not lower.'

This comforting reflection closed my waking memories, and I slept
soundly till morning.

CHAPTER XLII. THE 'COUNT DE MAUREPAS,' ALIAS--------

There is a wide gulf between him who opens his waking eyes in a splendid
chamber, and with half-drowsy thoughts speculates on the pleasures
of the coming day, and him, who, rising from the dew-moistened earth,
stretches his aching limbs for a second or so, and then hurries away to
make his toilet at the nearest fountain.

I have known both conditions, and yet, without being thought
paradoxical, I would wish to say that there are some sensations
attendant on the latter and the humbler lot which I would not exchange
for all the voluptuous ease of the former. Let there be but youth, and
there is something of heroism, something adventurous in the notion of
thus alone and unaided breasting the wide ocean of life, and, like
a hardy swimmer, daring to stem the roughest breakers without one to
succour him, that is worth all the security that even wealth can impart,
all the conscious ease that luxury and affluence can supply. In a world
and an age like ours, thought I, there must surely be some course for
one young, active and daring as I am. Even if France reject me, there
are countries beyond the seas where energy and determination will open
a path. 'Courage, Maurice,' said I, as I dashed the sparkling water over
my head, 'the past has not been all inglorious, and the future may prove
even better.'

A roll and a glass of iced water furnished my breakfast, after which
I set forth in good earnest on my search. There was a sort of
self-flattery in the thought that one so destitute as I was could devote
his thoughts and energies to the service of another, that pleased me
greatly. It was so 'unselfish'--at least I thought so. Alas and alas!
how egotistical are we when we fancy ourselves least so. That day I
visited St. Roch and Notre Dame at early mass, and by noon reached the
Louvre, the gallery of which occupied me till the hour of meeting the
cure drew nigh.

Punctual to his appointment, I found him waiting for me at the corner of
the quay, and although disappointed at the failure of all his efforts,
he talked away with all the energy of one who would not suffer himself
to be cast down by adverse fortune. 'I feel,' said he, 'a kind of
instinctive conviction that we shall find her yet. There is something
tells me that all our pains shall not go unrewarded. Have yo