ission within the pillar of the Place Vendome, and when there
opened the veins of both his arms, crying out, "I offer the blood of the
brave to the manes of Napoleon." His rolling black eye was now
contrasted with a face pale as death. He had lost so much blood that few
hopes were entertained of his recovery.

But by far the most curious patient of the mad-house, was a young man
who imagined himself to be a woman. He was handsome, but not feminine in
appearance. He adored a little mirror, with which he was gratified. Rags
of all colours were his delight; and he had made a precious collection.
His coquetry was evident; and he answered pertinently all questions,
never belying at the same time his fixed opinion, that he was endowed
with a maiden's charms.

We looked over the book of reports, and found seven-eighths of the
female patients to have become deranged from love; whilst, with the
majority of the males, the hallucination proceeded from disappointments
of ambition. Surprised, I could make out no case of a religious maniac;
glad, I could discover none of a student.

We now returned to machinations for the purpose of entering the
forbidden prison. Aprons were handed us, not unlike a barber's. They
were surgeons' aprons, always worn by those of the establishment when on
duty. Might not then the barbers' aprons be a tradition of the
barber-surgeons? I refrained from asking the question in that company.
The scheme was, that we should pass for _Carabins_--such is the nickname
of French students in chirurgery--and in this quality demand admission.
The Cerberus of the prison grinned at the deceit, but wearied and amused
by our importunities, he actually opened the _quicket_ and admitted us.
There are two grated doors of this kind, one always locked whilst the
other is opened. In an instant we were in Pandemonium.

The buildings, which surrounded and formed the courts, evidently the
oldest and strongest of Bicetre, harmonized in dinginess with the scene.
At every barred window, and these were numerous, about a dozen ruffianly
heads were thrust together, to regard the chains of their
companions.--What a study of physiognomy! The murderer's scowl was
there, by the side of the laughing countenance of the vagabond, whose
shouts and jokes formed a kind of tenor to the muttered imprecations of
the other. Here and there was protruded the fine, open, high-fronted
head,--pale, striking, features, and dark looks, of some felon of