the Red Sea.

From noon to four o'clock Rodolphe successively steered for every house
of his acquaintance. He went through the forty eight districts of Paris,
and covered about eight leagues, but without any success. The influence
of the 15th of April made itself feel with equal severity everywhere.
However, dinner time was drawing near. But it scarcely appeared that
dinner was likely to follow its example, and it seemed to Rodolphe that
he was on the raft of the wrecked Medusa.

As he was crossing the Pont Neuf an idea all at once occurred to him.

"Oh! oh!" said he to himself, retracing his steps, "the 15th of April.
But I have an invitation to dinner for today."

And fumbling in his pocket, he drew out a printed ticket, running as
follows:

+------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Barriere de la Villette, |
| Au Grand Vainqueur. |
| Dining Room to seat 300 people. |
| |
| ____________ |
| |
| Anniversary Dinner |
| In Honor of the Birth Of |
| |
| THE HUMANITARIAN MESSIAH |
| |
| April 15, 184- |
| |
| _______ |
| |
| Admit One |
| N.B.--Only half a bottle of wine per head |
+------------------------------------------------------+

"I do not share the opinions of the disciples of this Messiah," said
Rodolphe to himself, "but I will willingly share their repast." And with
the swiftness of a bird he covered the distance separating him from the
Barriere de la Villette.

When he reached the halls of the Grand Vainqueur, the crowd was
enormous. The dining room, seating three hundred, was thronged with
five hundred people. A vast horizon of veal and carrots spread itself
before the eyes of Rodolphe.

At length they began to serve the soup.

As the guests were carrying their spoons