“I believe it to be at once

your bad fortune, and my good fortune, that has kept me out of a

prison in France here.”

“I do not quite understand,” returned the uncle, sipping his

coffee. “Dare I ask you to explain?”

“I believe that if you were not in disgrace with the Court, and

had not been overshadowed by that cloud for years past, a letter

de cachet would have sent me to some fortress indefinitely.”

“It is possible,” said the uncle, with great calmness. “For the

honour of the family, I could even resolve to incommode you to

that extent. Pray excuse me!”

“I perceive that, happily for me, the Reception of the day before

yesterday was, as usual, a cold one,” observed the nephew.

“I would not say happily, my friend,” returned the uncle, with

refined politeness; “I would not be sure of that. A good

opportunity for consideration, surrounded by the advantages of

solitude, might influence your destiny to far greater advantage

than you influence it for yourself. But it is useless to discuss the

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question. I am, as you say, at a disadvantage. These little

instruments of correction, these gentle aids to the power and

honour of families, these slight favours that might so incommode

you, are only to be obtained now by interest and importunity.

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