schoolboy. It is because she has no confidence in Albert. But we
shall see--we shall see. It is not for the nobility of Louis
Philippe to--to have a poor digestion."

And the Comtesse de Chantonnay made a gesture and a meaning grimace
which would have been alarming enough had her hand and face been
less dimpled with good nature.

There were now assembled about a dozen persons, and the Abbe was
kept in countenance by two others of his cloth. There were several
ladies; one of whom was young and plain and seemed to watch Albert
de Chantonnay with a timid awe. Mrs. St. Pierre Lawrence, seated
next to the Comtesse de Chantonnay, was the only lady who made any
attempt at gay apparel, and thus stood rather conspicuous among her
companions clad in sober and somewhat rusty black. All over the
west of France such meetings of the penniless Royalists were being
held at this time, not, it has been averred, without the knowledge
of the Prince President, who has been credited with the courage to
treat the matter with contempt. About no monarch, living or dead,
however, have so many lies been written, by friend or foe, with good
or ill intent, as about him, who subsequently carried out the
astounding feat of climbing to the throne of France as Napoleon III.
And it seems certain that he has been given credit for knowing much
of which he must have been ignorant to an extent hardly credible,
even now, in face of subsequent events.

The Comtesse de Chantonnay was still tossing her head, at intervals,
at the recollection of the Vicomtesse de Rathe's indigestion. This
was only typical of the feelings that divided every camp in France
at this time--at any time, indeed, since the days of Charlemagne--