid my respects to his excellency, ims manoeuvre completely succeeded ; for the police, who naaseenmein earnest conversation with Bougie, would cer- tainly have secured me as ^particeps cnminis in the sup- posed treason, but for the cordial terms on which I appeared to be with the ambassador. It was now clear to them that I WM a man of some consequence, and as the intimate friend ot the representative of the British sovereign, one little likely to be engaged in any plot against the interests of the reign^ mg family of France. They, therefore, returned to the corps de garde, and I, after making the circuit of the Boule- vard as far as the place Louis Seize, regained my hotel with- put further dread of molestation. BNP OF VOL I. joveiu* dmost iti?i— lantry, alienee nishit. paper of his n Ben- in my t suffer liberty 1 Mou- do not 'endar- Lculars, han he ing our >ng the Ueney. e, T^^ho jld eer- ie sup- »peared 1 that I ! friend ! likely > reign- to the Doule- il with-