--at least for twenty-four hours.

"This is my idea," said I; "nevertheless, do not be influenced by me.
All I ask is, disable the carriage from proceeding to-morrow, and here
are three louis-d'ors at your service."

"Soyez bien tranquille, monsieur, mi lor' shall spend to-morrow in
Calais, if I know any thing of my art"--saying which he set out in search
of his tools, while I returned to the salon with my mind relieved, and
fully prepared to press the urgency of my reaching Paris without any
delay.

"Well, Mr. Lorrequer," said Kilkee, as I entered, "here is supper
waiting, and I am as hungry as a wolf."

"Oh! I beg pardon--I've been getting every thing in readiness for our
start to-morrow morning, for I have not told you how anxious I am to get
to Paris before the 8th--some family business, which requires my looking
after, compelling me to do so."

"As to that, let your mind be at rest, for I shall travel to-morrow night
if you prefer it. Now for the Volnay. Why you are not drinking your
wine. What do you say to our paying our respects to the fair ladies
above stairs? I am sure the petits soins you have practised coming over
would permit the liberty."

"Oh! hang it, no. There's neither of them pretty, and I should rather
avoid the risk of making a regular acquaintance with them" said I.

"As you like, then--only, as you'll not take any wine, let us have a
stroll through the town."

After a short stroll through the town, in which Kilkee talked the entire
time, but of what I know not, my thoughts being upon my own immediate
concerns, we returned to the hotel. As we entered the porte-couchere, my
friend Michael passed me, and as he took off his hat in salutation, gave
me one rapid glance of his knowing eye that completely satisfied me that
Hobson's pride in my friend's carriage had by that time received quite
sufficient provocation to throw him into an apoplexy.

"By-the-by," said I, "let us see your carriage. I am curious to look at
it"--(and so I was.)

"Well, then come along, this way; they have placed it under some of these
sheds, which they think coach-houses."

I followed my friend through the court till we arrived near the fatal
spot; but before reaching, he had caught a glimpse of the mischief, and
shouted out a most awful imprecation upon the author of the deed which
met his eye. The fore-wheel of the coupe had been taken from the axle,
and in the difficulty of so doing, from the excellence o