ended the use of this strange object.

The worthy Regent was all joyous and triumphant, when he saw that we had
nothing in our possession calculated to compromise us. "Well," said he
to the Chinese ambassador with a sneer, "what do you think of these men?
What must we do with them? These men are Frenchmen, they are ministers
of the religion of the Lord of Heaven, they are honest men; we must leave
them in peace." These flattering words were received in the saloon with
a murmur of approbation, and the two missionaries, said, from the bottom
of their hearts, _Deo gratias_.

The porters shouldered our luggage, and we returned to our lodging with
undoubtedly greater alacrity and lighter hearts than when we had left it.
The news of our reinstatement soon spread through the town, and the
Thibetian people hastened from all quarters to congratulate us. They
saluted us heartily, and the French name was in every one's mouth.
Thenceforward the white Azaras were entirely forgotten.

When we had refurnished our apartments we gave some Tchang-Ka to the
porters, in order that they might drink our health in a pot of Thibetian
small beer, and appreciate the magnanimity of the French, in not making
people work for nothing.

Every one having gone away, we resumed our accustomed solitude, and
solitude inducing reflection, we discovered two important things. In the
first place, that we had not yet dined, and in the second, that our
horses were no longer in the stable. Whilst we were considering how to
get something quickly cooked, and how to find where our horses were, we
saw at the threshold of our door the governor of the Katchi, who relieved
us from the double embarrassment. This excellent man having foreseen
that our attendance at the court of inquiry would not allow us time to
make our pot boil, came, followed by two servants carrying a basket of
provisions, with an ovation he had prepared for us. "And our horses--can
you give us any information about them? We no longer see them in the
court?" "I was going to tell you about them; they have been since
yesterday evening in the Regent's stables. During your absence they have
felt neither hunger nor thirst. I heard you say you intended to sell
them--is it so?" "Oh, quite so, these animals ruin us; and yet they are
so thin, no one will buy them." "The Regent wants to buy them." "The
Regent!" "Yes, the Regent himself. Do not smile, it is no jest. How
much do you want for