ssion of countenance which suggests a habit of
acting and being obeyed as the feudal lord. In less than a week, with
the most lofty recklessness, he had thrown away half a million francs in
the club at baccarat, and his other doings are all in the same vein.
With such a start, you may be sure he has taken the world by storm, so
that his friendship is sought after as a prize. A successful duel which
he fought with a Brazilian made his reputation as a skilful swordsman.

His gratitude to me, and a sort of frank admiration of superior
qualities, which he fancies he recognises in me, have won for me his
friendship. I have quite become "his guide, philosopher, and friend." I
find him a capital companion, and, like some modern Damon and Pythias,
we hardly pass a day without seeing one another. At first he was rather
surprised that I abstained from the promiscuous pleasures of the gay
world; but he soon divined that I was restrained by the spell of a
secret passion, and this placed me still higher in his estimation.

I gained credit with Kiusko by taking him into my confidence, and
telling him that I had in truth a _liaison_ with a young widow, whose
high position in society demanded extreme prudence on my part. With the
tact of a thorough-bred gentleman, he never referred to the subject
again. Being himself associated with us in our relations with the
Montagues, through meeting them at my aunt's, he would never dream of my
having any attachment in that quarter; indeed, he was now almost on an
equal footing of friendship with me in our intercourse with the fair
trio, and was spoken of as one of their "tame cats." Such was the
position of things when the following event occurred.

It happened a few days ago. I was in my aunt's boudoir, talking about
some matter, which I forget; she was knitting away at a little piece of
ornamental work, with her usual business-like industry, and I was
playing with her dog "Music," a young animal from Greece.

"By the bye, Andre," she said, "I have an important commission to
discharge, concerning which I must consult you."

"All my wisdom is at your service, aunt."

"Let us talk seriously," she continued; "you have to undergo a regular
cross-examination, and I command you to reply like an obedient nephew."

"Oh, you frighten me!"

"Don't interrupt me, please. In my person you see before you a family
council."

"What, all at once, and without any preparation?--without even changing
your