brigands, as some foreigners consider us; but he did not show any
particular sympathy with either the country or the people, and certainly
used no flattery on the subject of our special virtues.

Our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Dumany's valet,
who handed his master two letters. "Will you give me leave to read them
at once?" he asked, turning to me. "They are of some importance, being
answers to two dinner invitations I sent out this morning."

"Certainly," I answered; "pray do as you wish."

He opened and read the letters, and, replacing them again on the silver
salver upon which the servant had brought them, he ordered him to hand
them over to the chambermaid so that Mrs. Dumany might receive and read
them.

After the valet had left, Mr. Dumany said to me--

"I have invited these two gentlemen to meet you at dinner. One of them
is secretary of the Department of the Interior, the other an old
Catholic priest, the parson of St. Germain l'Auxerrois. It is very nice
and pleasant that both of them accepted, and so I hope you will not
object to make the acquaintance of two whole-souled and intelligent
gentlemen."

"Quite the contrary," I hastened to say; "I shall be very happy to meet
them."

Just then the valet returned, and, deferentially bowing, he said to me--