ll that
Ollivier can do, if he be wise, is to see that the French cock has
his steel spurs as long as the Prussians. But this I do say, that if
Ollivier attempts to put the French cock back into its bag, the Empire
is gone in forty-eight hours. That to me is a trifle--I care nothing for
the Empire; but that which is not a trifle is anarchy and chaos. Better
war and the Empire than peace and Jules Favre. But let us seize the
present hour, Mr. Vane; whatever happens to-morrow, shall we dine
together to-day? Name your restaurant."

"I am so grieved," answered Graham, rousing himself, "I am here only on
business, and engaged all the evening."

"What a wonderful thing is this life of ours!" said Enguerrand. "The
destiny of France at this moment hangs on a thread--I, a Frenchman,
say to an English friend, 'Let us dine--a cutlet to-day and a fig for
to-morrow;' and my English friend, distinguished native of a country
with which we have the closest alliance, tells me that in this crisis
of France he has business to attend to! My father is quite right; he
accepts the Voltairean philosophy, and cries, Vivent les indifferents!"

"My dear M. de Vandemar," said Graham, "in every country you will find
the same thing. All individuals massed together constitute public life.
Each individual has a life of his own, the claims and the habits and
the needs of which do not suppress his sympathies with public life,
but imperiously overrule them. Mrs. Morley, permit me to pull the
check-string--I get out here."

"I like that man," said Enguerrand, as he continued to ride by the fair
American, "in language and esprit he is so French."

"I use to like him better than you can," answered Mrs. Morley, "but
in prejudice and stupidity he is so English. As it seems you are
disengaged, come and partake, pot au feu, with Frank and me."

"Charmed to do so," answered the cleverest and best bred of all Parisian
beaux garcons, "but forgive me if I quit you soon. This poor France!
Entre nous, I am very uneasy about the Parisian fever. I must run away
after dinner to clubs and cafes to learn the last bulletins."

"We have nothing like that French Legitimist in the States," said the
fair American to herself, "unless we should ever be so silly as to make
Legitimists of the ruined gentlemen of the South."

Meanwhile Graham Vane went slowly back to his apartment. No false excuse
had he made to Enguerrand; this evening was devoted to M. Renard, who
told h