scanning the broad squares and all the streets opening onto it. As Du
Roy passed him they bowed to one another.

The journalist, finding himself at liberty, went to the office of the
_Vie Francaise_. As soon as he entered he saw by the busy air of the
messengers that something out of the common was happening, and at once
went into the manager's room. Daddy Walter, in a state of nervous
excitement, was standing up dictating an article in broken sentences;
issuing orders to the reporters, who surrounded him, between two
paragraphs; giving instructions to Boisrenard; and opening letters.

As Du Roy came in, the governor uttered a cry of joy: "Ah! how lucky;
here is Pretty-boy!" He stopped short, somewhat confused, and excused
himself: "I beg your pardon for speaking like that, but I am very much
disturbed by certain events. And then I hear my wife and daughter
speaking of you as Pretty-boy from morning till night, and have ended by
falling into the habit myself. You are not offended?"

"Not at all!" said George, laughingly; "there is nothing in that
nickname to displease me."

Daddy Walter went on: "Very well, then, I christen you Pretty-boy, like
everyone else. Well, the fact is, great things are taking place. The
Ministry has been overthrown by a vote of three hundred and ten to a
hundred and two. Our prorogation is again postponed--postponed to the
Greek calends, and here we are at the twenty-eighth of July. Spain is
angry about the Morocco business, and it is that which has overthrown
Durand de l'Aine and his following. We are right in the swim. Marrot is
entrusted with the formation of a new Cabinet. He takes General Boutin
d'Acre as minister of war, and our friend Laroche-Mathieu for foreign
affairs. We are going to become an official organ. I am writing a
leader, a simple declaration of our principles, pointing out the line to
be followed by the Ministry." The old boy smiled, and continued: "The
line they intend following, be it understood. But I want something
interesting about Morocco; an actuality; a sensational article;
something or other. Find one for me."

Du Roy reflected for a moment, and then replied: "I have the very thing
for you. I will give you a study of the political situation of the whole
of our African colony, with Tunis on the left, Algeria in the middle,
and Morocco on the right; the history of the races inhabiting this vast
extent of territory; and the narrative of an excursion on the front