Calvert of Strathore

Mr. Jefferson wrote to the young man four years later, inviting him to come to France. This invitation was eagerly accepted, and it was

th the warm furs, they set off at a furious pace down the Champs Elysées to the Place Louis XV. It was both surprising and alarming to Calvert to note with what reckless rapidity Beaufort drove through the cro

ly by a crowd of people, who poured out of a small street abutting upon the bouleva

t, quietly, looking intently at that same rabble as it edged and shuffled and slipped its way along into the great street. At Calvert's remark, the young Frenchman shrugged his

he said. "There seems to be some com

-looking people was a still closer knot of

essed looked around. He was poorly and thinly clothed, with only a ragged muffler knotted about his throat to keep off the stingin

ey are taking him away. You see he could not get any charcoal this morning when he went to Monsieur Juigné

es, but it has been impossible to relieve the suffering. They have, at least, to be thankful that freezing is such an easy death, and when all is said, they are far better off dead than alive. But it is extremely disagreeable to see the shive

hat the young Frenchman was so much more elaborately and exquisitely dressed than in the days when Calvert had known him in America, or that he was older or of more assurance of manner. There was some subtle change in his very nature, in the whole impression he g

awhile and you will better understand our manner of speech. 'Tis a strange enough jar

s

used to go skating on your Schuylkill!" He flicked the horses again. "And as for the ladies!-they crowd to the pièces d'eau in the royal gardens. Those

ed around by shivering men and women. The doors of the churches and hospitals stood open, and a continual stream of freezing wretches passed in to get warmed before proceeding on their way. Upon many houses were large signs bearing a notice to the effe

" he asked Beaufort, as the hors

and the most scandalous gossip, find the best wines and coffee, read the latest pamphlets-and let me tell you, my dear Calvert, they come out daily by the dozens in these times-see the best-known men about town, and-but I forget. I am telling you

the place well,"

d Beaufort, "though I think 'twill soon b

kings in America," said C

g and my order? There will be plenty who will desert both. 'Tis not the fashion to be loyal now," he went on, bitterly. "Even d'Azay hath changed. He, like Lafayette and your great friend Mr. Jefferson and so many others, is all f

swarming with people, all seemingly under the influence of some strange agitation; book-stalls teeming with brand-new publications and crowded with eager buyers; marionette shows; theatres; dancing-halls-all were there. Boys, bearing trays slung about their shoulders by leathern straps and heaped with little trick toys, moved continually among the throngs, hawking their wares and explaining the operation of them. Streams of people passed continually through the velvet curtains hung before Herr Curtius's shop to see his marvellous waxworks within. Opposite this popular resort was the

s bent on amusement, throngs of men stood about under the wind-swept arcades, talking

intances among the crowds of gesticulating, excited men, and that the look of disquiet upon

political intrigue; that these brawling, demented demagogues should be allowed to rant and rave here to an excited mob; that these disloyal, seditious pamphlets should be distributed and read and discussed be

st cognac and coffee?" he asked. "There is n

tendencies of the times than of the coffee and cognac of the Café de l'école. As he spoke, the man, who h

t the servant who had so far forgotten himself as to address two gentlemen without permission, and Calvert, turning to the man and

ness! I had never though

likely to see me often. I am to be here in Paris for an indefinite length of time, and as Monsieur d

ming with delight and surprise upon Calvert, "go and get us our coffe

inding an acquaintance in Paris so s

in that first fierce onslaught upon the Yorktown redoubt. He had directed the surgeon to dress the man's wounds-he had been knocked on the head with a musket-and had eased the poor wretch's mind greatly by speaking to him in his own tongue, for most of the French soldiery under Rochambeau and Lafayette knew not a word of English. When Bertrand recovered, Calvert had sent him a small sum of money and a kind message, neither of which was the man likely to forget. Never, in the whole course of his pinched,

in an insolent tone, he said, "'Tis a good thing the coffee is of the best, or, my word of honor, I would not come to a place which gentlemen seem to have abandoned and to which canaille flock." And with that he leaned back and looked

our host, has a most undeniably pretty daughter. She is the caissière, fortunately, and may be seen-and admired-at any time. We will see her as we go out. And speaking of b

ert, politely,

er ('tis an old abbaye on the banks of the Loire, Calvert, near Azay-le-Roi, the chateau of the d'Azay family) and came to dazzle all Paris under the chaperonage of her great aunt, the old Duchesse d'Azay. As you have seen her portrait-and, I dare say, remember its smallest detail-I will spare you the recital of those charms which captivated half the young gentlemen

atch, I suppose,"

tter to please both the King and Queen-and a man of rank and fortune. 'Tis safe to say the Duchess was most concerned as to his f

vert. "What a cruel wrong to so y

oom was alone in his travelling coach on his way to Madrid, sent thither at the instant and urgent command of the King on important private business connected with the Family Compact. From that journey he never returned alive, being attacked with a fatal fluxion of the

beautiful?" asked Ca

moved by every one I see!" he added, laughing ruefully. "Besides her beauty and her fortune, there is a wayward brilliancy about her, a piquant charm in her state of widowed maid, that makes her fairly irresistible. The Queen finds her charming and that Madame de Polignac is pleased to be jealous. 'Tis even said that d'Artois and d'Orléans, those archenemies, agree on

ur de St. Aulaire?

inger of tender songs, a good swordsman, a brilliant wit, a perfect courtier, a lucky gambler-in a word, just that fortunate combination of noble a

who dangled after" Madame de St. André, and he would have essayed to offer his friend some comfort had he known how. But the truth was that Calvert, neve

école the shouting ceased and one man's voice, harsh, incisive, agitated, could be heard above all the others. Looking through the wide glass doors Calvert and Beaufort saw in the gathering dusk the possessor of that voice being raised hurriedly upon the shoulders of those who stood nearest hi

eing, was trying to see over the heads of the smokers and drinkers, who ha

to the caisse, doubtless to speak with Madame, his wife. Evi

vert," said Beaufort, disdainfully, "who has but lately come to Paris and who, having no briefs to occupy his time, fills it to good advantage by wooing

d for the first time, leaning against it, the man who had created such an excitement by his words and sudden entrance. He was a big, burly figure, with a head and face that had something of the bull in them. Indeed, they had come by that resemblance honestly, for a bull had tossed him, goring the lips and flattening the

t was at that moment in the Café de l'école. As for Danton, all unconscious of the young American's scrutiny, his gaze was bent upon the pretty, vivacious little beauty who sat behind the caisse, and had so lately become Madame D

dropping them on the caissière's desk. He looked at Calve

tête," he said, li

le, debonair face of Monsieur de Beaufort. One of the silver pieces rolled upon the floor. Calvert stooped quickly for it. "Madame will permit me," he said, cour

anton, savagely, to M

s retreat

eeth with rage-"Monsieur le Vicomte de Beaufo

ur le Vicomte de Beaufor

r the Englishma

Marquis de Lafayette, before Yorktown. A patriot of patriots, Messieurs," he went on, turning to the listening throng about him; "a lover of freedom, a compassionate heart. He saved me from death, Messieurs,

perhaps, as Beaufort to know that his careless, impertinent compliment to Madame Danton's charming head had sealed the fate of his own. But 'tis in this hap-hazard

laze with innumerable candles and illuminated Chinese lanterns. Before the entrance Monsieur d

ure to think upon the events of the last hour. It was with resentment and shame he reflected upon his friend's airy insolence to the pretty caissière of the Café de l'école. That it should have been offered in her husband's presence was a gratuitous aggravation of the offence. That it should have been offered her with such disdainful co