ary.
The most eminent men, savans and artists, did not shrink from the
philanthropic duty of instructing the young in this remarkable
institution, and were employed as professors of sciences, history,
music, and literature. The French language was made a matter of especial
importance, and the pronunciation was taught by a new and infallible
method of which Madame Moronval was the author. Besides all this, every
week there was a public lecture, to which friends and relatives of the
pupils were invited, and where they could thoroughly convince themselves
of the excellence of the system pursued at the Moronval Academy.

This long tirade of the principal, who needed, possibly, more than any
one else the advantages of lessons in pronunciation from his wife,
was achieved more quickly for the reason that, in Creole fashion, he
swallowed half his words, and left out many of his consonants.

It mattered not, however, for Madame Constant was positively dazzled.

The question of terms, of course, was nothing to her, she said; but it
was necessary that the child should receive an aristocratic and finished
education.

"Unquestionably," said Madame Moronval, growing still more erect.

Here her husband added that he only received into his establishment
strangers of great distinction, scions of great families, nobles,
princes, and the like. At that very time he had under his roof a child
of royal birth,--a son of the king of Dahomey. At this the enthusiasm of
Madame Constant burst all boundaries.

"A king's son! You hear, Master Jack--you will be educated with the son
of a king!"

"Yes," resumed the instructor, gravely; "I have been intrusted by his
Dahomian Majesty with the education of his royal Highness, and I believe
that I shall be able to make of him a most remarkable man."

What was the matter with the black boy, who was still at work at the
fire, that he shook so convulsively, and made such a hideous noise with
the shovel and tongs?

M. Moronval continued. "I hope, and Madame Moronval hopes, that the
young king, when on the throne of his ancestors, will remember the good
advice and the noble examples afforded him by his teachers in Paris,
the happy years spent with them, their indefatigable cares and assiduous
efforts on his behalf."

Here Jack was surprised to see the black boy kneeling before the
chimney, turn toward him, and shake his woolly head violently, while his
mouth opened wide in silent but furious denial