a man on the hip, ax him a question
or two, and get his answers, and then you have him in a corner, he must
stand and let you put on the bridle. He cant help it no how, he can fix
it.

"Says you, 'My Lord'--don't forget his title--every man likes the sound
of that, it's music to his ears, it's like our splendid national air,
Yankee Doodle, you never get tired of it. 'My Lord,' sais you, 'what do
you suppose is the reason the French keep Algiers?' Well, he'll up
and say, it's an outlet for the fiery spirits of France, it gives them
employment and an opportunity to distinguish themselves, and what the
climate and the inimy spare, become valuable officers. It makes good
soldiers out of bad subjects.

"'Do you call that good policy?' sais you.

"Well, he's a trump, is Mr. Stanley, at least folks say so; and he'll
say right off the reel 'onquestionably it is--excellent policy.'

"When he says that, you have him bagged, he may flounder and spring like
a salmon jist caught; but he can't out of the landin' net. You've got
him, and no mistake. Sais you 'what outlet have you for the colonies?'

"Well, he'll scratch his head and stare at that, for a space. He'll
hum and haw a little to get breath, for he never thought of that afore,
since he grow'd up; but he's no fool, I can tell you, and he'll out with
his mould, run an answer and be ready for you in no time. He'll say,
'They don't require none. Sir. They have no redundant population. They
are an outlet themselves.'

"Sais you, 'I wasn't talking of an outlet for population, for France or
the provinces nother. I was talking of an outlet for the clever men, for
the onquiet ones, for the fiery spirits.'

"'For that. Sir,' he will say, 'they have the local patronage.'

"'Oh!' sais you, 'I warn't aware. I beg pardon, I have been absent some
time, as long as twenty days or perhaps twenty-five, there must have
been great changes, since I left.'

"'The garrison,' sais you.

"'Is English,' sais he.

"'The armed ships in the harbour?'

"'English.'

"'The governor and his secretary?'

"'English.'

"'The principal officer of customs and principal part of his deputies?'

"'English.'

"'The commissariat and the staff?'

"'English to a man.'

"'The dockyard people?'

"'English.'

"'The postmaster giniral?'

"'English.'

"'What, English?' sais you, and look all surprise, as if you didn't
know. 'I thought he was a colonist, seein' the province pays so much for
t