prepared to set out on his journey. He left Manheim at three in the
morning; travelled without intermission to Stuttgart,--perhaps
fourscore or ninety miles from Manheim--put up at his old quarters
_zum Waldhorn_ (see p. 17, ante.) waited upon M. Le Bret with a
letter, and the morocco tomes--RECEIVED THE VIRGILS--and prepared for
his return to Manheim--which place he reached by two on the following
morning. I had told him that, at whatever hour he arrived, he was to
make his way to my chamber. He did as he was desired. "LES
VOILA!"--exclaimed he, on placing the two volumes hastily upon the
table.--"Ma foi, Monsieur, c'est ceci une drôle d'affaire; il y a je
ne sçai pas combien de lieues que j'ai traversé pour deux anciens
livres qui ne valent pas à mes yeux le tiers d'un Napoleon!" I readily
forgave him all this saucy heresy--and almost hugged the volumes ...
on finding them upon my table. They were my constant travelling
companions through France to Calais; and when I shewed the _Adam
Virgil_ to M. Van Praet, at Paris--"Enfin (remarked he, as he turned
over the broad-margined and loud-crackling leaves) voilà un livre dont
j'ai beaucoup entendu parler, mais que je n'ai jamais vu!" These words
sounded as sweet melody to mine ears. But I will unfeignedly declare,
that the joy which crowned the whole, was, when I delivered _both_ the
books ... into the hands of their present NOBLE OWNER: with whom they
will doubtless find their FINAL RESTING PLACE. [Such was my
bibliographical history--eleven years ago. Since that period NO copy
of EITHER edition has found its way into England. "Terque quaterque
beatus!"]




LETTER III.