534 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
I exclaimed. “ What, no pockets in an officer’s coat ? 
Impossible ! ” I requested him to let me examine it, 
which he willingly did, and unbuttoned the coat for the 
purpose. True enough, there were no pockets in the 
breast. I then turned him round and examined the 
skirts, which, to his astonishment, did contain such con¬ 
trivances ; and, foraging in one of them, I found and 
drew out a tiny little note. Was my curiosity to be 
gratified, and should I learn who was the owner of the 
garment ? What were the contents of that tiny folded 
billet which I held in my hand, and for a moment hesi¬ 
tated to open ? It was not without a certain feeling of 
emotion that I did open it, and rapidly scanned the few 
lines it contained, hurriedly written in pencil. As I did 
so, I could not refrain from giving vent to a hearty laugh. 
The paper contained these words :—“ If I am not indif¬ 
ferent to you, kindly let me know how we can corre¬ 
spond ? ” And beneath, there was a name and an address. 
I then knew to whom the uniform had belonged. The 
name was that of one of my friends and companions at 
college, who now holds a high position in one of the 
scientific branches of the Portuguese army. 
One day, in public, I committed the indiscretion of 
pronouncing the name of the party who signed the note 
which had come so strangely into my possession ; but, 
