173 THE STR N

to the waiter in payment for the cham- pagne—a watch worth five hundred francs.

The garcon took the dnum)mdu, and examined 1t closely—wecighed it in his h: i, opened it—and finally put it in his p()d\u doubtfully and without thanking Anatole.

It was four o’clock in the mor ning when

B EXAMINED IT CLOSELY.”

he rang at the door of Monsicur Bouvard, the ffucudmn of Nicette. He rang once, twlu, at the third tug, broke the bell-wire, At length Monsicur Bouvard himeclf, in his night-dress and in great alarm, came and opened the door.

“\Vhat 1s the fire 7"

“ No, my dear Monsicur Bouvard," said ~\na ()1(, “T have ()nlv paid you a little visit.”

CAL thlS hour !

“IL 1s pleasant to sce vou at any hour, my dear Monsicur Douvard ! Dut you :np S0 ll‘Thl]y dressed—pray get into bed again,

“Iam going to do so. DBut, I supposc, Monsicur, that it was not simply to trouble me i tIm way that you have come at such

an hour 2 You have something of import- ance to sav to me ? "

“Very important, Monsicur Bouvard ! It is to tell you that you must renounce the idea of marrying my cousin Nicette to Monsicur Capdumc !

matter —is the house on

NG AZINE.

" \Vh’il do you say ?

" You must renounce that project.” “ Never, Monsicur '—never '

“Don’t fly in the deL ol Providence by lell(" such language !

\/Iy resolution s hxed, Monsicur ; this marriage will take place.”

“lewill not, Monsieur !

“We will see about that, you have had ny answer, not detain you.'

“ A speech none too polite, J\Iomiun' Bouvard ; but, as I am as good-natured -

I am tuuuuux I will pass over it remain,

“Stay ibit pleases you to do so bhut I shall consider you gone, hold no further conversation with \uu

Saying which Monsicur - Bouvard turned his face to the sall, grumbling to himsell—

“Was cver such a thing scen '— rousing a man at such an hour '—

breaking his sleep, only to pour into his cars such a pack” of nonscnsc !

"

And, now that Monsicur, I'll

Suddenly Monsicur Bouvard Sprang to & sitting posture in his bed,

Anatole had possessed himself of the professor’s trombone, into which he was blowing like a deaf man, and scnding from th(, tortured instrument sounds uf idescribable detestableness.

““ My presentation trombone ! —oven

me by my pupils! Iet that instru- ment alone, Monsieur !

• Monsicur, )ou constder me gone; I

shall consider you—absent, and shall d]]lllb(,

mysell until you return. Couac! couac ! — fromn ! brout ! Eh ‘—that was a line note '

“You will get me turned out of the house; my landlord will not allow a tmm- bonp to be plaved here after midnight.”

O man who ey idently hath not music n his soul ! Irrout ! frrout, pror !

“You will split my cars —you'll spoil my mstrument —a trombone badly ])l yed o 1s a trombonce destroyed, Monsicur !

“Couac ! prounn, pra—pra—prirr—-—"

“Tror merey’s sake give over 1

“AWill vou consent 7"

“TTo what 2

“T'o renounce the idea of that marriage? "

“Monsieur, T cannot !

YTThen—couace ! h “Monsicur Capdenac “Prrrroum '—-—" “Is a terrible man to deal with !