e would have been beaten by a French _Chevalier
d'Industrie_, had it not been for the gallantry of the Count de
Chavannes."

And thereupon out came the whole history of Monsieur G--, his
horse-whipping, the opportune appearance of Colonel Jervis, and all the
curious circumstances of the scene.

I never in my life saw anyone so fearfully excited as Auguste. He
turned white as ashes, even to his very lips, while his eyes literally
flashed fire, and his frame shivered as if he had been in an ague fit.
"_Il me le paiera_!" he muttered between his hard-set teeth. "_Il me le
paiera, le scelerat! Ma pauvre soeur--ma pauvre petite Valerie_!"

And then he shook the hand of Chavannes with the heartiest and warmest
emotion. "I shall never forget this," he said, in a thick, low voice;
"never, never! From this time forth, de Chavannes, we are friends for
ever. But I shall never, never, be able to repay you."

"Nonsense, _mon cher_, nonsense," replied Chavannes. "I did nothing--
positively nothing at all. I should not have been a man, had I done
otherwise."

This had, however, no effect at all in stopping Auguste's exclamations
and professions of eternal gratitude; nor did he cease until Monsieur de
Chavannes said quietly, "Well, well, if you will have it so, say no more
about it; and one day or other I will ask a favour of you, which, if
granted, will leave me your debtor."

"_If_ granted!--it _is_ granted," exclaimed Auguste, impetuously. "What
is it?--name it--I say it _is_ granted."

"Don't be rash, _mon cher_," replied the Count, laughing; "it is no
slight boon which I shall ask."

"Do not be foolish, Auguste," I interposed; "you are letting your
feelings get the better of you, strangely; and, Caroline, if you do not
tell the people to drive home, you will keep the Judge waiting dinner--a
proceeding to which you know he is by no means partial."

"You are right, as usual, Valerie; always thoughtful for other people.
So we will go home."

But, just as we were on the point of starting, the groom with the
cockade, whom we had seen following Colonel Jervis, trotted up, and,
touching his hat, asked, "I beg your pardon, gentlemen, but is any one
of you the Count de Chavannes?"

"I am," replied the Count; "what do you want with me, sir?"

"From Colonel Jervis, sir," replied the man, handing him a visiting
card. "The Colonel's compliments, Count, and he begs you will do him
the favour, in case you hear anything m