chateau, of
which the woods, domains, and appurtenances had been lopped off by the
Revolution. "Monsieur le Comte," Florac says, "has not wished to change
his name at his age; he has shrugged his old shoulder, and said it
was not the trouble to make to engrave a new card; and for me," the
philosophical Vicomte added, "of what good shall be a title of prince in
the position where I find myself?" It is wonderful for us who inhabit a
country where rank is worshipped with so admirable a reverence, to think
that there are many gentlemen in France who actually have authentic
titles and do not choose to bear them.

Mr. George Warrington was hugely amused with this notion of Florac's
ranks and dignities. The idea of the Prince purchasing penny cigars; of
the Prince mildly expostulating with his landlady regarding the rent;
of his punting for half-crowns at a neighbouring hall in Air Street,
whither the poor gentleman desperately ran when he had money in his
pocket, tickled George's sense of humour. It was Warrington who gravely
saluted the Vicomte, and compared him to King Alfred, on that afternoon
when we happened to call upon him and found him engaged in cooking his
modest dinner.

We were bent upon an excursion to Greenwich, and on having our friend's
company on that voyage, and we induced the Vicomte to forgo his bacon,
and be our guest for once. George Warrington chose to indulge in a great
deal of ironical pleasantry in the course of the afternoon's excursion.
As we went down the river, he pointed out to Florac the very window in
the Tower where the captive Duke of Orleans used to sit when he was an
inhabitant of that fortress. At Greenwich, which palace Florac informed
us was built by Queen Elizabeth, George showed the very spot where
Raleigh laid his cloak down to enable Her Majesty to step over a
puddle. In a word, he mystified M. de Florac; such was Mr. Warrington's
reprehensible spirit.

It happened that Mr. Barnes Newcome came to dine at Greenwich on the
same day when our little party took place. He had come down to meet
Rooster and one or two other noble friends whose names he took care
to give us, cursing them at the same time for having thrown him over.
Having missed his own company, Mr. Barnes condescended to join ours,
Warrington gravely thanking him for the great honour which he conferred
upon us by volunteering to take a place at our table. Barnes drank
freely, and was good enough to resume his acquaintan