s and briers of our worldly pilgrimage; so
does the possession of affection for which we cannot give requital throw
a gloom over the soul, for which there is no remedy. Better, a thousand
times better, had I borne all the solitary condition of my lot,
unrelieved by one token of regard, than think of her who had wrecked her
fortunes on my own.

With many a sad thought I plodded onward. The miles passed over seemed
like the events in some troubled dream; and of my journey I have not a
recollection remaining. It was late in the evening when I reached the
Barriere de l'Etoile, and entered Paris. The long lines of lamps along
the quays, the glittering reflection in the calm river, the subdued but
continual hum of a great city, awoke me from my reverie, and I bethought
me that my career of life must now begin anew, and all my energies must
be called on to fashion out my destiny.

On the morning after my arrival I presented myself, in compliance with
the requisite form, before the minister of police. Little information
of mine was necessary to explain the circumstances under which I was
placed. He was already thoroughly acquainted with the whole, and seemed
in nowise disposed to evince any undue lenity towards one who had
voluntarily quitted the service of the Emperor.

"Where do you purpose to remain, sir?" said the prefet, as he concluded
a lengthened and searching scrutiny of my appearance.

"In Paris," I replied, briefly.

"In Paris, I suppose," said he, with a slight derisive curl of the
lip,--"of that I should think there can be little doubt; but I wished to
ascertain more accurately your address,--in what part of the city."

"As yet I cannot tell; I am almost a stranger here. A day or two will,
however, enable me to choose, and then I shall return here with the
intelligence."

"That is sufficient, sir; I shall expect to see you soon."

He waved his hand in sign to me to withdraw, and I was but too happy to
follow the indication. As I hastened down the stairs, and forced my way
through the crowd of persons who awaited an audience with the prefet,
I heard a voice close to my ear whisper, "A word; one word with you,
Monsieur." Conceiving, however, it could not have been intended for me,
to whom no face there was familiar, I passed on, and reached the court.

The noise of footsteps rapidly moving on the grave behind me induced
me to turn; and I beheld a small, miserably-dressed man, whose spare and
wasted form bes