by this speech. "And where do you think that
a foundling, as I am, would find a protector?"

Paul opened his eyes. "What," said he, "are you one of those?"

"I am; I make no secret of it, hoping that there is no occasion for me
to feel shame, though there may be for grief. All my friends know this;
and I am surprised that you are not aware that I am simply a foundling
from the Hopital de Vendome. Up to twelve years of age I was perfectly
happy, and the master praised me for the knack I had of acquiring
knowledge. I used to work in the garden by day, and in the evening I
wasted reams of paper; for I had made up my mind to be an artist. But
nothing goes easily in this world, and one day the lady superintendent
conceived the idea of apprenticing me to a tanner."

Paul, who had taken a seat on the divan in order to listen, here
commenced making a cigarette; but Andre stopped him. "Excuse me; but
will you oblige me by not smoking?"

Paul tossed the cigarette aside, though he was a little surprised,
as the painter was an inveterate smoker. "All right," said he, "but
continue your story."

"I will; it is a long one. I hated the tanner's business from the
very beginning. Almost the first day an awkward workman scalded me so
severely that the traces still remain." As he spoke he rolled up his
shirt sleeve, and exhibited a scar that covered nearly all one side
of his arm. "Horrified at such a commencement, I entreated the lady
superintendent, a hideous old woman in spectacles, to apprentice me to
some other trade, but she sternly refused. She had made up her mind that
I should be a tanner."

"That was very nasty of her," remarked Paul.

"It was, indeed; but from that day I made up my mind, and I determined
to run away as soon as I could get a little money together. I therefore
stuck steadily to the business, and by the end of the year, by means of
the strictest economy, I found myself master of thirty francs. This, I
thought, would do, and, with a bundle containing a change of linen, I
started on foot for Paris. I was only thirteen, but I had been gifted by
Providence with plenty of that strong will called by many obstinacy. I
had made up my mind to be a painter."

"And you kept your vow?"

"But with the greatest difficulty. Ah! I can close my eyes and see the
place where I slept that first night I came to Paris. I was so exhausted
that I did not awake for twelve hours. I ordered a good breakfast; and
finding funds at