m he left in possession of our forts and cannon. I felt
spellbound by the interest of the sinistoe melodrame, with its quick
succession of scenic effects and the metropolis of the world for its
stage. Taught by experience, I did not aspire to be an actor; and even
as a spectator, I took care neither to hiss nor applaud. Imitating your
happy England, I observed a strict neutrality; and, safe myself from
danger, left my best friends to the care of the gods.

"As to political questions, I dare not commit myself to a conjecture.
At this rouge et noir table, all I can say is, that whichever card turns
up, it is either a red or a black one. One gamester gains for the moment
by the loss of the other; the table eventually ruins both.

"No one believes that the present form of government can last; every one
differs as to that which can. Raoul de Vandemar is immovably convinced
of the restoration of the Bourbons. Savarin is meditating a new journal
devoted to the cause of the Count of Paris. De Brew and the old Count
de Passy, having in turn espoused and opposed every previous form of
government, naturally go in for a perfectly novel experiment, and are
for constitutional dictatorship under the Duc d'Aumale, which he is to
hold at his own pleasure, and ultimately resign to his nephew the Count,
under the mild title of a constitutional king;--that is, if it ever
suits the pleasure of a dictator to depose himself. To me this seems
the wildest of notions. If the Duc's administration were successful, the
French would insist on keeping it; and if the uncle were unsuccessful,
the nephew would not have a chance. Duplessis retains his faith in the
Imperial dynasty; and that Imperialist party is much stronger than it
appears on the surface. So many of the bourgeoisie recall with a sigh
eighteen years of prosperous trade; so many of the military officers, so
many of the civil officials, identify their career with the Napoleonic
favour; and so many of the Priesthood, abhorring the Republic, always
liable to pass into the hands of those who assail religion,--unwilling
to admit the claim of the Orleanists, are at heart for the Empire.

"But I will tell you one secret. I and all the quiet folks like me (we
are more numerous than any one violent faction) are willing to accept
any form of government by which we have the best chance of keeping our
coats on our backs. Liberte, Egalite, Fraternity, are gone quite out
of fashion; and Mademoiselle--