knows what he did with respect to the braggart, who boasted that he had never felt fear. The Marshal took a candle, and put it so close to the nose of the gasconader, that he had to draw back his head in affright, to the great amusement of the spectators."
"None but a Marshal of Turenne could have presumed to play off such a miserable practical joke. Sir, I maintain that your friend is a coward, and that you-" "And I !" exclaimed M. de Argentre, curling himself up like a wounded serpent, his forehead pale and his eyes on fire ; "and I, sir-" "Holloa, gentlemen," cried out a new comer, who, in the heat of the discussion, had glided unperceived amid the group. " This is my affair," he said to M. de Argentre, whose already uplifted arm he seized ; " and as to you, M. de Malatour, I am at your command." " In that case, then, after you it is my turn," said d'Argentre, calmly reseating himself. 66"By my honor, gentlemen, you give me infinite pleasure !" cried the duellist. "6' One moment," said the new comer, who although still very young, wore the cross of Saint Louis. " Too great haste in a matter like this testifies less a contempt of death, than impatience to have done with life." "What do you mean, Sir ?" "It is but this very moment that M. d'Argentre has told you, that one of the bravest of our generals admitted that he had moments of fear. Now, without making myself responsible for the authenticity of the anecdote respecting Turenne, I affirm that the courage of the duellist is rather to be ascribed to habit, than to courage. Would you wish to see this proved ?" " Enough, good sir, we are here as soldiers to fight, and not as mere students, to argue themes according to the strict rules of logic. " Listen to me a moment longer. This is my proposition to you. We are all now about to obtain leave of absence. Now, I invite you, as well as all our mutual friends present, to my country house, or rather to the Rock du Clat, situated in the Eastern Pyrenees. I invite you there to a bear-hunt. You are very clever, M. de Malatour ; you can snuff a candle with a pistol-ball at twenty paces' distance, and no one can pretend to compete with you in the exercise of the small sword. Well, then, sir, I mean to put you in presence of a bear, and if you are able, I do not say to lodge a ball in his head, but even to take a steady aim at him, then I shall be quite ready to submit myself to the proof, either to be killed by you, or to kill you ; since these are the only terms on which you will allow me to be friends with you." "Are you joking, Sir ?" " On the contrary, I never was more serious in all my life. I believe that the fiery ardour which brings you to the duelling ground, is to be regarded rather as a courage
of the nerves, than the courage of the heart. The bravery of the soul, which is, after all, the only true one, and that on which we can solely rely in moments of unexpected danger is not there." "Yes, but supposing that I accept your proof, what security shall I have that you will not find another excuse for not giving me a meeting." 66 My word, Sir ; of which I make all my comrades the witness, and that I place under the safeguard of their honor." Here there was heard such a general murmur of applause amid his auditors, that M. de Malatour, in despite of the fury that flashed from his eyes, felt himself compelled to accede to the proposition made to him. It was then agreed, that in a month from that day, that was on the first of September, all who were then present should again met together at the Chateau du Clat. CHAPTER II.
THE Castle of Clat, like the greater part of those buildings that have very strong walls, is still to be seen beneath the chain of the Pyrenees. It was planted on a high and elevated point, from which there was commanded a view of the mountains around for many leagues, while the place itself was overtopped by the dazzling snows of the Pyrenees. The first care of the young Lord of Villetriton, after having paid the due tribute of regret to the memory of his father, was to have summoned before him a man named Pareur de Gesse, one of the most celebrated bear-hunters in the district. Of the person that we now venture to introduce into our story, there are still told the most astonishing anecdotes, with respect both to his skill, his courage, and his extraordinary escapes from the most imminent peril. This man was of a thin figure, very slightly bent ; the latter defect principally to be ascribed to his constant habit of climbing to those places that were the ordinary theatre of his hunting. This defect gave him the appearance of being somewhat advanced in life, although he had not yet reached his fortieth year. But then, looking at him more attentively, it would be found in that compact body, in those muscular limbs, in the eye, lively, bright, and intelligent, in that brown, smooth hair which not a single streak of grey as yet defaced, that there stood before you one of those hardy constitutions, that seem destined to remain a stranger to every species of infirmity that ordinary life is exposed to. He was a robust child of the mountains, in the midst of which he had passed his life. His heart too was upright and religious ; it was penetrated as all kindly and simple natures are, with the light of conscience-with the conviction that we are accountable to our Creator for all our actions. Thanks to this habit of respect for things that are sacred, and perhaps, also, by reason of the
