s, however, too late. Already
had the landlord carried in a silver tureen of soup, and set it before
me; and the tall neck of a champagne bottle rose amidst the mimic
icebergs at my side.

The others took no pains to hide their astonishment at all this; they
stood in knots and groups about, with eyes directed full upon me, and
as evidently made me the subject of their remarks. I could perceive that
the landlord was far from being at his ease, and that all his endeavors
were employed either to conceal from me these demonstrations, or to give
them some harmless interpretation.

"You have travelled, sir, and know well what foreigners are," said he,
in a whisper; "and although all these are gentlemen by birth, from one
misfortune or other they are a bit down in the world now, and they look
with jealousy at any one better off than themselves."

"Foreigners are usually better bred than to exhibit such feelings," said
I.

"Nor would they, perhaps, sir, if at home and in prosperity; but so
many are ruined now by wars and revolutions--so many banished and
exiled--that one ought to make large allowances for their tempers. That
old man yonder, for instance, was a duke somewhere in Brittany; and the
thin, tall one, that is gesticulating with his stick, served as colonel
in the bodyguard of the King of France. And there, next the fire,--you
see he has taken off a kind of smock-frock and is drying it at the
blaze,--that is a Pomeranian count who owned a principality once, they
tell me."

"He looks very poor now; what means of support has he?"

"None, I believe, sir; he was bred to nothing, and can neither teach
drawing, nor music, nor the sword-exercise, like Frenchmen or Italians;
and the consequence is, that he actually--you 'll not believe it, but it
is true, notwithstanding--he actually sweeps a crossing at Cheapside for
his living."

I started, as he said this, as if I had been stung by a reptile. For a
moment I was convinced that the speech was a designed insult. I thought
that the very expression of his eyes as he turned them on me was
malignant. It was all I could do not to resent the insolence; but I
restrained myself and was silent.

"Heaven knows," continued he, "if he have eaten once to-day."

"Do you think," said I, "it would be possible to induce him to join me
at supper,--I mean, could it be managed without offence?"

"Egad! I should say so, sir, and easily enough, too. These poor fellows
have gone through