couched as an invitation,
which I interpreted to--the duello. Such invitations I never refuse.
I replied: I came hither, took my lodgings at an inn. My Lord seeks me
last night.

"I begin in the tone you may suppose. Pardieu! he is clever, milord! He
shows me a letter from the Prince Von -----, Alphonse's recall, my own
banishment. He places before me, but with admirable suavity, the option
of beggary and ruin, or an honourable claim on Alphonso's gratitude. And
as for that petit monsieur, do you think I could quietly contemplate my
own tool's enjoyment of all I had lost myself? Nay, more, if that young
Harpagon were Alphonso's son-inlaw, could the duke have a whisperer at
his ear more fatal to my own interests? To be brief, I saw at a glance
my best course. I have adopted it. The difficulty was to extricate
myself as became a man de sang et de jeu. If I have done so,
congratulate me. Alphonso has taken my hand, and I now leave it to him
to attend to my fortunes, and clear up my repute."

"If you are going to London," said Levy, "my carriage, ere this, must be
at the door, and I shall be proud to offer you a seat, and converse with
you on your prospects. But, peste, mon cher, your fall has been from a
great height, and any other man would have broken his bones."

"Strength is ever light," said the count, smiling; "and it does not
fall; it leaps down and rebounds."

Levy looked at the count, and blamed himself for having disparaged
Peschiera and overrated Randal.

While this conference went on, Harley was by Violante's side.

"I have kept my promise to you," said he, with a kind of tender
humility. "Are you still so severe on me?"

"Ah," answered Violante, gazing on his noble brow, with all a woman's
pride in her eloquent, admiring eyes, "I have heard from Mr. Dale that
you have achieved a conquest over yourself, which makes me ashamed to
think that I presumed to doubt how your heart would speak when a moment
of wrath (though of wrath so just) had passed away."

"No, Violante, do not acquit me yet; witness my revenge (for I have not
foregone it), and then let my heart speak, and breathe its prayer that
the angel voice, which it now beats to hear, may still be its guardian
monitor."

"What is this?" cried an amazed voice; and Harley, turning round, saw
that the duke was by his side; and, glancing with ludicrous surprise,
now to Harley, now to Violante, "Am I to understand that you--"

"Have freed you from one