n a word, picture to yourself your fairest conquest, Monsieur
le Marquis, and you will have a worthy counterpart of this rose of the
wilderness!"

"My fairest conquest!" piped the listener. With lack-luster eyes he
remained motionless like a traveler in the desert who gazes upon a
mirage. "You have described her well. The features of Diana! It was
at a revival of Vanbrugh's 'Relapse' I first met her, dressed after
the fashion of the Countess of Ossory. Who would not worship before
the figures of Lely?"

He half closed his eyes, as though gazing in fancy upon the glossy
draperies and rosy flesh of those voluptuous court beauties.

"The wooing, begun in the wings, ended in an ivy-covered villa--a
retired nook--solitary walks by day--nightingales and moonshine by
night. It was a pleasing romance while it lasted, but joy palls on
one. Nature abhors sameness. The heart is like Mother Earth--ever
varying. I wearied of this surfeit of Paradise and--left her!"

"A mere incident in an eventful life," said his companion, thoughtfully.

"Yes; only an incident!" repeated the marquis. "Only an incident! I
had almost forgotten it, but your conversation about players and your
description of the actress brought it to mind. It had quite passed
away; it had quite passed away! But the cards, Monsieur Mauville; the
cards!"

CHAPTER III

AT THE RACES

For several days, after rehearsals were over, the strollers were
free to amuse themselves as they pleased. Their engagement at the
theater did not begin for about a week, and meanwhile they managed
to combine recreation with labor in nearly equal proportions.
Assiduously they devoted themselves to a round of drives and
rambles: through pastures and wood-land to Carrolton; along the shell
road to Lake Pontchartrain; to Biloxi, the first settlement of the
French; and to the battle grounds, once known as the plains of
Chalmette, where volunteer soldiers were now encamped, awaiting
orders to go to the front in the Mexican campaign. For those who
craved greater excitement, the three race-courses--the Louisiana,
the Metairie and the Carrolton offered stimulating diversion.

Within sight of the Metairie were the old dueling grounds, under
the oaks, where, it is related, on one Sunday in '39 ten duels
occurred; where the contestants frequently fought on horseback with
sabers; and, where the cowherds, says a chronicler, became so
accustomed to seeing honor satisfied in this manner t