saw that it would be necessary to check the mercurial humor of
his companion. He therefore suppressed the smile which rose
unconsciously to his lips when Hoffland laughed so merrily, and said
gravely:

"Charles, are you prepared for a mortal duel?"

"Perfectly," said Hoffland, with great simplicity.

"Have you made your will?"

"My will! Fie, Mr. Lawyer! Why, I am a minor."

"Minors make wills," said Mowbray; "and I advise you, if you are
determined to encounter Mr. Denis, to make your will, and put in
writing whatever you wish done."

"But what have I to leave to any one?" said Hoffland, affecting
annoyance. "Ah, yes!" he added, "I am richer than I supposed. Well,
now, this terrible affair may take place before I can make my
arrangements; so I will, with your permission, make a nuncupative
will--I believe _nuncupative_ is the word, but I am not sure."

Mowbray sighed; he found himself powerless before this incorrigible
light-heartedness, and had not the resolution to check it. He began to
reflect wistfully upon the future: he already saw that boyish face
pale and bloody, but still smiling--that slender figure stretched upon
the earth--a mere boy, dead before his prime.

Hoffland went on, no longer laughing, but uttering sighs, and
affecting sudden and profound emotion.

"This is a serious thing, Ernest," he said; "when a man thinks of his
will, he stops laughing. I beg therefore that you will not laugh, nor
interrupt me, while I dispose of the trifling property of which I am
possessed."

Mowbray sighed.

Hoffland echoed this sigh, and went on:

"First: As I have no family, and may confine my bequests wholly to my
present dear companions, acquaintances, and friends--first, I leave my
various suits of apparel, which may be found at my lodgings, to my
dear companions aforesaid; begging that they may be distributed after
the following fashion. To the student who is observed to shed the most
tears when he receives the intelligence of my unhappy decease, I give
my suit of silver velvet, with chased gold buttons, and silk
embroidery. The cocked hat and feather, rosetted shoes with diamond
buckles, and the flowered satin waistcoat, go with this. Also six
laced pocket-handkerchiefs, which I request my dear tender-hearted
friend to use on all occasions when he thinks of me, to dry his eyes
with.

"_Item:_ My fine unit of Mecklenburg silk, with silver buttons, I give
to the friend who expresses in words the most