I have seen the most cunning men on earth thus taken in.

There was a certain retired lawyer of Normandy.  He lived in the little
town of B-----, where a regiment of the chasseurs of Cantal were
garrisoned.  A fascinating officer of this regiment had fallen in love
with the wife of this pettifogger, and the regiment was leaving before
the two lovers had been able to enjoy the least privacy.  It was the
fourth military man over whom the lawyer had triumphed.  As he left the
dinner-table one evening, about six o’clock, the husband took a walk
on the terrace of his garden from which he could see the whole country
side.  The officers arrived at this moment to take leave of him. 
Suddenly the flame of a conflagration burst forth on the horizon. 
“Heavens!  La Daudiniere is on fire!” exclaimed the major.  He was an
old simple-minded soldier, who had dined at home.  Every one mounted
horse.  The young wife smiled as she found herself alone, for her
lover, hidden in the coppice, had said to her, “It is a straw stack on
fire!” The flank of the husband was turned with all the more facility
in that a fine courser was provided for him by the captain, and with a
delicacy very rare in the cavalry, the lover actually sacrificed a few
moments of his happiness in order to catch up with the cavalcade, and
return in company with the husband.

Marriage is a veritable duel, in which persistent watchfulness is required in order to triumph over an adversary; for, if you are unlucky enough to turn your head, the sword of the celibate will pierce you through and through.

5.  OF THE MAID.

The prettiest waiting-maid I have ever seen is that of Madame V——­y, a lady who to-day plays at Paris a brilliant part among the most fashionable women, and passes for a wife who keeps on excellent terms with her husband.  Mademoiselle Celestine is a person whose points of beauty are so numerous that, in order to describe her, it would be necessary to translate the thirty verses which we are told form an inscription in the seraglio of the Grand Turk and contain each of them an excellent description of one of the thirty beauties of women.

“You show a great deal of vanity in keeping near you such an accomplished creature,” said a lady to the mistress of the house.

“Ah! my dear, some day perhaps you will find yourself jealous of me in possessing Celestine.”

“She must be endowed with very rare qualities, I suppose?  She perhaps dresses you well?”

“Oh, no, very badly!”

“She sews well?”

“She never touches her needle.”

“She is faithful?”

“She is one of those whose fidelity costs more than the most cunning dishonesty.”

“You astonish me, my dear; she is then your foster-sister?”

“Not at all; she is positively good for nothing, but she is more useful to me than any other member of my household.  If she remains with me ten years, I have promised her twenty thousand francs.  It will be money well earned, and I shall not forget to give it!” said the young woman, nodding her head with a meaning gesture.