luxury that baffles all description, except that of
the reporter of the "Republican Court Journal," who, in speaking of the
supper, said:

"In all his former efforts, it was granted by everyone, that Devizac
surpassed all others; but in this supper at Judge Merlin's, Devizac
surpassed himself!"

After supper Ishmael danced the last quadrille with Miss Tourneysee; and
when that was over, the time-honored old contra-dance of Sir Roger de
Coverly was called, in which nearly all the company took part--Ishmael
dancing with a daughter of a distinguished senator, and a certain
Captain Todd dancing with Bee.

When the last dance was over, the hour being two o'clock in the morning,
the party separated, well pleased with their evening's entertainment.
Ishmael went up to his den, and retired to bed: but ah! not to repose.
The unusual excitement of the evening, the light, the splendor, the
luxury, the guests, and among them all the figures of Claudia and the
viscount, haunting memory and stimulating imagination, forbade repose.
Ever, in the midst of all his busy, useful, aspiring life he was
conscious, deep in his heart, of a gnawing anguish, whose name was
Claudia Merlin. To-night this deep-seated anguish tortured him like the
vulture of Prometheus. One vivid picture was always before his mind's
eye--the sofa, with the beautiful figure of Claudia reclining upon it,
and the stately form of the viscount, leaning with deferential
admiration over her. The viscount's admiration of the beauty was patent;
he did not attempt to conceal it. Claudia's pride and pleasure in her
conquest were also undeniable; she took no pains to veil them.

And for this cause Ishmael could not sleep, but lay battling all night
with his agony. He arose the next morning pale and ill, from the
restless bed and wretched night, but fully resolved to struggle with and
conquer his hopeless love.

"I must not, I will not, let this passion enervate me! I have work to do
in this world, and I must do it with all my strength!" he said to
himself, as he went into the library.

Ishmael had gradually passed upward from his humble position of
amanuensis to be the legal assistant and almost partner of the judge in
his office business. In fact, Ishmael was his partner in everything
except a share in the profits; he received none of them; he still worked
for his small salary as amanuensis; not that the judge willfully availed
himself of the young man's valuable assistan