young lady and goes shopping with both aunt and niece—and you must allow it is a poor tabby indeed that gains admittance to the dairy and does not lick the cream, while the poor caterwauler on the outside has but a sorry chance of wetting his whiskers."

"Has she a fortune?"

66 Ample and attractive."

"And the aunt?"

"A pension slender as her own perpendicular person."

"Then I am resolved

"To beat a retreat?"

"No; to beat my rival," replied the enthusiastic De Ferval; " and I do think, without vanity, Antoine, Nature has given me a letter of recommendation that will avail me something"-and he turned his eyes towards one of the mirrors which adorned the apartment, with a confident complaisance that was truly exhilarating.

"Self-esteem and assurance are a pair of crutches for a cripple!" said Antoine. "At all events, I would try the race with my gentleman." "I will," replied Durand: "the prize is at least worth the contest; and faint heart never won fair lady."

"Then let us begin the campaign without delay," said Antoine; "for our last Louis-d'or will change its complexion in a few days: and though blank cartridges make a great noise there's no carrying on the war without shot. A pennyless man in Paris is like a balloon without gas-a handle without a blade-a barrow without a wheel-a key without a lock-a watch without a spring-a

"Hold!" cried Durand. "Don't damp the ardour of my inclination by your cold, trite similes, but put your best leg foremost."

"Excuse me, Monsieur," interrupted Antoine; "but my two legs are as equal as they are elegant in their proportions. Do you know, Monsieur, that I owed my first election to the livery to these staunch supporters. The Duchess de la Bondonnois was quite a connoisseuse in legs, and always boasted of having the finest show of calves in the city. I could tell you a story, but nous avons d'autres chats à fouetter (we have other fish to fry): I'll go beat the bushes while you shoot the birds as they rise."

"And should success attend me," said Durand, "depend on it you shall be rewarded for your services."

"I am satisfied on that head," replied the grateful Antoine; "so now let us forth, and, having found which way the wind blows, raise our kite!"

Having assisted at his master's toilette and seen him go forth "tiré à quatres épingles" (as neat as hands could make him), as he said, Antoine prepared himself for his part in the performance.

CHAP. III.

As Antoine was prowling about the residence of De Ferval's inamorata, he observed a lackey, in a smart livery, sally from the door. His practised eye measured him from top to toe-an easy task, indeed, for he was short of stature, and almost as broad as he was long; and had, moreover, such a good-humoured rubicund countenance, that Nov.-VOL. LII. NO. CCII.

2 c

Antoine resolved to become better acquainted with this well-fed brother of the cloth on the instant. Advancing towards him, and elevating his gold-laced hat, and projecting his right toe, he saluted him with the grace of a dancing-master. The other, determined not to be outdone by his politeness, answered his salute with the same gestures, upon a broader scale.

"Will Monsieur do me the honour to direct me to the Rue desaid Antoine.

"With all the pleasure in the world," replied the other; "or rather allow me, Monsieur, the felicity of showing you the place?"

"Mille graces!" said Antoine; "but I am afraid I intrude upon your valuable time, Monsieur ?"

"Not at all, mon cher Monsieur," answered the other; "I shall be but too happy."

"I shall make no further apology, then, Monsieur," said Antoine; "for I feel it a pleasure to be under an obligation to a gentleman of your favour and good breeding-I accept the agreeable offer of your company."

Again their beavers were raised, and they walked on together, Antoine exerting himself to the utmost to ingratiate himself in the good graces of the obese servitor. There is, indeed, a sort of freemasonry among the class to which they pertained that renders any other recommendation than a smart livery quite unnecessary.

"You are a stranger in Paris ?" said the fat valet. "We have been here about a week."

"Have you a large family?"

Only the governor."

"That's pleasant," said his guide. "Is he rich ?"

"Not very much encumbered with the specie," replied Antoine; "but he has great expectations, and is as generous as a prince, and is la coqueluche de toutes les femmes (the darling of all the women)." "Is he liberal ?"

"Liberal!" exclaimed Antoine-" liberal to excess. his purse is the same as my own."

The fact is,

This last assertion was strictly true-for it contained about as much. "You're a happy fellow!"

"I hope you have as good a master," said Antoine.

"No, indeed," replied the other, smiling; "but I have two mistresses."

"That is sufficient to account for the polish in your manners," said Antoine; "for the influence of the fair sex upon us men is as imperceptible as it is extraordinary in its effects."

This last compliment was a home-thrust to the self-esteem of the ladies' man, which he answered with a bow. Having now arrived at the spot for which he had inquired, Antoine declared he could not part with his new acquaintance without drawing a cork and pouring a libation.

To this proposition the other instantly agreed, upon the express condition that he should treat the "stranger," which, after a tolerable show of resistance on the part of Antoine, was finally acceded to.

While they quaffed their wine, Antoine "drew" from the communi

cative Gaspard that Agatha de Saint Firmin was the guardian of Adelaide de Florinville, her niece, who possessed a very handsome fortune. That she could not marry without the consent of her aunt; and that the rival he had ascertained who was frequenting the house, was a M. de Jourdain, a wealthy, avaricious, and mean man; for Gaspard declared that neither he nor any of the servants had ever seen the "colour of his money." Excited by the exhilarating beverage and the playful wit of Antoine, the worthy Gaspard declared, with his hand upon his heart, that he earnestly wished for a better acquaintance, and that nothing would give him greater pleasure than the union of their respective families, to the fruition of which he would willingly devote the humble talents he possessed.

Embracing each other in the most amiable manner, the two valets separated, Antoine having first obtained the promise of Gaspard that he would spend the evening with him at his master's hotel.

CHAP. IV.

"Come, come, De Jourdain," exclaimed the elegant Durand; "don't flinch: we must discuss another bottle of burgundy, and then to the opera with all my heart."

"Well, well," replied the opulent plebeian; "you do with me just as you like." And the other bottle was placed upon the table, for De Jourdain was no flincher when another was to pay the reckoning.

De Ferval, acting upon the intelligence of Antoine, had sought the acquaintance of his rival, and his connexions, manners, and address soon obtained what he so ardently desired, and he had little difficulty in prevailing upon him to partake of his hospitality.

As the wine circulated De Ferval turned the discourse upon women in general, and then upon the two ladies in particular who had attracted his attention in the gardens.

"I am on a good footing there, I assure you," remarked De Jour

dain.

"Indeed! you are then a most fortunate man," replied De Ferval. Why, I do believe I have excited a little envy," said De Jourdain. "The aunt is a very amiable creature?"

"Very."

"And of course her dowry-such a considerable sum-is sure to win her admirers, even had Nature been sparing in her gifts."

"Certainly," replied De Jourdain, whose attention was rivetted by every word that fell from the gallant's lips; "but pray, De Ferval, where did you learn that she was an heiress ?"

"From the best authority. I know everybody," answered De Ferval: "but, of course, you are not ignorant of the fact."

"No! oh, no!" said the cunning De Jourdain, although it was too evident to his companion that he was the first who had imparted the veracious communication to the lover-of money.

It was a subject of inward gratulation to De Ferval to see that he really "nibbled" the gilded bait.

"But money has never been my object," continued Durand: "I'm all for love. You will perhaps deem me imprudent, but—”

"No; every man has his fancy," replied De Jourdain, and, occupied by his own pleasant thoughts, he filled a bumper.

Antoine entered the apartment.

"You have been drinking, sirrah?" exclaimed De Ferval.

"I beg your pardon, Monsieur," replied Antoine; "but the fact is, Madame de Saint Firmin's gentleman is supping with me." "Who?" demanded De Jourdain.

"Gaspard, Monsieur."

"Indeed!" cried De Jourdain.

"An excellent thought!" exclaimed De Ferval. Look

ye, Antoine;

I want to obtain some information respecting that family; you understand me-the screen!"

Antoine bowed and departed.

"That 's my authority," said De Ferval: "servants always know more respecting the affairs of their masters and mistresses than they frequently do themselves."

"Too true," said De Jourdain.

"What a tactician you are, De Ferval! The thought never struck me till now. But what do you propose ?"

“Follow me, and I'll let you into a secret," said De Ferval.

CHAP. V.

In the apartment which Antoine occupied was a large screen, behind which Durand and his friend concealed themselves. Antoine and Gaspard were enjoying themselves to their hearts' content.

"Come, fill," said Antoine;" and here, I'll give you the health of Madame Adelaide."

The two varlets quaffed bumpers to the beauty's health.

"A sweet lady," said Gaspard; "if her fortune were only equal to her beauty, what a rare prize she would be!"

"I thought you said your mistress was rich?" said Antoine.

Yes, the other-Madame Agatha," replied Gaspard.

"Oh!" cried Antoine, " I thought

"Ay, and so does all the world, I believe," said Gaspard; "but she is deucedly afraid of fortune-hunters, and takes great pains to let the world know that she is not worth a denier."

"That is strange."

"I differ with you there," replied Gaspard; "I think she is perfectly right, and the upshot will probably be that her niece will inherit her property."

De Ferval, considering that his new acquaintance had heard quite sufficient, withdrew him from the apartment. De Jourdain was evidently delighted, and, man of the world as he was, could not conceal his satisfaction from the penetrating Durand.

"Although my previous information is confirmed," said De Ferval, "I must confess I am rather disappointed in the extent of the valet's communication. Nor have you gained a notch, Monsieur, for with all these particulars you were before acquainted."

Certainly," said De Jourdain; "but yet it is rather interesting to hear the sentiments and opinions of these underlings."

"Yes, it is very ludicrous," said De Ferval, meaning the mental deductions of the retired trader.

They soon afterwards repaired together to the Opera, where the delighted De Jourdain introduced his dear friend to the blushing Adelaide; and sedulously devoting himself to Madame Agatha, left him to improve the opportunity with the beautiful object of his admiration.

CHAP. VI.

Early on the following morning De Jourdain was at the toilette of Madame Agatha. She was highly flattered by his presence, and he as awkward as it is possible to suppose a man of his one idea of " business." His reading being confined principally to ledgers, journals, and invoices, his language was rather technical than copious.

"Madame," said he, drawing his chair nervously towards her, "I-I had the honour of sending you a letter of yesterday's date, containing proposals for a partnership, requesting an answer in due course."

"Which I should certainly have complied with," replied Agatha, with real emotion," had you not appeared in person so quickly afterwards, as to render it unnecessary. In a word, Monsieur de Jourdain, in all partnerships, you know that equality of fortune is greatly to be desired; now, I have nothing, a mere trifle."

"My dear Madame," continued he, emboldened by her confession, "you do yourself injustice, I am no fortune-hunter; all my speculations have fortunately been attended with success, and I have sufficient, in all prudence, to please myself in the choice of a wife without the least regard to pecuniary matters. Madame, I offer you my hand without any stipulation whatever, and I believe the account I can render of myself (errors excepted) will not be objected to by the most fastidious. Is it a bargain ?"

"Really, my

“ Nay...

dear Monsieur," said the blushing Agatha, "I cannot."

"I cannot refuse so kind and generous an offer," continued she, as she placed her bony hand in his.

"I am happy!" exclaimed De Jourdain, and kissing her taper fingers, he added-" say when shall the bond be ratified by holy mother Church ?”

After naming several distant periods with all the due decorum and bashfulness of a maiden, to all of which the ardent De Jourdain objected, she finally consented that the coming morrow should be the happy day. His worldly prudence prevented him from inquiring too abruptly into the worldly possessions of his affianced bride; but still he thought he possessed sufficient address to arrive at the desired point without startling the lady; he therefore, under the mask of a pretended interest in her welfare, affectionately inquired if his dear Agatha had any requisition to make relative to a settlement of pin money, &c., before the indissoluble knot should be tied. Her woman's cunning, however, was more than a match for his insidious kindness.

"My dear Monsieur," said Agatha, "I have long since resolved never to bestow my hand unless my heart could accompany it. My ready compliance with your earnest intreaties sufficiently testifies the esteem in which I hold you: anything that your affection may hereafter