s passage, with which we have taken some liberties, will give the
reader a more lively idea of the reckless, jovial, turbulent Paris
student, than any with which a foreigner could furnish him: the
grisette is his heroine; and dear old Beranger, the cynic-epicurean, has
celebrated him and her in the most delightful verses in the world. Of
these we may have occasion to say a word or two anon. Meanwhile let us
follow Monsieur de Bernard in his amusing descriptions of his countrymen
somewhat farther; and, having seen how Dambergeac was a ferocious
republican, being a bachelor, let us see how age, sense, and a little
government pay--the great agent of conversions in France--nay, in
England--has reduced him to be a pompous, quiet, loyal supporter of the
juste milieu: his former portrait was that of the student, the present
will stand for an admirable lively likeness of

THE SOUS-PREFET.

"Saying that I would wait for Dambergeac in his own study, I was
introduced into that apartment, and saw around me the usual furniture
of a man in his station. There was, in the middle of the room, a large
bureau, surrounded by orthodox arm-chairs; and there were many shelves
with boxes duly ticketed; there were a number of maps, and among them a
great one of the department over which Dambergeac ruled; and facing
the windows, on a wooden pedestal, stood a plaster-cast of the 'Roi des
Francais.' Recollecting my friend's former republicanism, I smiled at
this piece of furniture; but before I had time to carry my observations
any farther, a heavy rolling sound of carriage-wheels, that caused
the windows to rattle and seemed to shake the whole edifice of the
sub-prefecture, called my attention to the court without. Its iron gates
were flung open, and in rolled, with a great deal of din, a chariot
escorted by a brace of gendarmes, sword in hand. A tall gentleman,
with a cocked-hat and feathers, wearing a blue and silver uniform coat,
descended from the vehicle; and having, with much grave condescension,
saluted his escort, mounted the stair. A moment afterwards the door of
the study was opened, and I embraced my friend.

"After the first warmth and salutations, we began to examine each other
with an equal curiosity, for eight years had elapsed since we had last
met.

"'You are grown very thin and pale,' said Harmodius, after a moment.

"'In revenge I find you fat and rosy: if I am a walking satire on
celibacy,--you, at least, are a li