from, no friend to greet him with a kind remembrance. One of the letters was read in his hearing to the recipient by Godard, for the great majority of the French soldiers, even at the present day, can neither read nor write. The letter ran as follows:

My dear son. We are very glad to hear that you are well. You don't ask us for money, but we know you have not all you would like to have over there, so we send you ten francs, which you must use sparingly, for we have had to dig very hard to earn them-both your good mother and myself working very hard for many days. Accept our fondest love with them."

"How happy they must be to receive such letters!" murmured poor Jean Raymond; and, although he felt sure that there was no letter for him, yet, by a sort of fatality exposing himself to insult, he hesitatingly said to Boileau :

"You have nothing for me

⚫ perhaps?"

"Nothing in my hands-nothing in my pockets. Judging from the number of letters you receive, we may even conclude that you never receive any!" replied Boileau, brutally.

"In fact, a foundling cannot receive letters. I suppose that's what you mean to say, is it not ?" said Jean Raymond. "You have said it."

Boileau, you are cruel."

At these words Godard interposed saying, in an under tone:"Oh, fudge, so much the worse for him."

In the meantime Jean Raymond had retired from the jovial group, exclaiming: "Poor Marie, she is lost to me for ever!"

It must be admitted that Raymond's absent air, pre-occupied appearance on all occasions-the perfect embodiment of solitude in the midst of the most boisterous assemblage in life, that of the regimental canteen-were calculated to make him a butt for heartless remark and sarcasm. On the present occasion, Godard went to him and said: "Don't keep aloof this way: you see they are already quizzing you. Come, rouse yourself; be a man, Jean.' "Well, then, let us drink-there's nothing good in the world but drink!"

"But drink, and love," sarcastically ejaculated the provoking Boileau.

"Love?" said Jean. "Well, yes, love.

But what does Corporal Raymond

mean by looking at me in that way?"

"Let's drink!" exclaimed Jean boisterously.

"Some people call for drink as they call for their sweetheartswith nothing to pay for the satisfaction," exclaimed the persisting Boileau.

"Do you mean that for me, corporal ?" said Raymond, looking steadfastly on his tormentor.

"Sir, I always mean what I say," was the quick retort.

"Then you are an impertinent fellow," said Jean. Whereupon Boileau struck him in the face.

Of course a duel was the necessary consequence, and Raymond turning to Godard, exclaimed, “Didn't I tell you what was brewing just now ?"

"Well," said Godard, "let's go out and settle the matter." "Not a bit of it. Let's finish it here," roared Boileau : cannot leave the camp: we must cross swords at once."

"Then be quick what arms?" said Godard.

:

we

"Here are foils," said a little Chasseur, named Savoureux, who fancied himself superior to any man, even Jean Raymond, with that elegant weapon.

"No-the sabre-every man has his own spoon," ," said Raymond.

"This is your twenty-ninth duel, Jean, good luck to you!" exclaimed Godard.

Two Chasseurs for each combattant acted as seconds. Jean and Boileau stripped to the waist and fronted each other. The seconds handed the sabre to their principals, and Godard after holding the points of the sabres for an instant, drew back, saying: "Commence!"

Boileau was a good swordsman, or he certainly would not have provoked such a man as Raymond, whose skill was the talk of every regiment in the army: but if he thought he could touch Raymond, the infatuation must be ascribed to his boundless vanity and conceit.

The combattants set to in right good earnest, and it must be admitted that Boileau was good game. At the usual attack and parry he was evidently quite up to the mark; if he did not touch Raymond, he managed to parry the best cuts of his formidable. antagonist: but that was all his game. Not so, with Raymond, however. As soon As soon as he perceived Boileau's capacity, he instantly changed his tactics and began a terrible moulinet or whirling action of the sabre, which disconcerted his antagonist. Boileau gave way, received a cut in the wrist, and lowered the point of his sabre towards the floor.

"You are wounded!" said Jean.
"Oh, it's nothing," gasped Boileau.

"Zounds! We are not Bedouins, to hack at each other this way," exclaimed Raymond.

"Let's go on!" again gasped Boileau.

"But you can no longer hold your sabre," said Raymond. "Oh yes, I can, with my other hand!"

"Oh no, old comrade, you had better place that hand in mine, which I freely give you: here it is."

After a moment's hesitation, and with the interference of Godard and other Chasseurs, Boileau relented or changed his mind, and took the proffered hand, saying:

"Oh, with all my heart, and I declare aloud and without shame that Jean Raymond has spared my life. With less skill in

the handling of his weapon, or with more revengeful feelings in his heart, he might have killed or maimed me for life!"

"And now," said Flageolet, the merriest of the Chasseurs, "old fellow, you had better go and get your paw dressed, and then come and have a drink," and turning to Jean Raymond he said: "By Heavens! It was a short affair! You may flatter your. self that your whirls are perfection: there's no resisting such action, my boy. Comrades! let us drink to Jean Raymond! the best and bravest child of the regiment. Is it not so, comrades ?" "Yes, yes,” resounded from all sides: but Savoureux, before mentioned, the little man who prided himself in the use of the foil-ventured to put in a veto.

"The bravest? You mean that some people have luck,” said he, glancing at Jean Raymond.

"Chance, did you say?" asked Raymond, "then, of course, you don't mean me.'

"And why not?"

"Savoureux!" said Raymond, "if you wish to quarrel with me, you had better say so at once."

"Well, yes, I do," replied the infatuated coxcomb. "I am of opinion that as to duelling, you are not braver nor more determined than others--but that you are only more lucky. Moreover, I am of opinion that to whirl your sabre like a sling is not a proper way of fighing. Oh, it would be very different with foilswith foils, I say.'

"Now go along with your foils, will you?" said Godard.

"Let him speak; you see I am quite calm," said Jean, and turning to Savoureux he added: "Anything more, comrade?"

"Anything more? Why, yes; I have just had my foils touched up by the armourer, and this is the opportunity to discover whether Monsieur Jean Raymond is as skilful with the small sword as with his windmill manoeuvring-excuse me, I mean the sabre."

"Why, man, you're mad!" said Raymond, an ejaculation in which the whole assembly joined vociferously.

"It is quite possible," said Savoureux, "but if Monsieur Jean Raymond refuses, I will proclaim it everywhere that”

66

He had scarcely uttered these words, and before any one could interpose, when Raymond made a rush at the foils and flung one at Savoureux's feet. In an instant they were en garde," but at the very first pass Jean disarmed his pitiful antagonist, and sent his foil ringing to the floor!

"How do you like it, Savoureux ?" shouted Flageolet, "comrades, a bumper all round!" and he merrily sang a stave of an old allegorical song

"Let's drink to the fool,

Who has lost his tool

Ha ha! his tool-
Let's drink to the fool!
Ha! ha!"

And then, turning to Jean Raymond, he said:

"Now, my boy, that was a very short affair; and it is your thirtieth, if my addition is correct; it's high time to score up and tally."

"Have I provoked these quarrels ?" asked Raymond, with energy. "I am tormented, hoaxed, worried to death; they seek me out; they find me always ready-but is it my fault? This is my thirtieth duel, it is true, and all have resulted from causes as ridiculous and stupid as the two to-day. I have fought for a horse which a bad-tempered comrade had maltreated in my presence, for a pipe broken by me unintentionally, for wine spilt, for a word, for nothing at all! It's a fatality, I say. It seems as though I had been devoted to sanguinary encounters by some malignant demon! But now, it is quite time that they should let me alone. Yes, yes, a slow fever is burning up the marrow of my bones-that demon of strong drink tears my nerves to shreds! Away with it! Godard, you are right-wine is better, it makes us see everything in rosy hues. Wine! wine! let's have wine!"

Whilst uttering these frantic words of excitement, an orderly entered the room and said: "Corporal Raymond, the commandant has heard that a duel has been fought, and you are ordered to his presence instantly."

Very well, I know what's up," said Jean, fetching a deep sigh. He's going to break me. This is the third time. The pretext is that I am the worst character in the regiment; but he will promote me again at the next affair with the Bedouins. Aye, they break me; but the pieces are still good for use."

The result was as he expected; the commandant reduced him to the ranks.

(To be continued.)

NATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

The Parliament, which was elected last Summer under the auspices of the most popular Minister of modern times, meets to-day, and the policy of the new Cabinet which was constructed on the death of that lamented and patriotic Statesman, will, in the course of a few weeks, be shadowed forth either in the Speech from the Throne, or in the statements which may be expected to be made by the leaders of the Government in the Upper and Lower House. One of the subjects which will probably demand "early attention" is that in which all of us are more or less interested-the public expenditure. Most of the new members of the House of Cominons will no doubt take their seats with a firm determination to do their utmost to curtail the national expenses, and to ease the national burdens many of them will probably think that we spend a great deal too much; and not a few will flatter themselves that, with

the aid of their advice, greater efficiency may be obtained with less outlay. It will not surprise us if we have the old idea revived of, what some of the so-called economists have styled, taking the Treasury "bull by its horns," and deciding at once to what extent the expenditure shall be reduced; leaving others to say in what manner it shall be done. Indeed, we have already seen statements put forth with a view to convince the inexperienced that this is the easiest, if not the only way of compelling the Government to bring the expenditure within reasonable limits, and that the sum of ten millions at least should be struck off the Estimates.

Under the term Estimates, is, of course, included all the money voted for the Army, Navy, and Civil Service; and as there are generally fewer members in the House connected with the two former professions than there are with the Civil Service, as also the money required for Naval and Military purposes is larger than that wanted for the other branches of the State, the first onslaught is sure to be made on them. Another reason for attacking the Admiralty and the War Office, instead of the Treasury, is the prevalence of the idea that what is expended by them is almost wasted, while the money on education, justice, &c., is either absolutely necessary or is of benefit to the country at large; in other words, that the expenditure for the Army and Navy is not "reproductive." A further reason, and the strongest, is that the amounts required for ships and men have increased at a more rapid rate than those demanded for peaceful purposes. A little enquiry into this subject at the present time may perhaps prove useful, not only to the members of the professions whose ideas the United Service Magazine is supposed to represent, but to all those who have to contribute towards the large sums which annually flow into the Exchequer.

It is very much the fashion to contrast the expenditure of the United Kingdom during the present year with certain other years, and to jump at the conclusion that the excess is unnecessary. But a little reflection will soon convince the unbiassed that there are many other things than mere expenditure to be taken into consideration. While, therefore, it is our intention in this paper to lay before our readers facts and figures, which we have collected from documents published under official authority, showing what have been, as well as what are, the principal items of outlay, it is also our intention to furnish them with information as to the enormous increase which has taken place in the wealth and commerce of the country, an increase as unprecedented as it was unexpected. And it must always be borne in mind that while the demands made by the government departments have steadily risen, so also have the means of those by whom the money has to be contributed, and that the country is doubtless able to bear the expenditure of this year much better than it was the expenditure of any year a quarter of a century ago.