e are not going away to
leave you in the lurch. Uncle said as much. He likes the Count too
well."

Morny laughed merrily.

"Why," he said, "he's always quarrelling with my father and hurting his
feelings by the way in which he speaks about our great Emperor."

"Stuff!" cried Rodd indignantly. "That's only Uncle Paul's way. He
always talks like that when he gets on to politics. Why, I have a sham
quarrel with him sometimes about Napoleon. I pretend that I admire him
very much."

"Pretend!" cried Morny eagerly.

"Well, I tell uncle that he was a very great general and soldier."

"Yes, yes! Grand!" said the French lad, flushing.

"And that I shouldn't have wondered at all if he had conquered the whole
world."

"Yes, yes!" cried Morny excitedly. "That was brave of you! And what
did your uncle say?"

"Said I was a young scoundrel, and that if I wasn't so big, and that he
disliked corporal punishment, he'd give me a good thrashing to bring me
to my senses."

"And you--you--" cried Morny, grasping him by the arm, "what did you say
to that?"

"Nothing at all. Only burst out laughing."

"Burst out laughing?"

"Yes, and then Uncle Paul would grunt out `Humbug!' and we were good
friends again."

The young Frenchman shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"Ah, yes," he said. "Even those who worshipped him mock at the Emperor
now that he is in misfortune--even you, Rodd. But I can forgive you,
because you are English and the natural enemies of our great Emperor.
But those of our countrymen--cowards and slaves--parasites of the new
King. _Laches_! Cowards! But let us talk of something else. You make
me like you, Rodd. You always did, and--"

"Ah-h-h! Getting on dangerous ground. Now look here; will you come
with us shooting?"

"No. I have told you why."

"Well, I am horribly disappointed. But I like you for it all the more,
Morny. You are a regular trump to your father."

"I!" cried the young man fiercely. "I play the trumpet to my father!
Never! If I praise him it is all the truth, because he is so honest and
brave and good."

"Why, what's the matter now?" cried Rodd in astonishment. "Oh, I see--
trump! You don't know all our English expressions yet. Where's your
dictionary?"

"There was no such word in it that I do not understand," cried the lad.

"Then it isn't a good one," said Rodd merrily.

Explanations followed, and the two lads parted that evening, both eager
for