d with you?"

As I parted with them each night, some little plan or project was always
struck out for the morrow; and so I lingered on from day to day, half
listless, and half pleased. At length, as I was proceeding one morning
towards the house, I saw a crowd in front of a cafe all busily engaged
in reading a large placard which had just been affixed to the wall. It
was an account of the seizure by the English of the very vessel I had
intended to have taken my passage in; for, strangely enough, though the
countries were at war, a species of half intercourse was kept up between
them for some time, and travellers often passed from one shore to
the other. This system was now, it seemed, to have an end; and it was
curious to remark how bitter were the commentaries the change excited.

Pierre had learned the news by the time I reached his house, and
laughingly remarked on the good luck that always attended his
inspirations.

"But for me," said he, "and my wise counsels, you had been a prisoner
now, and all your claims to nationality would only have got you hanged
for a traitor. From the first moment I saw you, something whispered me
that we were destined to know more of each other; and now I perceive
that the impression was-well founded."

"How do you infer that?" asked I, smiling.

"Because my instincts have never betrayed me yet."

"And what is to be the upshot of our acquaintance, then?"

"Do you ask this seriously, Bernard, or are you only jesting at my
presentiments?"

"In all seriousness and in all trustfulness," replied I.

"You 'll stay here in Havre--join me in my business--make money--be a
rich man--and--" he paused.

"Go on; I like the prophecy," said I, laughing.

"And I was going to say, just as likely to lose it all, some fine
morning, as easily as you earned it."

"But I have not a single requisite for the part you assign me. I am
ignorant of every branch of trade and traffic; nor, if I know myself, do
I possess one single quality that insures success in them."

"I'll teach you, Bernard! There are few secrets in my craft. We deal
with smugglers,--we buy from them, and sell to them! For the pedler that
comes to us in our shop in the 'Rue des Sol,' we care little; for our
customers who drop in after nightfall, we have a sincere affection. You
have hitherto regarded them in the light of visitors and friends. You
little suspected that through them we carried on all our business; and
just as little