figured in the Exchequer Bill affair; that one moving off through the crowd is Mr. M, a forger in another line; and that dissipated-looking fellow crossing to the Hotel de Ville, at one time drove his fourin-hand, and was one of the most wealthy commoners in England. The only thing he drives now is a hard bargain, which he does with every tradesman he deals with." A political refugee was next pointed out as the ex-radical candidate for Marylebone; and in conversation with him, was a dark-looking, pock-marked, black-whiskered man in a blue greatcoat and two yards of red comforter. is?" said my cicerone. a fisherman."

"Who do you think he "I can't imagine; perhaps

"Oh no! he is an English policeman in disguise, just come over to arrest three well-known jail-birds, who have lately committed a burglary with horrible violence near Nottingham; and, as I live, sir, there go the rascals-look! near the café, in fustian jackets and corduroys. See how they are laughing at B 64; and well they may, for do you know the French Government has refused to give the scoundrels up! The only chance the policeman has is to kidnap them when they are drunk, and smuggle them on board the packet; but he has been here a fortnight, and they have not yet given him an opportunity." "And are you acquainted with any of the soi-disant gentlemen delinquents?" "Oh no!" replied my now talkative acquaintance; "I heard their histories from the Englishman who sat on my right at the 'table d'hôte.' He

meets every packet that comes in, and if it arrives in the morning, knows, before I meet him at dinner, the name, height, parentage, and age of half the passengers; their business, both here and at home; whether they are in the army or the fleet, the church or the law; whether they are travelling solely for amusement or escaping from their creditors; or whether they are, like myself, sir, keeping out of the way of a Speaker's warrant. I know your name, sir; your name is Jesse; you are in the army; you live at Brighton; and your age is thirty-two." "And how on earth does he know this?" said I. "Easy enough,” replied my acquaintance; "my right-hand neighbour is acquainted with all the commissionaires, and sees all the passports when they take them to be visés."

A man-monkey, in a cocked hat and red breeches, who had just perched himself on a chair to astonish the natives of the environs (for it was market-day), now commenced "Grenadier, que tu m'affliges!" in tones less human than those of his crazy violin; and, making my bow to the irreproachable and independent elector, I elbowed my way through the crowd, and soon found myself at the door of Mons. Leleux, in the Rue Royale, where Brummell lodged during his residence at Calais.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Brummell's Lodgings in the Rue Royale-His Good-natured Landlord— M. Leleux's Regard for Him—Proofs of it—Brummell's Effects Sold by Auction in London-Copy of Mr. Christie's Bill of Sale-The Snuff-box that was Destined for the Regent-Brummell Furnishes his Rooms-His Passion for Buhl Furniture-Ridiculous Extravagance in the Indulgence of it-His Sèvres China—Napoleon Paper Weight-The Beau's Conundrum Snuff-box.

M. LELEUX's house, originally the old Hotel d'Angleterre, is on the right-hand side of the street, and but a few yards from the Hotel de Ville: the two oval frames that are still seen over what in former days was the gateway, once encircled portraits of George the Second and his Queen; but these bas reliefs were destroyed by the rioters during the popular outbreaks of the Revolution. Half-a-dozen doors farther on, is a shop which has for its sign "Au Pauvre Diable," not an inappropriate one in the town of Calais.

Pressing down the latch of M. Leleux's door, the noise of which was the signal for opening another at the extremity of the shop, I stood in the presence of the best bookseller in Calais, and one of its most goodnatured-looking citizens. His cap, with that old snipebill-looking peak so commonly seen in France,

and my best André, were immediately raised; and to my request that he would assist me in gleaning some intelligence of the deceased Beau, he acceded with ready politeness, and with a frank and soldier-like bearing that I certainly thought smacked not of the Garde Nationale. In my further intercourse with him

I found that my surmise was correct: it had been acquired in the tent of Miranda, during the wars of the South American republics, for M. Leleux was secretary to that celebrated man. His countenance lighted up as he spoke of his old lodger; and, having opened the trenches of conversation, by taking a large pinch of snuff, he commenced a kind of recitative of his sayings and doings, which unfortunately amounted to very little in the end. "Ah, mon cher Monsieur," said the old militaire, "je n'ai aucun documens de lui. Je pourrais cependant vous fournir quelques petits détails, et cela volontiers. D'abord, c'est moi qui l'avait bien connu, car quatorze ans il a demeuré dans cette maison, et je vous ferai voir son appartement; and we ascended the staircase together to the first floor.

"This, sir," observed M. Leleux, in very good English, but with a slight accent, "was his drawingroom, and this one adjoining, his dining-room; you see they are front rooms; his dormitory was on the other side of the passage. After he had resided with me about five years, I allowed him to have the rooms a little to the left of these; they are approached by a different staircase: that suite consisted of a dining

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room on the ground-floor, and a drawing-room over it, and a handsome bedroom at the back. It was at

this time Mr. Brummell's ambition to obtain the office of consul at Calais, and the gentleman who held it being then in very bad health, made him rather sanguine on the point. The expectation, however, was never fulfilled, for he is still living, and likely to live; but being won over by my locataire's persuasive manner, I permitted him to decorate his rooms in his own way; and though he did it very well, I can assure you I was not much the richer for the money he laid out. Mais, Monsieur, le pauvre homme était si amusant, si amusant, qu'on ne pouvait rien lui refuser. Sir, I would have kept him for nothing if he would have stayed: ah! he certainly was a very droll fellow."

Our conversation here terminated, and I took my leave; but on a subsequent visit the old gentleman showed me over the rooms already alluded to. They must have been very comfortable: but the black and white marble pavement of the private entrance, which Brummell laid down, and the rich crimson paper of the dining-room, are all that remain as evidence of his acknowledged taste and extravagance.

I must now "hark back to his burst from London," when, in the words of Pope, he bid farewell to the "dear d-d distracting town," and left the box of Lady with a joke more than usually satirical. The dogs of the law were quickly on the scent; but they no sooner reached Dover than they dropped