Having completed a scrutiny whose exact purpose was perhaps unintelligible to himself, Bon-Bon drew closer to his seat a small table covered with books and papers, and soon became absorbed in the task of retouching a voluminous manuscript, intended for publication on the morrow. "I am in no hurry, Monsieur Bon-Bon"--whispered a whining voice in the apartment. "The devil!"--ejaculated our hero, starting to his feet, overturning the table at his side, and staring around him in astonishment. "Very true"--calmly replied the voice. "Very true!--what is very true?--how came you here?"--vociferated the metaphysician, as his eye fell upon something which lay stretched at full length upon the bed. "I was saying"--said the intruder, without attending to Bon-Bon's interrogatories--"I was saying that I am not at all pushed for time--that the business upon which I took the liberty of calling is of no pressing importance--in short that I can very well wait until you have finished your Exposition." "My Exposition!--there now!--how do _you_ know--how came _you_ to understand that I was writing an Exposition?--good God!" "Hush!"--replied the figure in a shrill under tone; and arising quickly from the bed he made a single step towards our hero, while the iron lamp overhead swung convulsively back from his approach. The philosopher's amazement did not prevent a narrow scrutiny of the stranger's dress and appearance. The outlines of a figure, exceedingly lean, but much above the common height, were rendered minutely distinct by means of a faded suit of black cloth which fitted tight to the skin, but was otherwise cut very much in the style of a century ago. These garments had evidently been intended _a priori_ for a much shorter person than their present owner. His ankles and wrists were left naked for several inches. In his shoes, however, a pair of very brilliant buckles gave the lie to the extreme poverty implied by the other portions of his dress. His head was bare, and entirely bald, with the exception of the hinder part, from which depended a _queue_ of considerable length. A pair of green spectacles, with side glasses, protected his eyes from the influence of the light, and at the same time prevented our hero from ascertaining either their color or their conformation. About the entire person there was no evidence of a shirt; but a white cravat, of filthy appearance, was tied with extreme precision around the throat, and the ends hanging down formally side by side, gave, although I dare say unintentionally, the idea of an ecclesiastic. Indeed, many other points both in his appearance and demeanor might have very well sustained a conception of that nature. Over his left ear he carried, after the fashion of a modern clerk, an instrument resembling the _stylus_ of the ancients. In a breast-pocket of his coat appeared conspicuously a small black volume fastened with clasps of steel. This book, whether accidentally or not, was so turned