so as to avoid the furious onslaught of the Garde-du-Corps, he dealt him such a blow across the bridge of his nose, as at once to blacken both eyes, and cause a copious flow of blood, mingled with involuntary tears. Then seizing him with his left hand, Staunton held him as in a vice, firmly pinioned to the wall, the point of the single-stick forcibly pressed against his throat.

There was now an immediate rush to separate the combatants. Monsieur de St. Rémy was led away by his friends, uttering all the while a torrent of invectives and abuse; at the same time insisting on having ample satisfaction; which Staunton assured him he would most willingly accord.

CHAPTER XII.

66

CONSEQUENCES OF A VISIT TO THE PALAIS ROYAL."

Where kings and queens did whilom once reside, Now Paphian girls were known to sing and smile; And monks might deem their time was come again, If ancient tales say true, nor wrong those holy men. Parodied from Childe Harold.

ON leaving Monsieur de Labruyère's salle d'armes, we decided on immediately consulting our friend Captain O'Donaghue, as to the most advisable mode of proceeding after what had occurred.

The conduct of the French officer had been so markedly gross and insulting, that I felt it due not only to my own feelings, but also to the commission which I held, to call him to account: neither did Staunton feel disposed to overlook Monsieur de St. Rémy's behaviour towards himself.

Captain O'Donaghue enjoyed the reputation of being an undoubted authority in everything appertaining to "affairs of honour." We therefore agreed that we could not take the advice of a more competent person, and accordingly repaired to the Captain's quarters, situated in a narrow, unfrequented, little backstreet, and whose humble appearance corresponded with what was the case in the present instance the not unfrequently slender revenues of a "Half-Pay."

On being ushered into the Captain's room, we found the worthy son of Erin engaged in discussing alone, a bottle of vin ordinaire, after an early dinner.

"It's welcome, boys, ye are!" said the Captain, in purest Milesian. "Now, Marie," added he, addressing the servant in very good Irish French; "bring us a bottle of Bordeaux; and, my lads, you shall taste a glass of raal good chateau margaux, and no mistake.”

In vain we protested, that not having yet dined, we could not well judge of his claret. The Captain was inexorable; and obliged us nolens volens, to partake of the wine, ere he would listen to what we had to say.

"By the powers of Moll Kelly!" exclaimed

he, after having heard all the particulars we related; " sure, 'tis a regular case of pistols and coffee for two,' and no mistake."

"You're both very young," added he, after pondering awhile, " to be engaged in such an affair; but sure there's no manes of backing out. Here are you," addressing himself to me, “a full ensign; as riglar an officer, bearing his Majesty's commission, as the great Duke himself. You've been grossly and publicly insulted, and that likewise by a foreign officer! No, by the powers! there's only one thing to be done in your case; and, sure, there's only one thing to be done in yours also," said he, turning round to Staunton; "and though 'tis a bad business, I'm not sorry you should have put it into the hands of one, who's expariance in such matters, will ensure your having anyhow fair play."

O'Donaghue then requested the fullest particulars as to how the quarrel had originated, and could not bring himself to believe that Monsieur de St. Rémy, if in his senses, would have acted in such a manner without some good and valid cause.

"Neither of us can recollect ever meeting, or even seeing the fellow before," replied I;

"and yet there was something which appeared familiar to my ear in the tone of his voice, as if it were not the first time I had heard it, but when or where I cannot say.'

The Captain filled at once both his meerschaum and his glass; appearing for a while to be buried in smoke and thought. At last, as if a bright idea had suddenly struck him, he placed his pipe on the table and exclaimed:

Sure, faith and I've hit it off! Maybe this Monsieur de St. Rémy is one and the same with the fierce gentleman of the jingling spurs, whom you so inconvaniently disturbed the other evening in Ma'amselle Malawny's garden summer-house."

The truth now flashed on me like lightning. That voice was assuredly identicalthe dim outline of the tall figure I had so indistinctly seen amid the dark recesses of that leafy bower-the jingling spurs and clanking scabbard all evidently appertained to one and the same person: and that individual was undoubtedly my late antagonist Monsieur de St. Rémy, who, probably actuated by feelings of jealousy and revenge, had so grossly insulted me in the manner I have described!

Having settled this point, the Captain,