ances of his eye, and I could plainly mark that while the rest
were perfectly at their ease, he was constrained, restless, watching
eagerly everything that went forward about him, and showing unmistakably
a certain anxiety and distrust, widely differing from the gay and
careless indifference of his comrades. I was curious to hear his name,
and on asking, learned that he was the _Chef de Brigade_ Smith, an
Irishman by birth, but holding a command in the French service.

I had but asked the question, when, pushing back his chair from the
table, he arose suddenly, and stood stiff and erect, like a soldier on
parade.

'Well, sir, I hope you are satisfied with your inspection of me,' cried
he, and sternly, addressing himself to some one behind my back. I turned
and perceived it was Sir George Hill, who stood in front of the fire,
leaning on his stick. Whether he replied or not to this rude speech I am
unable to say, but the other walked leisurely round the table and came
directly in front of him. 'You know me now, sir, I presume,' said he,
in the same imperious voice, 'or else this uniform has made a greater
change in my appearance than I knew of.'

'Mr. Tone!' said Sir George, in a voice scarcely above a whisper.

'Ay, sir, Wolfe Tone; there is no need of secrecy here; Wolfe Tone, your
old college acquaintance in former times, but now _chef de brigade_ in
the service of France.'

'This is a very unexpected, a very unhappy meeting, Mr. Tone,' said Hill
feelingly; 'I sincerely wish you had not recalled the memory of our past
acquaintance. My duty gives me no alternative.'

'Your duty, or I mistake much, can have no concern with me, sir,' cried
Tone, in a more excited voice.

'I ask for nothing better than to be sure of this, Mr. Tone,' said Sir
George, moving slowly towards the door.

'You would treat me like an _emigre rentre?_ cried Tone passionately,
'but I am a French subject and a French officer!'

'I shall be well satisfied if others take the same view of your case, I
assure you,' said Hill, as he gained the door.

'You 'll not find me unprepared for either event, sir,' rejoined Tone,
following him out of the room, and banging the door angrily behind him.

For a moment or two the noise of voices was heard from without, and
several of the guests, English and French, rose from the table, eagerly
inquiring what had occurred, and asking for an explanation of the scene,
when suddenly the door was flung wide open,