Pray give heed to what Monsieur the Sub-prefect, may say in answer to what I shall ask him.

Now, my dear Sub-prefect, be frank.

If tomorrow, the deputation of this district should become vacant, can you find within its broad limits, or indeed within the district, a man likely to fill all functions, good and bad ?" "Upon my word," answered the official, "if you continue to refuse the office, I really know of no one else fit for it." "I shall persist all my life, Monsieur, for at my age assuredly I shall not expose myself to the buffoonery of your Parisian jesters." "Very well! In that event you will be obliged to take some stranger--perhaps, even one of those Parisian jesters." "You have heard him, Monsieur de Camors," said M.des Rameures, with exultation.

"This district numbers six hundred thousand souls, and yet does not contain within it the material for one deputy.

There is no other civilized country, I submit, in which we can find a similar instance so scandalous.