ture to pronounce so authoritatively on the prospects and the
intentions of the nation?"

"Or who," said the abbe, in his dry manner, "could speak with such
accuracy of the 'Illustrious and Magnanimous Chief 'that rules her
destinies?"

"It is growing late," said the prefet, with the air of one who took no
pleasure in the conversation, "and I start for Rouen to-morrow morning."

"Come, come, prefet! one bumper before we part," said Be Beauvais.
"Something has put you out of temper this evening; yet I think I know a
toast can restore you to good-humor again."

The old man lifted his hand with a gesture of caution, while he suddenly
directed a look towards me.

"No, no; don't be afraid," said De Beauvais, laughing; "I think you 'll
acquit me of any rashness. Fill up, then; and here let us drink to one
in the old palace of the Tuileries who at this moment can bring us back
in memory to the most glorious days of our country."

"_Pardieu!_ that must be the First Consul, I suppose," whispered the
abbe, to the prefet, who dashed his glass with such violence on the
table as to smash it in a hundred pieces.

"See what comes of impatience!" cried De Beauvais, laughing. "And
now you have not wherewithal to pledge my fair cousin the 'Rose of
Provence.'"

"The Rose of Provence!" said each in turn; while, excited by the wine,
of which I had drunk freely, and carried away by the enthusiasm of the
moment, I re-echoed the words in such a tone as drew every eye upon me.

"Ah! you know my cousin, then?" said De Beauvais,--looking at me with a
strange mixture of curiosity and astonishment.

"No," said I; "I have seen her--I saw her this evening at the Palace."

"Well, I must present you," said he, smiling good-day naturedly.

Before I could mutter my acknowledgment, the party had risen, and were
taking leave of each other for the night.

"I shall see you soon again, Burke," said De Beauvais, as he pressed my
hand warmly; "and now, adieu!"

With that we parted; and I took my way back towards the Polytechnique,
my mind full of strange incidents of this the most eventful night in my
quiet and monotonous existence.

CHAPTER XXVI. THE TWO VISITS.

Amid all the stirring duties of the next day, amid all the excitement
of a new position, my mind recurred continually to the events of
the previous twenty-four hours: now dwelling on the soiree at the
Palace,--the unaccustomed splendor, the rank, the beauty I had
witnessed; now