LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 467, 13 December 1875, Page 3

LITERATURE.

UNDER THE FIR TREES. A SXOK.Y 01' A (JAKDIXAI'.S LOVE. Continued. 'He mistakes me,' he muttered to himself, ' if he imagines I shall be deterred by anything he can say from the course best calculated to promote my interest. Wife or mistress she shall go, together with her whole brood —nay, not so, there is one of them whom I must preserve to amuse my leisure in the country.'

This honourable idea wrought so agreeably on his mental organisation that he was on the point of yielding himself up entirely to the sway of pleasurable emotions, when the courier by whom the bishop's letter had been brought was shown into the room, and, after many bows and apologies, presented another missive, which he said he had overlooked among the contents of his portman teau. He had received instructions, he added, to convey back to his Eminence—for the proleptic style prevails in the Church as well as in the army —any letters the count might have to send. The bearing of this stroke of policy was not lost upon the profligate nobleman, since, if there was danger in the correspondence, ho saw clearly that the bishop was determined he should share it. Desiring the courier to wait below he then applied himself to the drawing up of an epistle which should be so enigmatical that even if subjected to the logical torture of a court of law it would confess nothing. But he found the French language so stubborn and inflexible that, express himself how he might, he could not conceal the fact that secret murder was in contemplation. He studied his phrases, he made copy after copy, but the idea he wished to hide, far blacker than the ink he wrote with, could not be prevented from staring him in the face. As however his fate depended on satisfying his correspondent, write he must, at whatever risk, and at length a letter was framed with the most innocent aspect he found it practicable to give it, and committed to the hands of the courier and the numerous accidents of the road. When the messenger had departed the count for the first time discerned the full import of the act he had perpetrated, and felt that his life was no longer in his own keeping, but would henceforward depend on the pleasure of the good bishop. This not being a soothing topic to dwell on he rose, put on his hat and sword, and, emerging from the inn, strolled in no very enviable frame of mind down the village. As his luck, good or ill, would have it, he met the cure, who, in a highly unceremonious manner invited him to dine at the presbytere that evening. ' Priests,' he thought, ' have a peculiar method of doing business, and fancy themselves the equals of their betters. But n'imjjorte —l will make use of the clerical knave and laugh at him when he has served my turn.' With this flattering resolution he smilingly accepted the cure's invitation, which he could not doubt he should be able to turn to good account. His feet now instinctively took the path leading to Madame's cottage, where, to his great delight, he found the eldest daughter alone. This was a golden opportunity and he made the best use of it. Being a thorough master of acting he threw himself upon his knees before the young lady, and, in the most impassioned phrases his vocabulary would supply, declared what he called his love, protesting she was the most beautiful woman m France, and conjuring her to complete, his felicity bv bestowing on him her hand. Unversed in the ways of the world the poor girl was thrown oil" her guard, and sufftred him when he rose from his knees to embrace and kiss her, without displaying any reluctance. How much further he might. have proceeded if is impossible to conjecture, had not Kuphrosine at that moment entered to announce the approach of the cure, who custom it was to make the round of his parishioners every morning. Being thus allowed time for lerlection the young lady inwardly blessed him as her deliverer, whilst the nobleman, chagrined and disappointed, could with difficulty conceal his ill-humour. He made up his mind, however, to outmam euvrc his clerical friend, and so evidently showed his determination to remain last upon the ground that the cure guessed his intentions and took his measures accordingly. Having inquired about Madame's health and whatever else concerned the little family, he addressed himself to the courtier, plunged into politics, and would have dissertated on all the lessons taught by the history of France, from the accession of Pharamoiid downwards, had not the arrival of Madame and the other young ladies rendered this diplomatic homily unnecessary. As if for spiritual purposes, however, he took the mother aside for a moment, made her partaker of his suspicions, and then blandly took his leave. Perceiving himself to be out-generalled the count likewise departed, but inwardly resolved not to be thus deprived of his prey. After what manner he spent the day, whether agreeably or disagreeably, is a matter of no moment. In the evening he found himself in the cure's drawing-room, chatting not unpleasantly with his sacerdotal host. How the honest priest had contrived to scrape together the knowledge he displaced perplexed our courtier, who had been in the habit of believing that people living at so great a. distance from Pat is were little better than so many chimpanzies. His annoyance, however, equalled his astonishment' at finding acuteness and clearness of vision whore he had expected simplicity and ignorance; but as great commanders value their victories in proportion to the skill and bravery of the enemy, so he anticipated the greater credit from overreaching his subtle antagonist. To compass his design he soon perceived the necessity of adopting a peculiar system of tactics, in conformity with which he must subordinate his own vanity to that of his host, and consent to appear gossiping, credulous, almost silly. He asked questions about everything, often without waiting for an answer, and exhibited a painful curiosity respecting the private concerns of every respectable person in .the neighbourhood. Still he by no means omitted to pay his respects to the dinner, enjoyed the truffles with the keenest relish, smacked his lips after the ombre chevalier from a stream in the vicinity, criticised the game with a gourmand's sagacity, and went off into absolute raptures at the flavour of the Chambertin and Volan v. When the imaginations of the two epicures had been inflamed to a high pitch, the Count adroitly introduced the topic nearest Ins heart, carelessly and •''-; if by n<> ideut in the midst vl other comical ciruuwaUuces.

'I dare say,' he observed, 'you have never heard of a scandalous anecdote connected with the fasti of your village, which, some years ago, amused the circles of Paris : the rumour ran that a certain bishop then, and still, high in favour at court, had in his youth committed the indiscretion of taking to himself a wife. Of course neither I nor any other sensible person believed one word of the story, which, nevertheless caused great uneasiness to the subject of it. The priest smiled knowingly. ' From your countenance I should infer,' observed the coin-tier, ' that you do not regard the report as altogether without foundation. ' ' Your inference is just.' ' Nonsense. I look upon it as a malicious joke.' ' Which, however, it is nut.' ' What, do you seriously put faith in it ?' ' Certainly.' ' Upon what grounds ?' ' Upon the most irrefragable. 1 performed the marriage ceremony myself.' • Oh heavens ! is it possible V ' It is perfectly true ' ' Of course it was dore secretly, and without any record of the fact being made V {'J'ci he continued.') It is a well ascertained fact that housewives are seldom out of temper on a washing day, if they get well on with their work. But if they have obtained inferior soap, and their hands are chafed therewith, there is generally a late tea, and the fireside is not pleasant until the children are got to repose. When purchasing soap, if you ask for the star brand, and see that you get it, there will be no fear of late washing or chapped hands, as the greatest care is taken when it is being manufactured to render it free from all injurious properties. Besides, it is the best, the bars arc the largest, and it is the cheapest soap in the market. Try, and you will be convinced. [ Advt. ]