words, Rudolph's motto, you know, is " a word and a blow."

So saying, he adjusted his plumed cocked hat, and with as much jangle of spurs and sabre as possible, he entered the kitchen, erect as a May-pole, and not losing an inch of his six feet three, through any excess of modesty, or failure of pretension. Striding up to the table, he addressed the stranger, who was now deep in the anatomical mysteries of the quails.

"Mein Herr, you sent for me; what may be your pleasure ?"

The words were civil, but the aspect of the man was insolent in the extreme. The stranger looked at him for a moment, then smiled, and mumbled to himself

"A peg too high for a Swiss." Then aloud, "To finish this quail before I say a word to any body. So, sit down; there's some wine, and take off your hat, you jackanapes; for nothing but impudence could support the heat of it in this kitchen."

The Chasseur said something about "not being in the habit of submitting to be called names." The stranger caught at the expression.

"What! thou wretched mercenary, of a mercenary race! Not submit! Thou would'st submit to any thing, when thou submittest to wear that fool's cap, with all its cocks' tails, and that useless sword, the badges of thy servitude. Thy whole nation would do any thing they were paid for, and why should'st thou be an exception? Thy grand uniform, friend, has set thee

beside thyself, and yet, to argue the point fairly with thee, thou hast little reason to be vain on that score: for thy master may strip thee to-morrow, and send thee back to endure slavery, and prate about liberty on the mountains of Zug, or Apenzell! Bengel, to dare to bandy words with a free Briton, and talk of submission. Why, thou good-for-nothing appendage to a carriage, thou hadst better have been starved amongst the goats of thine Oberland, than have fallen into my hands except thou art particularly anxious to get a lesson in politeness, which might spoil the rigidity of thy perpendicular person. So Sirrah, having said thus much, I wish to be informed, of the name and rank of thy master, and if the master be like the man, few need be very anxious for his acquaintance."

66

'My master is the noble and gallant Count Von Eisenberg, to whom I shall mention the insults you have heaped on his attendant." Here a gesture from the Countess reproved the Chasseur, and he instantly added, “Would that the noble Count were here, and you should not long go unpunished for your insolence; but, unfortunately, he has gone to Milan, and we have no hope of seeing him for some weeks."

"The Count Von Eisenberg! Then, bad as thou art, thou servest a master tenfold worse. So Cockatoo, be good enough to tell me where I shall find this precious master of thine ? I have business to settle with him, which brooks no delay. Tell me, and tell me truly, unless thou would'st like a spice of this," (holding up the whip) "which I confess, I should not have the

least objection to lay over thy gilded back, were it for no other purpose than to let thee experience the excellence of English whipcord."

"Talk thus to those who will endure it; but cripple as you are, I will chastise you for daring to speak thus of my master and myself!"

"Thy master's a humbug, and thou art a braggart." Ere these words were finished, the Chasseur rushed furiously at the stranger, aiming a violent blow at his head, and literally foaming with wrath; but before he had reached him, a sweep of the stranger's wooden leg, as he sat in the heavy chair, smote him across the shins, clipping his legs from under him with such force, that his head was the first part of his person that struck the ground, the fine hat and feathers being dashed in the opposite direction, to the great astonishment of Bingo, who began gallopping and bounding about the kitchen, snorting furiously, to the great risk of all the inmates, and placing the crockery on the dresser in no small jeopardy.

The Chasseur was so stunned by the heavy fall, that for some moments he was unable to rise: this the stranger saw, and smiling, said

"Now friend, you will take care how you come within reach of the wooden leg of any one whom you are facetious enough to call cripple; but take that to mend your uncourteous manners (bestowing a lash of the heavy horsewhip), and that-and that, and bless your stars that, cripple as I am, I don't think you worth getting up for."

Lash after lash fell on the prostrate Chasseur, till he had scrambled out of reach of the long whip, and then he threw himself on a bench, holding his wounded shins in his hands, and with difficulty suppressing a shout of pain. The stranger uninterruptedly pursued his breakfast, then after a pause, and a hearty draught, he again addressed the Chasseur, who was grumbling in an unintelligible manner.

"Come, my courageous friend, it is not at all seemly for one so well skilled in assaulting travellers, to make as much rout about a tap on the shins, as if you were a Negro. Besides, it is not at all mannerly to attack any one whilst eating-it is apt to derange digestion: and again, although I objected to your keeping your hat on whilst my head was uncovered, still I do not think it is serving your master rightly to dash it thus unceremoniously to the ground. Now, if I thought I might ask of you where your worthy master is, without being obliged to hurt you again, I really should be glad to be informed on that subject." Then putting his hand in his pocket, he drew out a Friedrich d'or, and tossing it to the Chasseur, said—

"There is a plaster for your broken shins-a panacea for your wounded vanity; so now cease grumbling, and inform me plainly where the Count Von Eisenberg is to be found, for I owe him much, and wish to pay him.

Amelie, who suffered tortures of suspense during the skirmish, now made most earnest signals to the Chasseur to mislead the stranger, and he, somewhat appeased by the gold, gave over his sulkiness, and answered—

That the Count was at that moment at Milan, and that he was to meet him with his servants and equipage at Lutzern in a fortnight.

"Very well-thank you-thank you. I hope to have the pleasure of encountering him. WirthSchlingel, Bengel-Sapperment! where is the Schelm ? Kellner, ahoy! give that pony a peck of your best oats; or, if you have not any, barley or wheat will do. Don't you see he is turning up his nose at your sour bread ?"

The waiter approached the pony, and was about to take him by the bridle to lead him to the stable, but the animal snorted at him, and put back his ears in such a malicious manner, that he thought proper to pause not long, however, for, with a squeal and a rear, Bingo began pawing the air, and the frightened man retreated before him.

:

"Never mind him," said the gentleman; "he is only going to give you a lesson in boxing. You know he's an Englishman; but if you had done what I desired you, and brought the oats to him, and not attempted to bring him to the oats, it would have saved you a start."

In the meantime Amelie had instructed another of the Count's servants to tell the same story as the Chasseur, if required; it was well thought of-the ruse took on his entering the kitchen, he was questioned by the stranger, and his answers coinciding with those of his fellow-servant, produced conviction in his mind of the truth of Eisenberg's departure. Shortly after