bad game, and do not be so chop-fallen."

Castanet took Mariette, by the hand, who was weeping bitterly, for, a
short time before, these men had slain, or delivered up her brothers to
be executed; "Weep not," said he, with suppressed sorrow! "let us give
an example to these miserable wretches, that we think better than they;
that our union may not be stained with blood. I pity these poor, these
erring men, and this timid youth. Return without danger to you
dwellings and preach mercy to your party; refrain from blood and tell
your magistrates, who call their cruel bloodthirstiness justice, how
much better are our sentiments, how much better we are than they.
Heaven will the more readily bless my marriage the less I indulge my
wrath and desire of vengeance." Young Clement threw himself again on
his knees, weeping with gratitude; the others, who had already given
themselves up as lost, followed his example, the priest alone drew
himself up after a very low bow, and said stammering with
embarrassment: "You are a generous man, Mr. Castanet, and I shall know
how to extend your fame, although people are loath to believe anything
of the kind of such as you; I however have experienced it myself, and
thank you for it in my own name, and in that of these prisoners. Mr.
Cavalier, let us commend ourselves to God, au revoir!" "No, not au
revoir!" cried Cavalier, hastily advancing, "this may only happen in
one way, in the field, and I counsel you with your bold, unblushing
manner not to reckon again on our generosity, nor brave our
condescending flexibility; for mercy and love are not always to be
dispensed, and should we see each other a third time, it will be your
death, thus does the spirit prophecy to me."

"Let the spirit rest, Sir Captain," said the clergyman, as he again
made a low bow and retired with the volunteers and Clement, who all
more or less testified their gratitude and emotion.

Lacoste now came forward and said laughing: "Generosity, as I observe,
is common among you, and your turn is come do-day, thick, little stump.
Thus every trade, even that of incendiary, has its good side; nothing
in the world is perfectly bad, as there is nothing perfectly good to be
found in it. To-day, however, there is a greater extension of
generosity than what was lately accorded, when I alone remained, though
my companions were not a whit worse than myself. But such magnificence
suits so festive and splendid a wedding, and the short-