a way of mixing wax with his colours, which made them dull. In truth,
the dampness in London was such that, to dry the pictures I painted
there, I had a fire constantly burning in my studio until the moment I
went to bed. I would set my pictures at a certain distance from the
fireplace, and often would leave a rout to go and ascertain whether
they wanted moving nearer the grate or farther away. This slavery was
unavoidable and unendurable.

Concerts were very much the fashion in London, and I preferred them to
the routs, though these afforded an opportunity to the well-received
foreigner--and fortunately I was one--of meeting all the best English
society. Invitations are not by letter, as in France. Only a card is
sent, with the inscription, "At home such and such a day."

The most fashionable woman in London at this time was the Duchess of
Devonshire. I had often heard of her beauty and her influence in
politics, and when I called upon her she greeted me in the most
affable style. She might then have been about forty-five years old.
Her features were very regular, but I was not struck by her beauty.
Her complexion was too high, and ill-fortune had ordained that one of
her eyes should be blind. As at this period the hair was worn over the
forehead, she concealed the eye under a bunch of curls, but that was
insufficient to hide such a serious defect. The Duchess of Devonshire
was of fair size, her degree of stoutness being exactly appropriate to
her age, and her unconstrained manner became her exceedingly well.

Not long after my arrival in London, the Treaty of Amiens was
abrogated, and all French who had not lived in England over a year
were compelled to leave the country at once. The Prince of Wales, to
whom I was presented, assured me that I was not to be included in this
edict, that he would oppose my expulsion, and that he would
immediately ask his father, the King, for a permit allowing me to
remain. The permit, stating all necessary particulars, was granted
me. It mentioned that I was at liberty to travel anywhere within the
kingdom, that I might sojourn wherever I pleased, and also that I must
be protected in the seaport towns I might elect to stop at--a favour
which old French residents of England had great difficulty in securing
at this juncture. The Prince of Wales went to the limit of politeness
by bringing the document to me in person.

The Prince of Wales might then have been about forty, but he looked