erence my companion exhibited to a
theme now monstrously tiresome. He, however, was communicative enough on
the subject of the Troupe and their duties, which he told me were daily
becoming more onerous. The Government, harassed by the opposition of
the National Guards and the Jeunesse Doree together, had resorted to
the terrible expedient of releasing above a thousand prisoners from the
galleys; and these, he assured me, were now on their way to Paris, to be
armed and formed into a regiment.

Though he told this with a natural horror, he still spoke of his own
party with every confidence. They comprised, he said, the courage, the
property, and the loyalty of France. The whole nation looked to them as
the last stay and succor, and felt that the hope of the country was in
their keeping.

I asked him what was the number now enrolled in the Troupe? and, to my
astonishment, he could not tell me. In fact, he owned that many had of
late assumed the uniform as spies, and General Danitan had resolved
that each volunteer should present himself to him for acceptance before
receiving any charge, or being appointed to any guard.

I had not time for further questioning, when we arrived at the hotel of
the general, when my companion, having given me full directions for my
guidance, shook my hand cordially, and departed.

As I ascended the stairs I overtook an elderly gentleman in a gray
military frock, who was slowly making his way upwards by the aid of the
balustrade.

"Give me your arm, lad," said he, "for this stair seems to grow steeper
every day. Thanks; now I shall get on better. What has torn your
coat-sleeve?"

I told him in a few words what had just occurred in the streets, and he
listened to me with a degree of interest that somewhat surprised me.

"Come along, my lad. Let General Danitan hear this from your own lips;"
and with an agility that I could not have believed him capable of,
he hurried up the stairs, and, crossing a kind of gallery crowded with
officers of different grades, he entered a chamber where two persons in
military undress were writing.

"Can I see the general, Francois?" said he, abruptly.

The officer thus addressed, coolly replied that he believed not, and
went on with his writing as before.

"But I have something important to say to him,--my business is of
consequence," said he.

"As it always is," muttered the other, in a tone of sarcasm that
fortunately was only overheard by myself.