'God's messages do not come by hereditary office. He is auspicious for France; it is strong and feared and full of prosperous life to-day; and he is Emperor of the French. That is enough for me.'
'The philosophy of a soldier' was the only comment of O'Hara.
'Are you of the Opposition?' queried the captain, fancying he detected a latent sneer at the ruling dynasty in the latter expression.
'Ah I my friend,' remarked O'Hara with a smile, 'that is a delicate question. How shall I answer it? Like an Irishman, by asking another. Do you not know that I am a foreigner? I love your France, but I do not meddle in its politics. If I did, I suppose I should belong to the Opposition, for I was born in the Opposition in my own country, and as the sum of evil is greater than the sum of good, and usually preponderant, I take it that it is pretty safe ground to go on that whatever is, is wrong.'
'Have another pinch of snuff,' said the captain, shaking his head and proffering the golden box with its horn enclosure.
'This great N,' said O'Hara, again examining the ornamented outer lid with curiosity—'is that for the nephew or the uncle?'
'It is for the Man,' said Monsieur Chauvin, almost offended.
'Did you not say there was a story attached to it?' continued O'Hara.
'Yes; but would you laugh at an old man?'
'Captain Chauvin!'