of the five keys of the house in the Eglisottes quarter; and as he
was as jealous as an Andalusian, and felt a horror for that kind of
pleasantry, he swore that he would make his rival pay a hundred fold
for the trick which he had played him.

The Fourteenth of July was approaching, when there was to be a grand
parade of the whole garrison on the large review ground, and all along
the paling, which divided the spectators from the soldiers, itinerant
dealers had put up their stalls, and there were mountebanks' and
somnambulists' booths, menageries, and a large circus, which had gone
through the town in caravans, with a great noise of trumpets and of
drums.

He had given his aide-de-camp his instructions beforehand, for he was
more anxious than ever to surprise people, and to have a horse like an
equestrian statue, an animal which should outdo that famous black horse
of General Boulanger's, about which the Parisian loungers had talked so
much, and told Montboron not to mind what the price was, as long as he
found him a suitable charger.

When the Captain, a few days before the review, brought him a chestnut
jennet, with a long tail and flowing mane, which would not keep quiet for
five seconds, but kept on shaking its head, had extraordinary action,
answered the slightest touch of the leg, and stepped out as if it knew no
other motion, General Daumont de Croisailles showered compliments upon
him, and assured him that he knew few officers who possessed his
intelligence and his value, and that he should not forget him when the
proper time came for recommending him for promotion.

Not a muscle of the Marquis de Montboron's face moved, and when the day
of the review arrived, he was at his post on the staff that followed the
General, who sat as upright as a dart in the saddle, and looked at the
crowd to see whether he could not recognize some old or new female friend
there, while his horse pranced and plunged.

He rode onto the review ground, amidst the increasing noise of applause,
with a smile upon his lips, when, suddenly, at the moment that he
galloped up into the large square, formed by the troops drawn up in a
line, the band of the fifty-third regiment struck up a quick march, and,
as if obeying a preconcerted signal, the jennet began to turn round, and
to accelerate its speed, in spite of the furious tugs at the bridle which
the rider gave.

The horse performed beautifully, followed the rhythm of the music, and
a