an
thought and man's affections; "and yet," muttered I, "they can sit at
table with one of the most remarkable of men, and be as ignorant of
all about him as the husbandman who toils at his daily labor is of the
mineral treasures that lie buried down beneath him."

"I will read them a lesson," thought I. "They shall see that in the
humble guise of foot-traveller it may be the pleasure of men of rank
and station to journey." The townsfolk, when the dessert made its
appearance, rose to take their departure, each before he left the room
making a profound obeisance to the general, and then another but less
lowly act of homage to the staff, showing by this that strangers were
expected to withdraw, while the military guests sat over their wine.
Indeed, a very significant look from the last person who left the room
conveyed to me the etiquette of the place. I was delighted at this,--it
was the very opportunity I longed for; and so, with a clink of my knife
against my wine-glass, the substitute for a bell in use amongst humble
hostels, I summoned the waiter, and asked for his list of wines. I saw
that my act had created some astonishment amongst the others, but it
excited nothing more, and now they had all lighted their pipes, and sat
smoking away quite regardless of my presence. I had ordered a flask of
Steinberger at four florins, and given most special directions that my
glass should have a "roped rim," and be of a tender green tint, but not
too deep to spoil the color of the wine.

My admonitions were given aloud, and in a tone of command; but I
perceived that they failed to create any impression upon my moustached
neighbors. I might have ordered nectar or hypocras, for all that they
seemed to care about me. I raked up in memory all the impertinent and
insolent things Henri Heine had ever said of Austria; I bethought me how
they tyrannized in the various provinces of their scattered empire, and
how they were hated by Hun, Slavac, and Italian; I revelled in those
slashing leading articles that used to show up the great but bankrupt
bully, and I only wished I was "own correspondent" to something at home
to give my impressions of "Austria and her military system."

Little as you think of that pale sad-looking stranger, who sits sipping
his wine in solitude at the foot of the table, he is about to transmit
yourselves and your country to a remote posterity. "Ay!" muttered I, "to
be remembered when the Danube will be a choked-u