y so
much as a syllable; but he worked himself up more and more--till, just
at the town gate (where the drummer of the guard was beginning to beat
the tattoo), he screamed into his friend's ear (a process necessitated
by the row made by the military virtuoso on his instrument), as he cast
himself upon his bosom, that he was most deeply in love with the sweet
Mignon, and that the sole object of his life from thenceforth was to
find her again, and free her from the bondage of the atrocious old
monster.

There was a servant in a handsome livery standing at Ludwig's door,
who handed him a card of invitation. As soon as he had read it, and
sent the servant away, he embraced his friend as frantically as he
had done at the town gate, and cried, "Oh, Euchar! call me the most
fortunate--the most enviable--of mortals. Open your heart! Form some
slight idea of my happiness! Mingle your tears of joy with mine!"

"What can there be of such a marvellously fortunate description
announced to you on a card?" inquired Euchar.

"Don't be startled," murmured Ludwig, "when I open to you the gates of
the magically brilliant Paradise of a thousand delights, which will
unfold itself to me by the virtue of this card here."

"Well," said Euchar, "I am sure I shall be very glad indeed, to hear
what the piece of good fortune is which is coming to you."

"Hear it," cried Ludwig; "learn it--understand it! Be amazed at
it--doubt of it--cry out--shriek--shout! I have got an invitation to
the supper and ball to-morrow evening at Countess Walther Puck's!
Victorine! Victorine! Sweet, lovely Victorine!"

"And how about sweet, lovely Mignon?" asked Euchar. But Ludwig groaned
forth, in the most pathetic tones, "Victorine! My life!" and bolted
into his quarters.

THE FRIENDS, LUDWIG AND EUCHAR. EVIL DREAM OF THE LOSS, AT PIQUET, OF
A PAIR OF HANDSOME LEGS. WOES OF AN ENTHUSIASTIC DANCER. COMFORT,
HOPE, AND MONSIEUR COCHENILLE.

It may be expedient to tell the courteous reader a little more
concerning this pair of friends, so that he may form, at all events, to
some extent, a well-grounded opinion as to each of them.

Both had the title of Baron. Educated together, and having grown up in
the most intimate friendship, they could not part even when the lapse
of years brought to light most striking dissimilarities in their mental
characteristics, which became more and more developed as time went on.
In his childhood, Euchar belonged to t