ith honour in the French Guards, quitted the sword
for the pen, which he wielded with equal success), was next rehearsed,
and highly approved by all--without a single dissenting voice. Leander,
who played the leading part of Lygdamon, was really admirable in it,
and entertained high hopes of the effect he should produce upon the fair
ladies of Poitiers and its environs.

But we will leave our comedians now, and follow the Duke of Vallombreuse
and his devoted friend Vidalinc.

Quite beside himself with rage, the young duke, after the scene in the
green-room in which he had played so unsatisfactory a part to himself,
returned to his own home and there raved to Vidalinc about his revenge,
threatening the insolent captain with all manner of punishments, and
going on like a madman. His friend tried in vain to soothe him.

He rushed wildly around the room, wringing his hands, kicking the
furniture about right and left, upsetting tables and arm-chairs, and
finally, seizing a large Japanese vase, very curious and costly, threw
it violently on the floor, where it broke into a thousand pieces.

"Oh!" he shrieked, "if I could only smash that abominable blackguard
like this vase, trample him under foot as I do this debris, and then
have the remains of him swept up and thrown out into the dust-heap,
where he belongs. A miserable scoundrel, that dares to interpose between
me, the Duke of Vallombreuse, and the object of my desires! If he
were only a gentleman I would fight him, on foot or on horseback, with
swords, daggers, pistols, anything in the shape of a weapon, until I had
him down, with my foot on his breast, and could spit into the face of
his corpse."

"Perhaps he is one," said Vidalinc; "his audacious defiance looks like
it. You remember what Maitre Bilot told you about Isabelle's favoured
lover? This must be the one, judging by his jealousy of you, and the
agitation of the girl."

"Do you really mean what you say?" cried Vallombreuse, contemptuously.
"What! a man of birth and condition mingle voluntarily and on terms
of equality with these low buffoons of actors, paint his nose red, and
strut about the stage, receiving cuffs and kicks from everybody? Oh no,
Vidalinc, the thing is impossible."

"But just remember," persisted the chevalier, "that mighty Jove himself
resorted to the expedient of adopting the shapes of various beasts, as
well as birds, in his terrestrial love affairs, which was surely much
more derogato