"Indeed." "Let us quit an unpleasant subject," said the Frenchman, after a pause, and in the manner of one seeking to avoid an impending quarrel. "What splendid horses you have in England! See that pair in the victoria? one could not tell them apart. And what action!" "Yes," I answered, lamely enough; "we have good enough horses." And before I could return to the subject, which no longer drew us together, but separated us, he dragged out his watch and hurriedly turned back, leaving me with a foolish and inexplicable sense of guilt. Chapter XIX Sport "L'amour du mieux t'aura interdit le bien." "Do I look as if I had come out of Paris in a balloon?" said John Turner, in answer to my suggestion that he had made use of a method of escape at that time popular. "No, I left by the Creteil gate, without drum or trumpet, or anything more romantic than a _laissez-passer_ signed by Favre. There will be the devil to pay in Paris before another week has passed, and I am not going to disburse." "In what way will he want paying?" I asked. "Well," answered John Turner, dragging at the knees of his trousers, which garments invariably incommoded his stout legs, "Well, the Government of National Defence is beginning to show that it has been ill-named. Before long they will be replaced by a Government of National Ruin. The ass in the streets is wanting to bray in the Hotel de Ville, and will get there before he has finished." "You are well out of it," said I, "and do not seem to have suffered by the siege." "Next to being a soldier it is good to be a banker in time of war," said Turner, pulling down his waistcoat, which, indeed, had been in no way affected by the privations currently reported to be the lot of the besieged Parisians. "What about Miste?" he added, abruptly. "I have seen his back again, I do not believe the man has a face." And I told my astute friend of my failure to catch Charles Miste at the Bank of England. "Truth is," commented the banker, "that Monsieur Miste is an uncommonly smart rogue. You must be careful--when he does show you his face, have a care. And if you take my advice you will leave this little business to the men who know what they are about. It is not every one who knows the way to tackle a fellow carrying a loaded revolver. By the way, do you carry such a thing yourself?" "Never had one in my life." "Then buy one," said Turner. "I always wear one--in a pocket at the back, where neither I nor any one else can get at it. Sorry you could not come to luncheon," he continued. "I wanted to have a long talk with you." He settled himself in the large arm-chair, which he completely filled. I like a man to be bulky in his advancing years. [Illustration: "WAITER, TAKE THIS GENTLEMAN'S ORDER. YOU YOUNG FELLOWS CANNOT SMOKE WITHOUT DRINKING, NOWADAYS--HORRID BAD HABIT. WAITER, BRING ME THE SAME."]