always in arrear! If the devil, now, would est daughter Marie's jour-de-fête, and we shall only help me to the possession of this of course have a dance; therefore"Well?" "We!" echoed M. Fontanes with quick interrogation. Henri Jomard, a frank intelligent-looking young man, in holiday attire, after tapping gently at the door, had entered the room, probably mistaking the loud soliloquizing tones of M. Fontanes for permission to do so. He was that gentleman's principal clerk. "Pardon, monsieur," said Henri Jomard in respectful deprecation of his employer's loud and angry "Well ?" "Pardon, monsieur, but Mademoiselle Bougainville" "How!-what!" "Mademoiselle Bougainville," repeated Jomard, "having accompanied her youngest sister Marie from Plaisance to receive her first communion, is desirous to see you, though not precisely a day for the transaction of business, to make a payment on account of the debt due by Monsieur Bougainville. Shall I ask her to come in?" "Yes-that is, Eugé-Mademoiselle Bougainville," stammered Henri Jomard. "Being an intimate friend of my sister, I naturally accompany her when she pays a visit to Plai sance; and thus" "I understand. You may go, and do not forget to deliver my message." M. Paul Fontanes rose and locked the door the instant it closed after his clerk, as if determined not to be again interrupted, and was soon profoundly meditating upon the probable and possible consequences of the day's American advices; the charming face and figure he had just seen helping, we may be sure, to color and direct his train of thought. The result of his reflections was to take an unusually early dinner, dress himself with great care, mount his horse, and ride off in the diAn assenting gesture was immediately fol- rection of Plaisance- a small farmstead, seven lowed by Mademoiselle Bougainville's en- miles distant from St. Malo, on the road to trance. She presented herself with the grace- Avranches. When about half-way, he turned ful ease and aplomb which usually distinguishes off to visit a M. Messeroy, an old and intimate a well-educated Frenchwoman, and said she acquaintance. He was fortunately not only at had brought monsieur a hundred francs, in home, but without company; and host and part liquidation of her father's debt. M. Fon- visitor gradually warming into eloquence over tanes took the small canvas sac, poured the M. Messeroy's excellent wine, upon the cur silver upon the table, seemed to count it with rent topics of the day- the splendor of the his eye for a moment, and scrawled an ac- weather, and of the morning's religious cere knowledgment. The shaking of his hand, monies, the improved tone of the markets, and which could scarcely hold the pen, showed of commercial affairs generally, M. Fontanes that his recent agitation had increased rather than subsided. "Monsieur has heard nothing, I fear," said Eugénie Bougainville as she placed the paper in her reticule, "in answer to the inquiries he has so kindly made relative to my uncle Monsieur Jerome Bougainville?" Nothing, mademoiselle," was the quick reply; "that is," added M. Fontanes, as if recollecting himself, and glancing towards a number of unopened letters-" that is, nothing in either of the letters from America I have yet opened. Should, however, there be any intelligence concerning him in those I have not read, it shall be immediately forwarded to Monsieur Bougainville." took occasion, after a time, to remark in an off-hand careless sort of way, that his late American speculations had been attended with a success so much beyond his expectations, and they were sufficiently sanguine, that he had half a mind to try and make a bargain for Plaisance, if it was still in the market. Plai sance was in the market, as M. Paul Fontanes well knew; and after much disputing and haggling, M. Fontanes agreed to become its purchaser at the somewhat extravagant price of 45,000 francs, upon condition of possession within one month, and especially that it should be concealed from the world that he had entered into any negotiation for the farm till after its present tenant, M. Bougainville, had been ejected. "Bougainville," said M. Fontanes, "is a good fellow enough, and, spite of his poverty and unluckiness, is much respected. I should not, therefore, like to have it said that I had sought to deprive him of a home." Mademoiselle Bougainville sighed, courtesied her acknowledgments, and left the office, escorted by Henri Jomard. They had hardly gained the street when the clerk was recalled. "Tell Mademoiselle Bougainville," said M. Fontanes," that if I have anything of importance to communicate I shall do myself the "Rest satisfied on that point, my dear Fonpleasure of riding over to Plaisance this after- tanes," replied M. Messeroy. "Bougainville is noon for that purpose. I suppose there would so much behind with his rent, that I was de be no doubt of finding Monsieur Bougainville termined he should turn out at St. Michel, or at home?" at any rate at Christmas. But why do you "Assuredly not, monsieur. It is his young-purchase a house? Ho! ho! Maître Paul; you are going to be married, are you? I half | by his anxious and sympathizing sister. Eugé guessed so from the first. Well, courage! It nie, however, must have noticed his agitation, is a fate which overtakes the best and wisest for never had her voice and manner revealed of us; and here's the lady's health, whoever so much of womanly tenderness as on parting she may be." with him at the close of that sad and ominous evening. "With all my heart! And do not forget that what is as serious as a wedding or funeral, is that, to-morrow by ten o'clock, I lodge five thousand francs in your hands as a pledge of the completion of the bargain upon my part, if you do not fail on yours." "I'll take care of that, you may depend. Au revoir, then, if you will go: at ten to morrow." Eugénie," said M. Bougainville after all in the house but themselves had retired to rest, "I have ill news for thee. Thy uncle Jerome, whose address Monsieur Fontane's agent had no difficulty, after all, in ascertaining, gruffly told the messenger who delivered the letter that it would receive no answer." "Hélas!" sighed Eugénie, "I feared so; and he was our last resource !" M. Fontanes regained the high-road, and trotted leisurely along towards M. Bougain- "Our position is embarrassing,' said the ville's. As he neared Plaisance, the bridle- father, with an unsuccessful effort to assume a path winding round at a considerable elevation more cheerful tone. "The harvest has been from the level of the house, gave to view the a bad one; but things will not always turn out smooth green-sward in his front, upon which like that: thy uncle has disappointed me, Eustill fell the rays of the fast westering sun, in génie," he added after an interval of melanlarge patches of golden light, or broken into choly silence; but what, after all, could be extremulous light and shadow by the tall fruit-pected of a man who left France to avoid the trees that partially enclosed it. The sisters conscription?" Bougainville, and a number of young friends, "Nay father, let us be just. Have I not heard were dancing thereon to the music of Henri you say that Uncle Jerome was betrayed in his Jomard's flute; and several aged guests, affections by a faithless woman?" amongst whom the Sieur Bougainville was "Tut, my girl!" rejoined M. Bougainville, conspicuous by his thin white hairs, erect mili-with a levity of tone contradicted by the keen tary bearing, and the glittering cross upon his scrutiny of his look, which was, however, bafbreast, were looking on, and, the male portion fled by the growing darkness of the room. of them, smoking, in apparently measureless" Love-wounds are rose-brier scratches merely a momentary smart, that neither hinders nor "Quite an Arcadian scene!" mentally controls one's march through the rough wilder sneered M. Paul Fontanes. "Who would be-ness of life. I have been pretty familiar with lieve, now, that an abode of such rustic sim- the flashes which herald real wounds and death, plicity contains almost as grim a skeleton as and they did not leap from maidens' eyes." mine does? Well, we must contrive that they destroy each other, and then Monsieur Bougainville and I may sleep sounder than either of us has of late." content. "I am glad to hear," softly murmured Eugénie, "that heart-griefs are so fugitive with men. Good night, dear father." "Good night, Eugénie," said the veteran, embracing her, with tenderness; "and be not too much cast down. The guardian-angel is never forgetful of a gentle and pious child like thee." The dance was arrested as M. Fontanes approached and respectfully saluted M. Bougainville, with whom he almost immediately withdrew into the house. They were absent about ten minutes only; and as, upon their re- Before noon on the following day, the stock, appearance, the countenance of the veteran farming-implements, and furniture at Plaisance wore its usual aspect of calm impassibility, were sequestrated by " justice," at the instance dancing was resumed with increased spirit, of Pierre Messeroy, Ecuyer, for arrears of rent; and after a time was joined in by M. Fontanes, and M. Bougainville was at the same time with Eugénie Bougainville for a partner. Re- served with notice to quit, according to one of spectful, subdued, yet ardent admiration - the covenants of his bail, by which right to readmiration surprised at itself, as it were, has tain possession was forfeited by default of rentseldom been more adroitly displayed than by payment. "Diable! but this is serious-ter that gentleman upon this occasion; and rible," murmured the old soldier; "and unless whether the consciousness thereof, betrayed by I can obtain a loan of". M. Bougainville Eugénie's tell-tale blushes, was pleasurable or checked himself, and after a time added, adotherwise, it would have been difficult for a dressing his dismayed and weeping family: "I spectator to detemine. Poor Henri Jomard-shall set off at once for St. Malo. Courage, whose flute, momently becoming weaker and my children! It is upon the darkest hour of more uncertain, was at last superseded by a night that the new day breaks. Perhaps my volunteer violin-sat apart from the gay old friend, Bertin the notary, may be able to dancers, partially concealed from observation assist us in this strait." M. Bougainville did not return home till gradually calming grief, before the crucifix in about ten o'clock in the evening. The family her bedroom. were in bed, with the exception of Eugénie, The civil marriage was arranged to take whose anxiety was deepened by the pale ex-place on the following Thursday, the conditions citement of her father's countenance. of settlement to be signed at the office of the "Eugénie, my girl," he said, after a few un-notary, Bertin, on the previous evening. These successful whiffs at the pipe she presented him with, "come nearer to me; I would speak with thee." "I am listening, father," sald Eugénie, seating herself behind her father. Bertin cannot assist us, but Euge nie, it is necessary, above all, that we should be frank and open with each other. Henri Jomard loves thee; there can be no doubt of that. He is a well-principled brave lad, of fair prospects too, and the son of a brave father, who fell by my side at Eylau. There is no one with whom I would more readily trust thy happiness. But thou hast never, I think, shown any open decided preference for him." "Never by words. M. Bougainville winced, but went on to say: "That being so, I may tell thee that Monsieur Paul Fontanes Ah! the name shocks thee I will speak of him and his offers no more." arrangements, at M. Fontanes's urgent request, Eugénie remaining entirely passive, were kept scrupulously secret; and so successfully, that even Henri Jomard had no suspicion of what was going on, till the Wednesday morning, when he chanced to overhear some disjointed sentences of a conversation between M. Fontanes and the notary's clerk, who had called at the Rue Dupetit-Thouars, which terminated by M. Fontanes saying in a low voice: "Tell Monsieur Bertin I will send him the required particulars in writing before two o'clock. As tonished and indignant at what he apprehended the partially overheard colloquy to mean, he, as soon as possible, invented an excuse for going out, and hastened to impart the dire die covery to his sister Adèle, who, however, proved obstinately incredulous. His interpre tation of the sentences he had imperfectly caught was, she persisted, that of an unreasoning jealousy. M. Fontanes had, her brother knew, a pecuniary transaction with M. Bougainville, and it was no doubt with reference to that the two were to meet at the notary's, "As thou wilt. Monsieur Fontanes, then, as the conversation seemed to intimate. Somesolicits thee in marriage. If his proposal is what calmed by this consolatory construction accepted, he will pay all thy father's debts, of the menacing words, Henri returned to his purchase Plaisance of that tiger-hearted Mes- employment. There was no one in the clerks' seroy, and settle it upon thee beyond his own office, and M. Fontanes was busy writing in control." Eugénie did not answer, and M. Bou- his private room. Something presently occur gainville added, after a few moments' silence: red which rendered it necessary that Henri The case stands thus. Eugénie, Monsieur Fontanes is rich, generous, young, well-looking, of irreproachable character, and it is plain loves thee deeply. I doubt not, therefore, that after a time, thou wouldst be a happy wife; but it is for thee to decide; and my blessing, beloved Eugénie, is on thy choice, whether for acceptance or refusal." "Yes, yes, dear father," murmured Eugénie. "It was a sudden, a slight pain; that is all. Go on speak." should speak with him; and as he did so, his eye fell upon a small pile of letters enclosed and directed, but not sealed, of which the topmost one was addressed to " M. Bertin, Notairepublic, Numéro 9, Rue Sablonière." Instantly the criminal thought, which only his excessive mental agitation could in the least excuse, suggested itself, that if he could obtain a moment's For acceptance, then!" replied Eugénie possession of that letter before it was sealed, in a low voice, the firmness of which surprised the doubts which half distracted him would be as much as it pleased M. Bougainville; "but one way or the other set at rest; and the poowith this change in the terms of the pur-of sibility of effecting his object kept him for the the contract- that Plaisance be settled not next ten minutes in a state of feverish rest upon me, but upon you, Françoise, and lessness. The chance at length presented Marie." itself. The presence of M. Fontanes was reM. Bougainville was charmed with this ready quired in a distant part of the warehouse; and acquiescence; and when Eugénie made no ob- his back was hardly turned, before Henri Jojection to M. Fontanes's request, that the mar-mard darted into the private cabinet, seized riage should be celebrated without delay, he the top letter of the pile, and extricated the almost persuaded himself that he had been mistaken with respect to the sentiments she entertained towards Henri Jomard. That pleas ing illusion would have been dispelled had he known that Eugénie passed that night on her knees," weeping, at first with convulsive, but enclosure from the envelope. Confusion! A glance at the address shewed him he had mistaken the letter, the envelope in his hand being addressed to Messrs. Smith and Green, New Orleans. Had he but unfolded the enclosure, what a discovery awaited him! Un "I doubt, Monsieur Fontanes, whether I shall proceed at all. It seems to me that the nuptial conditions in a pecuniary sense, are grossly one-sided and partial" "Monsieur Bertin," interrupted M. Fon tanes with dignity, and greatly relieved, "that is my affair, not yours. The balance of obli gation is, in my own opinion, greatly on my side," added the young merchant, with a respectful bow to Eugénie. fortunately he threw it impatiently upon the regarded him-" have the goodness to proceed table, and seized the next upon the pile, which as quickly as possible." was that he sought. Could he believe his eyes? "M. Fontanes, upon reflection, acquiesced in the change proposed by M. Bertin in the marriage contract, and would be at the notary's office punctually at five o'clock to meet M. and Mademoiselle Bougainville." Henri Jomard had hardly perused these lines, when the step of M. Fontanes was heard approaching. He hurriedly thrust the letters into their respective envelopes, replaced them on the letter-pile, and had barely regained the cur- "That is precisely my opinion, also," rejoined tained concealment of the clerks' office when the imperturbable notary," Mademoiselle Bou the merchant returned. In about ten minutes, gainville being at the present moment a rich M. Fontanes summoned a porter, gave him a heiress in her own right." number of letters, some for the post-office, others for delivery in St. Malo; and shortly afterwards, himself went out, saying, as he passed through the counting-house that he should not return till the following morning. A bomb-shell falling in the midst, could not have produced a more startling effect than these words, which caused every one of the auditors, Henri Jomard included, to start to their feet in various attitudes of astonishment and consternation. disinterested suitor, that you are the absolute mistress of about seven hundred thousand francs! If, under these circumstances, ¿you wish me to proceed" Eugénie Bougainville, as she alighted at the notary's door, in company with her father and "This information," continued the notary, Françoise her half-sister, looked charmingly, "reached me only about two hours since, and, though very pale, and trembling with agita- strangely enough, Monsieur Fontanes, from tion. M. Fontanes had preceded her; and by you. A letter certainly in your handwriting, his respectfully kind and unpretending man- and addressed to me on the cover, but the ner seemed, after a time, to soothe and calm contents of which were intended for Messrs. her spirits, and the sweet, grateful, if faint Smith and Green of New Orleans "smile with which she acknowledged his unob. "Malediction!" screamed M. Fontanes. trusive courtesies, was an earnest that if the "Can it be possible-that I-that I!"marriage should turn out unhappily, it would "That you misdirected the letters," sugnot be the fault of the wife, however reluct-gested M. Bertin; no doubt of it. It appears, antly she accepted M. Fontanes as a husband. Mademoiselle Bougainville," he added, that M. Bertin was apparently about to commence by your uncle's will, the contents of which the reading the marriage contract, when an un- last American mail made known to your very seemly and distressing interruption took place. Henri Jomard, spite of the strenuous opposition of a clerk, forced his way, in a state of wild excitement, into the office, and forthwith burst into a torrent of invective and entreaty, of bitter reproach and humblest solicitation, to which passion and despair lent fire and eloquence. Uselessly so! Eugénie was indeed terribly agitated by his frenzied violence, but did not for a moment swerve in resolution, and she was the first,though with white quivering lips, to request that the business which had brought Henri Jomard must, in his hurry and conthem there might be proceeded with. M. fusion, have changed the envelopes of the two Fontanes, who appeared both alarmed and letters: that addressed to Smith and Green angry, wished the audacious intruder to be ex-being consequently delivered to the notary. I pelled by force, but at a gesture from the have only, in conclusion, to state, that Fon notary, who had been silently observant of tanes was arrested at Havre-de-Grace, on what was passing, he desisted, drew near the table, and seated himself beside Mademoiselle Bougainville; whilst Henri Jomard, throwing himself into a chair, wept aloud in the bitterness of unavailing grief and rage. "Now, Monsieur Bertin," said M. Fontanes, who, spite of himself, cowered beneath the keen, derisive look, it so seemed, with which the notary, as he slowly unrolled the contract, "Henri-dear Henri!" gasped Eugénie, turning with outstretched arms towards her lately despairing lover. "Henri-believe." But I have no words for the description of the scene which followed; the reader's imagination can alone realize its tumult of rapture, bewil derment, and despair. board of an American liner, and is now under going the punishment of a fraudulent bankrupt; that Eugénie is Madame Jomard, and a happy wife and mother; that the Sieur Bou gainville still inhabits Plaisance with his two daughters, and to this day remains firmly of opinion, that the misdirection of the letter was due to the actual interposition of Eugénie ever-watchful ange gardien ! SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND THE ARCTIC TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. SIR-I beg to place in your hands for publication, the letter addressed by Lady Franklin to the Chairman of the Arctic Committee, to which special allusion has been made, in the report of the committee, printed in the columns of the Evening Mail of yesterday, and to add that I believe the evidence of some of the principal witnesses heard before the committee amply corroborates the claim made by Lady Franklin on behalf of her husband's expedition. I am, Sir, your obedient servant. Aug. 11. G. BAL. rested his progress, and he found it, in conform- "Convinced, Sir, that it must be your desire, "60, Pall-mall, July 5. "SIB,-I venture to trespass a few minutes upon your time and that of the committee over NAPOLEON'S "DESCENTE EN ANGLETERRE " which you preside in behalf of the claims of my MEDAL.-When Buonaparte meditated the inlate husband, Sir John Franklin, and his com-vasion of England, a die was prepared under the panions, as connected with the object you have direction of M. Denon to commemorate the sucunder discussion. cess of the undertaking. The device was Her"When it is remembered that these brave and cules strangling a sea monster: the legend was unfortunate men, after years of intense suffering "Descente en Angleterre," and in the exergue and privation, were found dead of starvation "Frappée à Londres." The die, in this state, upon a spot which they could not have reached was never hardened; and whatever impressions without having first solved that geographical were taken off, were in soft metal. When Buoproblem which was the object and aim of all naparte issued his Berlin and Milan decrees, by these painful efforts; and when it is also remem-which he expected to ruin the commerce of Engbered that they are beyond the reach of their land, and exclude this country from all intercountry's rewards, you will not, I think, refuse course with the Continent, the die was brought them the acknowledgment that is due to thelr out of its repose. The "Frappée à Londres," memory. being in small letters, was easily obliterated: "It would ill become me, and it is far, indeed from my wish, to attempt to question the claims of Captain M'Clure to every honor his country may think proper to award him. That enterprising officer is not the less the discoverer of a north-west passage, or, in other words, of one of those links which was wanted to connect the main channels of navigation already ascer tained by previous explorers, because the Erebus and Terror, under my husband had previously, though unknown to Captain M'Clure, discovered another and more navigable passage that passage, in fact, which, if ever ships attempt to push their way from one One of these medals is certainly in England; ocean to the other, will assuredly be the one it was purchased at Paris, I believe, by Mr. Miladopted. And it can never be denied to Captain lingen, for Dr. Burney, with whose entire collecM'Clure that he is the first who has by his own tion it passed to Mr. Charles Stokes: after this skill, and mainly by the timely assistance of the gentleman's death the collection was dispersed, brave men who were in search of him, made his but the medal in question was reserved by his individual way from one ocean to the other. Such nephew and executor, Mr. Hughes, in whose a transit, though not the object which has engag-possession it now remains. I have casts in coped the attention of the civilized world for centu- per from two originals: one was made from that ries, is a distinction of which any man may well then in Mr. Stokes's collection; the other was be proud. given to me by a French artist. "What I presume to claim for those who can urge nothing for themselves is the first discovery of a navigable passage for ships in that unknown space which lay between the discoveries of for mer navigators, for to such connecting channel has the solution of the geographical problem for many years past been reduced. My husband was specially warned by his instructions not to seek it in the quarter where the Investigator lies, lest impenetrable ice should, as was anticipated, ar When Sir Edward Thomason stated that one Notes and Queries. I |