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the little light he had, he lifted up a hopeless eye towards the door, then cast it down-shook his head, and went on with his work of affliction. I heard the chains upon his legs, as he turned his body to lay his little stick upon the bundle-He gave a deep sigh-I saw the iron enter into his soul-I burst into tears-I could not sustain the picture of confinement which my fancy had drawn -I started up from my chair, and calling La Fleur, I bid him bespeak me a remise, and have it ready at the door of the hotel by nine in the morning.

-I will go directly, said I, myself, to Monsieur Le Duc de Choiseul.

La Fleur would have put me to bed; but, not willing he should see any thing upon my cheeks which would cost the honest fellow a heart-ach-I told him I would go to bed myself—and bid him go do the same,

THE

THE STARLING.

ROAD TO VERSAILLES.

I GOT into my remise the hour I proposed: La

Fleur got up behind, and I bid the coachman

make the best of his way to Versailles.

As there was nothing in this road, or rather nothing which I look for in travelling, I cannot fill up the blank better than with a short history of this self-same bird, which became the subject of the last chapter.

Whilst the honourable Mr. **** was waiting for a wind at Dover, it had been caught upon the cliffs before it could well fly, by an English lad who was his groom; who, not caring to destroy it, had taken it in his breast into the packet-and by course of feeding it, and taking it once under his protection, in a day or two grew fond of it, and got it safe along with him to Paris.

At Paris, the lad had laid out a livre in a little

cage for the starling; and as he had little to do better the five months his master staid there, he

taught

taught it in his mother's tongue the four simple words (and no more)-for which I owned myself so much its debtor.

Upon his master's going on for Italy, the lad had given it to the master of the hotel-But his little song for liberty being in an unknown language at Paris-the bird had little or no store set by him -so La Fleur bought both him and his cage for me for a bottle of Burgundy.

In my return from Italy, I brought him with me to the country in whose language he had learned his notes-and telling the story of him to Lord A-, Lord A. begged the bird of me.————— In a week Lord A. gave him to Lord B—; Lord B. made a present of him to Lord C-; and Lord C.'s gentleman sold him to Lord D.'s for a shilling. Lord D. gave him to Lord E, and so on- -half round the alphabet--From that rank he passed into the lower house, and passed the hands of as many commoners.-But as all these wanted to get in-and my bird wanted to get outhe had almost as little store set by him in London as in Paris.

It is impossible but many of my readers must have heard of him; and if any by mere chance have ever seen him-I beg leave to inform them,

that

that that bird was my bird-or some vilc

up to represent him.

copy set

I have nothing further to add upon him, but that from that time to this, I have borne this poor starling as the crest to my arms.

-Thus:

And let the heralds officers twist his neck about, if they dare.

THE ADDRESS.

I

VERSAILLES.

SHOULD not like to have my enemy take a view of my mind, when I am going to ask protection of any man; for which reason, I gene

rally

rally endeavour to protect myself; but this going to Monsieur Le Duc de C****, was an act of compulsion-had it been an act of choice, I should have done it, I suppose, like other people.

How many mean plans of dirty address, as I went along, did my servile heart form! I deserved the Bastile for every one of them.

measure

Then nothing would serve me, when I got within sight of Versailles, but putting words and sentences together, and conceiving attitudes and tones to writhe myself into Monsieur Le Duc de C****'s good graces.-This will do, said I—just as well, retorted I again, as a coat carried up to him by an adventurous taylor, without taking his -Fool!-continued I-see Monsieur Le Duc's face first-observe what character is written in it-take notice in what posture he stands to hear you mark the turns and expressions of his body and limbs.And for the tone-the first sound that comes from his lips will give it you-and from all these together you will compound an address at once on the spot, which cannot disgust the Duke —the ingredients are his own, and most likely to down.

go

Well! said I, I wish it well over-Coward again! as if man to man was not equal throughout the

M

whole

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