"Tell me the cause of your felicity."

"Enlighten me respecting your ill humor."

"Willingly, on condition that you will explain your satisfaction."

"Agreed."

"Well, then--you know the marked preference--marked preference, I
say--always shown me by Mademoiselle Heloise de Clairville."

"I will not dispute with you--go on."

"You must have been blinded by absurd hopes not to have noticed it;
every officer in the army looked to me as the _futur_ of the lady.
Well, sir, encouraged and led on by this siren, I made my proposals to
her to-night. _Ventre St. Gris_! I had engaged to settle with my
creditors out of her marriage portion."

"Go on--go on--this is excellent, St. Prix."

"Well, sir, she rejected me--me, the Count de St. Prix. A prior
engagement, forsooth! I wish to Heaven I knew the fellow! Before
sunrise he should have more button holes in his doublet than ever his
tailor made."

"Captain St. Prix," replied Henri, "you have not far to look. In me
behold the fortunate suitor. Come, come; confess that your pride, and
not your heart, was engaged in the affair. The game was fairly played;