hat they paid
little attention to these meetings, pursuing their own humble
duties, indifferent to the follies of fashionable society. The
fencing schools flourished--what memories cluster around that odd,
strange master of the blade, Spedella, a melancholy enigma of a
man, whose art embodied much of the finest shading and phrasing
peculiar to himself; from whom even many of Bonaparte's discarded
veterans were not above acquiring new technique and temperament!
Men in those days were most punctilious about reputation, but
permitted a sufficiently wide latitude in its interpretation not to
hamper themselves or seriously interfere with their desires or
pleasures. Thus, virtue did not become a burden, nor honor a
millstone. Both, like epaulets or tassels, were worn lightly and
befittingly.

Shortly after the players' arrival began the celebrated Leduc matches,
attracting noted men and women from all over the South. The hotels
were crowded, the lodging-houses filled, while many of the large homes
hospitably opened their doors to visiting friends. The afternoons
found the city almost deserted; the bartenders discontentedly smoked
in solitude; the legion of waiters in the hotels and resorts became
reduced to a thinly scattered array; while even the street venders had
"folded their tents" and silently stolen to the races. On one such
memorable occasion most of the members of Barnes' company repaired to
the Metairie.

Below the grand stand, brilliant with color, strutted the dandies
attending to their bets; above they played a winning or losing game
with the fair sex. Intrigue and love-making were the order of the
hour, and these daughters of the South beguiled time--and mortals!--in
a heyday of pleasure. In that mixed gathering burly cotton planters
from the country rubbed elbows with aristocratic creoles, whose attire
was distinguishable by enormous ruffles and light boots of cloth. The
professional follower of these events, the importunate tout, also
mingled with the crowd, plainly in evidence by the pronounced
character of his dress, the size of his diamond studs or cravat pin,
and the massive dimensions of his finger rings. No paltry, scrubby
track cadger was this resplendent gentleman, but a picturesque rogue,
with impudence as pronounced as his jewels!

Surrounded by a bevy of admirers, Susan, sprightly and sparkling,
was an example of that "frippery one of her sex is made up with, a
pasticcio of gauzes, pins and rib