s were there, as well as
Mathilde, and the horses were waiting. But something was looked, and
never did I cease to carry in my heart the tender and solicitous
expression of her sweet eyes as they rested on me for a silent moment
ere she turned away.

My father and I, on our homeward journey, stopped at La Fleche and
ascertained that Monsieur de Merri's relations had learned of his fate
and taken all care for the repose of his body and soul. It appeared that
he lived at Orleans, and was used to visit cousins in Brittany: thus,
then, had he chanced to stop at Montoire and fall in with the Count de
Lavardin. Alas! poor young gentleman!

And now we arrived home, to the great relief of my mother; and Blaise
Tripault would hardly speak to my father or me, for envy of the
adventures we had passed through without him. But he spread great
reports of what I had done,--or rather what I had not done, for he made
me a chief hero in the destruction of the band of robbers. But this
unmerited fame scarcely annoyed me at all, for my thoughts were
elsewhere, and I was restless and melancholy. In a few days I resolved
to go to Paris,--by way of Montoire. But before I started, I took a walk
one fine afternoon along the stream that bounded our estate: and, as I
had expected, there was Mlle. Celeste on the other side, with her drowsy
old guardian. She blushed and looked embarrassed, and I wondered why I
had ever thought her charming. Her self-confidence returned in a moment,
and she greeted me with her old sauciness, though it seemed a trifle
forced:

"Ah, Monsieur, so you have come back without going to Paris after all, I
hear."

"Yes, Mademoiselle," I answered coldly. "But I have taken your advice
and looked a little into the eyes of danger; and I find it does make a
difference in one."

"Oh, yes: I believe you fought a duel, and were present when some
highway robbers were taken; and now you have come back to rest on your
laurels."

"No; I came back to give you these, as I promised." And I threw her the
packet containing the moustaches of Brignan de Brignan. She opened it,
and regarded the contents with amazement. I laughed.

She looked at me now with real wonder, and I perceived I had grown
several inches in her estimation.

"But don't think I took them against his will," said I. "I admit I never
could have done that. He gave me them in jest, and the proudest claim I
can make in regard to him is that he honours me with his frie