Armand Tuffin, Marquis de la Rouërie, was a gentleman of Brittany. He was born sometime in the year 1756, at the chateau de la Rouërie, on his patrimonial estate, between Saint Malo and Rennes. Of his early life little is known be- yond the fact that the severity even of French education was insufficient to curb the ardent vivacity and headlong passions which it was his destiny to inherit. From infancy he had determined upon running the career of arms. While yet a

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child he was created an officer in the French guards, and his feet were scarcely placed upon the stage of life, when he commenced a series of daring irregularities, lampooning and discharging jests at the most distinguished courtiers of Ver-sailles, so that in early manhood he had attained preëminence over his compeers, as the greatest frondeuer among the youth of France. Sometimes afterward he became captivated by the beauty and accomplishments of Mademoiselle de la Beau-mesnil, a distinguished actress of the day, whom he proposed to marry. His friends were naturally shocked at the pros-pect of such a misalliance and hastened to interpose barriers, but their efforts proved unsuccessful, until the lady herself came to their aid and rejected his suit. Mortified at the dis-covery that he had made but a feeble impression upon her heart, he summoned to the field, fought with and wounded his rival, the count of Bourbon-Busset. These repeated acts of insubordination and license at length drew upon him the serious displeasure of the king, and he was dismissed from the service. Sinking under the burden of his calamities, in a moment of despair he made an attempt upon his own life; and when rescued by his friends from death, hastened to the celebrated monastery of La Trappe, where he proposed to withdraw from the world and take the vow of perpetual silence.