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"Speak of the Devil," whispered La Fosse in nificance of his glance, I turned in my chair

The door had opened, and under the lintel stood the thick-set figure of the Comte de Chatellerault Before hiold was receiving, with back obsequiously bent, his hat and cloak

A sudden hush fell upon the asseo this very man had been the subject of our talk, and silenced were the wits that but an instant since had been uedoc courtship--from which he was newly returned with the shame of defeat--into a subject for heartless mockery and jest Surprise was in the air for we had heard that Chatellerault was crushed by his ill-fortune in the lists of Cupid, and we had not looked to see hi so soon a board at which--or so at least I boasted--mirth presided

And so for a little space the Count stood pausing on my threshold, whilst we craned our necks to conteh he had been an object for inquisitive inspection Then a sh from the brainless La Fosse seemed to break the spell I frowned It was a climax of discourtesy whose impression I must at all costs efface

I leapt toa full half-yard along the gli parquet of the floor, and in two strides I had reached the Count and put forth my hand to bid hiued sorrow He advanced into the full blaze of the candlelight, and fetched a dish from the depths of his portly bulk

"You are surprised to see me, Monsieur le Marquis," said he, and his tone see--for his very existence almost

Now Nature had ant as Lucifer--soe his downtrodden retainers were said to detect in the lineaments of his swarthy face Environment had added to that store of insolence ith Nature had equipped hione yet further to mould the peacock attributes of his vain soul So that this wondrous huave one awry could account for it in such a ht to find so many here," said he And his next words contained the cause of his dejected air "The King, Monsieur de Bardelys, has refused to see one, we lesser bodies of the courtly firht and co bow