“There's little to speak of,” said the old man. “There never is much doing at this season of the year. You heard, of course, that Gogarty has lost his suit; they 're moving for a new trial, but they won't get it. Lanty Moore can't pay up the rest of the purchase for Slanestown, and I told Hankes to buy it in. Kelly's murderer was taken on Friday last, near Kilbride, and offers to tell, God knows what, if they won't hang him; and Sir Gilbert North is to be the new Secretary, if, as the 'Evening Mail' says, Mr. Davenport Dunn concurs in the appointment”--and here the old man laughed till his eyes ran over. “That's all the news, Davy, of the last week; and now tell me yours. The papers say you were dining with kings and queens, and driving about in royal coaches all over the Continent,--was it true, Davy?” “You got my letters, of course, father?” “Yes; and I could n't make out the names, they were all new and strange to me. I want to have from yourself what like the people are,--are they as hard-working, are they as 'cute as our own? There's just two things now in the world,--coal and industry,--sorra more than that And so you dined with the King of France?” “With the Emperor, father. I dined twice; he took me over to Fontainebleau and made me stay the day.” “You could tell him many a thing he'd never hear from another, Davy; you could explain to him what's doing here, and how he might imitate it over there,--rooting out the old vermin and getting new stock in the land,--eh, Davy?” “He needs no counsels, at least from such as me,” said Dunn. “Faith, he might have worse, far worse. An Encumbered Estate Court would do all his work for him well, and the dirty word 'Confiscation' need never be uttered!” “He knows the road he wants to go,” said Dunn, curtly. “So he may; but that does n't prove it 's the best way.” “Whichever path he takes he'll tread it firmly, father, and that's more than half the battle. If you only saw what a city he has made Paris--” “That's just what I don't like. What's the good of beautifying and gilding or ornamenting what you 're going to riddle with grape and smash with round shot? It's like dressing a sweep in a field-marshal's uniform, And we all know where it will be to-morrow or next day.” “That we don't, sir. You 're not aware that these spacious thoroughfares, these wide squares, these extended terraces, are so contrived that columns may march and manoeuvre in them, squadrons charge, and great artillery act through them. The proudest temples of that splendid city serve as bastions; the great Louvre itself is less a palace than a fortress.” “Ay, ay, ay,” cackled the old man, to whom these revelations opened a new vista of thought. “But what's the use of it, after all, Davy? He must trust somebody; and when it comes to that with anybody in life, where 's his security, tell me that? But let us talk about home. Is it true the Ministry is going out?”