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arowing desire to confront a mai so redoubt- able. Let's see ! what shall we fight with? Those two double-handed swords standing by the fireplace? Or those two boarding- axes 2 With cavalry sabres, or would you prefer a pair of curved yatagans ? You hesitate @ can't you make up your mind ?

“Iam thinking of your mother and her coming distress.”

“I haven't a mother to be distres ed. Would you rather fight with a carbine 7 — pistol 7—or revolver 7V

“Younrs man—don't arms.”

“aAre vou afraid 2 You are trembling U

“Trembling! 17 IU's with cold.”

• Then hight, or at once renounce the

hand of Niccette."

• Renounce the hand of Mademoiselle

Nicette ! By Jove, I admire your bravery | and brave men arc made to understand one another. Shall 1 make a confession to you ? "’

“Speal T

“ For some time past [ have mysclf had thoughts of breaking off this marriage, but

play with fire-

“UYOURNG MAN, DON'T PLAY WITH FIREAKMS.

IHE STRANL M AGAZIN T

[did not know how to do i, | cotsent, therclore, with pleasure (o do what you wish 3 but, at the same time you nmust see that I cannot appear to give way to threats, and you have threatened me.”

“1 retract them.”

“Incthat case, all is understood.”

“You will give me, in WIIting, your re- nunciation 2"

" Young man, you have so completely won my sympathy that I can refuse Vol nothimg.”

Furnished with the precious document, Anatole flew back to the dwelling-place of Monsicur Bouvard: he had a considerable distance to walk, and by the tinie he reached the professor's door it was nearly cight o'clock in the morning.

“NWho is there?

“Anatole”

" Go home, and go o bed ' professor savagcely,

“Thave got Capdenac's renunciation of Nicette's hand ! Open the door, or ] will break it down.”

Monsicur Bouvard admitted him, and Anatole placed in his hand the momentous paper. That done, he rushed to the door of Nicetie's room and cried—

" Cousin, get up—dress yourscll quickly and come here !

“ It appears, Monsicur, that | A no longer master in my own home!” exclaimed Monsicur Bou- vard 5 “you go and come, and order as you please! To malke you understand that I will have hothing more to say to vou, [— [ will go back to my morning newspaper, 1 the reading of which you have interrupted me "

A few minutes later, Nicelte, looking fresh as dawn, arrived in the drawing-room.

“What is the matter 7

“The matter,” said Monsicur Bouvard, “is that your cousin is mad 1"

“Mad? So he Anatole.

cricd the

i ! replicd , “TLast night, my dear - Iittle cousin, I obtained two things : the renunciation of Vvour hand by Monsicur Capdenac, and the promise of your worthy vuar- dian to bestow it on the man of your choice—the man vou love,” “Do you recallv wish e to marry Anatole, guardian "