Morrel has
received a regiment, and Joliette is Chef d'Escadron of Spahis. Luckily
for aspirants, and thanks to disease and slaughter, there is no lack of
vacancies."

"The name of Morrel I have seen before in the 'Moniteur,' but
Joliette--who is he?"

"A sort of protege of Bugeaud, 'tis said. He is reported to have
enlisted at Marseilles, and in three years has risen to his present
position from the ranks. He is of a good family, rumor says, but,
suddenly reduced by some calamity, he became a soldier."

"He must be a brave fellow, Armand! As I said before, Algeria has been a
fine field for the development of military genius. My chief objections
to French conquests are these--they have drained millions from France
which should have been devoted to the cause of labor, and have tended to
dazzle the masses with the glory of the achievements of French valor
abroad; thus while thousands of the young and enterprising have been
lured away to fill up the ranks, and to seek fame and fortune, the minds
of those remaining have been withdrawn from their own wrongs, oppression
and suffering, and from efficiently concerting to sustain the measures
of their friends for their relief. There is not a race in Christendom
so fond of military glory and achievement as the French. Dazzled by
this, the people, the masses--"

"The people, the masses!" impatiently interrupted the journalist. "You
know me, Louis; for years you have known me well, for years have we
devoted every energy of heart and soul to the cause of the people, and
for years, ever since we came to man's estate, have we been equal
sufferers in the same cause--"

"Sufferers in the cause of the people of France, in the cause of man, we
both, doubtless, have been, but not equal sufferers. What have been my
sacrifices or sufferings, my dear Armand, compared to yours? In that
dark hour when Armand Carrel fell--fell by an ignoble bullet in an
ignoble cause--fell in bitterness and without a hope for liberty in his
beloved France--I felt impelled to come forward and exert myself for the
welfare of my race, and endeavor to aid others in filling the gap
created by his loss. To France, to my country, did I then, though but a
boy, devote myself--France, my country!--for such I feel her to be,
though I was born in Spain and my mother was a Corsican. Since that hour
my pen has been dedicated to the cause of the people, the dethronement
of the Bourgeoisie and the organization of labor. A