ld.

"I see," said the republican, "that we shall not agree upon the topics
you have started. If you still intrude your society upon me, you will,
at least, choose some other subject of conversation."

"Pardon me," said Cole, whose very studies, while they had excited, in
their self-defence, his momentary warmth, made him habitually courteous
and urbane, "pardon me for my hastiness of expression. I own myself in
fault." And, with this apology, our ex-king slid into the new topics
which the scenery and the weather afforded him.

Wolfe, bent upon the object of his present mission, made some inquiries
respecting Mordaunt; and though Cole only shared the uncertain
information of the country gossips as to the past history of that
person, yet the little he did know was sufficient to confirm the
republican in his belief of Algernon's identity; while the ex-gypsy's
account of his rank and reputation in the country made Wolfe doubly
anxious to secure, if possible, his good offices and interference on
behalf of the meeting. But the conversation was not always restricted to
neutral and indifferent ground, but ever and anon wandered into
various allusions or opinions from the one, certain to beget retort or
controversy in the other.

Had we time and our reader patience, it would have been a rare and fine
contrast to have noted more at large the differences of thought and
opinion between the companions: each in his several way so ardent for
liberty, and so impatient of the control and customs of society; each
so enthusiastic for the same object, yet so coldly contemptuous to the
enthusiasm of the other. The one guided only by his poetical and
erratic tastes, the other solely by dreams, seeming to the world no less
baseless, yet, to his own mind, bearing the name of stern judgment and
inflexible truth. Both men of active and adventurous spirits, to whom
forms were fetters and ceremonies odious; yet, deriving from that
mutual similarity only pity for mutual perversion, they were memorable
instances of the great differences congeniality itself will occasion,
and of the never-ending varieties which minds, rather under the
influence of imagination than judgment, will create.

CHAPTER LXXV.

Gratis anhelans, multa agendo, nihil agens.--PHAEDRUS.
["Panting and labouring in vain; doing much,--effecting nothing."]

Upon entering the town, the streets displayed all the bustle and
excitement which the approaching meeting was