UNCLE SAT SMOKING HIS PIPE AND WATCHING ME."]

The next day--ah, the next day!--I was no nearer. In vain, with clenched
teeth, I scoured the immense helmet brought by my uncle the previous
evening--scoured it with such fury as almost to break the iron; not an
idea came to me. The helmet shone like a sun: my uncle sat smoking his
pipe and watching me; but I could think of nothing, of no way of forcing
him to give me his daughter.

At three o'clock Rose went into the country, whence she was not to
return until dinner-time, in the evening. On the threshold she could
only make a sign to me with her hand; my uncle had not left us alone for
a single instant. He was not easy in his mind; I could see that by his
face. No doubt he had not forgotten our conversation of the
previous evening.

I went on rubbing at my helmet.

"You have made it quite bright enough--put it down," said my uncle.

I put it down. The storm was gathering: I could not do better than allow
it to blow over.

But suddenly, as if overtaken by a strange fancy, my uncle took up the
enormous morion and turned and examined it on all sides.

"A handsome piece of armour, there is no doubt about it; but it must
have weighed pretty heavily on its wearer's shoulders," he muttered;
and, urged by I know not what demon, he clapped it on his head and
latched the gorget-piece about his neck.

Struck almost speechless, I watched what he was doing--thinking only
how ugly he looked.

Suddenly there was a sharp sound--as if a spring had
snapped--and--crack!--down fell the visor; and there was my uncle, with
his head in an iron cage, gesticulating and swearing like a pagan!

I could contain myself no longer, and burst into a roar of laughter; for
my uncle, stumpy, fat, and rubicund, presented an irresistibly comic
appearance.

[Illustration: "THREATENINGLY HE CAME TOWARDS ME."]

Threateningly, he came towards me.

"The hinges!--the hinges, fool!" he yelled.

I could not see his face, but I felt that it was red to bursting.

"When you have done laughing, idiot!" he cried.

But the helmet swayed so oddly on his shoulders, his voice came from out
it in such strange tones, that the more he gesticulated, the more he
yelled and threatened me, the louder I laughed.

At that moment the clock of the Hotel-de-Ville, striking five, was
heard.

"The Municipal Council!" murmured my uncle, in a stifled voice. "Quick!
help me off with this beast of a machine! We'll set