that there
was something in it, and that if it came to fighting they would show up
pretty well; but to hear them going on now as to what France will do and
doing nothing themselves, gives one a sickener. Then the way as they
blackguard the Emperor, who wasn't by any means a bad chap, puts my
monkey up I can tell you. Why there is not one in fifty of them as is
fit to black his boots. He had a good taste in horses too, he had; and
when I hear them going on, it is as much as I can do not to slip in to
them.

"That is one reason why I am stopping. A week ago I had pretty well made
up my mind that I would go, but they made me so mad that I says to
myself, I will stop and see it out, if it is only for the pleasure of
seeing these fellows get the licking they deserve. I was out yesterday
evening. There was every cafe crowded; there was the singing-places
fuller than I ever saw them; there were drunken soldiers, who ought to
have been with their regiments outside the walls, reeling about the
streets. Any one as seed the place would have put it down that it was a
great fete-day. As to the Prussians outside no one seemed to give them a
thought. If you went from table to table you heard everyone saying that
the Germans would be destroyed, and that every one who talked of peace
now was a traitor."

"I quite agree with you," Cuthbert said, "they are most extraordinary
people. Still I do think they will fight."

"Well, sir, I don't know whether you have heard the news that they have
been licked this morning somewhere out near Clamart. I heard just now
that a lot of the linesmen bolted and never stopped running till they
got into Paris, but they say the Breton mobiles fought well, though they
had to fall back at last."

"The troops are disorganized at present," Cuthbert said; "but when you
see what a tremendous thrashing they have had it is hardly to be
expected that they should fight with any confidence, but when discipline
is restored and they have had a few skirmishes they will be different
men altogether. As to the mobiles, they are mere peasants at present,
but a month of hard work will turn them into soldiers, and I should say
better soldiers than the linesmen; but I am afraid they will never make
anything out of the National Guard. The only way to do so will be to
establish big camps outside the walls and send them all out there and
put strict army men in command, with a regiment of regulars in each camp
to carry out thei