that
anything but a witch's dream could contain them.

The approach of another passer roused him, and he started on. The step
gained upon him--closed up with him; and at the moment when he expected
to see the person go by, a hand was laid gently on his shoulder.

"Mistoo Itchlin, I 'ope you well, seh!"

CHAPTER XXIV.

BROUGHT TO BAY.

One may take his choice between the two, but there is no escaping both
in this life: the creditor--the borrower. Either, but never neither.
Narcisse caught step with Richling, and they walked side by side.

"How I learned to mawch, I billong with a fiah comp'ny," said the
Creole. "We mawch eve'y yeah on the fou'th of Mawch." He laughed
heartily. "Thass a 'ime!--Mawch on the fou'th of Mawch! Thass poetwy, in
fact, as you may _say_ in a jesting _way_--ha! ha! ha!"

"Yes, and it's truth, besides," responded the drearier man.

"Yes!" exclaimed Narcisse, delighted at the unusual coincidence, "at the
same time 'tis the tooth! In fact, why should I tell a lie about such a
thing like _that_? 'Twould be useless. Pe'haps you may 'ave notiz,
Mistoo Itchlin, thad the noozpapehs opine us fiahmen to be the gau'dians
of the city."

"Yes," responded Richling. "I think Dr. Sevier calls you the Mamelukes,
doesn't he? But that's much the same, I suppose."

"Same thing," replied the Creole. "We combad the fiah fiend. You fine
that building ve'y pitto'esque, Mistoo Itchlin?" He jerked his thumb
toward the prison, that was still pouring forth its clouds of impish
wings. "Yes? 'Tis the same with me. But I tell you one thing, Mistoo
Itchlin, I assu' you, and you will believe me, I would 'atheh be lock'
_out_side of that building than to be lock' _in_side of the same.
'Cause--you know why? 'Tis ve'y 'umid in that building. An thass a thing
w'at I believe, Mistoo Itchlin; I believe w'en a building is v'ey 'umid
it is not ve'y 'ealthsome. What is yo' opinion consunning that, Mistoo
Itchlin?"

"My opinion?" said Richling, with a smile. "My opinion is that the
Parish Prison would not be a good place to raise a family."

Narcisse laughed.

"I thing yo' _o_pinion is co'ect," he said, flatteringly; then growing
instantly serious, he added, "Yesseh, I think you' about a-'ight, Mistoo
Itchlin; faw even if 'twas not too 'umid, 'twould be too confining, in
fact,--speshly faw child'en. I dunno; but thass my opinion. If you ah
p'oceeding at yo' residence, Mistoo Itchlin, I'll juz _con_tinue my
p'omenad