Between the portraits of Mme.

Sand and M.Merimee, the two greatest writers of France, he had noticed, examined, recognized a well-known countenance.
"Surely," said he, "I've seen that man before, but he was paler.

Can our old lodger have come to life?
Impossible! I burned up my uncle's directions, so the world has lost--thanks to me--the secret of resuscitating people.

Nevertheless, the resemblance is striking.

Is it a portrait of Colonel Fougas, taken from life in 1813?
No; for photography was not then invented.