heard a loud ringing of the porter's bell. The baron at
the same time looked at his watch, and resumed his pen. A note was then
brought to him by his servant. It was read, and an answer given.

"Say I will be there at four o'clock."

"I beg your pardon, sir," said the servant, "but the prince's chasseur
who gave me the note, desired me to add that the prince wished to see
you immediately."

"Very well, sir," answered the baron haughtily. "He has delivered his
master's message--do you deliver mine. I am busy, very busy--and cannot
see the prince till four o'clock. That is the answer."

The servant knew his master, and left the room immediately.

"These insufferable nobles!" exclaimed the baron; "they imagine that
mankind was invented for their pleasure and amusement--to be their
footballs. Does this man think we have nothing better to do than to
humour his fancies, and attend to every ailment that waits upon his
gross appetite. He makes a god of his belly, is punished for his
idolatry, and then whines by the hour to his doctor."

"Is he not ill, then?" I enquired.

"He may be--but that is no reason why my students are to be neglected
for a prince. He must come in his turn, with all the rest. I allow no
distinctions in my practice. Suffering is suffering--the pain of the
peasant is as acute as the smart of the king. Proceed with the drawings,
Mr Walpole."

In less than a quarter of an hour, there was a fresh disturbance. The
servant knocked softly at the door, and entered timidly.

"Here is a dirty woman at the gate, sir," began the man. "I have told
her that you were engaged and couldn't speak to her, but she would not
move until I had brought you this letter. She is a dirty creature, sir."

"Well, you have said that once before," answered the baron taking the
note--if a soiled strip of paper, with blots, erasures, and illegible
characters may deserve that title. The baron endeavoured to read it; but
failing, requested Francois to show the poor woman up.

She appeared, and justified the repetition of Francois. She was indeed
very far from being clean; she had scarcely a rag upon her back--and
seemed, in every way, much distressed.

"Now, my good woman," said the professor very tenderly, "tell me what
it is you want, as quickly as you are able to do it, and I will help you
if it be in my power."

The woman, bursting into tears, proceeded to say that "she resided in
the Quartier St Jacques--that her husband