272 A TOUR ROUND MT GABDEN. 



tions in which we really played, and recreations which we 

 passed in copying: 



**A peine nous sortions des poites de Tr6z6ne." 

 (We scarcely ever went out from the gates of Trezene.) 



The principal cause of my not knowing him arose from the 

 unwonted splendour of his appearance. He was dressed in 

 black, and wore a watch with a rich gold chain. He told me 

 his name, and explained the change that had taken place 

 in his position. He had left the college, to perform the 

 same office in the establishment of the master of a small 

 private boarding-school. The affairs of this master were 

 in great confusion ; to escape from the hands of his cre- 

 ditors, he formed the idea of placing both his school and 

 his furniture under another name, and cast his eyes upon 

 Levasseur. He passed six months in teaching him by rote 

 what he would have to answer the examiners in order to 

 receive his licence to teach ; then he made a false sale of his 

 furniture, (fee. to him, taking of him a counter letter, to prove 

 the invalidity of the transaction. 



A short time afterwards, he fell iU upon a journey, and 

 died at a little inn. Levasseur tore up the counter-letter, which 

 the dead man had placed in his hands on leaving home, and 

 remained sole master of the establishment. 



It was a matter of great moment, when I met him, to find 

 an under-master; in the first place, because he was entirely 

 incapable, and in the next, because he was desirous of giving 

 himself a little occasional recreation, and not to be always 

 chained to the oar. 



When he met me, I have no doubt he was as much sur- 

 prised at the modesty of my costume, as I was surprised 

 at the magnificence of his; a remark to which I dare say 

 I was indebted for his proposing to me to come and live 

 with him. 



" Listen to me," said he : " we shall be like two brothers; 

 I will share everything with you. I have nothing at present, 

 because I have been obliged to sustain a lawsuit against the 

 creditors of my predecessor, because everything was in bad 



condition he was a man who had no idea of order, and 



who did me a deal of injury. The capital I placed in this 



