n by the military code."

Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not
help smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said
to Basilia: "Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you take
useless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to Ivan
Mironoff; it is his business."

"What! what! my dear sir," said the lady, "are not man and wife the same
flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up these boys
instantly; put them in separate rooms--on bread and water, to expel this
stupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a penance on order
that they may repent before God and man."

Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The
tempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to
embrace each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the
house, having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us.

"Are you not ashamed of yourself," I said to him, "to have denounced us
to the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not do so?"

"As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it all
from me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge of
the Commandant. Thank God it finished as it did." He went to his room; I
remained with Alexis.

"Our affair can not end thus," I remarked.

"Certainly not," replied Alexis. "You shall pay me with your blood for
your impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feign
for a few days. Until then, adieu!"

We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the Commandant's,
and seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was absent and her
mother busy with household duties. We spoke in subdued tones. Marie
reproached me gently for the pain my quarrel with Alexis gave her. "My
heart failed me," she said, "when I heard you were going to fight with
swords. How strange men are! For a word, they are ready to strangle each
other, and sacrifice, not only their own life, but even the honor and
happiness of those who-- I am sure you did not begin the quarrel? Alexis
was the aggressor?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would not
displease him, although he is quite disagreeable to me."

"What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?"

Marie blushed. "It seems," said she, "that I please him."

"How do you know?"

"Because he m