it is a harsh thing to say to any one, "I don't believe you!" He
will naturally resent it; it would deprive us of his friendship or
regard: nay it would, perhaps, make him hate us. Yet it is better
to run every risk than to sanction an untruth. Possibly, the man
capable of it, upon finding that his imposture is known, will
himself admire our sincerity, and afterwards be induced to reflect
in a manner that may produce the best results.

The under-jailers were unanimously of opinion that he was really
Louis XVII., and having already seen so many strange changes of
fortune, they were not without hopes that he would some day ascend
the throne of France, and remember the good treatment and attentions
he had met with. With the exception of assisting in his escape,
they made it their object to comply with all his wishes. It was by
such means I had the honour of forming an acquaintance with this
grand personage. He was of the middle height, between forty and
forty-five years of age, rather inclined to corpulency, and had
features strikingly like those of the Bourbons. It is very probable
that this accidental resemblance may have led him to assume the
character he did, and play so melancholy a part in it.



CHAPTER XXI.



There is one other instance of unworthy deference to private
opinion, of which I must accuse myself. My neighbour was not an
Atheist, he rather liked to converse on religious topics, as if he