e pursued; "he is a splendid fellow, too,
is he not? I have not heard vastly much of him myself. No details,
sir--no details! We labour under huge difficulties here as to unbiassed
information."

"I believe I have heard the same complaint in other countries," I could
not help remarking. "But as to Caffarelli, he is neither lame nor blind,
he has two legs, and a nose in the middle of his face. And I care as
much about him as you care for the dead body of Mr. Perceval!"

He studied me with glowing eyes.

"You cannot deceive me!" he cried. "You have served under him. You are a
Frenchman! I hold by the hand, at last, one of that noble race, the
pioneers of the glorious principles of liberty and brotherhood. Hush!
No, it is all right. I thought there had been somebody at the door. In
this wretched, enslaved country we dare not even call our souls our
own. The spy and the hangman, sir--the spy and the hangman! And yet
there is a candle burning, too. The good leaven is working, sir--working
underneath. Even in this town there are a few brave spirits who meet
every Wednesday. You must stay over a day or so and join us. We do not
use this house. Another, and a quieter. They draw fine ale,
however--fair, mild ale. You will find yourself among friends, among
brothers. You will hear some very daring sentiments expressed!" he
cried, expanding his small chest. "Monarchy, Christianity--all the
trappings of a bloated past--the Free Confraternity of Durham and
Tyneside deride."

Here was a devil of a prospect for a gentleman whose whole design was to
avoid observation! The Free Confraternity had no charms for me; daring
sentiments were no part of my baggage; and I tried, instead, a little
cold water.

"You seem to forget, sir, that my Emperor has reestablished
Christianity," I observed.

"Ah, sir, but that was policy!" he exclaimed. "You do not understand
Napoleon. I have followed his whole career. I can explain his policy
from first to last. Now, for instance, in the Peninsula, on which you
were so very amusing, if you will come to a friend's house who has a map
of Spain, I can make the whole course of the war quite clear to you, I
venture to say, in half an hour."

This was intolerable. Of the two extremes, I found I preferred the
British tory; and, making an appointment for the morrow, I pleaded
sudden headache, escaped to the inn, packed my knapsack, and fled, about
nine at night, from this accursed neighbourhood. It was co