Observing my scrutiny, he smiled; a singular, ironical smile it was, yet without a particle of bitterness or of cynicism. "Eh, bien!" said he; "you stare, Monsieur! you sink me an excentrique. Vraiment! I am use to zat,--I am use to have persons smile reeseeblement, to tap zere fronts, an' spek of ze strait-jackets. Never fear,--I am toujours harmless! Mais, Monsieur, it is true, vat I tell you: I am ze origi_nal_ inventeur of ze Atlantic Telegraph! You mus' not comprehend me, Sare, to intend somesing vat persons call ze Telegraph,--such like ze Electric Telegraph of Monsieur Morse,--a vulgaire sing of ze vire and ze acid. Mon Dieu, non! far more perfect,--far more grrand,--far more _original!_ Ze acid may burn ze finger,--ze vire vill become rrusty,--ze isolation subject always to ze atmosphere. Ah, bah! Vat make you in zat event? As ze pure lustre of ze diamant of Golconde to ze distorted rays of a morsel of bottle-glass, so my grrand invention to ze modes of ze telegraph in vogue at present!" "Monsieur, you shall tell me about it," said I, pointing to a seat on the other side of the table; "sit down there, and tell me about your invention, and in your native language,--that is, if you can spare the time to do so, and to drink a glass of Bordeaux with me." He accepted my invitation as a gentleman would, sipped his wine like a connoisseur, passed me a few compliments, such as any French gentleman might toss to you, if you had asked him to join you in a glass of wine in one of his city's _cafés_, and then proceeded with his story. My translation gives but a faint echo of the impression made upon me by his life, vigor, and originality; but still I have striven to do him as little injustice as possible.