“Well, Burke,” said he, turning to me, “these are about the most splendid _salons_ in Paris; I think I never saw more perfect taste. I certainly must thank you for being my chaperon here.” “You forget, Duchesne, the Duchesse de Montserrat, it seems,” said I, laughing. “By Jove, and so I had!” said he. “Yet the initiative lay with you; how the termination may be is another matter,” added he, in a mumbling voice, not intended to be heard. “At all events,” said I, puzzled what to say, and feeling I should say something, “I am happy your Russian friend took no notice of your speech.” “And why?” said he, with a peculiar smile,--“and why?” “I abhor a duel, in the first place.” “But, my dear boy, that speech smacks much more of the École de Jésuites than of St. Cyr. Don't let any one less your friend than I am hear you say so.” “I care not who may hear it. Necessity may make me meet an adversary in single combat; but as to acting the cold-blooded part of a bystander--as to being the witness of my friend's crime, or his own death--” “Come, come; when you exchange the dolman for an alb I 'll listen to this from you, if I can listen to it from any one. But happily, now we have no time for more morality, for here comes the carriage.” Chatting pleasantly about the soirée and its company, we rolled along towards our quarters, and parted with a cordial shake of the hand for the night. CHAPTER XI. A SALLE DE POLICE When I entered the breakfast-room the following morning, I found Duchesne stretched before the fire in an easy-chair, busily engaged in reading the “Moniteur” of that day, where a long list of imperial _ordonnances_ filled nearly three columns. “Here have I been,” said he, “conning over this catalogue of princely favor these twenty minutes, and yet cannot discern one word of our well-beloved cousins Captains Burke and Duchesne. And yet there seems to be a hailstorm of promotions. Some of them have got grand duchies; some principalities; some have the cross of the Legion; and here, by Jove! are some endowed with wives. Now that his Majesty has taken to christening and marrying, I suppose we shall soon see him administering all the succors of Holy Church. Have you much interest in hearing that Talleyrand is to be called Prince of Benevente, and Murat is now Grand-Duke of Berg,--that Sebastiani is to be married to Mademoiselle de Coigny, and Monsieur Decazes, _fils de_ M. Decazes, has taken some one else to wife? Oh dear, oh dear! It's all very tiresome, and not even the fête of Saint Napoleon--” “Of whom?” said I, laughing.