the canal, if you don't mind."

"You will!" said the stranger, who had hitherto spoken French. "Allow
me to observe--in the most delicate manner in the world--just to hint,
that you are a damned trencher-scraping, napkin-carrying,
shilling-seeking, up-and-down-stairs son of a bitch--and take this for
your impudence!"

The noise of the cane was again heard; and I hastened downstairs, where
I found Count Shucksen thrashing two or three of the waiters without
mercy. At my appearance, the waiters, who were showing fight, retreated
to a short distance, out of reach of the cane.

"My dear count," exclaimed I, "is it you?" and I shook him by the hand.

"My dear Lord Privilege, will you excuse me? but these fellows are
saucy."

"Then I'll have them discharged," replied I. "If a friend of mine, and
an officer of your rank and distinction, cannot come to see me without
insult, I will seek another hotel."

This threat of mine, and the reception I gave the count, put all to
rights. The waiters sneaked off, and the master of the hotel
apologised. It appeared that they had desired him to wait in the
coffee-room until they could announce him, which had hurt the count's
dignity.

"We are sitting down to dinner, count; will you join us?"

"As soon as I have improved my toilet, my dear lord," replied he "you
must perceive that I am off a journey."

The master of the hotel bowed, and proceeded to show the count to a
dressing-room.

When I returned up-stairs--"What was the matter?" inquired O'Brien. "O
nothing!--a little disturbance in consequence of a foreigner not
understanding English."

In about five minutes the waiter opened the door, and announced Count
Shucksen.

"Now, O'Brien, you'll be puzzled," said I; and in came the count.

"My dear Lord Privilege," said he, coming up and taking me by the hand,
"let me not be the last to congratulate you upon your accession. I was
running up the channel in my frigate, when a pilot-boat gave me the
newspaper, in which I saw your unexpected change of circumstances. I
made an excuse for dropping my anchor at Spithead this morning, and I
have come up post to express how sincerely I participate in your good
fortune." Count Shucksen then politely saluted the ladies and the
general, and turned round to O'Brien, who had been staring at him with
astonishment.

"Count Shucksen, allow me to introduce Sir Terence O'Brien."

"By the piper that played before Moses, but it's a puz