favorable to the Empire!"

"A very natural question," said Jerome. "I have often asked myself the
same thing."

"The king of France," I argued, "and all the Bourbons were turned out.
Why shouldn't the Bonapartes be?"

"Why shouldn't they, indeed!" responded Jerome. "My mother insists they
will be. But I wouldn't be the man who undertakes to turn out the
emperor."

"What is he like?"

"Impossible to describe him."

"Is he no larger than you?"

Annabel gurgled aloud.

"He is not as large."

"Yet he is a great soldier?"

"A great soldier. And he is adored by the French."

"The French," I quoted, "are all fire and tow."

"Thank you!" said Annabel, pulling out her light frizzes.

"You seem interested in the political situation," remarked Prince
Jerome.

I did not know what he meant by the political situation, but told him I
had just heard about the Bonapartes.

"Where have you lived?" he laughed.

I told him it didn't matter where people lived; it all depended on
whether they understood or not.

"What a sage!--I think I'm one of the people who will never be able to
understand," said Jerome.

I said he did not look as if he had been idiotic, and both he and
Mademoiselle de Chaumont laughed.

"Monsieur"--

"Lazarre Williams," supplemented Annabel.

"Monsieur Lazarre Williams, whatever your lot in life, you will have one
advantage over me; you will be an American citizen."

"Haven't I that doleful advantage myself?" mourned Annabel. "A Baltimore
convent, an English governess--a father that may never go back to
France!"

"Mademoiselle, all advantages of nationality, of person, of mind, of
heart, are yours!"

So tipping the interview with a compliment he rose up, and Annabel rose
also, making him a deep courtesy, and giving him her hand to be led back
to the floor. He kissed her white forefinger, and bowed to me.

"You have suggested some interesting thoughts, monsieur prince of the
woods. Perhaps you may yet take your turn on the throne of France. What
would you do in that case?"

"I would make the people behave themselves if I had to grind them to
powder."

"Now there spoke old Louis XIV!" laughed young Jerome Bonaparte. We both
bowed, and he passed down with Annabel into the hall.

I did not know what made Madame de Ferrier watch me from her distant
place with widened eyes.

Miss Chantry spoke shrilly to her brother behind me.

"You will never be able to do anything with a lad who th