ly
an angel again, but a duchess, and not only a duchess, but Moliere's
Celimene.

The Duchesse de Maufrigneuse made a stately bow to these four
personages, and drew from the Chevalier his last tear of admiration at
the service of le beau sexe.

"How like she is to the Princess Goritza!" he exclaimed in a low voice.

Diane had disappeared. The crack of the postilion's whip told Victurnien
that the fair romance of his first love was over. While peril lasted,
Diane could still see her lover in the young Count; but out of danger,
she despised him for the weakling that he was.

Six months afterwards, Camusot received the appointment of assistant
judge at Paris, and later he became an examining magistrate. Goodman
Blondet was made a councillor to the Royal-Court; he held the post just
long enough to secure a retiring pension, and then went back to live in
his pretty little house. Joseph Blondet sat in his father's seat at the
court till the end of his days; there was not the faintest chance of
promotion for him, but he became Mlle. Blandereau's husband; and she, no
doubt, is leading to-day, in the little flower-covered brick house,
as dull a life as any carp in a marble basin. Michu and Camusot also
received the Cross of the Legion of Honor, while Blondet became an
Officer. As for M. Sauvager, deputy public prosecutor, he was sent to
Corsica, to du Croisier's great relief; he had decidedly no mind to
bestow his niece upon that functionary.

Du Croisier himself, urged by President du Ronceret, appealed from the
finding of the Tribunal to the Court-Royal, and lost his cause. The
Liberals throughout the department held that little d'Esgrignon was
guilty; while the Royalists, on the other hand, told frightful stories
of plots woven by "that abominable du Croisier" to compass his revenge.
A duel was fought indeed; the hazard of arms favored du Croisier, the
young Count was dangerously wounded, and his antagonist maintained his
words. This affair embittered the strife between the two parties; the
Liberals brought it forward on all occasions. Meanwhile du Croisier
never could carry his election, and saw no hope of marrying his niece to
the Count, especially after the duel.

A month after the decision of the Tribunal was confirmed in the
Court-Royal, Chesnel died, exhausted by the dreadful strain, which had
weakened and shaken him mentally and physically. He died in the hour of
victory, like some old faithful hound that h