shoon；　became　the　noble　baron　wondrous　well；〃　Fatima　acknowledged。
  〃It　must　be　confessed　that；　though　middle…aged；　he　hath　all　the
  agility　of　youth。　　But　alas；　madam！　　The　noble　baron　hath　had　nine
  wives　already。〃
  〃And　your　cousin　would　give　her　eyes　to　become　the　tenth；〃　the
  mother　replied。
  〃My　cousin　give　her　eyes！〃　Fatima　exclaimed。　　〃It's　not　much；　I'm
  sure；　for　she　squints　abominably。〃　　And　thus　the　ladies　prattled；
  as　they　rode　home　at　night　after　the　great　ball　at　the　house　of　the
  Baron　of　Barbazure。
  The　gentle　reader；　who　has　overheard　their　talk；　will　understand
  the　doubts　which　pervaded　the　mind　of　the　lovely　Fatima；　and　the
  well…nurtured　English　maiden　will　participate　in　the　divided
  feelings　which　rent　her　bosom。　　'Tis　true；　that　on　his　departure
  for　the　holy　wars；　Romane　and　Fatima　were　plighted　to　each　other；
  but　the　folly　of　long　engagements　is　proverbial；　and　though　for
  many　months　the　faithful　and　affectionate　girl　had　looked　in　vain
  for　news　from　him；　her　admirable　parents　had　long　spoken　with
  repugnance　of　a　match　which　must　bring　inevitable　poverty　to　both
  parties。　　They　had　suffered；　'tis　true；　the　engagement　to　subside；
  hostile　as　they　ever　were　to　it；　but　when　on　the　death　of　the　ninth
  lady　of　Barbazure；　the　noble　baron　remarked　Fatima　at　the　funeral；
  and　rode　home　with　her　after　the　ceremony；　her　prudent　parents　saw
  how　much　wiser；　better；　happier　for　their　child　it　would　be　to　have
  for　life　a　partner　like　the　baron；　than　to　wait　the　doubtful　return
  of　the　penniless　wanderer　to　whom　she　was　plighted。
  Ah！　how　beautiful　and　pure　a　being！　how　regardless　of　self！　how
  true　to　duty！　how　obedient　to　parental　command；　is　that　earthly
  angel；　a　well…bred　woman　of　genteel　family！　　Instead　of　indulging
  in　splenetic　refusals　or　vain　regrets　for　her　absent　lover；　the
  exemplary　Fatima　at　once　signified　to　her　excellent　parents　her
  willingness　to　obey　their　orders；　though　she　had　sorrows　（and　she
  declared　them　to　be　tremendous）；　the　admirable　being　disguised　them
  so　well；　that　none　knew　they　oppressed　her。　　She　said　she　would　try
  to　forget　former　ties；　and　（so　strong　in　her　mind　was　DUTY　above
  every　other　feeling！so　strong　may　it　be　in　every　British　maiden！）
  the　lovely　girl　kept　her　promise。　　〃My　former　engagements；〃　she
  said；　packing　up　Romane's　letters　and　presents；　（which；　as　the　good
  knight　was　mortal　poor；　were　in　sooth　of　no　great　price）〃my
  former　engagements　I　look　upon　as　childish　follies；my　affections
  are　fixed　where　my　dear　parents　graft　themon　the　noble；　the
  princely；　the　polite　Barbazure。　　'Tis　true　he　is　not　comely　in
  feature；　but　the　chaste　and　well…bred　female　knows　how　to　despise
  the　fleeting　charms　of　form。　　'Tis　true　he　is　old；　but　can　woman　be
  better　employed　than　in　tending　her　aged　and　sickly　companion？
  That　he　has　been　married　is　likewise　certainbut　ah；　my　mother！
  who　knows　not　that　he　must　be　a　good　and　tender　husband；　who；　nine
  times　wedded；　owns　that；　he　cannot　be　happy　without　another
  partner？〃
  It　was　with　these　admirable　sentiments　the　lovely　Fatima　proposed
  obedience　to　her　parents'　will；　and　consented　to　receive　the
  magnificent　marriage…gift　presented　to　her　by　her　gallant
  bridegroom。
  III。
  The　old　Countess　of　Chacabacque　had　made　a　score　of　vain　attempts
  to　see　her　hapless　daughter。　　Ever；　when　she　came；　the　porters
  grinned　at　her　savagely　through　the　grating　of　the　portcullis　of
  the　vast　embattled　gate　of　the　Castle　of　Barbazure；　and　rudely　bade
  her　begone。　　〃The　Lady　of　Barbazure　sees　nobody　but　her　confessor；
  and　keeps　her　chamber；〃　was　the　invariable　reply　of　the　dogged
  functionaries　to　the　entreaties　of　the　agonized　mother。　　And　at
  length；　so　furious　was　he　at　her　perpetual　calls　at　his　gate；　that
  the　angry　Lord　of　Barbazure　himself；　who　chanced　to　be　at　the
  postern；　armed　a　cross…bow；　and　let　fly　an　arblast　at　the　crupper
  of　the　lady's　palfrey；　whereon　she　fled　finally；　screaming；　and　in
  terror。　　〃I　will　aim　at　the　rider　next　time！〃　howled　the　ferocious
  baron；　〃and　not　at　the　horse！〃　　And　those　who　knew　his　savage
  nature　and　his　unrivalled　skill　as　a　bowman；　knew　that　he　would
  neither　break　his　knightly　promise　nor　miss　his　aim。
  Since　the　fatal　day　when　the　Grand　Duke　of　Burgundy　gave　his　famous
  passage　of　arms　at　Nantes；　and　all　the　nobles　of　France　were
  present　at　the　joustings；　it　was　remarked　that　the　Barbazure's
  heart　was　changed　towards　his　gentle　and　virtuous　lady。
  For　the　three　first　days　of　that　famous　festival；　the　redoubted
  Baron　of　Barbazure　had　kept　the　field　against　all　the　knights　who
  entered。　　His　lance　bore　everything　down　before　it。　　The　most
  famous　champions　of　Europe；　assembled　at　these　joustings；　had
  dropped；　one　by　one；　before　this　tremendous　warrior。　　The　prize　of
  the　tourney　was　destined　to　be　his；　and　he　was　to　be　proclaimed
  bravest　of　the　brave；　as　his　lady　was　the　fairest　of　the　fair。
  On　the　third　day；　however；　as　the　sun　was　declining　over　the
  Vosges；　and　the　shadows　were　lengthening　over　the　plain　where　the
  warrior　had　obtained　such　triumphs；after　having　overcome　two
  hundred　and　thirteen　knights　of　different　nations；　including　the
  fiery　Dunois；　the　intrepid　Walter　Manny；　the　spotless　Bayard；　and
  the　undaunted　Dugueselin；　as　the　conqueror　sat　still　erect　on　his
  charger；　and　the　multitudes　doubted　whether　ever　another　champion
  could　be　found　to　face　him；　three　blasts　of　a　trumpet　were　heard；
  faint　at　first；　but　at　every　moment　ringing　more　clearly；　until　a
  knight　in　pink　armor　rode　into　the　lists　with　his　visor　down；　and
  riding　a　tremendous　dun　charger；　which　he　managed　to　the　admiration
  of　all　present。
  The　heralds　asked　him　his　name　and　quality。
  〃Call　me；〃　said　he；　in　a　hollow　voice；　〃the　Jilted　Knight。〃　　What
  was　it　made　the　Lady　of　Barbazure　tremble　at　his　accents。
  The　knight　refused　to　tell　his　name　and　qualities；　but　the
  companion　who　rode　with　him；　the　young　and　noble　Philibert　de
  Coquelicot；　who　was　known　and　respected　universally　through　the
  neighborhood；　gave　a　warranty　for　the　birth　and　noble　degree　of　the
  Jilted　Knightand　Raoul　de　Barbazure；　yelling　hoarsely　for　a　two…
  hundred…and…fourteenth　lance；　shook　the　huge　weapon　in　the　air　as
  though　it　were　a　reed；　and　prepared　to　encounter　the　intruder。
  According　to　the　wont　of　chivalry；　and　to　keep　the　point　of　the
  spear　from　harm；　the　top　of　the　unknown　knight's　lance　was　shielded
  with　a　bung；　which　the　warrior　removed；　and　galloping　up　to
  Barbazure's　pavilion；　over　which　his　shield　hung；　touched　that
  noble　cognizance　with　the　sharpened　steel。　　A　thrill　of　excitement
  ran　through　the　assembly　at　this　daring　challenge　to　a　combat　a
  l'outrance。　　〃Hast　thou　confessed；　Sir　Knight？〃　roared　the
  Barbazure；　〃take　thy　ground；　and　look　to　thyself；　for　by　heaven
  thy　last　hour　is　come！〃　　〃Poor　youth；　poor　youth！〃　sighed　the
  spectators；　〃he　has　called　down　his　own　fate。〃　　The　next　minute　the
  signal　was　given；　and　as　the　simoom　across　the　desert；　the　cataract
  down　the　rock；　the　shell　from　the　howitzer；　each　warrior　rushed
  from　his　goal。
  。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。
  〃Thou　wilt　not　slay　so　good　a　champion？〃　said　the　Grand　Duke；　as　at
  the　end　of　that　terrific　combat　the　knight　in　rose　armor　stood　over
  his　prostrate　foe；　whose　helmet　had　rolled　off　when　he　was　at
  length　unhorsed；　and　whose　bloodshot　eyes　glared　unutterable　hate
  and　ferocity　on　his　conqueror。
  〃Take　thy　life；〃　said　he　who　had　styled　himself　the　Jilted　Knight；
  〃thou　hast　taken　all　that　was　dear　to　me。〃　　And　the　sun　setting；
  and　no　other　warrior　appearing　to　do　battle　against　him；　he　was
  proclaimed　the　conqueror；　and　rode　up　to　the　duchess's　balcony　to
  receive　the　gold　chain　which　was　the　reward　of　the　victor。　　He
  raised　his　visor　as　the　smiling　princess　guerdoned　himraised　it；
  and　gave　ONE　sad　look　towards　the　Lady　Fatima　at　her　side！
  〃Romane　de　Clos…Vougeot！〃　shrieked　she；　and　fainted。　　The　Baron　of
  Barbazure　heard　the　name　as　he　writhed　on　the　ground　with　his
  wound；　and　by　his　slighted　honor；　by　his　broken　ribs；　by　his　roused
  fury；　he　swore　revenge；　and　the　Lady　Fatima；　who　had　come　to　the
  tourney　as　a　queen；　returned　to　her　castle　as　a　prisoner。
  （As　it　is　impossible　to　give　the　whole　of　this　remarkable　novel；
  let　it　suffice　to　say　briefly　here；　that　in　about　a　volume　and　a
  half；　in　which　the　descriptions　of　scenery；　the　account　of　the
  agonies　of　the　baroness；　kept　on　bread　and　water　in　her　dungeon；
  and　the　general　tone　of　morality；　are　all　excellently　worked　out；
  the　Baron　de　Barbazure　resolves　upon　putting　his　wife　to　death　by
  the　hands　of　the　public　executioner。）
  。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。
  Two　minutes　before　the　clock　struck　noon；　the　savage　baron　was　on
  the　platform　to　inspect　the　preparation　for　the　frightful　ceremony
  of　mid…day。
  The　block　was　laid　forththe　hideous　minister　of　vengeance；　ma