His

added to his otherwise trim and orderly appearance; and the air of dignity which he assumed by no means set upon him unbecomingly. His white hand, fair complexion, and nonchalance of bearing, inferred that he had not been one of fortune's unfavoured offspring whose lot is doomed to toil. erect carriage and disciplined demeanour were en militaire, and the casual observer might at once decide him to belong to the profession of arms. Inglis eyed the stranger as if admiringly, and the stranger cast divers furtive glances at Inglis.

"Horrible a-morning, real a-English day," calmly observed the stranger, fearfully elongating the imperfectly pronounced words in which he delivered the above sentiments, and addressing himself in a most polite and ingratiating manner.

"Dreadfully damp and uncomfortable, indeed, sir,-what one terms a rheumatic morning," returned James, with a complacent smile, evidently relishing the elegant freedom of the handsome man, whom he recognized as having once or twice beheld before, and

whom he doubted not was a person of considerable importance.

"A-ah-well a-said, Monsieur,—well said, but a-'pon honour I don't a-want the cursed complaint. A-waiter, bring me a bottom of a-brandy hot a-water and a ham a-sandwich. Deuced unpleasant thing rheumatism, and I recollect when travelling with Count a-Wallewski through Northern Europe a-that nobleman said pure cognac was the a-best possible preventative."

Inglis opened his eyes and dilated the white still more broadly when he discovered that he had the honour of conversing with the friend of a count, and with one who had made the tour of Northern Europe. He was all smiles and attention, and this mutual pleasure expressed in the features had the effect of lengthening the conversation. When the twain had become a little more familiar, Mr. Inglis ventured to ask the handsome personage before him if he were not a foreigner? The latter very good-humouredly withdrew from his left vest pocket a small mother-of-pearl card-case, and placed in the

hand of the former the address of The Count de Puffendoff. Mr. Inglis read that name and title with inward amazement, and emulating his newly-made friend's example, exchanged his own card, which announced himself to be Mr. Inglis, Elleringay Manor.

"I'm a very proud to a-make your personal acquaintance. If I remember right I had the honour of adding my unit to the ayes for your admission into our club some six weeks ago."

Mr. Inglis said, in reply, that he was, also, extremely glad to have thus agreeably become known to so distinguished an individual as the Count de Puffendoff, and thanked him for having been one to vote for him, when balloted into the very distinguished institution to which he now belonged.

"Ia-joined this a-club, mon cher," remarked the Count de Puffendoff, delightfully elongating his accents, "a-because I'm a single man, and so long as I a-stop in England don't want a-the confounded bother of a retinue of servants. Besides-a 'tis

deuced lonely for a bachelor to be a-shut up

in London without a-companions. My own habits are a-somewhat social, and as during a-recent years I have been a cosmopolite; I now feel these a-sort of places more in keeping a-with my tastes-aw!"

"You can certainly have many comforts at a club not procurable at a private house, and".

"Oh, yes! I fully agree with you; society -eatables-damme, everything you wish on the instant-no grumbling, no wife to please-I beg your pardon, perhaps you are more fortunate than myself-pray are ayou affianced; hooked, as the common expression goes?"

"Yes! yes-Count Puffendoff, I was long free, but caught at last,” replied Jemmy, as if he regretted he were not still one of the wide world's denizens, like the unfettered Count.

"Well, well, mon cher, 'tis an old saying, 'all's for the best;' but, on the continent, where much &-of my life has been spent, the upper classes do things much better. They marry for matters of propriety; but it is

tacitly understood that both shall not be so tied and a-tethered down as-a in England. They-a, as you would say, are-a not so tightlaced and lo! 'tis a better plan. Damme, who would a-marry not-a to improve his position and estate ? Methinks it a-would be very impolitie to take a wife a-without a dowry. There are such things done by moon-struck wretches, I believe. One can only pity such weakness-aw!"

"I have often heard that in France husbands will not be pinned to their spouses, like children to their dolls."

"Of course they are not a-so foolish; they go where they like; do as they like, and are not a-the slaves of a-whimsical wives."

"I think Count, I have. acted prudently of late; I have absented myself a good deal from home, and doing this pretty early in the matrimonial career is likely to save much altercation afterwards."

"It is a great wisdom to a commence as one means to a-go on, mon cher," returned the smiling and elegant Puffendoff.

"I'm determined I'll do as I like; every