aking his
escape; and, huddling on his clothes, and bidding them all a tender
adieu, he set off, incontinently, without his breakfast, for England,
America, or Russia, not knowing exactly which.

One of his companions agreed to accompany him on a part of this
journey,--that is, as far as the barrier of St. Denis, which is, as
everybody knows, on the high road to Dover; and there, being tolerably
secure, they entered a tavern for breakfast; which meal, the last that
he ever was to take, perhaps, in his native city, Poinsinet was just
about to discuss, when, behold! a gentleman entered the apartment where
Poinsinet and his friend were seated, and, drawing from his pocket a
paper, with "AU NOM DU ROY" flourished on the top, read from it, or
rather from Poinsinet's own figure, his exact signalement, laid his hand
on his shoulder, and arrested him in the name of the King, and of the
provost-marshal of Paris. "I arrest you, sir," said he, gravely, "with
regret; you have slain, with seventeen wounds, in single combat, Colonel
Count de Cartentierce, one of his Majesty's household; and, as his
murderer, you fall under the immediate authority of the provost-marshal,
and die without trial or benefit of clergy."

You may fancy how the poor little man's appetite fell when he heard this
speech. "In the provost-marshal's hands?" said his friend: "then it is
all over, indeed! When does my poor friend suffer, sir?"

"At half-past six o'clock, the day after to-morrow," said the officer,
sitting down, and helping himself to wine. "But stop," said he,
suddenly; "sure I can't mistake? Yes--no--yes, it is. My dear friend,
my dear Durand! don't you recollect your old schoolfellow, Antoine?" And
herewith the officer flung himself into the arms of Durand, Poinsinet's
comrade, and they performed a most affecting scene of friendship.

"This may be of some service to you," whispered Durand to Poinsinet;
and, after some further parley, he asked the officer when he was bound
to deliver up his prisoner; and, hearing that he was not called upon to
appear at the Marshalsea before six o'clock at night, Monsieur Durand
prevailed upon Monsieur Antoine to wait until that hour, and in the
meantime to allow his prisoner to walk about the town in his company.
This request was, with a little difficulty, granted; and poor Poinsinet
begged to be carried to the houses of his various friends, and bid them
farewell. Some were aware of the trick that had been pla