to obtain it, and he swore to himself to be even yet with the
author of his present mortification--if not in one way, then in another;
for injuries there be that are far worse than mere physical wounds and
hurts.

"I shall cut a sorry figure enough now in the eyes of the fair
Isabelle," said he at last, with a forced laugh, "with my arm here run
through and rendered useless by the sword of her devoted gallant. Cupid,
weak and disabled, never did find much favour with the Graces, you
know. But oh! how charming and adorable she seems to me, this sweet,
disdainful Isabelle! I am actually almost grateful to her for resisting
me so; for, if she had yielded, I should have been tired of her by this
time, I fancy. Her nature certainly cannot be a base, ordinary one, or
she would never have refused thus the advances of a wealthy and powerful
nobleman, who is ready to lavish upon her everything that heart could
desire, and whose own personal attractions are not to be despised; if
the universal verdict of the fair sex of all ranks can be relied
upon. There is a certain respect and esteem mingled with my passionate
admiration for her, that I have never felt before for any woman, and
it is very sweet to me. But how in the world are we to get rid of this
confounded young sprig of nobility, her self-constituted champion? May
the devil fly away with him!"

"It will not be an easy matter," the chevalier replied, and especially
now that he is upon his guard. "But even if you did succeed in getting
rid of him, Isabelle's love for him would still be in your way, and you
ought to know, better than most men, how obstinate a woman can be in her
devoted attachment to a man."

"Oh! if I could only kill this miserable baron," continued Vallombreuse,
not at all impressed by the chevalier's last remark, "I could soon win
the favour of this virtuous young person, in spite of all her little
prudish airs and graces. Nothing is so quickly forgotten as a defunct
suitor."

These were by no means the chevalier's sentiments, but he refrained from
pursuing the subject then, wishing to soothe, rather than irritate, his
suffering friend.

"You must first get well as fast as you can," he said, "and it will be
time enough then for us to discuss the matter. All this talking wearies
you, and does you no good. Try to get a little nap now, and not excite
yourself so. The surgeon will tax me with imprudence, and call me a bad
nurse, I'm afraid, if I don't ma