Year: 1878

That you may comprehend my nara
tive properly, it is necessary for you to
know the precise circumstances under
which 1 entered Paris in the month of
August, in the year 1867. When a man
looks back upon his life, his memory
commences with some particular Incl
dent which was so marked and peculiar
that it cast its shadow upon all the sue
ceeding years. So now, glancing over
my shoulder, 1 find that I cannot recall
any place in Europe, ON my homeward
tour, that lies behind Switzerland. For
this reason, shall alter Lord Byron's
expression, and say, awoke one morn
ing, and found myself getting ready to
go over the Pass of the Simplon.
Whether / ever went over this pass,
don't know; but am quite certain that
it was perplexing to me some time after
wards to suddenly find myself, first in
Ferrara, then in Bologna, and then in
Modena, then in Parma, and then in
various other places, all perfectly ire
concilable with any recognized ideas OF
geography; until Genoa, Avignon and
Lyons were the dawn ito the daylight
of the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. How my
mind comes to be so much at fault upon
these important points, it is impossible
for me to say. l made my way, without
retinue and comparatively without ex.
pense.


To say the truth / had no francs to
spare. A man who subsists upon oc.
casional remittances from a newspaper
to which he is attached, and that news.
paper new speculation likely to evapo.
rate at any moment, has neither a very
sure nor very liberal source of income.
What francs I had, I secured about my
waist to make certain of them, and as I
told you, one evening in August crept
into Paris.


1t was well for me that an English
man, whom had known in Rome, had
lived in Paris at the cheapest rate for O
year or so, told me that the Rue Met
ternich was the most obscure and yet
respectable street in all Paris, and that
food and lodging actually cost there next
door but one to nothing.


After some difficulty, I found the Rue
Metternich, conveniently hidden between
two great streets, and looked out for No.
80. The houses all seemed to belong
to noble old families that had spent all
their money, and were forced to main
tain very reduced establishments in re-
tired localities. No. 80, with a fresh
coat of paint and damask curtains at the
windows, could have taken its place in
the most fashionable street in any capi-
tai of Europe, and never be found out
by anybody.


" Monsieur |"


Turning around, 1 discovered that my
train of reflection had been interrupted
by as pretty French girl as one might
wish to see.


" Pardon l would like to know,
ma 'amselle, II can obtain lodging here.
This is No. 80, / believe. Mr.. Henry
Brownsmith directed me to inquire at
this house"


"Come ill.,"


Once in, did not parley long. !
must have quiet room, not very diff
cult to select where all was quietness
and the price must be at least within the
bounds of reason. My fair condue-
tress, who appeared to be the mistress
of the establishment, as I saw nobody
else, was quite business woman, and
lost no time in making bargain. In
ten minutes I had agreed to take q
chamber in the attic, for as long time
as ] should need it, and had closed the
arrangement by paying an installment
for two weeks down.


On the next morning took possession


will not describe the happy life ! lee
or week or so after this. 1t embraced
nothing but lounging about the city
the greater part OF the day, and writing
my letters home in the evening. Hav
ing weakness for gossip, made then
pretty long. Material was easily OBJ
tanned by seeking out all the obscur,