“Ah,” cried Raynal, “you see I know what it is.  I have been chained down by the arm, and the leg, and all:  it is deadly tiresome.”

“Tiresome! it is—­it is—­oh, dear commandant, Heaven bless you for coming!”

“Ta! ta! ta!  I am come on my own business.”

“All the better.  I have nothing to do; that is what kills me.  I’m eating my own heart.”

“Cannibal!  Well, my lad, since you are in that humor, cheer up, for I bring you a job, and a tough one; it has puzzled me.”

“What is it, commandant?  What is it?”

“Well, do you know a house and a family called Beaurepaire?”

“Do I know Beaurepaire?”

And the pale youth turned very red; and stared with awe at this wizard of a commandant.  He thought he was going to be called over the coals for frequenting a disaffected family.  “Well,” said Raynal, “I have been and bought this Beaurepaire.”

Edouard uttered a loud exclamation.  “It was you bought it! she never told me that.”

“Yes,” said Raynal, “I am the culprit; and we have fixed on you to undo my work without hurting their pride too much, poor souls; but let us begin with the facts.”

Then Raynal told him my story after his fashion.  Of course I shall not go and print his version; you might like his concise way better than my verbose; and I’m not here to hold up any man’s coat-tails.  Short as he made it, Edouard’s eyes were moist more than once; and at the end he caught Raynal’s hand and kissed it.  Then he asked time to reflect; “for,” said he, “I must try and be just.”

“I’ll give you an hour,” said Raynal, with an air of grand munificence.  The only treasure he valued was time.

In less than an hour Edouard had solved the knot, to his entire satisfaction; he even gave the commandant particular instructions for carrying out his sovereign decree.  Raynal received these orders from his subordinate with that simplicity which formed part of his amazing character, and rode home relieved of all responsibility in the matter.

COMMANDANT RAYNAL TO MADEMOISELLE DE BEAUREPAIRE.

Mademoiselle,—­Before I could find time to write to our referee, news came in that he had just broken his arm;—­

“Oh! oh, dear! our poor Edouard!”

And if poor Edouard had seen the pale faces, and heard the faltering accents, it would have reconciled him to his broken arm almost.  This hand-grenade the commandant had dropped so coolly among them, it was a long while ere they could recover from it enough to read the rest of the letter,—­

So I rode over to him, and found him on his back, fretting for want of something to do.  I told him the whole story.  He undertook the business.  I have received his instructions, and next week shall be at his quarters to clear off his arrears of business, and make acquaintance with all your family, if they permit.