rnard case--you must have heard of that, surely? It was just
about the period when the wonderful volunteer fever commenced to rage
with such intense earnestness over here; and when our "valuable
auxiliary forces"--as amateur military critics in the House are so fond
of repeating--were first instituted, in the fear of a second invasion of
this sacred realm of liberty. We did not then place much reliance on
the "streak of silver sea," when in the direct face of danger, as a
great "statesman" would have us do now that it no longer confronts us!
Ha, at last you recollect, eh? I need not prompt your memory any
further.

Bien. It was at this period that Monsieur Parole d'Honneur was advised
in high official circles that it would be for the benefit of his health
if he quitted French soil for awhile. He had been known to have once
been intimately associated with Mazzini, and that gentleman was supposed
to be implicated in the Orsini affair--when an attempt was made against
Napoleon's life in the Place d'Opera; so, as Parole d'Honneur had
likewise been heard to speak rather unguardedly at a political club of
patriots to which he belonged, the prefectorial mind "putting that and
that together," very reasonably presumed that our friend must have some
connection with the bomb conspirators. The consequences were, that
Parole d'Honneur was told to quit Paris instantly, and leave France
itself within four-and-twenty hours,--although he was innocent of the
slightest knowledge concerning the plot.

However, there was no help for it. Prefects are not in the habit of
discussing their suspicions with suspected persons; and thus he had to
bid adieu to his country in a hurry. He thereupon shook off its dust
from his papier-mache-soled boots, coming to England, in the manner of
his compatriots, to earn his livelihood as a teacher of languages.

Having the highest recommendations, he easily obtained as much
employment as he wanted, and devoted himself to giving conversational
lectures to a circle of collegiate establishments lying in different
parts of London, which he visited bi-weekly, or so, in turn. Amongst
these was one in our suburb; hence, first an acquaintance and then a
lasting friendship sprung up between him and the vicar, both taking to
each other immensely through their large-hearted philosophy; thus, too,
I also got acquainted with one of the brightest, cheeriest, kindest
Gauls of many that I have had the happiness of