402 Asmotleus and the Incognito. 



assuring- him that no living being should ever know that he had vi- 

 sited him. See, the poor man has taken the gift, and you may easily 

 perceive that the benefactor's countenance openly reveals the joy he 

 has felt in having performed another charitable action. Well, what 

 do you think of him ?" 



" What I think'?" replied I, with tears twinkling in my eyes. " I 

 think that such a man ought to live for ever happy. What a sin that 

 he is a barrister !" 



" 'Tis true/' subjoined the devil ; " because, generally speaking, 

 the extreme selfishness of those learned wearers of tailed r wigs and 

 long black gowns blunts in them all their better feelings and makes 

 them think only of their own welfare ; but the gentleman you have 

 seen is the Phoenix of the bar, and not a Scotch barrister. We will now 

 hasten our course," added Asmodeus, and the rapidity with which we 

 began to fly was so great that I could scarcely discern the places over 

 which we sailed. After a very short time France was beneath us, 

 and Asmodeus having asked whether I should like to breakfast in 

 Paris, " With all my heart," answered I, and in about twenty minutes 

 we alighted in the Tuilleries, where the boat and its conductors dis- 

 appeared. 



It was nearly ten o'clock, and that enchanting garden was almost 

 deserted by fashionable visitors ; and I, having perceived around us 

 numerous strange and hideous figures, inquired of Asmodeus what it 

 meant, and who they were. 



" My friend,'' replied the devil, " thank your stars and myself for 

 being in your present privileged condition and invisible, because Paris 

 is now become a very dangerous city, but especially the spot where 

 we now are. The approaches of the person and palace of the citizen- 

 king are at present under the most strict surveillance of the police ; 

 and as Louis Philippe beholds a regicide in every being who, either 

 from curiosity or by mere chance happens to turn his head towards 

 him, M. Delessert, the prefet of police, has encamped here all his 

 best and most experienced Arguses, who, having received from him 

 carte-blanche, may arrest on suspicion the most inoffensive man. 

 Few persons, of course, choose to place themselves in so dreadful a 

 situation, and therefore don't be surprised at what you see." 



This disclosure caused in my mind a painful sensation, and having 

 cast my eyes towards the apartment inhabited by Louis Philippe 

 through the telescope, I saw that he was dressing. I particularly re- 

 marked that the queen was fastening on his royal person a double pa- 

 tent steel waistcoat, which of late he is compelled to wear even in his 

 own palace. *' But why does the queen perform that office ? '' asked I. 



" Why," quoth Asmodeus, "for two strong reasons. First, because 

 Louis Philippe don't like that it should be known as a fact that he con- 

 stantly wears such a kingly life-preserver. Secondly, because at pre- 

 sent, with the exception of his consort, he cannot trust his life into the 

 hands of any body else. 



" What a horrible existence !'' observed I. " His royalty is not 

 worth a straw. Indeed, my humble lodging in London is infinitely 

 preferable to his palace, and the few shillings I obtain by honourable 

 industry are well worth all his ill-acquired treasures." 



