first rate English bruiser, he calmly told the soldier to 66 come on."

"Who the devil are you, old boy?" asked the gen-d'arme, somewhat diverted at the drollery of his antagonist's appearance, and mistaking him for a drunken bourgeois.

"Precisely so," replied the gentleman in

cambric.

"You had better go home and look after your family," added the soldier.

66

Precisely so," was the answer,

precisely what I mean to do."

"that is

"Guillaume !" said the man in office to one

of his comrades who stood at the door,

out this old drunkard."

"turn

"Oui, mon corporal," replied Guillaume, advancing solemnly and lowering his musket, as if to sweep away the aforesaid black-shirted gentleman, as a fly may be brushed from the table but, to Guillaume's utter dismay, the

said dark gentleman gave the said musket a

kick, which sent it up to the ceiling, where it hung suspended by the bayonet.

"Diâble !" exclaimed poor Guillaume.

Precisely so," repeated the gentleman of the black cambric, rubbing his hands, and then resuming his attitude of defence, "Why don't you come on, you cowards?"

"Cowards!" exclaimed the corporal, "I'll soon teach you, you old coquin!" and he rushed forward to the attack.

"One, two," said the gentleman in black, as he planted two blows, well known among men of "science" by those names, and down fell the corporal. "One, two, again,” added the black bruiser, and poor

his length upon the floor.

Guillaume measured

"I'm the boy for

darkening their daylights," cried the dingy elderly gentleman, in high glee.

"Au secours!" roared the two prostrate men

of war; and instantly a great noise of trampling was heard upon the staircase, immediately after which a dozen of gen-d'armerie made their appearance. The sight of "a mill," and the admirable science displayed by his dingy friend, recalled old times to Charles's remembrance, and he had, as if by instinct, thrown off his coat. Louis followed his example, though he knew not exactly for what purpose: but he was one of the million who think it right to imitate those around them.

The soldiers drew up like brave men prepared to encounter an enemy; but there was no enemy to fight. It was, to them, a scene most strange and unaccountable, for they could perceive nothing formidable in the appearance of two young men unarmed and without coats, and a short elderly gentleman, in a black shirt, whom they, for soldiers are woefully ignorant in such matters, mistook for a clergyman. Their