At last he thought he heard heavy footsteps approaching,--but they could not be those of his goddess--he must be mistaken--goddesses glide so lightly over the sward that not even a blade of grass is crushed beneath their feet--and, indeed, all was silent again.
"Unless Mme.

la Marquise comes quickly, I fear she will find only a half-frozen lover, instead of an ardent, impatient one," murmured Leander with chattering teeth; and even as the words escaped him four dark shadows advanced noiselessly from behind upon the expectant gallant.

Two of these shadows, which were the substantial bodies of stout rascals in the service of the Marquis de Bruyeres, seized him suddenly by the arms, which they held pinioned closely to his sides, while the other two proceeded to rain blows alternately upon his back--keeping perfect time as their strokes fell thick and fast.

Too proud to run the risk of making his woes public by an outcry, their astonished victim took his punishment bravely--without making a sound.
Mutius Scaevola did not bear himself more heroically while his right hand lay among the burning coals upon the altar in the presence of Porsenna, than did Leander under his severe chastisement.

When it was finished the two men let go of their prisoner, all four saluted him gravely, and retired as noiselessly as they had come, without a single word being spoken.
What a terrible fall was this! that famous one of Icarus himself, tumbling down headlong from the near neighbourhood of the sun, was not a greater.