ity or gaiety of our establishment until this unfortunate
_expose_ which I was obliged to make, and to prove the truth of in her
presence, viz., that I had been a barber. Her pride revolted at the idea
of having formed such a connection, her feelings towards me were changed
to those of the most deadly hatred; and although I had saved her life,
she ungratefully resolved to sacrifice mine. The little abbe's head had
been taken off several weeks before, and she now formed a liaison with
one of the jacobin associes, on condition that he would prove his
attachment, by denouncing me as an aristocrat.

Fortunately, I had notice given to me in sufficient time to make my
escape to Toulon. Leaving my wife, and, what was of more consequence,
the whole of my property, in the hands of the jacobin, I joined the mob,
and vowing vengeance upon all aristocrats, became one of the most
violent leaders of the _sans culottes_. Two months afterwards, when the
gates of Toulon had been opened to the army, and I was assisting at a
noyade, I had the pleasure of seeing my jacobin _locum tenens_, who had
been denounced in his turn, tied back to back to a female; it was my
adored Cerise. I had no time to speak to her, for they were hurried on
board of the vessel. It sank with them, and some hundreds more; and as
the beautiful auburn hair of my wife was borne up from her shoulders,
upon which it had been hanging loose, and floated a second or two on the
wave after her head had disappeared, I sighed at the remembrance of the
transitory enjoyment of competence and love which I had shared with my
charming Cerise.

* * * * *

"And is she really dead now, Huckaback?" inquired the pacha.

"Yes, your highness, she is."

"_Allah karim_--God is most merciful. There is an end of that woman at
last; now the story will go on."

* * * * *

I have reason to believe that I should have become a person of some
consequence if I had been able to remain in France, but another foolish
attempt on my part to save the life of the old lawyer at Marseilles, who
had assisted me in recovering part of my father's property, rendered me
suspected. Aware that between suspicion and the guillotine there were
but few hours of existence, I contrived to get on board of an Italian
brig that had put in from stress of weather, and made my escape. The
vessel was bound to North America for a cargo of salt fish, to be
cons