One old Donna in particular was rather severe in her observations on the dress of the British officers, and remarked that not one in fifty of them could speak French. Whether it was that she was piqued at my paying much attention to a lady who sat near her, or that she wished to display her wit at my expense, I being nearer to her than any other Englishman, I can’t say, but she turned round and asked if I spoke the French language. I replied that I understood it tolerably, but that I spoke it but indifferently. “I thought so,” was her reply; “I knew by that young fellow’s appearance he was a booby (_sot_),” said she, addressing one of her friends. This she spoke in the very worst French that ever came from the mouth of a Bastan peasant. I was determined to have my revenge. I mustered up all my resolution, made a rapid _repasser_ of all I had ever learned of French grammar, and took the first opportunity that presented itself to attack her. In a word, I completely out-talked her, out-spoke her, and out-crowed her in the estimation of her friends; and she who had been so short a time before the “leader of the opposition,” was mum for the remainder of the evening. Harmony was once more restored, and we were beginning to forget the bickerings that party feeling had introduced amongst us, when a violent knocking at the door from the street threw the company into consternation and dismay. Every one looked confounded; some were for barring the door, others wished to escape; but this was easier said than done, for in front stood the police agents (for it was them and none other), and in the rear—if rear it could be called—was nothing but a pile of buildings, to the full as lofty as the house we inhabited. “What is to be done?” was a demand much easier made than answered; though in fact the proper and only reply to be made was, “Open the door, and see who the gentlemen are looking after.” Several persons, who had nothing to dread, loudly called out for this proceeding, but it was far from palatable to the majority of the company. It was idle, however, to talk, and, in fine, the massive door was heard to creak on its rusty hinges. At the same moment six ill-looking fellows entered the saloon, and having taken a hasty but scrutinising survey of the company, seized the son-in-law of my patron and rudely carried him away.