an be seen luxurious carriages, for
occasions of ceremony, and the park phaeton, and the simple brougham
which the Countess uses when she goes out shopping; and that carefully
groomed thoroughbred is Mirette, the favorite riding horse of
Mademoiselle Sabine. Mascarin and his confederate descended from their
cab a little distance at the corner of the Avenue Matignon. Mascarin, in
his dark suit, with his spotless white cravat and glittering spectacles,
looked like some highly respectable functionary of State. Hortebise wore
his usual smile, though his cheek was pale.

"Now," remarked Mascarin, "let me see,--on what footing do you stand
with the Mussidans? Do they look upon you as a friend?"

"No, no; a poor doctor, whose ancestors were not among the Crusades,
could not be the intimate friend of such haughty nobles as the
Mussidans."

"But the Countess knows you, and will not refuse to receive you, nor
have you turned out as soon as you begin to speak; for, taking shelter
behind some rogue without a name, you can shelter your own reputation. I
will see the Count."

"Take care of him," said Hortebise thoughtfully. "He has a reputation
for being a man of ungovernable temper, and, at the first word from you
that he objects to, would throw you out of the window as soon as look at
you."

Mascarin shrugged his shoulders. "I can bring him to reason," answered
he.

The two confederates walked a little past the Hotel de Mussidan, and the
doctor explained the interior arrangements of the house.

"I," continued Mascarin, "will insist upon the Count's breaking off his
daughter's engagement with M. de Breulh-Faverlay, but shall not say
a word about the Marquis de Croisenois, while you will take the
opportunity of putting his pretensions before the Countess, and will not
say a word of M. de Breulh-Faverlay."

"I have learned my lesson, and shall not forget it."

"You see, doctor, the beauty of the whole affair is, that the Countess
will wonder how her husband will take her interference, while he will be
at a loss how to break the news to his wife. How surprised they will be
when they find that they have both the same end in view!"

There was something so droll in the whole affair, that the doctor burst
into a loud laugh.

"We go by such different roads," said he, "that they will never suspect
that we are working together. Faith! my dear Baptiste, you are much more
clever than I thought."

"Don't praise me until you see t