eplaces us on the
throne of our ancestors. Tell our brave nobility of Touraine that we
hope to be remembered in their prayers, and that we never forget them in
ours.'"

"Pitt and Coburg!" said Fougas between his teeth. "Here are two little
rascals conspiring with the army of Conde! But, patience!"

He clenched his fists and opened his ears.

"Didn't he say anything about politics?"

"A few vague words. Between us, I don't think he bothers with them much;
he is waiting upon events."

"He'll not wait much longer."

"Who can tell?"

"What! Who can tell? The empire is not good for six months longer.
Monseigneur de Montereau said so again last Monday to my aunt the
canoness."

"For my part, I give them a year, for their campaign in Italy has
strengthened them with the lower orders. I didn't put myself out to tell
the king so, though!"

"Damnation! gentlemen, this is going it a little too strongly!"
interrupted Fougas. "Is it here in France that Frenchmen speak thus of
French institutions? Go back to your master; tell him that the empire is
eternal, because it is founded on the granite of popular support, and
cemented by the blood of heroes. And if the king asks you who told you
this, tell him it was Colonel Fougas, who was decorated at Wagram by the
Emperor's own hand!"

The two young gentlemen looked at each other, exchanged a smile, and the
Viscount said to the Marquis:

"What is that?"

"A madman."

"No, dear; a mad dog."

"Nothing else."[6]

"Very well, gentlemen," cried the Colonel. "Speak English; you're fit
for it!"

He changed his compartment at the next station, and fell in with a lot
of young painters. He called them disciples of Zeuxis, and asked them
about Gerard, Gros, and David. These gentlemen found the sport novel,
and recommended him to go and see Talma in the new tragedy of Arnault.

The fortifications of Paris dazzled him very much, and scandalized him a
little.

"I don't like this," said he to his companions. "The true rampart of a
capital is the courage of a great people. This piling bastions around
Paris, is saying to the enemy that it is possible to conquer France."

The train at last stopped at the Mazas station. The Colonel, who had no
baggage, marched out pompously, with his hands in his pockets, to look
for the _hotel de Nantes_. As he had spent three months in Paris about
the year 1810, he considered himself acquainted with the city, and for
that reason he did not fail