"But, Stubber," said I, as I conned over the various addresses on this
incomprehensible cover, "are you sure this is for me?"

"The postmaster, sir, desired me to ask you if you'd have it, for he has
offered it to every one down in these parts lately; the waterguard
officers will take it at 8d. Cir, if you won't, but I begged you might
have the refusal."

"Oh! very well; I am happy to find matters are managed so impartially in
the post-office here. Nothing like a public cant for making matters find
their true level. Tell the postmaster, then, I'll keep the letter, and
the rather, as it happens, by good luck, to be intended for me."

"And now for the interior," said I, as I broke the seal and read:

"Paris, Rue Castiglione.

"My dear Mr. Lorrequer--As her ladyship and my son have in vain
essayed to get any thing from you in the shape of reply to their
letters, it has devolved upon me to try my fortune, which were I to
augur from the legibility of my writing, may not, I should fear,
prove more successful than the"--(what can the word be?) "the--the"
--why, it can't be damnable, surely?--no, it is amiable, I see
--"than the amiable epistle of my lady. I cannot, however, permit
myself to leave this without apprising you that we are about to
start for Baden, where we purpose remaining a month or two. Your
cousin Guy, who has been staying for some time with us, has been
obliged to set out for Geneva, but hopes to join in some weeks
hence. He is a great favourite with us all, but has not effaced the