Take more care on your second trip, especially with my library." "What does he mean by his Venetian glass ?" muttered the porter, walking up and down with an uneasy air before the frames ranged against the wall.

"I don't see any glass.

Some joke, no doubt.

I only see a screen.
We shall see, at any rate, what he will bring next trip." "Is your tenant not going to make room for me soon ?" inquired the young man, "it is half-past twelve, and I want to move in." "He won't be much longer," answered the porter, "but there is no harm done yet, since your furniture has not come," added he, with a stress on the concluding words.
As the young man was about to reply, a dragoon entered the court.
"Is this Monsieur Bernard's ?" he asked, drawing a letter from a huge leather portfolio which swung at his side.
"He lives here," replied the porter.
"Here is a letter for him," said the dragoon; "give me a receipt," and he handed to the porter a bulletin of despatches which the latter entered his lodge to sign.
"Excuse me for leaving you alone," said he to the young man who was stalking impatiently about the court, "but this is a letter from the Minister to my landlord, and I am going to take it up to him." Monsieur Bernard was just beginning to shave when the porter knocked at his door.
"What do you want, Durand ?" "Sir," replied the other, lifting his cap, "a soldier has just brought this for you.

It comes from the Ministry." And he handed to Monsieur Bernard the letter, the envelope of which bore the stamp of the War Department.
"Heavens!" exclaimed Monsieur Bernard, in such agitation that he all but cut himself.