to the apartment of
that great political martyr.

Sir Asinus was sitting in an easy chair tuning a violin; his pointed
features wearing their usual expression of cynical humor, and his
dress wofully negligent.

He had been making a light repast upon crackers and wine, and on the
floor lay a tobacco pipe with an exceedingly dirty reed stem, which
Jacques, with his usual bad fortune, trod upon and reduced to a bundle
of splinters.

"There!" cried Sir Asinus, "there, you have broken my pipe, you
awkward cub!"

"Ah," sighed Jacques, gazing upon the splinters with melancholy
curiosity; "what you say is very just."

And sitting down, he gazed round him, smiling sadly.

"Nothing better could be expected from you, however, you careless
fop!"

And giving one of the violin pegs a wrench, Sir Asinus snapped a
string.

"There!" he cried, "you bring bad fortune! whenever you come, I have
the devil's own luck."

Jacques laughed quietly, and stretching out his elegant foot, yawned
luxuriously.

"You are naturally unlucky, my dear knight," he said. "Hand me a glass
of wine--or don't trouble yourself: the exercise of rising will do me
good."

And leaning over, he poured out a glass of wine and sipped it.

"I was coming along, and thought I would come in," he said. "How is
your Excellency to-day?"

"Dying of weariness!"

"What! even your great Latin song----"

"Is growing dull, sir. How can a man live on solitude and Latin? No
girls, no frolics, no fun, no nothing, if I may use that inelegant
expression," said Sir Asinus.

"Go back, then."

"Never!"

"Why not?"

"Do you ask? I am a martyr, sir, to my great and expanded political
ideas; my religious opinions; my theory of human rights."

"Ah, indeed? Well, they ought to appreciate the compliment you pay
them, and console you in your exile."

"They do, sir," said Sir Asinus.

"Delighted to hear it," sighed Jacques, setting down his glass. "Has
Doctor Small called on you yet?"

"No. I fervently desire that he will call. We could sing my Latin song
together--he would take the bass; and in three hours I should make of
him a convert to my political ideas."

"Indeed? Shall I mention that you wish to see him?"

"No, I believe not," said Sir Asinus; "I am busy at present."

"At what--yawning?"

"No, you fop! I am framing a national anthem for the violin."

"Tune--the 'Exile's Return,' eh?"

"Base scoffer! But what news?"

"A great piece."

"What?"