siderable value. Yes, that circumstance makes my heart warm towards
you, for I am proud of my language--as I indeed well may be--what a
language, noble and energetic! quite original, differing from all others
both in words and structure."

"You are mistaken," said I; "many languages resemble the Armenian both in
structure and words."

"For example?" said the Armenian.

"For example?" said I, "the English."

"The English," said the Armenian; "show me one word in which the English
resembles the Armenian."

"You walk on London Bridge," said I.

"Yes," said the Armenian.

"I saw you look over the balustrade the other morning."

"True," said the Armenian.

"Well, what did you see rushing up through the arches with noise and
foam?"

"What was it?" said the Armenian. "What was it?--you don't mean the
_tide_?"

"Do I not?" said I.

"Well, what has the tide to do with the matter?"

"Much," said I; "what is the tide?"

"The ebb and flow of the sea," said the Armenian.

"The sea itself; what is the Haik word for sea?"

The Armenian gave a strong gasp; then, nodding his head thrice, "you are
right," said he, "the English word tide is the Armenian for sea; and now
I begin to perceive that there are many English words which are Armenian;
there is --- and --- and there again in French there is --- and ---
derived from the Armenian. How strange, how singular--I thank you. It
is a proud thing to see that the language of my race has had so much
influence over the languages of the world."

I saw that all that related to his race was the weak point of the
Armenian. I did not flatter the Armenian with respect to his race or
language. "An inconsiderable people," said I, "shrewd and industrious,
but still an inconsiderable people. A language bold and expressive, and
of some antiquity, derived, though perhaps not immediately, from some
much older tongue. I do not think that the Armenian has had any
influence over the formation of the languages of the world. I am not
much indebted to the Armenian for the solution of any doubts; whereas to
the language of Mr. Petulengro--"

"I have heard you mention that name before," said the Armenian; "who is
Mr. Petulengro?"

And then I told the Armenian who Mr. Petulengro was. The Armenian spoke
contemptuously of Mr. Petulengro and his race. "Don't speak
contemptuously of Mr. Petulengro," said I, "nor of anything belonging to
him. He is a dark, mysterious personage; all