till the--'s whist party was
formed. His partner was Madame de la R--, the heroine of La Vendee. She
was a tall and very stout woman, singularly lively and entertaining, and
appeared to possess both the moral and the physical energy to accomplish
feats still more noble than those she performed.

I soon saw that it would not do for me to stay very long. I had already
made a favourable impression, and, in such cases, it is my constant
rule immediately to retire. Stay, if it be whole hours, until you have
pleased, but leave the moment after your success. A great genius should
not linger too long either in the salon or the world. He must quit each
with eclat. In obedience to this rule, I no sooner found that my court
had been effectually made than I rose to withdraw.

"You will return soon to Paris," said the Duchesse de B--.

"I cannot resist it," I replied. "Mon corps reviendra pour chercher mon
coeur."

"We shall not forget you," said the duchesse.

"Your Highness has now given me my only inducement not to return," I
answered, as I bowed out of the room.

It was much too early to go home; at that time I was too young and
restless to sleep till long after midnight; and while I was deliberating
in what manner to pass the hours, I suddenly recollected the hotel in
the Rue St. Honore, to which Vincent and I had paid so unceremonious
a visit the night before. Impressed with the hope that I might be more
successful in meeting Warburton than I had then been, I ordered the
coachman to drive to the abode of the old Marquis--The salon was as
crowded as usual. I lost a few Napoleons at ecarte in order to pay my
entree, and then commenced a desultory flirtation with one of the fair
decoys. In this occupation my eye and my mind frequently wandered. I
could not divest myself of the hope of once more seeing Warburton
before my departure from Paris, and every reflection which confirmed my
suspicions of his identity redoubled my interest in his connection with
Tyrrell and the vulgar debauche of the Rue St. Dominique. I was making
some languid reply to my Cynthia of the minute, when my ear was suddenly
greeted by an English voice. I looked round, and saw Thornton in close
conversation with a man whose back was turned to me, but whom I rightly
conjectured to be Tyrrell.

"Oh! he'll be here soon," said the former, "and we'll bleed him
regularly to-night. It is very singular that you who play so much better
should not have floored h