now attacking in turn, gave him not a moment's rest-drove him from one side of the apartment to the other, and at length, though not without some difficulty, disarmed him.-" Monsieur le comte," said he to him, returning him his sword, "you have had a lesson to-night, which it may be of service for you to remember. As a very fair master of your weapon, you must be well aware that within these five minutes I have had your life at my disposal several times. For many reasons I did not choose to take advantage of such an opportunity; but you may meet with some who would not be so scrupulous. Take my advice, as a friend-when your country calls upon you to draw your sword, or your honour imperatively demands you to defend it, shew the same skill and courage you have done to-night, and you will acquire fame and dignity; but never, sir, contend with a person, believing it to be upon unequal terms for them; for you may chance to lose your life, and certainly will lose your repu tation." The count looked down for a momentthe blood mounted quickly into his face, and there seemed to be in his bosom a struggle between false pride and generous shame. The bad passion yielded, and dropping the sword that Wilmot had returned, he held out a hand to each of his antagonists." I have been wrong," said he-" very wrong." "You have," replied Mr. Wilmot, with a smile, grasping his hand in his; “but I will answer for it, you will never be so again: for when a man can with regret own he is wrong, the bad feeling is not only atoned, but conquered." "But it is of you that I have principally to beg pardon," said the count, turning to Charles." 66 Oh, not at all," replied Charles, shaking him by the hand; "you have done me no harm, luckily for both of us: but it is late-I will wish you good night. I have no doubt we shall meet again upon more friendly terms;" and taking a cordial leave of him, the two Englishmen returned to their hotel. "You should learn to fence, Charles," said Mr. Wilmot, as they walked homeward: "but for your own sake, never take a man's life in a duel; it is what you never can recall, and never can forget." And thus ended all his observations on the subject, for he scarcely ever mentioned it again. CHAP CHAPTER XIV. There at one passage oft you might survey, Inseparable now the truth and lie. Temple of Fame. Explanations. RUMOUR is represented as having a thousand tongues. Now, though that may be a pretty sufficient mouthful for any lady of moderate capacity, yet in Paris (which is a very constant residence of that good dame), one would suppose the number thus allotted to her multiplied by ten, and that she kept them constantly at work, which she might well do, seeing that the tongue is an organ incapable of fatigue; and therefore (unlike Argus with his eyes), she would have no occasion to let half of them loll asleep in one side of her mouth, while the others were employed in their various occupations. When Bacon wrote upon "The Wisdom of the Ancients," I wonder he did not take notice of this lady amongst the rest, and explain to us the full scope and meaning of her thousand tongues, which I conceive to have been intended to represent, not only her volubility, but also to shew that she never told a story twice the same way, which was strikingly exemplified in the various tales that spread themselves over the French capital, concerning Mr. Melville and the count de L. There can be no doubt that she exerts herself more upon particular occasions than she does upon others; and in this instance, not the very laziest little organ of loquacity in her whole mouth was suffered to rest in quiet; but all and each were summoned to dispense their several mingled 1 |