exaggerated,--I narrated my
voyage to Europe and my capture at Malaga exactly as they occurred,
circumstantially recording every detail of name and date I could
remember down to the very moment of my reaching Paris.

"One question more, my dear friend," said M. Paul, after some fifty very
searching interrogatories, as closely argued as the cross-examination
of a counsel at law. "One question more, and I have done. I know you 'll
not be offended at the liberty I am about to take,--nay, I feel you 'll
be even gratified with my candor. Tell me frankly, as between man and
man, is there one word of truth in all this, or is it not downright
moonshine,--sheer invention from beginning to end?"

I started to my legs, my face crimson with anger, but, as suddenly
recovering myself, said, "You were right, sir, to bespeak a degree of
command over my feelings before you ventured upon this freedom, which if
I cannot altogether pardon, yet I will not resent."

"So it is true, then," said he, with a degree of melancholy in his voice
I could not fathom.

"Of course it is," rejoined I.

"Sorry to hear it; deeply, sincerely sorry,--that's all," replied he,
in the self-same manner; "I cannot express to you one-half of my
disappointment."

"Sorrow! disappointment!" exclaimed I. "May I ask what possible interest
you could have in supposing me to be an impostor and a cheat?"

"Hard names these," said he, laughing, "but I will explain myself. If
the story that you have just told me were fiction, I could give you
three hundred francs a day to write feuilletons for the 'Debats.' If
one-half of it were even invention, you 'd be worth two hundred on the
'Siecle'or the 'Presse;' say you stole the material, and you 'd still
do admirably for the 'Mode.'

"Are you--so conversant with a hundred thousand things--ignorant that
the grand principle of division of labor has extended itself from
the common arts of manufacture to the operations of genius; and that,
nowadays, no man would think of composing an entire work himself, any
more than he would of turning mason, carpenter, slater, locksmith, and
glazier, were he about to build a house? On the contrary, having fixed
upon the site, and determined the proportions of his future edifice, he
surrounds himself with competent and skilful hands in all the several
walks of constructiveuess, reserving to himself that supervision and
direction which could not be practicable were he engaged in actual
lab