of silence. You and I, monsieur, are, at any rate, indebted
to our own wits for our rise in the world!"

Here again I was bewildered! As you know, I am rather proud of my
descent from families which, if not noble themselves, are allied to
nobility,--and as to my "rise in the world"--if I had risen, it would
have been rather for balloon-like qualities than for mother-wit, to
being unencumbered with heavy ballast either in my head or my pockets.
However, it was my cue to agree: so I smiled again.

"For my part," said he, "if a man does not stick at trifles, if he knows
how to judiciously add to, or withhold facts, and is not sentimental in
his parade of humanity, he is sure to do well; sure to affix a _de_ or
_von_ to his name, and end his days in comfort. There is an example of
what I am saying"--and he glanced furtively at the weak-looking master
of the sharp, intelligent servant, whom I have called the chasseur.

"Monsieur le Marquis would never have been anything but a miller's son,
if it had not been for the talents of his servant. Of course you know
his antecedents?"

I was going to make some remarks on the changes in the order of the
peerage since the days of Louis XVI.--going, in fact, to be very
sensible and historical--when there was a slight commotion among
the people at the other end of the room. Lacqueys in quaint liveries
must have come in from behind the tapestry, I suppose (for I never
saw them enter, though I sate right opposite to the doors), and were
handing about the slight beverages and slighter viands which are
considered sufficient refreshments, but which looked rather meagre to
my hungry appetite. These footmen were standing solemnly opposite
to a lady,--beautiful, splendid as the dawn, but--sound asleep in a
magnificent settee. A gentleman who showed so much irritation at her
ill-timed slumbers, that I think he must have been her husband, was
trying to awaken her with actions not far removed from shakings. All in
vain; she was quite unconscious of his annoyance, or the smiles of the
company, or the automatic solemnity of the waiting footman, or the
perplexed anxiety of monsieur and madame.

My little friend sat down with a sneer, as if his curiosity was quenched
in contempt.

"Moralists would make an infinity of wise remarks on that scene," said
he. "In the first place, note the ridiculous position into which their
superstitious reverence for rank and title puts all these people. Because
mo