e a discussion which must be both unprofitable and
painful.

'How did the fellow propose the act? had he any accomplices? or was he
alone?'

'I believe quite alone.'

'Of course suborned by England? Of that there can be no doubt.'

'The prince never said so.'

'Well, but it is clear enough, the man must have had means; he travelled
by a very circuitous route; he had come from Hamburg probably?'

'I never heard.'

'He must have done so. The ports of Holland, as those of France, would
have been too dangerous for him. Italy is out of the question.'

I owned that I had not speculated so deeply in the matter.

'It was strange,' said he, after a pause, 'that the duke never mentioned
who had introduced the man to him.'

'He merely called him a valued friend.'

'In other words, the Count d'Artois,' said the count; 'did it not strike
you so?'

I had to confess it had not occurred to me to think so.

'But reflect a little,' said he. 'Is there any other living who could
have dared to make such a proposal but the count? Who, but the head of
his house, could have presumed on such a step? No inferior could have
had the audacity! It must have come from one so highly placed that crime
paled itself down to a mere measure of expediency under the loftiness of
the sanction. What think you?'

'I cannot, I will not think so,' was my answer. 'The very indignation of
the prince's rejection refutes the supposition.'

'What a glorious gift is unsuspectfulness!' said he feelingly. 'I am
a rich man, and you I believe are not so; and yet, I'd give all the
wealth, ay, ten times told, not for your vigour of health, not for the
lightness of your heart, nor the elasticity of your spirits, but for
that one small quality, defect though it be, that makes you trustful and
credulous.'

I believe I would just as soon that the old gentleman had thought fit to
compliment me upon any other quality. Of all my acquisitions there was
not one I was so vain of as my knowledge of life and character. I had
seen, as I thought, so much of life I I had peeped at all ranks and
conditions of men, and it was rather hard to find an old country
gentleman, a _Seigneur de Village_, calling me credulous and
unsuspecting!

I was much more pleased when he told the cure that a supper was ready
for us in the adjoining room, at which he begged we would excuse his
absence; and truly a most admirable little meal it was, and served with
great elegance.

'The cou