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"Sire," said Blacas, who had for aVillefort to his own profit, "I am compelled to tell you that these are not mere rumors destitute of foundation which thus disquietall ed by me to watch over the south" (the duke hesitated as he pronounced these words), "has arrived by post to tell , and so I hastened to you, sire"

"Mala ducis avi do

"Does your majesty wish me to drop the subject?"

"By no means, my dear duke; but just stretch out your hand"

"Which?"

"Whichever you please--there to the left"

"Here, sire?"

"I tell you to the left, and you are looking to the right; I mean on my left--yes, there You will find yesterday's report of the minister of police But here is M Dandre hi, entered

"Come in," said Louis XVIII, with repressed smile, "come in, Baron, and tell the duke all you know--the latest news of M de Bonaparte; do not conceal anything, however serious,--let us see, the Island of Elba is a volcano, and wewar--bella, horrida bella" M Dandre leaned very respectfully on the back of a chair with his two hands, and said,-"Has your majesty perused yesterday's report?"

"Yes, yes; but tell the duke hiive hi in his islet"

"Monsieur," said the baron to the duke, "all the servants of his ence which we have from the Island of Elba Bonaparte"--M Dandre looked at Louis XVIII, who, e a note, did not even raise his head "Bonaparte," continued the baron, "ishis one"

"And scratches hi

"Scratches himself?" inquired the duke, "what does your et that this great od, is attacked with a o?"

"And, moreover, my dear duke," continued the minister of police, "we are almost assured that, in a very short ti mad; his head becohs boisterously, at other ti stones in the water and when the flint hted as if he had gained another Marengo or Austerlitz Now, you ree that these are indubitable symptoms of insanity"