The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-20 00:00:00

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The advent of the three citadines did not occasion any
change in his posture ; he did net even wink, an ominous
sign indeed to the initiated.
" Avez vous les appartemengs?" asked Mr. Paragreen,
walking straight up to this composed personage.
aai not shore," replied the gentleman of the shirt
sleeves, languidly rising.
" Je viens de Mr. Joliffe, alderman of Londres," con-
tinned Mr. Paragreen.
This emphatic announcement made no visible im-
pression on Shirtsleeves, who shuffled his way to a sort of
wooden cage in the court-yard, tapped at its window, ex-
changed some words with the person on the perch within,
and received a key.
Ole nay, Sar," and up a stair he pattered.
" premier stage, s'il vous plaize, said Mr. Paragreen, be-
nevolently.
" Fust dour he is full," replied Redalippers, who stuck
as fast to his English as the retired cork merchant to his
French, continuing his ascent as long as there were stairs
o allow of the proceeding. Here he ushered Mr. Para-
green into a tolerably-sized room with two beds, and within
which was a light closet with one bed; the furniture of
both rooms scanty, and not over clean.
•• Trop haut et trop petitte," observed Mr. Paragreen,
adding, in an explanatory tone, " manque un lit pour
douce."
Ponr douze!" cried the Frenchman, startled for the
first lime out of his phlegm and hie English.
" Pour donee," affirmed Mr. Paragreen, putting out
two fingers.
" Ah ! I comprehend, pour deux—verry good—we put a
matelss to the ground."
Mr. Paragreen hesitated a moment, and then asked,
" Combien la prix?"
" Two guinees for night."
" Bless my heart !" exclaimed Mr. Paragreen, in his
turn giving up his French in his amazement; " two gui-
for such a hole !"

neas a la.-
" It is to take or to leave," said Shirtsleeves, calmly.
" Then I leave it, sir," said Mr. Paragreen, tartly, going
down the many flights of stairs like an India rubber ball,
and repeating to himself, " Bless my heart ! two guineas
fur such a hole !—wish you joy of it, my man, wish you
joy !"
" Yell?" inquired Mrs. Paragreen.
" Impudent rascal !" said Mr. Paragreen. "Do you
know what he asked? Only two guineas a night! Two
guineas, ma'am (laughing irately), for two dirty pigeon-
holes at the very top of the house—they would be dear at
half a crown. Lucky that lam not one to buy a pig in a
poke."
" Ou allons nous?" asked the coachman.
" Chez I'_l-16te1," replied Mr. Paragreen.

" Quel Hotel ?"
" Tousles Hotels," answered Mr. Paragreen.
Then they went here, there, and everywhere,
and, like other foolish travellers (we wore
once all "untravelled "), they returned, whence
they came, when too late :

Shirtsleeves, with his white cravat and red slippers, was
sitting on the same chair, puffing away at a cigar as before,
in a reverie that prevented his noticing the three citadines,
or hearing the voice of Mr. Paragreen calling to him from
the coach window. Mr. Paragreen had to drink the dregs
of the cup of bitterness, and get once more out of the
citadine, and go up to the unruffled waiter. "Je prends
des appartemengs," he said.
" No apartments now," returned the smoker, laconically.
" I mean the rooms you showed me two hours ago."
" Gone—taken," replied Shirtsleeves, sending forth a
remarkable column of smoke through his nose.
" I will give two guineas and a half," urged the Eng.
lishman.

" Not for a oondred dousand pounds," pronounced the
despot in red slippers.

Then the streets became quiet, and the Peek-
hamites had to pass the Light in their hack-
ney coaches, and were glad in the morning to
get into an hotel, which an English family
were leaving. That time they took care not
to demur about charges.
It would be spoiling the interest of our
readers if we were to tell them of the mis-
adventures encountered by the Paragreens.
We shall give some specimens of the variety of
the author's style. Like other suburban ex-
plorers of the Continent, the Paragreens were
fortunate enough to encounter a real "Prince,"
and they went afterwards to be formally pre-
sented to him, when the following scene took
place :

The Prince's private secretary was a handsome, intelli•
gent•looking man of thirty, speaking English fluently, and
whose highbred manners attested a familiarity with the
best society.
Nk, Pray be seated," and he placed himself at his own desk.
ow, Sir, will you kindly favour me with your name?—
Sylvester Pappegreen ?"
"Paragreen, Paragreen, Sir," protested the owner of that
name.

" I beg pardon—no title ?—Esquire ?—Sylvester Para.
green, Esquire, of Eden Villa, Peckham. And you,
Madam?—Mrs. Theodora Paragreen —one of the Joliffes
Of Hackney, you say? Ah ! indeed ! Now, then, the name
of the person who presented you at Court—at the Court of
St. ,Tames, I mean."
The husband and wife are struck dumb. Mr. Paragreen
strokes his nose violently.
" Dear me," cries Mrs. Paragreen, recovering her speech,
must you have that?"