But, burying his empurpled nose in a large red handkerchief, he passed off his emotion in a potent blast which made the ornaments on the mantel-shelf quake, and resumed in an unsteady voice: "I would have made a note and deferred to another day seeing the property you offer and learning its area, value, situation, advantages and defects--for there is always some flaw in a terrestrial paradise, ha, ha! But your hospitable gate was on the latch--such an inviting expression was on the face of a rather pretty servant girl on your porch--faith! I could not resist the temptation to make the acquaintance of the happy owner of this Eden! and lo! I am rewarded by the power to go home to Marseilles and tell my companion domino-players in the Cafe Dame de la Garde that I saw the renowned constructor of the new cannon--M.

Felix Clemenceau, with whom the Emperor has spoken about the defense of our beloved country!" Clemenceau could only bow under this deluge of words.
"M.

Clemenceau, will you honor me with the clasp of the hand ?" The host allowed his hand to disappear from view in the enormous one presented, timidly.
"Ah! in case of the universal European War, they are talking about, France will have need of such men as you!" The embarrassing situation for the modest inventor was altered for the better by the entrance of Antonino, who darted a keen glance upon the genial stranger.
"How do you do ?" cried the latter, nodding kindly.

"Your son, I suppose, M.Clemenceau ?" "By adoption.

I am hardly of the age to have a son as old as that!" "I beg your pardon! I see now, that it is brain-work that has worn you out a little.