t in Europe; and
what had become of it; and then by one of those illogical jumps--often
indulged in by well-informed men discussing any subject that absorbs
them--brought up at Voltaire and Taine and the earlier days of the
Revolution in which one of the little tailor's ancestors had suffered
spoliation and death.

Jack sat silent--he had long since found himself out of his
depth--drinking in every word of the talk, his wonderment increasing
every moment, not only over Cohen, but over Peter as well, whom he had
never before heard so eloquent or so learned, or so entertaining.
When at last the little man rose to go, the boy, with one of those
spontaneous impulses which was part of his nature, sprang from his seat,
found the tailor's hat himself, and conducting him to the door, wished
him good-night with all the grace and well-meant courtesy he would show
a prince of the blood, should he ever be fortunate enough to meet one.

Peter was standing on the mat, his back to the fire, when the boy
returned.

"Jack, you delight me!" the old fellow cried. "Your father couldn't have
played host better. Really, I am beginning to believe I won't have to
lock you up in an asylum. You're getting wonderfully sane, my boy,--real
human. Jack, do you know that if you keep on this way I shall really
begin to love you!"

"But what an extraordinary man," exclaimed Jack, ignoring Peter's
compliment and badinage. "Is there anything he does not know?"

"Yes,--many things. Oh! a great many things. He doesn't know how to be
rude, or ill bred, or purse-proud. He doesn't know how to snub people
who are poorer than he is, or to push himself in where he isn't
wanted; or to talk behind people's backs after he has accepted their
hospitality. Just plain gentleman journeyman tailor, Jack. And now, my
boy, be honest. Isn't he a relief after some of the people you and I
meet every day?"

Jack settled again in his chair. His mind was not at all easy.

"Yes, he is, and that makes me afraid I was rude. I didn't mean to be."

"No,--you acted just right. I wanted to draw him out so you could hear,
and you must say that he was charming. And the best of it is that he
could have talked equally well on a dozen other subjects."

For some time Jack did not answer. Despite Peter's good opinion of him,
he still felt that he had either said or done something he should be
ashamed of. He knew it was his snap judgment about Cohen that had been
the cause of the ob