his fingers, for once relinquished it returns not again. The face of
Fortune, which until now has always frowned upon me, at last vouchsafes
me a smile, and I am delighted to enjoy its brightness, even though it
may prove to be only fleeting. In my humble role of soubrette, I could
not aspire to, or expect to receive, the admiration of rich lords and
gentlemen--that is for my betters; and now that a happy chance has
thrown such an unhoped-for piece of good luck in my way, you will
not blame me, I am confident, for gladly accepting it. Let me take my
belongings then--which are packed in the chariot with the others--and
receive my adieux. I shall be sure to rejoin you some day, sooner or
later, at Paris, for I am a born actress; the theatre was my first love,
and I have never long been faithless to it."

The two men accordingly, aided by the comedians, took Zerbine's boxes
out of the chariot, and adjusted them carefully on the pack-mule. The
soubrette made a sweeping curtsey to her friends in the chariot, and
threw a kiss to Isabelle from her finger tips, then, aided by one of the
equerries, sprang to her place behind him, on the back of the Colonelle,
as lightly and gracefully as if she had been taught the art of mounting
in an equestrian academy, nodded a last farewell, and striking the mule
sharply with the high heel of her pretty little shoe, set off at a round
pace.

"Good-bye, and good luck to you, Zerbine," cried the comedians heartily,
one and all; save only Serafina, who was more furiously angry with her
than ever.

"This is an unfortunate thing for us," said the tyrant regretfully,
"a serious loss. I wish with all my heart that we could have kept that
capital little actress with us; we shall not easily find any one to
replace her, even in Paris; she is really incomparable in her own
role--but she was not in any way bound to stay with us a moment longer
than she chose. We shall have to substitute a duenna, or a chaperon, for
the soubrette in our pieces for the present; it will be less pleasing of
course, but still Mme. Leonarde here is a host in herself, and we shall
manage to get on very nicely, I dare say."

The chariot started on its way again as he spoke, at rather a better
pace than the lumbering old ox-cart. They were travelling through a part
of the country now which was a great contrast to the desolate Landes. To
the Baron de Sigognac, who had never been beyond their desolate expanse
before, it was a