way an unknown
American lady can be concerned in them, I am unable to imagine. This,
however, is, I think, certain, the count did not want to be involved
in an affair of honor about this lady. We were to be supposed to have
quarreled over cards. He wanted her to disappear from the scene. But
why?"

"Well, it is late," said Merton, looking at the clock. "Good night. I
shall stay at home to-morrow until I hear from you and the count."

I may add that Merton at once accepted the count's explanation and
called on him. The affair of Baron Porthos and my friend proved more
difficult. Both declined to apologize. Somehow, it got out at the
clubs, and Paris was gaily amused over paragraphs about the Wild West
man who would fight only with the knife-bowie. Merton was furious, and
I had hard work to keep him within bounds.

Meanwhile the count and another gentleman met me, a friend of mine,
Lieutenant West, a naval officer, and made vain efforts to bring about
peace or a duel with swords; at which Merton only laughed, saying that
when he went "a-cat-fishing, he went a-cat-fishing," a piece of
national wisdom which I found myself incompetent to make clear to my
French friends. Aramis was easier to manage than his namesake.
Meanwhile, our minister was very much troubled over the matter, and
the count hardly less so. But Porthos was as inexorable as his
namesake, and Merton merely obstinate. It was what the count described
as an _impasse_.

VIII

At this time the Emperor--for this was in the fall of '62--was busy
about his Mexican venture, and our legations were disturbed by vague
rumors of efforts to combine the great powers in an agreement to bring
about a perilous intervention in our affairs, which at home were going
badly enough, with one disaster after another. No one at the legation
knew how deep the Emperor was in the matter, but there was a chill of
expectation in the air, and yet no distinct evidence of the trouble
which was brewing.

It was, as I have said, an essential part of my work to frequent the
best houses and in every way to learn what was the tone of feeling. It
was, in fact, so hostile that it was now and then hard to avoid
personal quarrels. In England it was, if possible, worse. Mr.
Gladstone had spoken in public, and with warm praise of Mr. Jefferson
Davis and the confederation. Roebuck had described our army as the
"scum of Europe." We had few important friends in England or France.
The Englis