ugh the prancing crowd
of moving horses, arrived at a spot where two young men, evidently
strangers to the scene, were standing, calmly surveying the bright
panorama before them.

"The Lord Selby," said the Russian, taking off his hat and saluting one
of them.

"That's his Lordship," replied the one he addressed, pointing to his
friend.

"I am the Prince Volkoffsky, aide-de-camp to the Emperor," said the
Russian; "and hearing from my friend the Duke de Brignolles that you
have just given him this newspaper, that he might obtain the translation
of a passage in it which concerns Lady Glencore, and have the
explanation read out at her own carriage, publicly, before all the
world, I desire to tell you that your Lordship is unworthy of your rank;
that you are an _infame!_ and if you do not resent this, a _polisson!_"

"This man is mad, Selby," said the short man, with the coolest air
imaginable.

"Quite sane enough to give your friend a lesson in good manners; and you
too, sir, if you have any fancy for it," said the Russian.

"I'd give him in charge to the police, by Jove! if there were police
here," said the same one who spoke before; "he can't be a gentleman."

"There 's my card, sir," said the Russian; "and for you too, sir," said
he, presenting another to him who spoke.

"Where are you to be heard of?" said the short man.

"At the Russian legation," said the Prince, haughtily, and turned away.

"You're wrong, Baynton, he is a gentleman," said Lord Selby, as he
pocketed the card, "though certainly he is not a very mild-tempered
specimen of his order."

"You did n't give the newspaper as he said--"

"Nothing of the kind. I was reading it aloud to you when the royal
carriages came suddenly past; and, in taking off my hat to salute, I
never noticed that the old Duke had carried off the paper. I know he
can't read English, and the chances are, he has asked this Scythian
gentleman to interpret for him."

"So, then, the affair is easily settled," said the other, quietly.

"Of course it is," was the answer; and they both lounged about among
the carriages, which already were thinning, and, after a while, set out
towards the city.

They had but just reached the hotel, when a stranger presented himself
to them as the Count de Marny. He had come as the friend of Prince
Volkoffsky, who had fully explained to him the event of that afternoon.

"Well," said Baynton, "we are of opinion your friend has conducted
hims