to so few! It used not to be so, but France in all such things is

changed for the worse. Our not remote ancestors held the right of

life and death over the surrounding vulgar. From this room, many

such dogs have been taken out to be hanged; in the next room (my

bedroom), one fellow, to our knowledge, was poniarded on the

spot for professing some insolent delicacy respecting his

daughterhis daughter? We have lost many privileges; a new

philosophy has become the mode; and the assertion of our station,

in these days, might (I do not go as far as to say would, but might)

cause us real inconvenience. All very bad, very bad!”

The Marquis took a gentle little pinch of snuff, and shook his

head; as elegantly despondent as he could becomingly be of a

country still containing himself, that great means of regeneration.

“We have so asserted our station, both in the old time and in

the modern time also,” said the nephew, gloomily, “that I believe

our name to be more detested than any name in France.”

“Let us hope so,” said the uncle. “Detestation of the high is the

involuntary homage of the low.”

“There is not,” pursued the nephew, in his former tone, “a face

I can look at, in all this country round about us, which looks at me

with any deference on it but the dark deference of fear and

slavery.”

“A compliment,” said the Marquis, “to