Drink brought on fighting, and he was so knocked about that he was laid up for some weeks.

He had a severe knife wound in the shoulder and was much bruised." "Who took his place ?" "A young fellow that my groom got at a servants' registry office." M.de Mussidan felt that he was on the right track, for he remembered that the man who had called on him had had the audacity to leave a card, on which was marked: "B.

MASCARIN, "Servants' Registry Office, "Rue Montorgueil." "Do you know where this place is ?" asked he.
"Certainly; in the Rue du Dauphin nearly opposite to my house." The Count swore a deep oath.

"The rogues are very wily; but, my dear fellow if you are ready, we will defy the storm together." De Clinchain felt a cold tremor pass through his whole frame at this proposal.
"Not I," said he; "do not try and persuade me.

If you have come to this decision, let me know at once, and I will go home and finish it all with a pistol bullet." He was just the sort of nervous, timorous man to do exactly as he said, and would sooner have killed himself than endure all kinds of annoyance, which might impair his digestion.
"Very well," answered his friend, with sullen resignation, "then I will give in." De Clinchain heaved a deep sigh of relief, for he, not knowing what had passed before, had expected to have had a much more difficult task in persuading his friend.
"You are acting like a reasonable man for once in your life," said he.
"You think so, because I give ear to your timorous advice.