enters have received information he is
coming and are preparing--"

The sprightly guest threw up his hands.

"The trunks! the trunks!" he exclaimed in accents of despair. "Look at
the disorder of my attire! The pride of these ruffles leveled by the
dew; my wristbands in disarray; the odor of the road pervading my
person! The trunks, I pray you!"

"Yes, sir; at once, sir! But first let me introduce you to Mr.
Saint-Prosper, of Paris, France. Make yourselves at home, gentlemen!"

With which the speaker hurriedly vanished and soon the bumping and
thumping in the hall gave cheering assurance of instructions
fulfilled.

"That porter is a prince among his kind," observed the guest
satirically, wincing as an unusual bang overhead shook the ceiling.
"But I'll warrant my man won't have to open my luggage after he gets
through."

Then as quiet followed the racket above--"So you're from Paris,
France?" he asked half-quizzically. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet
somebody from somewhere. As I, too, have lived--not in vain!--in
Paris, France, we may have mutual friends?"

"It is unlikely," said the soldier, who meanwhile had drawn off his
riding gloves, placed them on the mantel, and stood facing the fire,
with his back to the other guest. As he spoke he turned deliberately
and bent his penetrating glance on his questioner.

"Really? Allow me to be skeptical, as I have considerable acquaintance
there. In the army there's that fire-eating conqueror of the ladies,
Gen--"

"My rank was not so important," interrupted the other, "that I
numbered commanders among my personal friends."

"As you please," said the last guest carelessly. "I had thought to
exchange a little gossip with you, but--_n'importe_! In my own veins
flows some of the blood of your country."

For the time his light manner forsook him.

"Her tumults have, in a measure, been mine," he continued. "Now she is
without a king, I am well-nigh without a mother-land. True; I was not
born there--but it is the nurse the child turns to. Paris was my
_bonne_--a merry abigail! Alas, her vicious brood have turned on her
and cast her ribbons in the mire! Untroubled by her own brats, she
could extend her estates to the Eldorado of the southwestern seas." He
had arisen and, with hands behind his back, was striding to and fro.
Coming suddenly to a pause, he asked abruptly:

"Do you know the Abbe Moneau?"

At the mention of that one-time subtle confidant of the deposed king