conscious of the world.

As I stood lost to everything about me, I heard Doltaire's voice
behind, and presently he said over my shoulder, "To wish Captain Moray a
good-morning were superfluous!"

I smiled at him: the pleasure of that scene had given me an impulse
towards good nature even with my enemies.

"The best I ever had," I answered quietly.

"Contrasts are life's delights," he said. "You should thank us. You have
your best day because of our worst dungeon."

"But my thanks shall not be in words; you shall have the same courtesy
at our hands one day."

"I had the Bastile for a year," he rejoined, calling up a squad of
men with his finger as he spoke. "I have had my best day. Two would be
monotony. You think your English will take this some time?" he asked,
waving a finger towards the citadel. "It will need good play to pluck
that ribbon from its place." He glanced up, as he spoke, at the white
flag with its golden lilies.

"So much the better sport," I answered. "We will have the ribbon and its
heritage."

"You yourself shall furnish evidence to-day. Gabord here will see you
temptingly disposed--the wild bull led peaceably by the nose!"

"But one day I will twist your nose, Monsieur Doltaire."

"That is fair enough, if rude," he responded. "When your turn comes,
you twist and I endure. You shall be nourished well like me, and I shall
look a battered hulk like you. But I shall never be the fool that you
are. If I had a way to slip the leash, I'd slip it. You are a dolt." He
was touching upon the letters again.

"I weigh it all," said I. "I am no fool--anything else you will."

"You'll be nothing soon, I fear--which is a pity."

What more he might have said I do not know, but there now appeared in
the yard a tall, reverend old gentleman, in the costume of the coureur
de bois, though his belt was richly chased, and he wore an order on
his breast. There was something more refined than powerful in his
appearance, but he had a keen, kindly eye, and a manner unmistakably
superior. His dress was a little barbarous, unlike Doltaire's splendid
white uniform, set off with violet and gold, the lace of a fine
handkerchief sticking from his belt, and a gold-handled sword at his
side; but the manner of both was distinguished.

Seeing Doltaire, he came forward and they embraced. Then he turned
towards me, and as they walked off a little distance I could see that
he was curious concerning me. Presently he raised h