r youthful spirit, Mr. Lorry.”

“Tut! Nonsense, sir!And my dear Charles,” said Mr. Lorry,

glancing at the House again, “you are to remember, that getting

things out of Paris at this present time, no matter what things, is

next to an impossibility. Papers and precious matters were this

very day brought to us here (I speak in strict confidence; it is not

business-like to whisper it, even to you), by the strangest bearers

you can imagine, every one of whom had his head hanging on by a

single hair as he passed the Barriers. At another time, our parcels

would come and go, as easily as in business-like Old England; but

now, everything is stopped.”

“And do you really go tonight?”

“I really go tonight, for the case has become too pressing to

admit of delay.”

“And do you take no one with you?”

“All sorts of people have been proposed to me, but I will have

nothing to say to any of them. I intend to take Jerry. Jerry has

been my bodyguard on Sunday nights for a long time past, and I

am used to him. No body will suspect Jerry of being anything but

an English bulldog, or of having any design in his head but to fly at

anybody who touches his master.”

“I must say again that I heartily admire your gallantry and

youthfulness.”

“I must say again, nonsense, nonsense! When I have executed

this little commission, I shall, perhaps, a