observed by the youthful pair, while the crafty headsman,
who had silently watched their growing intelligence, crowed in secret
over the now certain success of his stratagem.

Several months had thus elapsed, and the old man, after ascertaining
from his daughter that the affections and the honour of Florian were
irredeemably plighted, took an opportunity to address him one morning as
soon as Madelon had quitted the breakfast-room.

"I think it is high time, young man," he said, smiling, "that you should
proceed to business. Come along with me into my workshop."

Florian looked at him in silent wonder, but unhesitatingly followed him
into the capacious cellars, where the old man unlocked a door which his
guest had never before observed. Florian entered with his conductor, but
started back in dismay as he saw a number of executioner's swords and
axes hanging round the walls of a low vaulted room, in the centre of
which several cabbage-heads were fixed with pegs upon an oblong block of
wood. The headsman took one of the swords from the wall, drew it from
the scabbard, carefully wiped the glittering blade, and then offered
it to Florian. "Now, my son," he began, "try your strength upon these
cabbage-heads. It is easy work, and requires nothing but a steady hand."

"Gracious heaven! you cannot be in earnest!" exclaimed Florian,
retreating from him in deadly terror.

"Not in earnest?" rejoined the headsman, sternly; "I consider your
compliance as a matter of course. You love my daughter--you have won her
affections--and surely, Florian, you are not the man to play her false!"

"God forbid!" exclaimed Florian with honest fervour. "I dearly love her,
and seek no happier lot than to become her husband."

"I offered her to you, my son!" said the other with returning kindness;
"but you did not like the conditions, and declined her. You have since,
without my permission, sought and won her affections, and you have no
right to flinch from the implied consequences. It is high time to come
to a conclusion, and to apply yourself in good faith to the only pursuit
through which you can ever obtain my Madelon."

"The only one?" timidly repeated Florian. "I have, 'tis true, abandoned
for your daughter's sake the world, and the world's prejudices; but I am
young and industrious; I possess valuable knowledge, and surely I may
find some employment which will maintain a wife and family. Do, my good
father, relinquish this dreadful vocat