splinters, and crying God of Heaven! that I don't know how to swim!' "He had never let go his hold of the girl; I dragged him into the boat, and her with him, and there they lay in the bottom, both of them,-one about as dead as the other. I called to my master, not a word! I tried to beat the palms of his hands, but they were clenched as tight as if he were cracking nuts in them. I could have bit my tongue off for vexation. I took my oar again and tried to pull ashore. Even with two I am not a very great oarsman; with one I had no chance. It was the same old story. I pulled one way, the boat went the other,the current all the while taking us down. When I saw it was carrying us off to Havre surely, said I to my self, 'not this road, any how, let's call for help'-and I fell to shouting like ten men. afraid every moment I should let go the d-d stick. Here I lay-upon it with "The next moment he rose again. my head close to the edge of the little This time he had hold of the girl by craft; drawing the oar to me as I steaher long hair. She was senseless; and died it with my whole weight. My my master was not much better. I master's head was thrown back as if he could hear his breath come and go were in a faint; I kept drawing in the hard, and he had just enough strength stick, and bringing him nearer and nearleft to keep her on the top of the water; er. At last I stretched out my arm for you see she could not move hand and got hold of his wrist;-it was a or foot, and was as heavy as a stone. sure case then!-I held him like a vice. Monsieur Eugéne turned his head to Eight days afterwards, his arms were see which bank was nearest him, and covered with black and blue marks. he saw me. 'Cantillon,' cried he, 'this way!' I was on the boat's edge, stretching out the oar to him, but curse it!-it wasn't long enough by more than three feet. This way, Cantillon again he shouted. My heart sank within me. 'Cantillon' he shouted, and a wave went over his head. Here I was, mouth open and eyes fastened on the spot; at last he reappeared and oh! what a load was off my breast! I still kept the oar out to him; he drifted a hair's breadth nearer; 'courage, dear master, courage!' cried I to him. He was not able to answer 'Let her go,' I shouted and save yourself!' 'No, no-he cried, I-,' and his mouth filled with water. Ah! Monsieur, there was not a hair on my head but was wringing wet. I was still leaning out of the boat, reaching the oar. Everything was whirling round me. The bridge-the Hotel de Gardes-the Tuileries-everything went round and round; but I had eyes only for that head which by little and little was sinking before me, for those eyes just under the water, still looking at me, and seeming to grow larger and larger as I gazed; then I could see nothing but his hair; then the hair disappeared like the rest; and only one arm was above the water, with the fingers clutching at nothing. I made one last effort, I stretched out the oar,-now then!-He got hold of it ah! me. Cantillon wiped his forehead; it was heavy with large sweat-drops. I breathed again, and he continued: "They say well that a drowning man will grasp a red hot bar of iron; my master griped the oar so that he left the mark of his nails on it. I rested the oar on the boat's side and bore down my end; that raised the other end, and Monsieur Eugéne came to the top of the water. I trembled so that I was "The chaps in the boat for picking up drowned people and bringing them to, heard me. They had their craft afloat like lightning,-in two pulls they were alongside, and had us in tow. Five minutes after, my master and the young girl were as snug as packed herrings. 66 They asked me if I had been drowned too; I told them no, but just the same as drowned, and that if they would give me a glass of brandy it would put new life into me. My knees shook under me like paper. "My master was the first to open his eyes; he threw his arms round my neck; I sobbed, and laughed, and cried, all in a minute. My God! what fools men make of themselves! "He looked round him and saw them busy with the girl, trying to bring her to. A thousand francs for you, my friends,' he said, if you save her life; and you, Cantillon, my brave fellowmy friend-my preserver' (here I could not help it-I broke out again)-‘bring the cabriolet.' ""Tis true, every word, as I tell you, and Coco there knows it. Didn't I make haste to fetch the cab! I reach the place where I had left it-neither cab nor horse there-it was as clear as the palm of my hand. Next day the police found them for us; they had been taken off by an amateur. "I go back to my master and tell him; Very well,' says he, then call a hackney-coach!' And the young wo man-how is she?' I asked. She has moved one foot,' said he. 'Good!' I brought a hack; and by that time she was entirely recovered, only she had not spoken a word. We carried her into the coach. Rue du Bac, No. 51, driver,—as fast as possible.' "But-here we are, Monsieur, at Mademoiselle Mars's,-No. 58." "Your story's finished then?" I asked. nose. Oh! what a dose! It could not have been worse, if I had snuffed up a swarm of bees. 'Good,' said I, 'I know you now!' and the hot tears filled my eyes. M. Eugéne said to me, 'Do not distress yourself, my good fellow, the doctor engages for her.' I said to myself, 'He may be a very smart fellow, this doctor, but when I get sick, 'tis not for him I shall send.'" "All this time Mademoiselle Marie was recovering more and more. She looked round the room and said,'Strange! where am I? I don't know this room!' That may be,' said I, for the reason you were never in it before.' 'Hush! Cantillon,' my master beckoned me, and then-for he knew how to talk to women-he said to her, Compose yourself, madam; you shall have from me all a brother's kind and "Finished!-pooh!-not quarter-respectful treatment, and the moment and what I have told you is nothing to what is to come. His narrative had really won upon my interest. I had but a word for the great actress, a hope that I might find her as sublime in '31 as in '30. In ten minutes I was back in the cab. "Your story?" "First, where am I to drive you next?" "Where you please-straight on-go on with your story." -oh! "Where were we then ?'Rue du Bac, driver, as fast as possible.' "On the bridge our young girl fell senseless a second time. "My master made me go down upon the Quai for his doctor. When I returned with him, I found Mademoiselle Marie-did I tell you her name was Ma rie ?" "No." your health permits of your being taken home, I shall see that it is done.' 'I am sick, then!' she exclaimed in astonishment; then, recollecting herself, she cried all at once, Ah!-I rememberI tried'—and she gave a low shriek that seemed to go through and through me. 'Doubtless it is you, Monsieur, who have saved me!-Oh! if you but knew how fatal is the service you have done me!-what a future of misery your devotion to a stranger has re-opened for her!' I heard all this, while I kept rubbing my nose, which still smarted awfully, so that I did not miss a word, and can tell you everything just as it happened. My master consoled her as well as he could, but to everything he said, she answered only, 'If you but knew, Monsieur!' At length it seemed as if M. Eugéne got tired of always hearing the same thing, for stooping down he said in her ear, 'I know all.' 'You?' she exclaimed. 'Yes, you loved, were betrayed and abandoned.' Betrayed, yes,' she replied, basely betrayed, cruelly abandoned!' 'Well, then,' said M. Eugéne to her, confide your griefs to me: I ask it not from curiosity, but from a desire to serve you; it seems to me you should not any longer consider me a stranger.' Oh! no, no!' she cried, 'one who could risk his life as you have done, cannot but be of a noble nature. You, I am sure, have never abandoned an unfortunate young woman, leaving her to a life of anguish, or a speedy death. Yes, yes, I will tell you all.'' Said I to myself, 'So far so good; it begins well, it must be interesting, we will listen.' "But first,' she added, 'allow me to write to my father-my father! for whom I left a letter of farewell, informing him of resolution. He thinks I have accommy plished it. You will permit him to come here, Monsieur, will you not? Oh! God grant only that in his grief he has not been hurried to do something desperate! Allow me to write to him to come here at once; I feel it is only in his arms I can weep; and tears will be to me such a relief!"" "Write, write by all means,' said my master, pushing the pen and ink to her. 'Who would delay for a moment this solemn re-union of a daughter and a father who had thought themselves forever separated? Write, I beg of you: do not delay an instant! Your father!what must be his sufferings!' "Meanwhile she had scribbled a note in her pretty little fly's-feet writing. When it was finished, she asked the address of the house where she was; 'Rue du Bac, No. 51,' said I. "Rue du Bac, No. 51!' she repeated; and, hallo! down dropped the inkstand out of her hands upon the sheets. In a second or two she added with a melancholy air, 'Perhaps it is a providence that I have come into this house." 'Providence or not,' said I, 'it will cost a good package of sel d'oseille to take out that stain." "My master seemed dumb with surprise. You are astonished, Monsieur,' said she, but you will soon know all, and will understand why the address you just given me by your servant, so much affected me.' With this she handed him the letter to her father. I "Take this letter, Cantillon.' A "In two moments I was in the street; "We stopped before a little house; Ah! have you any news of his daughter?' I pushed into the room. 'I come "He turned round like lightning, grew as pale as death, and said,- My daughter! Yes, Mademoiselle Marie, your daughter. You are M. Dumont, late Captain under the General.' "He nodded. Then,' said I, 'here is a letter from Mademoiselle Marie.' He took it. It is the truth I tell you, Monsieur, his hair stood upon his head, and more drops ran off his forehead than from his eyes. 666 'She is alive!' he exclaimed, and it is your master who has saved her ? Bring me to her this instant!—this instant!-but hold, my friend, hold!' "He rummaged in the drawer of a little secretaire, and taking out three or four five-franc pieces, he thrust them looked round into my hand. Not to hurt his feelings, I took them; but the room, and said I to myself, 'You are not much of a nabob, captain!' With one pirouette, I slipped the twenty francs behind a bust of the General, and said I,—“ Thank you, captain!' "Are you ready? I am waiting for you,' he replied, and at the word off he went down the stairs, like a flash. 'Halloo! captain, halloo! I say,' I sung out,—'I can't see my way down your winding stairs!'-Pooh! he was already at the bottom. 6 Cap"At last, we are in the cab. tain,' said I to him, if you have no objection to tell, what were you going to do with those pistols you were loading?' He knitted his brows, and said,- One was for a wretch whom God can parI will not.' don; "Um!' said I; the father of the you. He sobbed like a child. "Twas enough to split the heart of a stone to see that old soldier cry. The driver said, 'Monsieur, 'tis all foolishness, that; I cannot see to drive. Only that the horse has more sense than all three of us, we would bring up at the Morgue.' "The Morgue!' cried the Captain, with a shudder. The Morgue! when I had no hope of ever finding her again unless there!-when I thought to see my poor Marie, the child of my heart, laid out upon that black, damp marble! Oh! my friend, your master's name! his name! that I may bless it and preserve it in my heart by the side of another dear and honored name.' "You mean the General's-him whose bust you have?' "Marie, my child!-You are sure there is no danger?-has the doctor engaged for her?" "Don't talk to me about your doctor; he's an old humbug!' "How!-you have still some fears for her?' "No; none,' said I-'tis myself I mean-my nose here.' "All this while we were driving very fast, so that before we expected it, the driver said, This is the place.' "Your help, my friend,' said the Captain to me; my limbs fail me. Where is the place?" "There on the second floor, where you see a light behind the curtains.' "Oh!-Come, come!' "Poor man; he was as pale as a sheet. I took his arm under mine; I could feel his heart beat. If I should find her dead!' he exclaimed wildly. "Just then the door of M. Eugéne's room opened, two flights of stairs up, and we heard a woman's voice cry, 'Father! father!" ""Tis she! 'tis her voice!' cried the Captain, and the old man, who, a moment before, trembled so that he could hardly stand, darted forward like a young man of twenty-five, rushed into the room without saying as much as By your leave,' to anybody, flung himself on his daughter's bed, weeping and exclaiming, Marie, my dear child, Marie, my daughter!' When I got in, 'twas a picture to see them-in each other's arms-the father kissing his daughter all over with his lion's face and old moustache -the nurse in tears-M. Eugéne in tears-myself in tears-in fact, a regular shower all round. "Then said my master to the nurse and me, 'We must leave them alone.' We left the room all three; and my master took me by the arm and said, Watch for M. Alfred de Linar when he comes in from the ball; I wish to speak a word with him.' I took my post upon the stair-case, and kept sentry. "In about a quarter of an hour I heard the bell-terling, terling. It was M. Alfred; he came up stairs singing. I said to him quite politely, 'Excuse me, Monsieur, but my master wishes to speak a word to you.' "Could not your master wait until to-morrow?' he replied with a sneer. "It seems not, since he wants to see you directly.' 66 Well, where is he?' "Here I am,' said M. Eugéne, who had overheard me. Will you please to walk into this room, Monsieur?' pointing to the room where Mademoiselle Marie was. I could not understand this. However, I opened the door. The Captain was just getting into the inner room; he made a sign to me to wait until he had hidden himself. I did so, and then-Walk in, gentlemen!' My master pushed M. Alfred into the room, drew me out, and shut the door upon us both. Next I heard a trembling voice say, Alfred!' and another voice reply in astonishment- Marie! you here?' "At first, we could only hear Mademoiselle Marie; she seemed to be entreating M. Alfred. That lasted some time. Then we could hear him say, No, Marie, 'tis impossible. You must be mad to ask it. I am not my own master in this. I cannot marry as I choose. I am dependent upon a family that will not permit it. But I am rich, and if money-' "Then you should have seen!there was the deuce to pay. Without stopping to unlock the door of the cabinet, where he was hid, the Captain drove it open with one kick-Mademoiselle Marie gave a scream-the Captain thundered out an oath fit to lift the roof off the house-and said my master'Let us go in.' "It was high time. "Captain Dumont had M. Alfred down, with his knee on him, and was twisting his neck as though he were a chicken. My master separated them. "M. Alfred got up, pale as death, his eyes ready to start from his head, and his teeth set. Without looking at Mademoiselle Marie, who lay in a faint, he walked up to my master, who was waiting for him with his arms folded. Eugéne,' said he, 'I did not think your room was a slaughter-house. I shall not come into it again without a pair of pistols.' 'Precisely how I should prefer to see you come,' replied my master- for otherwise I shall be under the necessity of begging you to walk out instantly.' "Captain,' said M. Alfred, turning round, you will not forget, I have an account to settle with you too." "And you shall settle it this moment,' said the captain. "I do not leave you until you do.' "Be it so.' 666 The day is just breaking,' continued M. Dumont. We will find weapons.' "I have swords and pistols,' said my master. "Pray have them put into a carriage,' said the captain. "An hour hence at the wood of Boulogne, Porte Maillot,' said M. Alfred. 666 Very well,' replied my master and 'Go find the captain, both at once. your seconds.' M. Alfred went away. "The captain then bent over his daughter's bed. M. Eugéne wished to call for help; but the old man said, 'No better she should be ignorant of everything. Marie! dear child, farewell. If I fall, M. Eugéne, you will avenge me, will you not? and the orphan girl, you will not abandon her?' "Never! I swear it to you, by herself!' replied my master, throwing himself into the poor father's arms. "Cantillon, call a hack.' "Yes, sir; shall I go with you ?' "You may.' "The captain embraced his daughter once more, and then calling the nurse he said- Assist her now, and if she should ask where I am gone, I will soon return. Now, my young say friend, let us go.' 66 They went back into M. Eugéne's VOL. XVI.NO. LXXXI. room. When I brought the hack they were down stairs waiting for me. The captain put the pistols in his pocket, and my master the swords under his cloak. "Wood of Boulogne, driver.' My friend,' said the captain, if I am killed, give this ring to my poor Marie; 'twas her mother's weddingring; a good woman she was, young man,-now with God, or else there is no more justice up above than there is in this world,—and see that I am buried with my cross of the Legion and my sword. You are now my only friend; except my daughter I have neither kith nor kin; so, then, you and my Marie following my coffin,-there will be no other mourners.' "Why these thoughts, captain ? They are sad ones for an old soldier.' "The captain gave a melancholy smile, as he said, "Since 1815, everything has gone wrong with me: and as you have promised to be a guardian to my daughter, better one that is young and rich than a poor old father.' "He said no more; my master could not speak another word, and there was silence until we reached the place of meeting. "A cabriolet followed us a few steps "One of them approached us. "Stay in the carriage and take care of the swords,' said my master to me; and all five plunged into the wood. "In ten minutes, or less, I heard two pistol shots. They made me leap as though I had not expected them. Ten minutes more passed without another shot, and I knew it was all over with one of them. "I sunk down into the bottom of the All hack; I did not dare to look out. at once the door opened. "The swords, Cantillon!' said my master. "I gave them to him; and as he stretched out his hand for them I saw that the captain's ring was on his finger. "And-and-Mademoiselle Marie's father?' said I. 17 "He is dead.' "Then-the swords' |