s lodge; but the woes of Monsieur Margot were not yet at their
termination. The room was crowded. There was Madame Laurent,--there was
the German count, whom the professor was teaching French;--there was
the French viscount, whom he was teaching German;--there were all
his fellow-lodgers--the ladies whom he had boasted of--the men he had
boasted to--Don Juan, in the infernal regions, could not have met with
a more unwelcome set of old acquaintance than Monsieur Margot had the
happiness of opening his bewildered eyes upon in the porter's lodge.

"What!" cried they all, "Monsieur Margot, is that you who have been
frightening us so? We thought the house was attacked; the Russian
general is at this very moment loading his pistols; lucky for you that
you did not choose to stay longer in that situation. Pray, Monsieur,
what could induce you to exhibit yourself so, in your dressing-gown too,
and the night so cold? Ar'n't you ashamed of yourself?"

All this, and infinitely more, was levelled against the miserable
professor, who stood shivering with cold and fright; and turning his
eyes first upon one, and then on another, as the exclamations circulated
round the room,

"I do assure you," at length he began.

"No, no," cried one, "it is of no use explaining now!"

"Mais, Messieurs," querulously recommenced the unhappy Margot.

"Hold your tongue," exclaimed Madame Laurent, "you have been disgracing
my house."

"Mais, Madame, ecoutez-moi--"

"No, no," cried the German, "we saw you--we saw you."

"Mais, Monsieur Le Comte--" "Fie, fie!" cried the Frenchman.

"Mais, Monsisur Le Vicomte--" At this every mouth was opened, and the
patience of Monsieur Margot being by this time exhausted, he flew into
a violent rage; his tormentors pretended an equal indignation, and at
length he fought his way out of the room, as fast as his shattered bones
would allow him, followed by the whole body, screaming, and shouting,
and scolding, and laughing after him.

The next morning passed without my usual lesson from Monsieur Margot;
that was natural enough: but when the next day, and the next, rolled on,
and brought neither Monsieur Margot nor his excuse, I began to be uneasy
for the poor man. Accordingly I sent to Madame Laurent's to inquire
after him: judge of my surprise at hearing that he had, early the day
after his adventure, left his lodgings with his small possession of
books and clothes, leaving only a note to Madame Laurent, enclos