Myfable，credibleenoughatfirst，andsolongasmyclotheswereingoodorder，musthaveseemedworsethandoubtfulaftermycoatbecamefrayedabouttheedges，andmybootsbegantosquelchandpipealongtherestaurantfloors。Theallowanceofonemealadaybesides，thoughsuitableenoughtothestateofmyfinances，agreedpoorlywithmystomach。TherestaurantwasaplaceIhadoftenvisitedexperimentally，totastethelifeofstudentsthenmoreunfortunatethanmyself；andIhadneverinthosedaysentereditwithoutdisgust，orleftitwithoutnausea。Itwasstrangetofindmyselfsittingdownwithavidity，risingupwithsatisfaction，andcountingthehoursthatdividedmefrommyreturntosuchatable。Buthungerisagreatmagician；andsosoonasIhadspentmyreadycash，andcouldnolongerfilluponbowlsofchocolateorhunksofbread，Imustdependentirelyonthatcabman’seating-house，anduponcertainrare，long-expected，long-rememberedwindfalls。Dijonforinstancemightgetpaidforsomeofhispot-boilingwork，orelseanoldfriendwouldpassthroughParis；andthenI
wouldbeentertainedtoamealaftermyownsoul，andcontractaLatinQuarterloan，whichwouldkeepmeintobaccoandmymorningcoffeeforafortnight。Itmightbethoughtthelatterwouldappearthemoreimportant。Itmightbesupposedthatalife，ledsoneartheconfinesofactualfamine，shouldhavedulledthenicetyofmypalate。Onthecontrary，thepooreraman’sdiet，themoresharplyishesetondainties。Thelastofmyreadycash，aboutthirtyfrancs，wasdeliberatelysquanderedonasingledinner；andagreatpartofmytimewhenIwasalonewaspasseduponthedetailsofimaginaryfeasts。
Onegleamofhopevisitedme——anorderforabustfromarichSoutherner。Hewasfree-handed，jollyofspeech，merryofcountenance；keptmeingoodhumourthroughthesittings，andwhentheywereover，carriedmeoffwithhimtodinnerandthesightsofParis。Iatewell；Ilaidonflesh；byallaccounts，I
madeafavourablelikenessofthebeing，andIconfessIthoughtmyfuturewasassured。Butwhenthebustwasdone，andIhaddespatcheditacrosstheAtlantic，Icouldneversomuchaslearnofitsarrival。Theblowfelledme；Ishouldhavelaindownandtriednostroketorightmyself，hadnotthehonourofmycountrybeeninvolved。ForDijonimprovedtheopportunityintheEuropeanstyle；informingmeforthefirsttimeofthemannersofAmerica：howitwasadenofbandittiwithoutthesmallestrudimentoflawororder，anddebtscouldbethereonlycollectedwithashotgun。“Thewholeworldknowsit。”hewouldsay；“youarealone，monpetitLoudon，youarealonetobeinignoranceofthesefacts。ThejudgesoftheSupremeCourtfoughtbuttheotherdaywithstilettosonthebenchatCincinnati。Youshouldreadthelittlebookofoneofmyfriends：_LeTouristedansleFar-West_；youwillseeitallthereingoodFrench。”Atlast，incensedbydaysofsuchdiscussion，Iundertooktoprovetohimthecontrary，andputtheaffairinthehandsofmylatefather’slawyer。FromhimI
hadthegratificationofhearing，afteradueinterval，thatmydebtorwasdeadoftheyellowfeverinKeyWest，andhadlefthisaffairsinsomeconfusion。Isuppresshisname；forthoughhetreatedmewithcruelnonchalance，itisprobablehemeanttodealfairlyintheend。