ng, with his face pressed against a
window that led into the garden, a hand was extended over his shoulder
containing something black.

It was Said, who, as a consolation, offered him the stump of a cigar.

"Take this: I have a trunk full," said the interesting young man,
shutting his eyes so as to be able to speak.

Jack, smiling through his tears, made a sign that he did not dare to
accept this singular gift; and Said, whose eloquence was very limited,
stood silently planted by his side until M. Moronval returned.

He had escorted Madame Constant to her carriage, and came back inspired
with respectful indulgence for the grief of his new pupil.

The coachman, Augustin, had such fine furs, the coupe was so well
appointed, that the little fellow, Jack, profited by the magnificence of
the equipage.

"That is well," he said, benevolently, to the Egyptian. "Play together;
but go to the other room, where it is warmer than here, I shall permit
the boys to have a holiday in honor of the new pupil."

Poor little fellow! He was soon surrounded by a noisy crowd, who
questioned him without mercy. With his blonde curls, his plaid suit,
and bare legs, he sat motionless and timid, wondering at the frantic
gestipulations of these little boys of foreign birth, and among them
all, looked much like an elegant little Parisian shut up in the great
monkey cage in the Jardin des Plantes.

This was the idea that occurred to Moronval, but he was aroused from
his silent hilarity by the noise of a discussion too animated to be
altogether amiable. He heard the puffs and sighs of Labassandre and the
solemn little voice of madame. Easily divining the bone of contention,
he hastened to the assistance of his wife, whom he found heroically
defending the money paid by Madame Constant against the demands of the
professors, whose salaries were greatly in arrear.

Evariste Moronval, lawyer, politician, and litterateur, had been sent
from Pointe-a-Petre in 1848 as secretary to a deputy from Guadaloupe.
At that time he was just twenty-five, energetic and ambitious, with
considerable ability and cultivation. Being poor, however, he accepted
a dependent position which insured his expenses paid to Paris, that
marvellous city, the heat of whose lurid flames extends so far over the
world that it attracts even the moths from the colonies.

On landing, he left his deputy in the lurch, easily made a few
acquaintances, and attempted a political career, in