peasantry, their modes of life, habits of
thinking, education, and future prospects. I saw that my statements were
all new to him, that he was not prepared for much that I told him,
and he very soon avowed it by saying, "These, I must own, are not
the opinions I have usually heard from your countrymen, Count; but I
conclude that the opportunities of travel, and the liberalism of thought
which intercourse with foreign countries begets, may lead you to take
views not quite in accordance with mere stay-at-home politicians."
I could have given him another and more accurate explanation of
the difference. It was the first and only time that his Majesty had
conversed with the son of a peasant,--one, himself born and bred beneath
the thatch of a cabin, and who had felt the very emotions which others
merely draw from their imaginations. As it grew late, his Majesty arose,
and the Ministers one by one retired, leaving me the only stranger
present. "Now, Count, I must not detain you longer; you leave Paris
early to-morrow morning, and I should have remembered how large a
portion of your night I have monopolized. This paper,--where is it?"

I at once took up the envelope, and drew forth a document; but conceive
my horror when I discerned that it was a piece of verse,--a droll song
upon my new dignity that one of my villanous companions had stuffed into
the envelope in place of my official letter of appointment. Crushing it
in my hand, I pulled out another. Worse again! It was the bill-of-fare
of our dinner at Very's, where "entrees" and "hors-d'ouvres, salmis and
macedoines," figured in imposing array. One document still remained, and
I drew it out; but as his Majesty's eyes were this time bent upon me,
I had not a moment to see what might be its contents,--indeed, I half
suspected the King saw my indecision; and, determining to put a bold
face on the matter, I doubled down a blank piece of the paper, and
placed it for his Majesty. Apparently his thoughts were wandering in
some other direction, for he took up the pen abstractedly, and wrote
the words, "Approved by us," with his name in a routine sort of way that
showed he gave no attention to the act whatever.

It was all I could do! To avoid any indecent show of haste in enclosing
the paper within the envelope, my hand trembled so that I could scarcely
accomplish it. When I had replaced it in my pocket, I felt like a
drowning man at the moment he touches land.

The King dismisse