ious assertion of his
peculiar wickedness, with certain extenuating circumstances which he
calls human nature."

"And now, then," resumed the first speaker, "for your mishap,--what was
it?"

"I should only deceive you were I to give any other answer than my
first. Mere suspicion there may be against me; there can be no more."

"Well, well, let us have the suspicions. The 'Moniteur' is late this
morning, and we have nothing to amuse us."

"Who are you?" cried another, a tall, insolent-looking fellow, with a
dark mustache. "That 's the first question. I've seen a _mouton_ in a
hussar dress before now."

"I am too late a resident here," answered I, "to guess how far insolence
goes unpunished; but if I were outside these walls, and you also, I 'd
teach you a lesson you have yet to learn, sir."

"_Parbleu!_" said one of the former speakers, "Jacques, he has you
there, though it was no great sharpness to see you were a _blane-bec_."

The tall fellow moved away, muttering to himself, as a hearty laugh
broke forth among the rest.

"And now," said the Abbe, with a simper, "pardon the liberty; but have
you had any trifling inducement for coming to pass a few days here? Were
you making love to Madame la Consulesse? or did you laugh at General
Bonaparte's grand dinners? or have you been learning the English
grammar? or what is it?"

I shook my head, and was silent.

"Gome, come, be frank with us; unblemished virtue fares very ill here.
There was a gentleman lost his head this morning, who never did anything
all his life other than keep the post-office at Tarbes; but somehow
he happened to let a letter pass into the bag addressed to an elderly
gentleman in England, called the Comte d'Artois, not knowing that the
count's letters are always 'to the care of Citizen Bonaparte.' Well,
they shortened him by the neck for it. Cruel, you will say; but so much
for innocence."

"For the last time, then, gentlemen, I must express my sincere sorrow
that I have neither murder, treason, nor any other infamy on my
conscience which might qualify me for the distinguished honor of
associating with you. Such being the case, and my sense of my deficiency
being so great, you will, I 'm sure, pardon me if I do not obtrude on
society of which I am unworthy, and which I have now the honor to wish
a good day to." With this and a formal bow, returned equally politely by
the rest, I moved on, and entered the tower.

Sombre and sad as were my ow