tell us plenty about the place, where he had been
some fifteen years and more; a hard cruel old
fellow, selfish, and alone in the world. But he
knew everything about every one, that is,
everything that was bad, and slew characters
by the hour. Ask Boulaye, the wine-merchant
and banker — " Bully the banker " he
was invariably spoken of by the English; ask
White, the popular single English doctor; ask
Macan, the other doctor, struggling against a
long family and a Mrs. White at home; ask the
little Frenchwoman at the corner, who sold paper
and steel pens like needles; ask Marshall, who
kept the English restaurant—  they all said he
was " a screw" and a bad fellow. But still he
was feared, and, when he chose, could be
amusing. Some one arrived by the steamer
yesterday (going away to-morrow morning by
the diligence), and sitting down with him on the
bench, gives him a good cigar. (He was
surly at first, but the sight of the case had
softened him.) It is surprising what a sketch
of the place he gives in a bare ten minutes.

" Where are you stopping ? Hotel Ryle ?
I wouldn't put my foot in such a place — you'll
see how Le Buff will stick it on to-morrow morning.
A regular nest of swindlers — of course he
gets it out of his company who come here in the
season. The Paris beau monde — by Gad ! ha,
ha! — they call 'em. Why, one good English
gentleman would buy and sell the whole lot.
You should see the set that came down here
from Paris. Brummagem counts and dukes—
fellars not to compare with a well-fed English
shopboy . I know I wouldn't be the fool to forget
my purse with an English tenpun-note in it on
the table of the Ryle. And as for the women,
sir, the droves of brazen, painted, canvas
and varnish;" but, indeed, it would not do to
give the captain's language in full on this part
of his subject. " No, you should go to
Wheeler's, behind us here, a good English house,
close to the packet — straightfor'ard place, and
something like beef and mutton — you'll get a
beefsteak there something like, and you can
see yesterday's Chronicle. I can tell you
Wheeler's knocked many a napoleon out of the
French rascals here, and is a rich man, and could
buy and sell Le Buff and his Ryle twice over."

How envious are the little corners or garrets
of the human heart! for there were English
there who had heard the captain depreciate
Wheeler as much as he was now doing Le
BÅ“uf. But as between Wheeler and himself it
was one question; between Wheeler and Le
BÅ“uf, a " scurvy" Frenchman, it was another.

Captain Filby, with both hands fixed on the
top of a strong stick, which had a large tassel,
and puffing his cigar, would go on:

"Look at him! look at him! What a hurry
you're in to be sure! That's Blacker, sir.
Going to a sick call, indeed. Likely story!
No, he's heard there's some little Jack of
an honourable at the Ryle whom he wants to
catch flying. I can hear him as plain as I do
you. 'I am secretary to the English chapel here,
sir. How do you do, sir? If I can be of the
smallest use, Mrs. Blacker shall call on your
ladies;' and all that gammon, you know. He'll
never take his soul to heaven with him, and don't
want to, I dare say. Why, I know the fellow had
to cut — cut, sir, from a small place in Shropshire,
and left every little shopkeeper in the place
unpaid, and yet he struts it here as if he was a
dean. He has all the foolish women under his
thumb, and don't he pick up his five-franc
pieces at cards? I wouldn't sit down with
that man, sir, at a game of whist, for a trifle.
He affects to be king of the whole place.
' You must call on Mrs. Thingummy — charming
people, just come.' And charming people
they turn out. That's a fellar called West,
as dry a chip as any high-and-dry Scotchman.
He's the way of being the wise man of
the place; and look at his sister, as tough and
dry as himself — nice pair of Pundits they are.
They are of the elect, sir — the virtuous.
You and I are not good enough
company for them. They must give a tone to the
place. We're all raps, you know, here — ha, ha!
Do you know that man — and he's a good forty-
five if he's an hour — is a lover, sir — nothing
short of a lover — consumed with fires, and all
that! It's all Platonic advice with him.
' I've an interest in you, my dear; keep yourself
apart from the set here,' and all that. But there
isn't a fool in the town but sees the man is drivelling
—drivelling over the girl, that little Dacres,
and forgets his years and infirmities. And the
jealous look-out the fellow keeps — stern as a
johndarm. ' Not a breath, my dear, must sully
your spotless purity.' Faugh! Spotless grand-
mother. It sickens me. I tell you what," added
the captain, looking cautiously round, " that
wise cocked-up fellow has a history tacked to
him, as sure as my name's Filby; and I'll make
it out yet. You don't know the queer things
that bring people here. What does a fellar like
that — a lawyer, too — want hanging about here?
Why can't he show himself in his court, instead
of spooning after young school-girls just half
his age? Halloa! there we come. There's a
show for you, sir. All English — true blue,
every one. Let the French ma'amselles beat
those cheeks, sir, if they can. One, two, three,
four, five, six — there's a scraggy pair, but on
the whole good and stuck-up Pringle, with
her aide-de-camp, bringing up the rear." So
would this amiable exile describe the points
and characteristics of his companions in the
settlement. It would be a very charitable
person that would say " old Filby was soured."
He was originally bad and ill-conditioned, and
it was remarked that the only seasons he was in
fair good humour was after some such
expectoration of gall and vinegar.

Round this course, to the left of the port, and
facing the sea and the établissement, were the
line of hotels, " Ryle" and others, and beyond
them a terrace of private houses, with long
gardens in front, like suburban houses. Over one
little gate was a large gate, diligently barred,
with a good English brass plate, on which was,
in good English, " BOARDING SCHOOL FOR