he Doctah's lill callous, jocose way, Mistoo Itchlin."

He waved either hand outward gladsomely.

"Yes," said Richling, "I've seen specimens of it."

"Yesseh. He was ve'y complimenta'y, in fact, the Doctah. 'Tis the
trooth. He says, 'She'll make a man of Witchlin if anythin' can.' Juz in
his jocose way, you know."

The Creole's smile had returned in concentrated sweetness. He stood
silent, his face beaming with what seemed his confidence that Richling
would be delighted. Richling recalled the physician's saying concerning
this very same little tale-bearer,--that he carried his nonsense on top
and his good sense underneath.

"Dr. Sevier said that, did he?" asked Richling, after a time.

"'Tis the vehbatim, seh. Convussing to yo' 'eve'end fwend. You can ask
him; he will co'obo'ate me in fact. Well, Mistoo Itchlin, it supp'ise me
you not tickle at that. Me, I may say, I wish _I_ had a wife to make a
man out of _me_."

"I wish you had," said Richling. But Narcisse smiled on.

"Well, _au 'evoi'_." He paused an instant with an earnest face.
"Pehchance I'll meet you this evening, Mistoo Itchlin? Faw doubtless,
like myseff, you will assist at the gweat a-ally faw the Union, the
Const'ution, and the enfo'cemen' of the law. Dr. Seveeah will addwess."

"I don't know that I care to hear him," replied Richling.

"Goin' to be a gwan' out-po'-ing, Mistoo Itchlin. Citizens of Noo 'Leans
without the leas' 'espec' faw fawmeh polly-tickle diff'ence. Also
fiah-works. 'Come one, come all,' as says the gweat Scott--includin'
yo'seff, Mistoo Itchlin. No? Well, _au 'evoi'_, Mistoo Itchlin."

CHAPTER XLVI.

A PRISON MEMENTO.

The political pot began to seethe. Many yet will remember how its smoke
went up. The summer--summer of 1860--grew fervent. Its breath became hot
and dry. All observation--all thought--turned upon the fierce campaign.
Discussion dropped as to whether Heenan would ever get that champion's
belt, which even the little rector believed he had fairly won in the
international prize-ring. The news brought by each succeeding European
steamer of Garibaldi's splendid triumphs in the cause of a new Italy,
the fierce rattle of partisan warfare in Mexico, that seemed almost
within hearing, so nearly was New Orleans concerned in some of its
movements,--all things became secondary and trivial beside the
developments of a political canvass in which the long-foreseen,
long-dreaded issues between two parts of the nation