"_Ma foi!_ I have not the slightest idea in the world. He is a person whom I met at the Spas; he passed by us in the winter garden at the embassy, and I called to him to play off this foolish jest, to which he gallantly replied the next day by giving me a touch with his sword-point. This is the history of our acquaintance. But let us speak no more of such follies. I have come to ask you for a cup of tea." So saying, M. de Lucenay flung himself down full length on the sofa; after which, poking the point of his cane between the wall and the frame of a picture hanging over his head, he began to move it about, and try and balance the frame. "I expected you, my dear Henry; and I have got up a surprise for you," said M. d'Harville. "Ah, bah! and in what way?" exclaimed M. de Lucenay, giving to the picture a very doubtful kind of balance. "You will unquestionably unhook that picture, and let it down on your head." "_Pardieu!_ I believe you are right. What an eagle's eye you have! But, tell me, what is this surprise of yours?" "I have invited some of our friends to come and breakfast with us!" "Really! Well, that is capital! Bravo, marquis,--bravissimo! ultra-bravissimo!" exclaimed M. de Lucenay, in a lusty voice, and beating the sofa cushions with his cane with all his might. "And who shall we have,--Saint-Remy? No, I recollect; he has been in the country for some days. What the devil can he be pattering about in the country in the mid-winter for?" "Are you sure he is not in Paris?" "Quite sure; for I wrote to him to go out with me, and learned he was absent; and so I fell back upon Lord Douglas, and Sezannes." "Nothing can be better; they breakfast with us." "Bravo! bravo! bravo!" exclaimed M. de Lucenay again, with lusty lungs; and then, wriggling and twisting himself on the sofa, he accompanied his cries with a series of fishlike bounds and springs, which would have made a boatman envious. The acrobatic exercises of the Duke de Lucenay were interrupted by the arrival of M. de Saint-Remy. "There was no occasion to ask if Lucenay was here," said the viscount, gaily; "one could hear him below stairs." "What! Is it you, graceful sylvan, country swain,--wolf of the woods?" exclaimed the duke, in his surprise, and sitting up suddenly. "I thought you were in the country!" "I came back yesterday; and, having this instant received D'Harville's invitation, I have hastened hither, quite delighted to make one in so pleasant a surprise." And M. de Saint-Remy extended his hand to M. de Lucenay, and then to the marquis. "Let me thank you for your speed, my dear Saint-Remy. Is it not natural? The friends of Lucenay ought to rejoice in the fortunate result of this duel, which, after all, might have had very serious results." "But," resumed the duke, doggedly, "what on earth have you been doing in the country in the middle of winter, Saint-Remy? It mystifies me."