than what might be expected on such an occasion, and besides will relieve me, my dear Lord Fletcher, from the very awkward position in which I am placed in being charged with a hostile message to one for whom I entertain so deep a.regard as for yourself."

"With respect to your last observation, Mr. Fivebars," answered Fletcher, "I should imagine it had been perfectly competent for you to have declined any interference in the matter at all; but, as you have chosen to become a party in the business, I must beg to know Lord Clanelly's ultimatum, as there are other reasons, independently of those connected immediately with the present dispute, which would render it particularly impossible for me to make any sort. of apology or concession to Lord Clanelly."

"My dear Lord Fletcher," replied Fivebars, “indeed you take this matter far too seriously. circumstances are known to no one.

The

Lord Clanelly

merely feels sensitive with regard to the affair of the dog, as he imagines it might have been done wilfully on your part; that you struck the dog knowing it to be his, and that you thereby intended a deliberate and personal insult to him. If this was not the case you will be merely giving a declaration, which is necessary to satisfy his nice sense of honour, without

in the least degree making any sacrifice or compromise of your own, by authorizing me to express to Lord Clanelly your regret that any such circumstances should have arisen."

Lord Fletcher, whose great fault was weakness, and who had never been distinguished by a remarkable degree of moral courage, was beginning slightly to waver in his resolution.

"Do you really think, my dear sir," said he, addressing Fivebars as a private friend and counsellor, which was of course an error, considering the position in which Fivebars was then acting towards him-" do you really think, that without in any way compromising myself, or appearing to yield anything to Lord Clanelly, I might venture to follow your advice, and make some such sort of implied apology to him; for I really was not aware at the time that the dog was his property, and your mentioning this circumstance has put the matter quite in a different light."

Just as these words were spoken, and as Fivebars with all the humble diplomatic dexterity which his clumsy efforts could command, was about to complete his triumph by closing upon this proposal, the door of Lord Fletcher's room was flung open, and George

Grainger, accompanied by the Kilkenny cat, FitzWaterton himself, entered the room.

"Good morning to you both," he exclaimed. "I've brought you an old Irish acquaintance, just arrived in Paris, in the true spirit of Milesian independence, without a sixpence to bless himself with, and over head and ears in love into the bargain."

"

Upon my honour and credit, but you're looking very serious about something this morning, gentlemen," exclaimed Fitz-Waterton, as soon as the first greetings were over, "What's the matter now? You both look as if you were walking to your own funerals, your faces are so long, and your answers so short, this fine day.”

After a little hesitation on both sides, it seemed mutually agreed between Fivebars and Lord Fletcher, that the circumstances of this affair should be laid before Grainger, as a common friend of the two: and Fivebars hoped that his friendship for Fletcher would have induced Grainger to help him out of the scrape. George Grainger, however, who was better acquainted than Fivebars with all the previous causes of hostility between Lord Fletcher's family, and that of Lord Clanelly, and who, from his intimacy with the Comtesse de Carbonelle, had

imbibed from her, in a great measure, that desire of revenge upon Clanelly, which was ever the thought uppermost in her mind, and not unfrequently even made the subject of her private discourse with him, took immediately the very opposite view of the subject:-" Mr. Fivebars," said he, without a moment's hesitation, "I am sorry that you should have committed yourself personally so far in this business, because it is impossible that it should end otherwise than in the most hostile manner. You have only to communicate with me at any hour you wish to name, and if Lord Fletcher will allow me, I shall be most happy to officiate as his second in this unfortunate affair, and will arrange time, place, and the other preliminaries, as soon as is convenient to yourself."

Fivebars still hung back, and was going to temporize again; but it was peculiarly unfortunate for him that there was an Irishman in the room"Impossible! not a word of it!" exclaimed FitzWaterton, "not a word of explanation! out of the question altogether, I assure you-quite impossible, and unheard of! At five o'clock to-morrow morning to the Bois de Boulogne! On my honour and credit, a pretty sort of thing it would be to make an apology indeed!"

Lord Fletcher, seeing all chance of accommodation at an end, placed himself entirely in the hands of his friend, George Grainger. Grainger, who had, in fact, been followed by Fitz-Waterton in the street quite against his good will, and who wanted much to get rid of him, now made the business of the approaching duel an excuse to disembarrass himself of his presence.

At three o'clock Fivebars called on Grainger to arrange all the necessary preliminary points. It was settled that the two carriages should wait for each other the following morning, at the barrière de l'Etoile, at five o'clock, and that the parties should then proceed together to a spot to be afterwards chosen, somewhere to the left hand side of the high road to St. Germain's.

A few minutes before the appointed hour, the carriage of Lord Fletcher, containing himself, George Grainger, and a surgeon, arrived at the Barrière, and drawing up on the road side a little beyond the archway, in order to avoid the inquisitive glances and surmises of the sentinels, awaited the arrival of Lord Clanelly and his party. Many moments had not passed, when the second equipage arrived, and George Grainger, having alighted