IN QUEST OF RAVENS 



*' Every pursuit takes its reality and worth from the 

 ardor of the pursuer." — Keats. 



While M. Sylvestre Bonnard, Member 

 of the Institute, was in Sicily prosecuting his 

 memorable search for the Alexandrian manu- 

 script of the Golden Legend, he fell in un- 

 expectedly with his old acquaintances, M. 

 and Mme. Trepof, collectors of match-boxes. 

 Their specialty, as may be supposed, was 

 not exactly to M. Bonnard's liking. Being 

 a scholar and an antiquary, he would rather 

 have seen their affections bestowed upon 

 something more strictly in the line of the 

 fine arts, — upon antique marbles, perhaps, 

 or painted vases ; but after all, he said to 

 himself, it made no very great difference. A 

 collector is a collector ; and, besides, Mme. 

 Trepof always spoke of their pursuit (she 

 and her husband were traveling round the 

 world in furtherance of it) with a mixture of 

 enthusiasm and irony that made the whole 

 business truly delightful. 



