FLOWERS AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 



361 



he replied ; " but you know we all have 

 our troubles — our annoyances. What is 

 the use, then, of showing a discontented 

 face ? I am uneasy, very uneasy." 



*' Uneasy, and why ? " 



" Oh ! for many reasons ;" and he drew 

 a long sigh. "In these days, there are 

 certain positions, very compromising." 



" How ! you compromised ? " 



"I may be so, at any time," said he, 

 lowering his voice ; " one indiscreet, or ill- 

 natured person is all that is wanting. But 

 I have perfect confidence in you, my neigh- 

 bor. You will not betray me ; you are in- 

 capable of it. And, besides, I need some 

 one to confide in. Listen — when you first 

 accosted me you startled me, I was so ab- 

 sorbed in thought." 



" What were you thinking of? " 



" Of the DucHEssE of Orleans — of the 

 Count of Paris — of the Duke of Join- 

 viLLE. I repeat it, — my position is very em- 

 barrassing, if they remain longer with me." 



" What, they with you !" I exclaimed, in 

 amazement. 



'* Yes, it is, undoubtedly, very impru- 

 dent, is it not ? " 



You must remember that the events of 

 June were hardly over. In the journals, in 

 conversation, &c., it had been a question 

 frequently, of the rights and wrongs of the 

 pretenders who, it was rumored, kept them- 

 selves in Paris, or the environs, ready to 

 take advantage of any fortunate circum- 

 stances. Confounded by this disclosure of 

 my simple hearted neighbor, I believed at 

 first that he had given shelter to the three 

 noble persons mentioned, and that the 

 counsels of the regency were actually held 

 at his house. 



"Yes, they are there," added he, point- 

 ing mysteriously towards his closed door. 

 "They are yet there, until I shall have 

 taken a decisive step in this matter." 



" And which side do you mean to take ?" 



" The wisest would be to give each one 

 a finishing stroke with the spade. But no, 

 no, I should never have the courage to do 

 it ! They are so beautiful ! and in full 

 flower, ??tonsieur ! Will you look at them? 

 You are an amateur, I believe." 



My common sense here aided me to 

 comprehend what in reality he was talkintr 

 about. My neighbor is a fanatical horti- 

 culturist ; one of those insane " collectors," 

 who exist in France, and of which Holland 

 and England have furnished the types. 



While I had been recovering from my 

 astonishment, he had opened his gate, 

 which he directly and carefully closed 

 upon us. I soon found myself between a 

 double row of flower-borders, admirably 

 arranged, and carefully labelled. The 

 council of regency consisted of three Dah- 

 lias, of superb colour and form. 



" If those were the only ones which 

 might compromise me," replied my good 

 neighbor, " I would make the sacrifice — 

 perhaps ! But, sir, either in Roses or in 

 Dahlias, do I not possess the whole of the 

 fallen family, from Louis Phillippe down 

 to his grand-children, the Due de Chartres 

 and the Comte d'Eu ! See, here is the 

 Princesse de Juhiville, le Due d''^umale, le 

 Due et la Duchesse de Vernours, la Priri' 

 ccsse Clementine, la Heine des Beiges, — even 

 the Duchesse of Mecklenbourg ! All of the 

 choicest, finely formed, entirely double, 

 and without the slightest appearance of a sta- 

 men ! And they want me to give them up !" 



" Who dreams of exacting such a sacri- 

 fice from you ?" said I. " Flowers have in 

 themselves nothing seditious. Their names 

 no longer belong to the order of the day, it 

 is true ; but are you responsible for the 

 name they bear ? You were not their god- 

 father. They cannot, then, be considered 

 any estimate of your political opinions." 



