To the minister I had only to say, that though I had hitherto talked of a friend, I myself was the happy man.

My first name was Francis as well as his; and I had found Clara so gentle, so confiding, so flatteringly cordial in her intercourse with me, that, once within my power, and prevented from receding by shame, and a thousand contradictory feelings, I had, with the vanity of an _amoureux de seize ans_, the confidence to believe I could reconcile the fair lady to the exchange.
"There certainly never came such a thought into a madcap's brain; and, what is more extraordinary--but that you already know--it was so far successful, that the marriage ceremony was performed between us in the presence of a servant of mine, Clara's accommodating companion, and the priest .-- We got into the carriage, and were a mile from the church, when my unlucky or lucky brother stopped the chaise by force--through what means he had obtained knowledge of my little trick, I never have been able to learn.

Solmes has been faithful to me in too many instances, that I should suspect him in this important crisis.

I jumped out of the carriage, pitched fraternity to the devil, and, betwixt desperation and something very like shame, began to cut away with a couteau de chasse, which I had provided in case of necessity .-- All was in vain--I was hustled down under the wheel of the carriage, and, the horses taking fright, it went over my body.
"Here ends my narrative; for I neither heard not saw more until I found myself stretched on a sick-bed many miles from the scene of action, and Solmes engaged in attending on me.

In answer to my passionate enquiries, he briefly informed me, that Master Francis had sent back the young lady to her own dwelling, and that she appeared to be extremely ill in consequence of the alarm she had sustained.