"Humph!" grunted the antiquary, who was soaped up to the eyes, and was forced to keep his mouth shut to avoid having the lather rubbed down his throat. "Yes, sir," continued the barber, "as you say, sir, it _be_ fine weather sure_ly_, but it be still finer t'other side of the channel, _a Paris_; that is to say, where I have been staying for the last six months. Fine city Paris, sir, very. _Mon Dieu_, what streets! what shops! What a treat it be of a morning to rise early and take a promenade on the Bullyvards!" "On the what?" inquired his customer. "On the Bullyvards. Ah! I see, sir, you do not understand what that means. Well that is the name the French give to those streets as has trees a running alongside of 'em. Ah! sir, fine people the French, in their way--understand more of barber-craft than they do in this country. Why, an English barber who has never been out of his own country is quite an ignoramus alongside a French barber. But I could teach a trick or two to some of my countrymen in the line that would astonish them, having been over there long enough to get into the manners and customs of the natives. But I say, sir, what a nation they be for quarrelling amongst themselves, to be sure! There's this here revolution still going on. What it will all end in goodness only knows. What do _you_ say, sir?" "I don't know, and I don't care," replied Mr. Oldstone, irritably. "They may all go to----" A fresh rub of the lather over his mouth prevented the antiquary from finishing his sentence. The pertinacious barber was not to be put down. "Ah, sir," he continued, "I could tell you some mighty strange tales about that same revolution." "Oh, indeed!" broke in Mr. Hardcase. "The members of this club are fond of hearing tales, but they don't relish much anything connected with politics. In fact the tales permitted within these walls are almost entirely of the supernatural order." "The supernatural!" ejaculated the barber. "Parbleu! is that still believed in this country? I promise you our French friends don't believe in that, or anything else, for aught I know." "I know they don't, the infidel puppies," growled the antiquary; "but we do. Do we not, gentlemen?" "Ay, indeed!" answered the members of the club with one accord. "Do you indeed, gentlemen!" exclaimed the astonished barber. "Well, it ain't often that one finds gentlemen of your standing that will own so much, but as you gentlemen all declare you believe in such things, I don't mind telling you that I myself am also a believer." "Ah!" said Mr. Oldstone, beginning to be interested. "Yes, sir, I am indeed," replied the barber. "Come, now," said Mr. Crucible, "if you could tell us of some experience of yours that bordered on the supernatural, I'd answer for Mr. Oldstone's listening to you."