'We passed a group of persons listening eagerly to a nervous, flushed, energetic little man, in a blouse and without a hat.'-THE TWINS OF SAINT-MARCEL, page 59.

'What can it be?' I said. "They agitate themselves.'

'It must be some fête of which we have not heard anything,' said Cerise. Shall we ask?'

There was no need; for just then we passed a group of persons listening eagerly to a nervous, flushed, energetic little man, in a blouse and without a hat, who addressed them vehemently, and in a voice so loud that we could not but hear his words without stopping to listen.

What we heard was this: 'Yes, my friends; France has been insulted! insulted, I repeat it. And by whom? By those paltry Germans whom we have helped to raise to riches and consideration, by employing them in our service. We have employed them to sweep our streets; what then? to make our boots; what then? to sew our coats; what then? to print our books—our journals; what more will you have? Yes, Messieurs; we have even committed into their hands the care of our public affairs, our finances; and we have hitherto found them-these good bespectacled beer-drinkers-very sober, very industrious; but is it to be believed that these persons have undertaken to insult France?'

Impossible, impossible,' replied the audience. 'On the contrary, it is the simple fact, I tell you.' 'How? re-re-re-re,' shouted the hearers in fury.

Cerise and I trembled with fear, and we walked very slowly that we might hear what the speaker had to say next.

'The King of this canaille of Germans has had the insolence to insult publicly our Ambassador, the envoy of our Emperor. I tell it to you, people of France, citizens of Paris!'

The listeners certainly looked disappointed; and I said to Cerise, 'Is this all?' and then we walked on 'more briskly, not troubling ourselves to listen to any more of the orators, who were enlightening the bourgeoisie, or 'some trivial journal news,' as we felt convinced it was.

We avoided the Rue de Rivoli, feeling certain that whatever the matter might be, anything causing a crowd would be sure to make it unpleasant for two young girls walking by themselves. So that we kept along the quays, where parrots chattered and flowers smiled; and past the Louvre and Tuileries, into the charming gardens of the latter. Crowds of citizens here again attracted our notice, as they stood as near as they were permitted to the entrance into the palace.

'There must be something great amiss,' observed Cerise. I wonder if there is talk of war?'

'How can you be so silly, little sister?' I asked, in my ignorance. Do you not know that the late plebiscite insured peace to all Europe?'

'Yes, for the month of May,' said Cerise; 'but that did not mean that our Emperor might not change his mind in the month of July, if he saw something better for "the Dynasty."

Cerise spoke in the new satirical tone of voice which pained me, and which she was still learning from the Brunels.

'Of course, if France is insulted, France's Emperor must resent,' I replied.

'If France's Emperor feels his throne shake, he must steady it with cannon-balls,' replied Cerise.

I saw then that a lady, who sat on the bench where we rested, turned and looked angrily at my sister; and I felt that Cerise had committed an act of imprudence; and that, after all, Clémence might not have been so very wrong as I had supposed, when she one day warned us to beware of Mouchardes.

We soon proceeded on our way, but had to wait a long time to cross the Rue de Rivoli, near the Ministère des Finances; for a regiment of Zouaves was passing, and there is something so savage in their air, and so headlong and irregular in their march, that I always draw back when I come across them. They were followed by a band of Cuirassiers, headed by the Colonel who lived in the house with the la MotteDauphine; such a splendid regiment as it was, a glory to Paris! On arriving at the Place de la Made

leine, we forgot all about crowds and agitations in our delight and admiration of the exquisite display of roses and petunias and lilies which adorned the many stands; where, under the shelter of white canvas and green trees, the marchandes des flœurs displayed their tempting bouquets and garlands and growing plants.

We had soon decided on a magnificent bunch of roses, of various colours, partly full-blown, partly in great shining buds, with green glossy leaves surrounding them all like a fine fringe. But we could only beg of Madame Toupet, the marchande, to lay them aside for us, as we must go at once to Madame Crespigné to deliver our parcel of work, and receive our payment; and, as we hoped, new orders.

On entering the wareroom, we found Madame talking energetically to two English ladies, endeavouring to dissuade them from leaving Paris.

'What then, my young ladies,' she said, 'we go to war with Prussia, it is true; we must do so, our honour requires it of us; but it will be nothing. Our army will leave Paris next week, probably; in a fortnight or so they reach Berlin; they take it-they punish the insolence of this William, and of his minister, Count Bismarck!'

This was the first time we-the twins-had heard the name of this man, whom we have since learned to