many of them
looked like wives and mothers. Now and then a young journeyman brought
with him a young lady of more doubtful aspect, but such a couple kept
aloof from the others. Now and then, too, a man evidently of higher
station than that of ouvrier, and who was received by the philosophers
with courtesy and respect, joined one of the tables and ordered a bowl
of punch for general participation. In such occasional visitors, Graham,
still listening, detected a writer of the press; now and then, a small
artist or actor or medical student. Among the habitues there was one
man, an ouvrier, in whom Graham could not help feeling an interest.
He was called Monnier, sometimes more familiarly Armand, his baptismal
appellation. This man had a bold and honest expression of countenance.
He talked like one who, if he had not read much, had thought much on the
subjects he loved to discuss. He argued against the capital of employers
quite as ably as Mr. Mill has argued against the rights of property
in land. He was still more eloquent against the laws of marriage and
Heritage. But his was the one voice not to be silenced in favour of
a Supreme Being. He had at least the courage of his opinions, and was
always thoroughly in earnest. M. Lebeau seemed to know this man, and
honoured him with a nod and a smile, when passing by him to the table
he generally occupied. This familiarity with a man of that class, and of
opinions so extreme, excited Graham's curiosity. One evening he said to
Lebeau, "A queer fellow that you have just nodded to.

"How so?"

"Well, he has queer notions."

"Notions shared, I believe, by many of your countrymen?"

"I should think not many. Those poor simpletons yonder may have caught
'em from their French fellow-workmen, but I don't think that even the
gobemouches in our National Reform Society open their mouths to swallow
such wasps."

"Yet I believe the association to which most of those ouvriers belong
had its origin in England."

"Indeed! what association?"

"The International."

"Ah, I have heard of that."

Lebeau turned his green spectacles full on Graham's face as he said
slowly, "And what do you think of it?"

Graham prudently checked the disparaging reply that first occurred to
him, and said, "I know so little about it that I would rather ask you."

"I think it might become formidable if it found able leaders who knew
how to use it. Pardon me, how came you to know of this cafe? Were you
rec