who had strong prejudices against men becoming
soldiers who had not served in every grade
from the ranks upwards, opposed this intention,
and employed him in a civil capacity. In fact,
to his management were entrusted some of the
most delicate and difficult secret negotiations;
and he gained a high name for acuteness and
honourable dealing. In recognition of his services,
his name was inscribed in the Grand Livre
for a considerable pension; but at the fall of the
dynasty, this, with hundreds of others equally
meritorious, was annulled; and my father, worn
out with age and disappointment together, sank
at last, and died at Dinant, where my mother
was buried but a few years previously. Meanwhile,
he was tried and found guilty of high treason
in Ireland, and all his lands and other property
forfeited to the Crown. My present journey was
simply a pilgrimage to see the old possessions
that once belonged to our race. It was my
father's last wish that I should visit the
ancient home of our family, and stand upon the
hills that once acknowledged us as their ruler.
He never desired that I should remain a French
subject; a lingering love for his own country
mingled in his heart with a certain resentment
towards France, who had certainly treated him
with ingratitude; and almost his last words to
me were, ' Distrust the Gaul.' When I told you a
while back that I was nurtured in affluence, it
was so to all appearance; for my father had spent
every shilling of his capital on my education, and
I was under the firm conviction that I was born
to a very great fortune. You may judge the
terrible revulsion of my feelings when I learned
that I had to face the world almost, if not
actually, a beggar.

"I could easily have attached myself as a
hanger-on of some of my well-to-do relations.
Indeed, I will say for them, that they showed the
kindest disposition to befriend me; but the position
of a dependent would have destroyed every
chance of happiness for me, and so I resolved
that I would fearlessly throw myself upon the
broad ocean of life, and trust that some sea
current or favouring wind would bear me at last
into a harbour of safety."

"What can you do?" asked the skipper,
curtly.

"Everything, and nothing! I have, so to say,
the ' sentiment' of all things in my heart, but am
not capable of executing one of them. With
the most correct ear, I know not a note of music,
and though I could not cook you a chop, I have
the most exquisite appreciation of a well-dressed
dinner."

"Well," said he, laughing, "I must confess
I don't suspect these to be exactly the sort of
gifts to benefit your fellow-man."

"And yet," said I, " it is exactly to individuals
of this stamp that the world accords its
prizes. The impresario that provides the opera
could not sing nor dance. The general who
directs the campaign might be sorely puzzled
how to clean his musket or pipeclay his belt.
The great minister who imposes a tax might
be totally unequal to the duty of applying its
provisions. Ask him to gauge a hogshead of
spirits, for instance. My position is like theirs.
I tell you, once more, the world wants men
of wide conceptions and far-ranging ideas—
men  who look to great results and grand
combinations."

"But, to be practical, how do you mean to
breakfast to-morrow morning?"

"At a moderate cost, but comfortably: tea,
rolls, two eggs, and a rumpsteak with fried
potatoes."

"What's your name?" said he, taking out
his note-book. "I mustn't forget you when I
hear of you next."

"For the present, I call myself Potts — Mr.
Potts, if you please."

"Write it here yourself," said he, handing
me the pencil. And I wrote in a bold vigorous
hand, " Algernon Sydney Potts," with the date.

"Preserve that autograph, captain," said I;
"it is in no spirit of vanity I say it, but the day
will come you'll refuse a ten-pound note for it."

"Well, I'd take a trifle less just now," said
he, smiling.

He sat for some time gravely contemplating
the writing, and at length, in a sort of half
soliloquy, said, " Bob would like him — he would
suit Bob." Then, lifting his head, he addressed
me: "I have a brother in command of one of
the P. and O. steamers—just the fellow for you.
He has got ideas pretty much like your own a
bout success in life, and won't be persuaded
that he isn't the first seaman in the English
navy; or that he hasn't a plan to send
Cherbourg and its breakwater sky high, at
twenty-four hours' warning."

"An enthusiast—a visionary, I have no
doubt," said I, contemptuously.

"Well, I think you might be more merciful
in your judgment of a man of your own stamp,"
retorted he, laughing. " At all events, it would
be as good as a play to see you together. If
you should chance to be at Malta, or Marseilles,
when the Clarence touches there, just ask
for Captain Rogers; tell him you know me, that
will be enough."

"Why not give me a line of introduction to
him?" said I, with an easy indifference. "These
things serve to clear away the awkwardness of a
self-presentation."

"I don't care if I do," said he, taking a
sheet of paper, and beginning "Dear Bob,"—
after which he paused and deliberated, muttering
the words " Dear Bob" three or four times
over below his breath.

"'Dear Bob,' " said I, aloud, in the tone of
one dictating to an amanuensis, " 'This brief
note will be handed to you by a very valued
friend of mine, Algernon Sydney Potts, a man
so completely after your own heart that I feel a
downright satisfaction in bringing you
together.'"

"Well, that ain't so bad," said he, as he
uttered the last words which fell from his pen—
" 'in bringing you together.'"

"Go on," said I, dictatorially, and continued:
" 'Thrown by a mere accident myself into his