ir
laughter that the lieutenant again took up the part of questioner.

"I suppose, young gentleman, that you come from Saint Cyr or the
Polytechnic; although I should hardly imagine that you have
completed your studies, in either of them?"

"I have not the advantage of having been at either of the military
academies," Ralph said quietly. "Have you?"

Again there was a laugh and, by this time, most of those in the
room had gathered round.

"May I ask to which arm of the service you belong?" the officer
asked, with difficulty keeping his temper.

"You may ask, certainly; and I have no objection to answer," Ralph
said. "My brother and myself both belong to the general staff."

The officer looked surprised.

"Have you served already, sir, or has your service yet to
commence?"

"I have seen some little service already," Ralph said.

"May I ask what general has had the benefit of your assistance?"
the lieutenant said, with an affectation of politeness.

At this moment the Sous Prefect pushed forward.

"Silence, sir!" he said to the officer. "There has been too much of
this. These gentlemen have performed a great service to France, and
are my guests; and I look upon it as a personal attack upon
myself."

"Excuse me, sir," Ralph said, rising from his seat for the first
time. "I am grateful to you, for your interference in my behalf;
but I can make no claim, upon the present occasion, to have
rendered any service to France. I had nothing to do with the
dispatches, nothing to do with the balloon. I came out as a
passenger, upon my private desire and pleasure, at the risk of
course of being killed. Undoubtedly I nearly was killed; and I look
upon the entertainment that you have given us as a kind
congratulation upon our not having broken our necks.

"Kindly, then, permit me to answer this officer for myself. I think
I can hold my own."

The Sous Prefect shrugged his shoulders; to signify that, in that
case, he washed his hands of the whole business.

"Now, sir," Ralph said, "I will answer the question. The general
upon whose staff my brother and myself served was General
Cambriels."

The officer shrugged his shoulders.

"Since that time," Ralph said, more sternly than he had yet spoken,
"my brother and myself have had the offer of posts upon the staffs
of General Trochu, General Ducrot, and General Vinoy."

"Oh, come now," the lieutenant said, with a laugh of derision,
"that is a little too strong. Imagin