— 
54 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS ARAGO. 
the fortress had fallen in her house. She was then in- 
tending to take refuge in Algiers, and she asked me to 
bring the captain of the vessel to her, of whom, perhaps, 
she would have to implore protection. I related to my 
“rqais” the misfortunes of the Princess; he was moved 
by them, and I conducted him to her. On entering, he 
took off his slippers from respect, as if he had entered 
within a mosque, and holding them in his hand, he went 
to kiss the front of the dress of Madame d’Orleans. The 
Princess was alarmed at the sight of this manly figure, 
wearing the longest beard I ever saw; she quickly re- 
covered herself, and the interview proceeded with a mix- 
ture of French politeness and Oriental courtesy. 
The sixty francs from Rosas were expended. Madame 
D’Orleans would have liked much to assist us, but she 
was herself without money. All that she could gratify 
us with was a piece of sugarbread. The evening of our 
visit I was richer than the Princess. To avoid the fury 
of the people the Spanish Government sent those French * 
who had escaped the first massacres back to France in 
slight boats. One of the cartels came and cast anchor by 
the side of our hulk. One of the unhappy emigrants 
offered me a pinch of snuff. On opening the snuff-box I 
found there “wna onza de oro,” (an ounce of gold,) the 
sole remains of his fortune. I returned the snuff-box to 
him, with warm thanks, after having shut up in it a paper 
containing these words: — “My” fellow-countryman who 
carries this note has rendered me a great service ;—treat 
him as one of your children.” My petition was naturally 
favourably received; it was by this bit of paper, the size 
of the onza de oro, that my family learnt that I was still 
in existence, and it enabled my mother—a model of piety 
—to cease saying masses for the repose of my soul. 
