t _A_
the first letter in the alphabet? My second has no second--has God
(_Dieu_) any second? My whole--I cannot say it to you--_Adieu!_"

The contrast between the sentimentality of the words, and the brusque
and defiant anger of his tone, is so abrupt, that I am sorry to say, I
laugh again: indeed, I retire from the balcony into the saloon inside,
throw myself into a chair, and, covering my face with my handkerchief,
roar--

"It is very good," say I, in a choked voice; "very--so civil and
pretty--but it is not very _funny_, is it?"

I receive no answer. I am still in my pocket-handkerchief, and he might
be gone, but that I hear his quick, angry breathing, and know, by
instinct, that he is standing over me, looking like a handsome
thunder-cloud. I dare not look up at him, lest another mad cachinnation,
such as sometimes overtakes one for the punishment of one's sins in
church, should again lay violent hands upon me.

"I think I like 'Why was Balaam like a Life-Guardsman?' better, _on the
whole_," I say, presently, peeping through my fingers, and speaking with
a suspicious tremble in my voice.

"I have no doubt it is far superior," he answers, in a fierce and sulky
tone, that he in vain tries to make sound playful. "'_Balaam like a
Life-Guardsman?_' and why was he, may I ask? Something humorous about
his donkey, I suppose."

"Because he had a queer ass (cuirass)," reply I, again exploding, and
hiding my face in the back of the chair.

"A _queer ass_!" (in a tone of the profoundest contempt); "you have no
more sentiment in you than _this table_!" smiting it with his bare hand.

"I know I have not," say I, sitting up, and holding my hand to my side
to ease the pain my excessive mirth has caused; "they always said so at
home. Oh, here is the general! we will make _him_ umpire, which is
funniest, yours or mine!"

Sir Roger enters, and glances in some surprise from Frank's crimson face
to my convulsed one.

"Oh, general, do we not look as if we had been having an affecting
parting?" cry I, jumping up and running to him. "Do not I look as if I
had been crying? Quite the contrary, I assure you. But Musgrave and I
have been asking each other such amusing riddles--would you like to hear
them? _Mine_ is good, plain, vulgar English, but his is French, so we
will begin with _it_--'_Mon premier_--'"

I stop suddenly, for Mr. Musgrave is looking at me with an expression
simply _murderous_.

"Well, what are you stopping