s.

Out of doors on the terrace, in the warm darkness of the garden, was
heard low conversation and stifled laughter, coming from the place
where the cigars were visible as a ring of red dots. Lavaux was amusing
himself by getting the young Guardsman to tell Danjou and Paul Astier
the story of the Cardinal's hat. 'And the lady, Count--the lady at
the station.' 'Cristo, qu'elle etait bella!' said the Italian in a
low voice, and added correctively, 'sim-patica, surtout, simpatica.'
Charming and responsive--this was his general idea of the ladies of
Paris. He only wished he need not go back. The French wine had loosed
his tongue, and he began describing his life in the Guards, the
advantages of the profession, the hope which they all had on entering
it that they might find a rich wife--that at one of His Holiness's
audiences they would dazzle some wealthy English Catholic or a fanatical
Spaniard from South America come to bring her offering to the Vatican.
'L'ouniforme est zouli, comprenez; et pouis les en-fortounes del
Saint Pere, cela nous donne a nous autres ses soldats oun prestigio
roumanesque, cava-leresque, qualque sose qui plait aux dames
zenerale-mente.' It must be allowed that with his youthful manly face,
his gold braid shining softly in the moonlight, and his white leather
breeches, he did recall the heroes of Artosto or Tasso.

'Well, my dear Pepino,' said fat Lavaux, in his mocking and disagreeable
tone, 'if you want a good match, here it is at your elbow.'

'How so? Where?'

Paul Astier started and became attentive. The mention of a good match
always made him fear that some one was stealing his.

'The Duchess, of course. Old Padovani can't stand another stroke.'

'But the Prince d'Athis?'

'He'll never marry her.'

Lavaux was a good authority, being the friend of the Prince, and of the
Duchess, too, for that matter; though, seeing that the establishment
must shortly split, he stood on the side which he thought the safest
'Go in boldly, my dear Count; there's money, lots of it, and a fine
connection, and a lady still well enough.'

'Cristo, qu'elle est bella!' said the Italian, with a sigh.

'E simpatica,' said Danjou, with a sneer. At which the Guardsman after
a moment's amazement, delighted to find an Academician with so much
perception, exclaimed: 'Si, simpatica, precisamente!'

'And then,' continued Lavaux, 'if you are fond of dyes, and enamel, and
padding, you'll get it. I believe she's a ma