sculptors, feuilletonists, and
caricaturists; nor was it difficult to ascertain the fact, as a certain
extravagance of beard, various modifications of hat, and peculiarly cut
coats and trousers presented themselves at every moment. Resolving
to don "the livery of my race," I made my appearance in a suit of
coffee-brown, hat and russet boots to match; as for beard, a life of
seclusion for several weeks had only left me the task of retrenchment;
and the barber whose services I invoked had but to ask my career to
impress me with that artiste stamp that makes every full-faced man a
mock "Holbein," and every thin one a bad Vandyke.

"The novelists wear it straight across, and square below the chin, sir,"
said he. "This is a plate of Monsieur Eugene Sue; but there is a certain
dash of energy about Monsieur's eyes--a kind of 'beaute insolente,' if I
may be pardoned the phrase--that would warrant the beard to be pointed.
May I venture to trim Monsieur as Salvator Rosa?"

"Use your own discretion, Monsieur Palmyre," said I; "the responsibility
is great, and I will not clog it by even a suggestion."

To say that I could not have known myself on arising from his hands is
no exaggeration, so perfectly changed had my features become in their
expression. As a disguise, it was perfect; and this alone was no small
recommendation.

As I walked the alleys of the Luxembourg, where at every instant men
travestied like myself came and went, I could not help recalling the
classical assertion that "no two augurs could meet face to face without
laughing," and I wondered excessively how we artistes surveyed each
other and preserved even a decent gravity.

My career as a _litterateur_ began the next day, and I received a
short editorial summons from the office of "La Tempete" to furnish a
feuilleton of a hundred and twenty-four lines; the postscript adding
that as Admiral Du Guesclin had just arrived from Macao, some "esquisses
des mours Chinoises" would be well timed. Of China I only knew what a
lacquered tea-tray and the willow pattern could teach me; but I set to
work at once, and by assuming my sketches to be personal adventures and
experiences, made up a most imposing account of Chinese domesticity.

The article had an immense success: the air of veracity was perfect; and
the very officers of the fleet were so deluded by the imposition as
to believe they must have frequently met me at Shang-kee-shing or
Fong-wong-loo.

Thus was I l