_Major Podmore_. "QUITE SO, DEAR BOY. BUT IN THIS HOT WEATHER--80° IN
THE SHADE--SO MUCH BETTER, IF YOU CAN, TO TAKE THINGS COOLLY!"]

* * * * *

A ROUNDABOUT RAMBLE.

(_A FACT FOUNDED ON FICTION._)

The sharp, bright little Traveller made his way to the Cabinet of M.
CARNOT, and disturbed him at work.

"Do you know, M. Le Président," said he, "that the Russians are in
secret treaty with the English, and the Russo-French Alliance is all
nonsense--the most unreliable of broken reeds?"

"Well, no," replied CARNOT, "I have not heard anything of the sort;
and, if anyone should be up in it--"

But the Traveller did not want to hear the rest, for he was once again
on his road, telling everyone he met the disquieting intelligence,
and, consequently, the French people were greatly troubled.

He was soon in Berlin. He did not ask for an interview with the
KAISER, but took one.

"Your Royal and Imperial Majesty," said he, "are you aware that Italy
is in secret accord with France, and that the Triple Alliance is a
sham, and that the cry _À Berlin!_ may be renewed at any moment?"