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“ 1 but learned 1t a0 few minutes before Madame herself came herel”

“So ! From whom 27

“Tlearnt it from the Vicomte d" Humieres.”

“I'he Vicomte d'Humieres! My hus- bhand ! Are vou acquainted with him, then 2

“ 1 can scarcely claim to be acquamted with the Vicomte. Tt seems, Madame, that this has been a morning ol comncidences, 1t would appear that just - before Madame perceived my little pieture at the Academy, the Vicomte d" Humicres percenved it too.

“Truly b But how magnihicent D

The lady clasped her hands moa hitle coestasy.

“The Vicomte d'Humieres did not sceem to consider it magnificent. e ook a dis- tinetly contrary view.”

“ But that 1s certaimn 17

“He requested me to turnish him with vour address. When I informed him that 1 was not acquainted with Madame, he desired to know who had authorized me to send your portrait to a public exhibition. T obscrved that T was not aware that it was the portrt of Madame, since the face i the preture was but the study of a face which T had scen o oa dream.”

“Inooa Jdid not tell hin history 27

“Loentered mito no o paa- treulars,”

“1oentreat Vo, Mo aour, not to tell hon the Letle history. There will he o scandal s he s so quick to misconcenve.

“ I owill endeavour to obscrve Madame's wishes.”

“Tt 1s hke a httle ro- mance, 1s 1t not, Mon- steur? - Perhaps 1 oshould explam mysell o hitde fur- ther, 77%az mght 7 she cmphasized the 2wt “1 left my husband. In cffeet, he had become un- hearable. [ have seen and heard nothimg of hin since. But ning to become conscious

dream ! \ ou the hiede

of o desire to meet with S OEIE Y ICOATER him agam. 1T know nat

why ! I suppose, when one loves ones husband truly, one wishes to meet himn once a vear. [ do not wish our reconciliation

to be maugurated by a quarrcl-——no, T entreat

of 1111

I am bhegine T

(20 vou, Monsicur, not to recount to him that httle history.” 1 oshould mform Madame that T expect the Vicomte d'Humieres to return, “ Return 2 Where? flere? When?o “Nery shorthy with o friend. I Tact, unless T am nustaken, he comes already.” The lady histened.

“leoas o Philippe’s voree t o D! [T must not find me here”

bBut, Madame

“Ah, the screen! Tt s hke o faree at the Pabkius Royale s it not a fact? 1 owill

pe vour model, Monsteur; behind the sereen “ Madame!D Before he could mterpose to prevent her, the Tady vanished behind the sereen. The door of the studio opened, and the Vicomte d'Humicres entered, accompanied by his riend, (.

T Vicomte's friend was a gentleman ol a fgure which s not uncommon 1 Irance, cven o dave His attitude sugeested @ ramrod,

he hreathed powder and shot 3 and he hrstled —what shall we say 2-—with bavonets.

The

List person i the world with whom a modern - Driton T should have a serious differ- cnee of opimiton, The deas of that sort of person upon matters which mvolve a dil- [crence of opinion are in such contrast to ours. T'he Vicomte performed the cere- mony of itroduction.

~ M Gerald Lovell permit me to imtroduce

Vil v —51.

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