f Paris had a Cannebiere, it would be a little Marseilles. I
suppose for the Marseillais there is a magic in the sonorous name; for,
after all, it is but a commonplace street of shops running from the
quays into the heart of the town. It is also deformed by tramcars. I
strolled leisurely up, thinking of the many swans that were geese, and
Paradises that were building-plots, and heroes that were dummies, and
solidities that were shadows, in short, enjoying a gentle post-prandial
mood, when my eyes suddenly fell on a scene which brought me down from
such realities to the realm of the fantastic. There, a few yards in
front of me, at the outer edge of the terrace of a cafe, clad in
his eternal silk hat, frock coat, and yellow gloves, sat Professor
Anastasius Papadopoulos in earnest conversation with a seedy stranger of
repellent mien. The latter was clean-shaven and had a broken nose,
and wore a little round, soft felt hat. The dwarf was facing me. As
he caught sight of me a smile of welcome overspread his Napoleonic
features. He rose, awaited my approach, and, bareheaded, made his usual
sweeping bow, which he concluded by resting his silk hat on the pit of
his stomach. I lifted my hat politely and would have passed on, but he
stood in my path. I extended my hand. He took it after the manner of a
provincial mayor receiving royalty.

"_Couvrez-vous, Monsieur, je vous en prie_," said I.

He covered his head. "Monsieur," said he, "I beseech you to be seated,
and do me the honour of joining me in the coffee and excellent cognac of
this establishment."

"Willingly," said I, mindful of Lola's tale of the long knife which he
carried concealed about his person.

"Permit me to present my friend Monsieur Achille Saupiquet--Monsieur de
Gex, a great English statesman and a friend of that _gnadigsten Engel_,
Madame Lola Brandt."

Monsieur Saupiquet and I saluted each other formally. I took a seat.
Professor Anastasius Papadopoulos moved a bundle of papers tied up with
pink ribbon from in front of me, and ordered coffee and cognac.

"Monsieur Saupiquet also knows Madame Brandt," he explained.

"_Bien sur_," said Monsieur Saupiquet. "She owes me fifteen sous."

Papadopoulos turned on his sharply. "Will you be silent!"

The other grumbled beneath his breath.

"I hope Madame is well," said Papadopoulos.

I said that she appeared so, when last I had the pleasure of seeing her.
The dwarf turned to his friend.

"Monsieur has also