where others are bored. Are we agreed?"

"I should like nothing better," exclaimed the Englishman; "but
it seems to me that it is hardly proper on my part."

"Oh! we are not in England, my lord, where etiquette holds absolute
sway. We have no longer king nor queen. We didn't cut off that
poor creature's head whom they called Marie Antoinette to install
Her Majesty, Etiquette, in her stead."

"I should like to go," said Sir John.

"You'll see, my mother is an excellent woman, and very distinguished
besides. My sister was sixteen when I left; she must be eighteen
now. She was pretty, and she ought to be beautiful. Then there
is my brother Edouard, a delightful youngster of twelve, who
will let off fireworks between your legs and chatter a gibberish
of English with you. At the end of the fortnight we will go to
Paris together."

"I have just come from Paris," said the Englishman.

"But listen. You were willing to go to Egypt to see General
Bonaparte. Paris is not so far from here as Cairo. I'll present
you, and, introduced by me, you may rest assured that you will
be well received. You were speaking of Shakespeare just now--"

"Oh! I am always quoting him."

"Which proves that you like comedies and dramas."