d it to every one down in these parts lately; the waterguard
officers will take it at 8d. Cir, if you won't, but I begged you might
have the refusal."

"Oh! very well; I am happy to find matters are managed so impartially in
the post-office here. Nothing like a public cant for making matters find
their true level. Tell the postmaster, then, I'll keep the letter, and
the rather, as it happens, by good luck, to be intended for me."

"And now for the interior," said I, as I broke the seal and read:

"Paris, Rue Castiglione.

"My dear Mr. Lorrequer--As her ladyship and my son have in vain
essayed to get any thing from you in the shape of reply to their
letters, it has devolved upon me to try my fortune, which were I to
augur from the legibility of my writing, may not, I should fear,
prove more successful than the"--(what can the word be?) "the--the"
--why, it can't be damnable, surely?--no, it is amiable, I see
--"than the amiable epistle of my lady. I cannot, however, permit
myself to leave this without apprising you that we are about to
start for Baden, where we purpose remaining a month or two. Your
cousin Guy, who has been staying for some time with us, has been
obliged to set out for Geneva, but hopes to join in some weeks
hence. He is a great favourite with us all, but has not effaced the
memory of our older friend, yourself. Could you not find means to
come over and see us--if only a flying visit? Rotterdam is the
route, and a few days would bring you to our quarters. Hoping that
you may feel so disposed, I have enclosed herewith a letter to the
Horse Guards, which I trust may facilitate your obtaining leave of
absence. I know of no other mode of making your peace with the
ladies, who are too highly incensed at your desertion to send one
civil postscript to this letter; and Kilkee and myself are
absolutely exhausted in our defence of you. Believe me, yours
truly,

"Callonby."

Had I received an official notification of my being appointed paymaster
to the forces, or chaplain to Chelsea hospital, I believe I should have
received the information with less surprise than I perused this letter
--that after the long interval which had elapsed, during which I had
considered myself totally forgotten by this family, I should now receive
a letter--and such a letter