"Impossible! even in his sick-bed his vanity was more vigorous than ever. He issued a war-song, which has gone the round of the war journals signed by his own name. He must have known very well that the name of such a Tyrtaeus cannot reappear as the editor of _Le Sens Commun_; that in launching his little firebrand he burned all vessels that could waft him back to the port he had quitted. But I dare say he has done well for his own interests; I doubt if _Le Sens Commun_ can much longer hold its ground in the midst of the prevalent lunacy." "What! it has lost subscribers?--gone off in sale already, since it declared for peace?" "Of course it has; and after the article which, if I live over to-night, will appear to-morrow, I should wonder if it sell enough to cover the cost of the print and paper." "Martyr to principle! I revere, but I do not envy thee." "Martyrdom is not my ambition. If Louis Napoleon be defeated, what then? Perhaps he may be the martyr; and the Favres and Gambettas may roast their own eggs on the gridiron they heat for his majesty." Here an English gentleman, who was the very able correspondent to a very eminent journal, and in that capacity had made acquaintance with De Mauleon, joined the two Frenchmen; Savarin, however, after an exchange of salutations, went his way. "May I ask a frank answer to a somewhat rude question, M. le Vicomte?" said the Englishman. "Suppose that the Imperial Government had to-day given in their adhesion to the peace party, how long would it have been before their orators in the Chamber and their organs in the press would have said that France was governed by poltrons?" "Probably for most of the twenty-four hours. But there are a few who are honest in their convictions; of that few I am one." "And would have supported the Emperor and his Government?" "No, Monsieur--I do not say that." "Then the Emperor would have turned many friends into enemies, and no enemies into friends." "Monsieur--you in England know that a party in opposition is not propitiated when the party in power steals its measures. Ha!--pardon me, who is that gentleman, evidently your countryman, whom I see yonder talking to the Secretary of your Embassy?" "He.--Mr. Vane-Graham Vane. Do you not know him? He has been much in Paris, attached to our Embassy formerly; a clever man--much is expected from him." "Ah! I think I have seen him before, but am not quite sure. Did you say Vane? I once knew a Monsieur Vane, a distinguished parliamentary orator." "That gentleman is his son--would you like to be introduced to him?"